The Rest of the Lord

Early yesterday morning, while sitting in the Salt Lake Temple, I was thinking about Joe Massey. The thought came that I should write a blog about him and his need for our faith and prayers. Shortly after arriving at my office, I received word that Joe had passed away. My heart was broken. After pondering the situation for 24 hours or so, I have decided to continue with my prompting and write about Joe.

Joe Massey was a giant of a man. Not only was his one of the strongest men I have ever known physically, but was also one of the strongest I have ever known in terms of character, faith, and love. Joe has left a lasting impression on all who knew him.

I was always impressed at how Joe expressed love to all he knew. Joe hugged everybody; it was just his way and everyone expected it. At family gatherings he went around the room giving each person a hug. I always appreciated that about him.

Joe was a devoted husband and father. It was evident that he loved his kids and that they in turn loved him too. They had fun as a family and always seemed happy. I know this love will continue.

Early this morning as I was reading in “The Promised Messiah”, I came across a section titled “Enter into the Rest of the Lord”. I would like to quote form that section since it seems so appropriate. Elder McConkie writes “One of the sweet and gracious doctrines of the gospel, a doctrine that brings comfort and serenity to the saints, is that those who are true and faithful in all things enter into the rest of the Lord their God.

Mortality is the state in which men are tried and tested; in which they are subject to temptation, disease, sorrow, and death; in which there is violent opposition to every true principle; in which the generality of mankind is wafted hither and yon by every wind of doctrine; in which Satan has great hold upon the hearts of most of mankind. It is not a state of peace and rest; in it there is work and turmoil and dissension. It is a probationary estate where choices must be made; where all men, the saints included, are being tried and tested, to see if they will choose liberty and eternal life through the atonement of Christ the Lord, or whether they will walk in subjection to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God and became the devil to rise no more.

Peace and rest, in the full and true sense, come only through the gospel and are reserved for those who place themselves in harmony with those Holy Beings who are the embodiment of these godly attributes.

What does it mean to enter into the rest of the Lord? To this question there is a three-pronged answer: one aspect deals with the rest of the Lord here and now in mortality; the next is concerned with a more perfected rest that comes to those who, departing this sphere, find themselves in the paradise of God; and the final one applies to the saved saints who have risen in immortal glory ever to be with their Lord.

Mormon had some counsel for the saints, for those who believe the gospel and are seeking to live its laws. He addressed them in this way: "I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven." (Moro. 7:3.) To enter into the rest of the Lord in this life is to gain a sure knowledge of the truth and divinity of the Lord's work on earth. It is to have the testimony of Jesus and to know by personal revelation that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on earth. It is to have such fixity of purpose that the calls, Lo, here is Christ, and Lo, there, seem like idle chatter. Those who have entered into the rest of the Lord here and now are not driven about by every wind of doctrine. They are not trying to find the truth. The Holy Spirit of God has already manifest to their souls where the truth is. They have charted a course leading to that eternal rest which is eternal life. They have received that peace which passeth all understanding and is known and felt only by the power of the Holy Ghost.

As to the rest of the Lord enjoyed by faithful saints when they depart this life, Alma says: "The spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow." (Alma 40:12.)
As to that rest which is enjoyed by those who dwell in immortal glory, Amulek says: "God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son; Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest." (Alma 12:33-35.)

O that all men might come unto Christ and gain that rest and peace, both now and forever, that comes from him and him only!”

As I understand it, Elder McConkie speaks of three types of “Rest of the Lord”: They are this life, the spirit world, and that rest which is enjoyed by those who dwell in immortal glory. Joe is now in paradise, where he will rest from troubles and cares. We however must not forget that the first “rest” that is spoken of occurs in this life!

The Book of Mormon teaches us how the rest of the Lord comes to us in this life. "I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven." (Moro. 7:3.)

It is my prayer at this time, that all of us that are deeply saddened by the death of this wonderful man Joe Massey, that we will turn to that God that made us, and have faith in his Son, and to gain that sure knowledge of our Father’s divine plan.

Joe…we will miss you. We will watch after your little flock.