It is Christmastime, and the world is celebrating the birth of our Savior. I love this time if the year because I feel that it is indeed the ”Happiest time of the year.” I know I am an old softy but I really can relate to the words from Michael McLain’s Forgotten Carols “I Cry on the Day that they take the tree down.” I want this season to last all year long.
My thoughts today, however, are turned to another holiday; Easter. I set a goal this year to read the entire Messiah Series by Elder McConkie. I read them a little out of order but am down to my final volume, Volume 4 of “The Mortal Messiah”. I have so touched by this volume. I feel it has forever changed my life by helping me to finally really “Know” the Savior.
This volume focuses on the final year of the Saviors ministry. During this time He was very bold and a perfect example of service in the kingdom. This volume takes us up through the crucifixion and resurrection. It is of the resurrection that I would like to make comment today.
We are all familiar with the scene at the Garden Tomb where Mary mistakes the Savior for the gardener.
13 “And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because
they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and
knew not that it was Jesus.
15Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing
him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (John 20).
I have often tried to imagine this scene in my mind and have always felt that it was a bit harsh for Mary not to be able to actually hold the Savior; to feel the nail prints in His hands and feet: To truly testify that He was resurrected because she saw and felt Him. Then in The Mortal Messiah I read the following:
“We cannot believe that the caution which withheld from Jesus the embrace of Mary was anything more than the building of a proper wall of reserve between intimates who are now on two sides of the veil. If a resurrected brother appeared to a mortal brother, or if a resurrected husband appeared to a mortal wife, would they be free to embrace each other on the same terms of intimacy as had prevailed when both were mortals? But perhaps there was more in Jesus' statement than Mary related or than John recorded, for in a very short time we shall see a group of faithful women hold Jesus by his feet as they worship him. The seeming refusal of Jesus to permit Mary to touch him, followed almost immediately by the appearance in which the other women were permitted to hold his feet, has always been the source of some interpretative concern. The King James Version quotes Jesus as saying "Touch me not." The Joseph Smith Translation reads "Hold me not." Various translations from the Greek render the passage as "Do not cling to me" or "Do not hold me." Some give the meaning as "Do not cling to me any longer," or "Do not hold me any longer." Some speak of ceasing to hold him or cling to him, leaving the inference that Mary was already holding him. There is valid reason for supposing that the thought conveyed to Mary by the Risen Lord was to this effect: "You cannot hold me here, for I am going to ascend to my Father." Volume 4 page 264.
As I understand this, Elder McConkie is telling us that it is possible that Jesus did indeed embrace Mary. Then He basically said “I can’t stay, don’t hold me here.” This seems to me a much more likely scenario of what happened. In fact when I read it… I wept as I thought of the love that was shared between these two and as Mary realized that it really was Him. This insight makes me feel closer to Him.
Showing posts with label Elder Bruce R. McConkie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elder Bruce R. McConkie. Show all posts
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Hope
Hope
A few months ago I wrote a couple of posts on the topic of faith. If you haven’t read them, please go back and do so. The reason I make that request is that my experience is teaching me that much of becoming like the Savior is learning three important principles: Faith, Hope and Charity.
As I reflect on my own life I believe that I have a fair amount of faith. Now perhaps I need to remember Peter and the other apostles being chastised a little after they couldn’t cast out an evil spirit and Jesus responded “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” I realize that my faith may be weak in comparison to what is required but I feel I understand faith a little.
As I begin to ponder hope however, I feel a little less confident. I recently read a terrific little book called “Obtaining Your Calling and Election” by Kevan Kingsley Clawson. I stumbled onto this book while reading a book review of “Following the Light of Christ into His Presence”; a highly recommended book. While reading the review I noticed a “if you liked this book you may also be interested in” section. In it I found Obtaining your Calling and Election. This book was difficult to find. I ordered it from Benchmark Books but it even took them a couple of months to get it. It was worth the wait and is quite a little gem.
Obtaining Your Calling and Election is very different from other books I have read on the topic. It is much more about what I would describe as the temporal side of the topic rather than the spiritual side: Perhaps more nuts and bolts. None the less I found it very informative. I was most impressed by the chapter he wrote in Hope.
The author quotes Webster’d Dictionary. HOPE: desire accompanied by expectation of fulfillment.
He then quotes Bruce R. McConkie’s Mormon Doctrine (page 365) “As used in the revelations, hope is the desire of faithful people to gain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God hereafter. It is not a flimsy, ethereal desire, one without assurance that the desired consummation will be received, but a desire coupled with expectation of receiving the coveted reward.”
I particularly liked this example that Clawson gave. “If your new car suddenly stopped working and you knew absolutely nothing about engines, you would have little or no hope of fixing the car. You would be found standing on the side of the road, with the hood up, wishing there was something you could do. In reality, you would probably be forced to wait for the tow truck. On the other hand, if the same car broke down and the driver was an experienced mechanic, he would have real hope that he could fix the car with full expectation of actually doing it. The mechanics knowledge provided him with a different level of trust in his ability to understand and correct the problem. He would not have to stand idly by wishing for some miracle to occur; he would actively ensure the desired result came to pass. He could not guarantee the result (hope is not a guarantee), but, because of his knowledge, he could hope for and expect a positive result.
The same holds true for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the desire Christians have of obtaining the Kingdom of God. A person who has never read the scriptures, who only goes to church on Christmas and Easter, and whoe does not pray except, perhaps, during tome of extreme hardship, cannot develop or obtain any real hope of obtaining the Kingdom of God because he has done little or nothing to prepare himself for the goal. He would be wishing upon a star.
On the other hand, consider the example of a righteous man who has not only read all of the scriptures, but has made a lifelong study of these “textbooks;” who not only attends church every Sunday but has faithfully fulfilled a myriad of callings and responsibilities; and who not only has developed faith but has gradually increased his knowledge of God by participating in and witnessing many miracles, gifts of the Spirit, and answers to prayer. Unlike the previous example, this man has true hope of obtaining the Kingdom of God. This man can expect to receive a fulfillment of his desires. His knowledge and works have made it possible for him to enter the Kingdom.”
I will close with a scripture from the book of Ether. “And I also remember that thou hast said that thou hast prepared a house for man, yea, even among the mansions of thy Father, in which man might have a more excellent hope; wherefore man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared.”
Ether 12:32 May we all develop the hope required to achieve that which we desire most, Eternal Life in the presence of our Heavenly Father.
A few months ago I wrote a couple of posts on the topic of faith. If you haven’t read them, please go back and do so. The reason I make that request is that my experience is teaching me that much of becoming like the Savior is learning three important principles: Faith, Hope and Charity.
As I reflect on my own life I believe that I have a fair amount of faith. Now perhaps I need to remember Peter and the other apostles being chastised a little after they couldn’t cast out an evil spirit and Jesus responded “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” I realize that my faith may be weak in comparison to what is required but I feel I understand faith a little.
As I begin to ponder hope however, I feel a little less confident. I recently read a terrific little book called “Obtaining Your Calling and Election” by Kevan Kingsley Clawson. I stumbled onto this book while reading a book review of “Following the Light of Christ into His Presence”; a highly recommended book. While reading the review I noticed a “if you liked this book you may also be interested in” section. In it I found Obtaining your Calling and Election. This book was difficult to find. I ordered it from Benchmark Books but it even took them a couple of months to get it. It was worth the wait and is quite a little gem.
Obtaining Your Calling and Election is very different from other books I have read on the topic. It is much more about what I would describe as the temporal side of the topic rather than the spiritual side: Perhaps more nuts and bolts. None the less I found it very informative. I was most impressed by the chapter he wrote in Hope.
The author quotes Webster’d Dictionary. HOPE: desire accompanied by expectation of fulfillment.
He then quotes Bruce R. McConkie’s Mormon Doctrine (page 365) “As used in the revelations, hope is the desire of faithful people to gain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God hereafter. It is not a flimsy, ethereal desire, one without assurance that the desired consummation will be received, but a desire coupled with expectation of receiving the coveted reward.”
I particularly liked this example that Clawson gave. “If your new car suddenly stopped working and you knew absolutely nothing about engines, you would have little or no hope of fixing the car. You would be found standing on the side of the road, with the hood up, wishing there was something you could do. In reality, you would probably be forced to wait for the tow truck. On the other hand, if the same car broke down and the driver was an experienced mechanic, he would have real hope that he could fix the car with full expectation of actually doing it. The mechanics knowledge provided him with a different level of trust in his ability to understand and correct the problem. He would not have to stand idly by wishing for some miracle to occur; he would actively ensure the desired result came to pass. He could not guarantee the result (hope is not a guarantee), but, because of his knowledge, he could hope for and expect a positive result.
The same holds true for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the desire Christians have of obtaining the Kingdom of God. A person who has never read the scriptures, who only goes to church on Christmas and Easter, and whoe does not pray except, perhaps, during tome of extreme hardship, cannot develop or obtain any real hope of obtaining the Kingdom of God because he has done little or nothing to prepare himself for the goal. He would be wishing upon a star.
On the other hand, consider the example of a righteous man who has not only read all of the scriptures, but has made a lifelong study of these “textbooks;” who not only attends church every Sunday but has faithfully fulfilled a myriad of callings and responsibilities; and who not only has developed faith but has gradually increased his knowledge of God by participating in and witnessing many miracles, gifts of the Spirit, and answers to prayer. Unlike the previous example, this man has true hope of obtaining the Kingdom of God. This man can expect to receive a fulfillment of his desires. His knowledge and works have made it possible for him to enter the Kingdom.”
I will close with a scripture from the book of Ether. “And I also remember that thou hast said that thou hast prepared a house for man, yea, even among the mansions of thy Father, in which man might have a more excellent hope; wherefore man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared.”
Ether 12:32 May we all develop the hope required to achieve that which we desire most, Eternal Life in the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Our Perfect Older Brother
I am in Scottsdale, Arizona this week for work. I have been putting in a lot of hours so I haven’t had much time to write a blog post. I was able to get away early yesterday morning and attended a 5:30 am temple session at the Mesa Temple. Each time I attend an early morning session at any temple I am awed by the number of people that are dedicated to making temple attendance work in their busy lives. It is wonderful to associate with like minded people. I have a few hours to myself tonight so would like to share some thoughts about what I have been reading.
Tonight’s post is definitely just my opinion or simply some thoughts I have been having. I fully expect others to disagree with me on this one or to have a differing point of view. I welcome your comments and perhaps we can learn together.
I made a goal at the beginning of the year to read the entire “Messiah” series by Elder Bruce R. McConkie. I started with “The Promised Messiah” and am about half way through this volume that tops out at 635 pages. I have learned many wonderful things from this book but I would like to address one topic in particular.
In Chapter 10 of Elder McConkie’s book, he writes “Our Lord, who is the Firstborn spirit child of the Eternal Elohim, is himself also the Eternal One.” The part of this sentence that struck me was that Christ is not only the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh, but also the firstborn spirit child of the Father. Now this is nothing new, but I guess it is the first time I have seen it written by someone with authority. I know it is a widely believed concept in the church. It is likely scriptural as well but I don’t know the verse.
Where my thoughts went as I pondered this topic was in the following direction: What makes Jesus more special than us? Now I don’t mean this in any disrespectful way. I have a testimony of his divinity and of His mission and calling. I mean this in the most respectful way possible. What made Christ perfect and obedient when we come from the same “source” as Him? Why is He strong and we are weak? Why is He perfect and we are full of sin? What is it about Him being the oldest? I have a theory! Let’s take a look.
We know from modern revelation that Michael, who helped create the earth, became Adam, out first father. I have heard many times in the church as well, that we too were there during the creation of the earth. Many times in the scriptures we know we can place ourselves in the stories and know they apply to us as well. I believe that we too, along with Adam were a significant part of the creation.
In Abr. 3 we read the following: 22 “Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;”
Who do these “noble and great ones” include? Is this limited to just a few “Prophets and Apostles”, or were we, as endowed faithful followers among them as well?
Before I write the following I wish to clarify here that I by no means wish to bring Christ down to our level and make us equals in any way. I do however hope to lift us to a higher level: closer to His.
In Ether 12 we read “27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”
This is one of the most misquoted scriptures in the church. Most people read it and believe that God shows us our “weaknesses”. This is not what it says… He shows us our weakness! The verse then goes on to say I give men “weakness” to make them humble. Does he give us weakness because in reality we are strong? If he doesn’t make us weak would we not be able to learn to rely on Him? Have we taken a giant step down in this life in order to make our mortal probation more meaningful and to become more like God knowing good from evil?” Are we more ready to receive “crowns of glory” than we give ourselves credit for?
In the Pre-existence were we part of the noble and great ones, who helped create the earth, and were valiant followers of the Fathers plan? Is this why we were so willing to support the great Jehovah being our redeemer and rejecting Lucifer’s plan?
Is Jesus, our older spirit brother, greater than we are because He was willing to step forward in the beginning, and to be our Redeemer? Is this one of the things that makes Him greater than us? Did this willingness raise Him to perfection in the premortal world?
Christ is not only perfect spiritually speaking. We know that he is the only perfect mortal being as well. Is the fact that He is the only mortal being to have our Heavenly Father as the father of his body and spirit what makes him perfect? If he had had an earthly father and an earthly mother, would he have sinned as we do, and thus be unable to be the Savior?
My theory is that we are much closer to the Savior than we give ourselves credit for. We were great beings in the premortal world. We were leaders there and helped create the earth. Where we fall short in being like the Savior is the fact that He stepped forward and was willing to take on the sins of all the world. His mortal body that has God’s “DNA” made it possible for him to live a perfect life as well. His strength to withstand evil and temptation was a combination of His perfect spirit and his perfect body: His Mother made him mortal so he could understand our “weakness” but his Father made him divine.
I don’t want to diminish the importance or the perfection of the Savior in any way. I am simply hoping that we can look at ourselves as children of God. I want us to see ourselves in true light… as potential Kings and Queens. I believe that if we know who we are, we will strive harder to live up to our full potential. We must all be better at repenting of our sins and keeping the commandments.
As I mentioned earlier, these views written in this post are simply thoughts I have had. I don’t mean to imply they are true or doctrine in any way. I encourage contrasting points of view that can help teach me the truth. I can tell you that I have a firm testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. I know that he lives and that he died for our sins. And that only through him can we return to live with the Father. He is our Perfect Example.
Tonight’s post is definitely just my opinion or simply some thoughts I have been having. I fully expect others to disagree with me on this one or to have a differing point of view. I welcome your comments and perhaps we can learn together.
I made a goal at the beginning of the year to read the entire “Messiah” series by Elder Bruce R. McConkie. I started with “The Promised Messiah” and am about half way through this volume that tops out at 635 pages. I have learned many wonderful things from this book but I would like to address one topic in particular.
In Chapter 10 of Elder McConkie’s book, he writes “Our Lord, who is the Firstborn spirit child of the Eternal Elohim, is himself also the Eternal One.” The part of this sentence that struck me was that Christ is not only the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh, but also the firstborn spirit child of the Father. Now this is nothing new, but I guess it is the first time I have seen it written by someone with authority. I know it is a widely believed concept in the church. It is likely scriptural as well but I don’t know the verse.
Where my thoughts went as I pondered this topic was in the following direction: What makes Jesus more special than us? Now I don’t mean this in any disrespectful way. I have a testimony of his divinity and of His mission and calling. I mean this in the most respectful way possible. What made Christ perfect and obedient when we come from the same “source” as Him? Why is He strong and we are weak? Why is He perfect and we are full of sin? What is it about Him being the oldest? I have a theory! Let’s take a look.
We know from modern revelation that Michael, who helped create the earth, became Adam, out first father. I have heard many times in the church as well, that we too were there during the creation of the earth. Many times in the scriptures we know we can place ourselves in the stories and know they apply to us as well. I believe that we too, along with Adam were a significant part of the creation.
In Abr. 3 we read the following: 22 “Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;”
Who do these “noble and great ones” include? Is this limited to just a few “Prophets and Apostles”, or were we, as endowed faithful followers among them as well?
Before I write the following I wish to clarify here that I by no means wish to bring Christ down to our level and make us equals in any way. I do however hope to lift us to a higher level: closer to His.
In Ether 12 we read “27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”
This is one of the most misquoted scriptures in the church. Most people read it and believe that God shows us our “weaknesses”. This is not what it says… He shows us our weakness! The verse then goes on to say I give men “weakness” to make them humble. Does he give us weakness because in reality we are strong? If he doesn’t make us weak would we not be able to learn to rely on Him? Have we taken a giant step down in this life in order to make our mortal probation more meaningful and to become more like God knowing good from evil?” Are we more ready to receive “crowns of glory” than we give ourselves credit for?
In the Pre-existence were we part of the noble and great ones, who helped create the earth, and were valiant followers of the Fathers plan? Is this why we were so willing to support the great Jehovah being our redeemer and rejecting Lucifer’s plan?
Is Jesus, our older spirit brother, greater than we are because He was willing to step forward in the beginning, and to be our Redeemer? Is this one of the things that makes Him greater than us? Did this willingness raise Him to perfection in the premortal world?
Christ is not only perfect spiritually speaking. We know that he is the only perfect mortal being as well. Is the fact that He is the only mortal being to have our Heavenly Father as the father of his body and spirit what makes him perfect? If he had had an earthly father and an earthly mother, would he have sinned as we do, and thus be unable to be the Savior?
My theory is that we are much closer to the Savior than we give ourselves credit for. We were great beings in the premortal world. We were leaders there and helped create the earth. Where we fall short in being like the Savior is the fact that He stepped forward and was willing to take on the sins of all the world. His mortal body that has God’s “DNA” made it possible for him to live a perfect life as well. His strength to withstand evil and temptation was a combination of His perfect spirit and his perfect body: His Mother made him mortal so he could understand our “weakness” but his Father made him divine.
I don’t want to diminish the importance or the perfection of the Savior in any way. I am simply hoping that we can look at ourselves as children of God. I want us to see ourselves in true light… as potential Kings and Queens. I believe that if we know who we are, we will strive harder to live up to our full potential. We must all be better at repenting of our sins and keeping the commandments.
As I mentioned earlier, these views written in this post are simply thoughts I have had. I don’t mean to imply they are true or doctrine in any way. I encourage contrasting points of view that can help teach me the truth. I can tell you that I have a firm testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. I know that he lives and that he died for our sins. And that only through him can we return to live with the Father. He is our Perfect Example.
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