Another word that I find beautiful and applicable to “Be ye reconciled to God is metanoia. 

Metanoia—a change of heart based on a religious conversion

Wouldn’t you agree? Isn’t this a magnificent word?! 

And isn’t a change of heart exactly what we need to direct our feet towards the plan of salvation in this life? Remember, “…men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25, emphasis added). The might means that we must consciously choose to use our agency to propel ourselves towards eternal life. It isn’t something that will just fall into our laps. Yes, Christ died for everyone’s sins, and we will all receive eternal life as part of the reward for his sacrifice, but Ether 12:27 reveals an important element of justification:

“…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 I will make weak things become strong unto them.”

In order to have a true change of heart, a true metanoia, each of us must seek to humble ourselves before Christ if we hope to receive his grace. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul tells us:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

That is what we strive for when we experience a metanoia: to become a new creature in Christ and to put off the natural man. Because of Adam’s fall, a veil was placed between us and knowledge, rendering us as “natural men” given to natural appetites. Going back to our original word of the day—reconcile—as we now understand it, means to bring back together. 

Therefore, in order to find our way back to God and to experience joy, we need to figure out a way to put off the natural man and to change who we are. That change has to be motivated by something—something strong and powerful enough to cause us to change our way of life and experience metanoia. 

That something should be our faith in Christ; faith strong enough to move us toward the path of salvation.

Faith strong enough to cause us to emulate our older brother by preforming propitiation ourselves—sacrificing our natural man so that we may be reborn as a new creature in Christ.

That’s what a metanoia is—a massive shift in paradigm and a massive desire to change one’s heart, founded on the belief that Christ really did do all the things He said He would do for us, namely reconciling us with our Heavenly Father. 

“Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him…” (Mosiah 18:10)

And what is baptism if not a symbolic act of sacrifice and rebirth?

A propitiation—a sacrifice that restores harmony between us and God.

Indeed, we really do become a new creature as Paul promised, and our old self becomes new in Christ. Once we’ve taken this step, we have placed ourselves back on the path towards reconciliation with our Heavenly Father, with the added gift of the Holy Ghost. As we stay close to Heavenly Father’s plan for us and follow Christ’s example relying on the spirit, we can be sure that one day we too can experience reconcilio with our heavenly parents. 

Words! Words! Words!

How I love words!

Words give us a means to express ourselves, to impart knowledge, and to gain understanding. They give us the opportunity to read the words of joy shared in the scriptures and from beloved latter-day prophets. They give voice to impressions of the Spirit. 

Through our study today, we have learned that even the smallest word can pack a huge hidden meaning—joy!

We have learned that picking apart a verse word by word can provide a whole new understanding of the gospel. 

We have learned the synonyms can take a familiar term and inspire it with new light and depth. 

But most importantly, we have learned that taking a closer look at the plan of salvation through focusing on specific terms used in the original translations of the Bible can strengthen our testimony of Christ.

“We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. We also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God” (Article of Faith 8).

I have deep gratitude for the Come, Follow Me program. I have the opportunity to be a gospel doctrine teacher, and as I have studied more closely the words of Christ and the early prophets, my testimony of the New Testament has grown a hundredfold. It really is the word of God if it is read correctly (and hand in hand with the Book of Mormon). I am without a doubt that the apostles of the New Testament knew and understood the plan of salvation—the good news and the gospel of Jesus Christ—just as we do today as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I leave this humble testimony with you, dear reader, with a request that you read the scriptures more closely, looking at the words one by one, and seeking for the power of their original intent. 

Jessica Clark

Jessica Clark is a wife, mom, writer, runner, knitter, and proud Canadian. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Anthropology, and has been a student of people and cultures ever since. Right now she is busy studying the behavior and cultures of the people of Texas.

One of my favorite things to do is study the history behind words. There is so much to be learned from stripping a word straight down to its roots and digging around in the dirt to discover just where the true meaning came from. Let’s take the word reconcile for example. Recently “Be Ye Reconciled to God” was the focus of our study for the Come Follow Me program, so this word becomes important in our discussion. 

• Re—in Latin, “re-“ means back
• Concile—in Latin, “conciliare” means bring together
• Therefore, “reconcile” means to bring back together

Before the Bible was translated from Latin to English, reconcilio was the word used in place of Atonement. Atonement is a special word itself, a word that can be broken down as follows:

• At-one-ment
• To become one

When we look at these two words together, we begin to understand just what Christ did for us with a more rounded approach. Because Adam fell, we became separated from our Father in Heaven. In order to become one with our Father in Heaven again, propitiation would need to be preformed. Propitiation is another beautiful word with a fantastic meaning:

• Propitiation-a personal sacrifice that restores harmony with God

Jesus Christ loves to find lost things.

From this word, we can determine that something that was once lost is found. I love this idea because it confirms what many Latter-day Saints believe, yet much of the Christian world does not accept—that we were once with our Father in Heaven in the premortal life. How can something be restored to something that never happened? We understand that in the premortal existence, a plan of salvation was presented to us before this world was even created that would enable us to become like our heavenly parents someday. This plan required testing. 

But how could we be tested if we remained in an untried state?

In the premortal estate, we did not have the same opportunities that mortality provides to use our agency, and so there was not an opportunity to make mistakes in the same way. And thus, “Adam fell that man might be…” The consequence of Adam’s fall tore us from the side of our Father in Heaven, causing chaos and death, yet giving us the chance to have a mortal body. In order to organize the chaos, Heavenly Father provided His children with a law that, if followed, would satisfy the demands of justice. Justice is a harsh master that requires perfection. Therefore, a perfect sacrifice would have to be performed. How could we, as fallen mortals, ever hope to achieve perfection enough to satisfy the law? Now, unlike in the premortal existence, our actions and agency mattered, and our untried state was no more. 

But what about “…And men are that they might have joy”? If we aren’t able to satisfy the demands of justice on our own, how can we be restored to our Heavenly Father again as the word reconcilio implies? If we all remember correctly, (Can we remember back that far?!) the plan of salvation has a contingency plan built in to it—our older brother was going to come to our aid if we could not live up to our part of the bargain. He promised us, ever so long ago, that He would choose mortality and choose a perfect life. He promised us also that He would accept the demands of justice and law on our behalf, and provide propitiation for all of His brothers and sisters. All of a sudden, it would seem that maybe it would be possible for men to have “joy” in this mortal life after all!

Remember that gorgeous word propitiation? 

To restore harmony with Heavenly Father through sacrifice? 

Ah, therein lies the rub… Someone would have to lose their life on our behalf. 

It is a sobering thought. 

And yet, justice is a harsh task master. 

So, how can we obtain joy in this life when one of our own must lose His life?

We must begin to understand the reasons behind Christ’s sacrifice, and we must believe that those reasons are important enough to motivate us towards a true change of heart.

Some insight into what those reasons might be comes from our dear prophet. In his talk October 2016 conference address, Joy and Spiritual Survival, President Nelson shared with us the importance of the word joy. It was an illuminating discourse for me and it unlocked a key understanding of the word joy that we often read in the scriptures. Joy is an understanding and belief in the great sacrifice that Jesus performed for every single one of us. Joy is an understanding and belief in the great plan of salvation. Joy is an understanding and belief that the Atonement, the reconcilio, happened and that it applies to all of us. Joy is the understanding and belief that through propitiation, Christ really did take upon Himself our sins and our guilt and transferred His perfection to us in return. Joy is an understanding and belief that because of this transfer of Christ’s perfection, grace really is sufficient for all men (Ether 12:27).

Christ’s reasons for propitiation vastly outweighed any reason against not performing. His love for us was, is, and always will be, complete.

Indeed, words have great power. 

Just think… Joy!

The next time you read joy in the scriptures (and once you start paying attention, you will notice it appears frequently in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon), understand that it means knowledge and belief in the plan of salvation.

And so we come back to the verse: “Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy.” Because of our word study, we can understand these words in a new light. Let’s dissect this verse and see what we can determine.

• Adam fell—Where did Adam fall from? He had to fall from somewhere, right? He fell from a premortal existence that found us all by Heavenly Father’s side.
• Fell—Connotes being removed from a place of comfort or organization to a place of chaos.
• That men might be—A choice was involved in the ‘fall’ in order to accomplish something of great importance: that we might receive bodies for our spirits.
• Men are that they—There is a purpose to this life besides just ‘being.’
• Might—A term for uncertainty—maybe, maybe not—yet with a hint of hope. Something is available for the taking if it is accepted
• Have joy—Use the plan of salvation to our advantage to help us return home to our Father in Heaven

Next week’s article, full of more fabulous etymology, will continue to examine how we can be reconciled to Christ!

Jessica Clark

Jessica Clark is a wife, mom, writer, runner, knitter, and proud Canadian. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Anthropology, and has been a student of people and cultures ever since. Right now she is busy studying the behavior and cultures of the people of Texas.

Crowds gather for General Conference in April of 1911.

We know that the early Saints of this dispensation participated in a semi-annual conference, so this event has taken place for just about 200 years. These Saints even held a conference meeting aboard the Big Blue River ferryboat on the Missouri river in 1833. How often, however, do we pause to reflect on the examples of General Conference throughout the scriptures?

How far back does this tradition really go?

Are there patterns that can help us better understand our modern general conference experience?

Let’s take a look.

General Conference of Biblical Proportions

One of the earliest traditions of a spiritual gathering in great numbers comes to us from the Old Testament in the book of Exodus. As the Israelites crisscrossed the wilderness in search of the Promised Land, they were instructed to build a tabernacle—a portable temple. Given explicit instructions, the Israelites carried out the construction to perfection.

It was to be knows as a place of sanctuary, or “a place of meeting,” (Numbers 2:2), and that each man should “pitch his tent by his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house…,” (Numbers 2:2) towards the tabernacle. They were instructed to approach the place of meeting in order to inquire of the Lord. On behalf of the group, Moses would enter into the tabernacle and commune with God, receiving revelation directly from the source. Afterwards, Moses would return and share God’s will with his people.

In this manner, the tabernacle acted as a meeting place for the Israelites to receive revelation. It was also a meeting place of heaven and earth. We know that the Spirit of God cannot dwell in unclean places, and the tabernacle was specifically set aside to provide a place of divine potential for this purpose.

Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

Jesus Himself was known to hold a general meeting or two when He walked the dusty roads during His earthly mission. Often these gatherings take place in an area removed from public life that his followers would have to travel to in order to gain His presence. We find Jesus teaching to multitudes in the desert, on a boat, and in the mountains. These private places take on the same symbolic nature as that of the tabernacle—a sacred space set apart where heaven and earth can be closely united—a sacred space that one must work to find.

In two such cases, we find that the gathered throng has been so intent on hearing the words of Christ that they have forgotten to eat. It is true that Christ’s disciples doubt His ability to feed the multitudes with a few loaves of bread and a meager fish or two, but it has always been Christ’s way to work in miracles. And so He does—providing enough food that there is enough and to spare.

Book of Mormon Stories

The Book of Mormon is also replete with opportunities to see general conference in action.

Lehi

On his death bed, Father Lehi gathers his family—the seeds of a remarkable new nation—around him to share what amounts to a conference talk about the plan of salvation, free agency,  and the need for opposition in all things. He takes special care to speak to the families of each of his children, both sons and daughters, and share with them a final blessing:

“But behold, my sons and my daughters, I cannot go down to my grave save I should leave a blessing upon you; for behold, I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it…

 

“Wherefore, because of my blessing the Lord God will not suffer that ye shall parish; wherefore, he will be merciful unto you and unto your seed forever” (2 Nephi 4: 5,7).

Jacob

Not many years later, Jacob, having assumed the role of prophet from his brother Nephi, climbs the steps of the temple “to declare unto [his people] the word of God” (Jacob 2:2). We know that this general conference also included families, as Jacob tells us so with his own words:

“…I must use boldness of speech concerning you, before your wives and your children…they have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God…the word which healeth the wounded soul.” (Jacob 2: 2, 7, 8)

In this particular case, the message that Jacob had originally prepared to share with his family and friends was put aside in favor of more timely revelation delivered by the Lord. This reflects our modern belief in continuous revelation, as well as the strong emotions a prophet feels for his flock:

“…this day [I] am weighed down with much more desire and anxiety for the welfare of your souls than I have hitherto been,” (Jacob 2:3).

He also tells us that it is his responsibility to share the words that the Lord wishes for his people to hear, no matter the cost of sharing that message:

“…my beloved brethren…according to the responsibility which I am under to god, to magnify mine office with soberness, and that I might rid my garments of your sins, I come up into the temple this day that I might declare unto you the word of God” (Jacob 2: 1).

King Benjamin

We might also recall, as diligent scriptorians, the general conference hosted by King Benjamin at the end of his life when he caused a tower to be erected on the grounds of the temple and invited each of his subjects to “pitch their tents round about, every man according to his family…having his tent with the door…towards the temple” (Mosiah 2:5-6).

On this occasion, the saints came not only to listen to the pleasing word of God, but also to give thanks for their many blessings, one of whom is King Benjamin himself. I love that these saints recognize the benefit of a good leader—a man “who had taught them to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men” (Mosiah 2:4).

Jesus Christ

For all of the examples of religious gatherings in the Book of Mormon, perhaps the most significant general conference we can read about is the one in which Jesus Christ Himself presided. It was a general conference much looked forward to, as Christ Himself tells the assembled throng:

“…I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.” (3 Nephi 11: 10)

And in perhaps one of the shortest conference talks ever given, Christ pretty much lays out the entire gospel complete with visual aids:

“…I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, it the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things…

 

“Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the god of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.” (3 Nephi 11:11,14)

This was certainly a historical occasion, not only because it was so looked forward to from the beginning of time, but because it was a powerful enough event to last in the hearts and minds of a group of saints for almost four hundred years. It changed their social and political views in such a way that differences no longer mattered, and the sharing of wealth and abundance was done by common consent.

Ancient Patterns for a Modern View

In the examples of these few ancient prophets, we have uncovered at least eight patterns that can provide a deeper meaning for our modern general conference experience:

1. A general meeting held in a sacred, set apart location
2. A source of spiritual revelation specific to time, period, or situation
3. An opportunity for families to learn and receive revelation together
4. Prophets invest great care and emotion into each message they share
5. Profound gospel truths are shared
6. It is an opportunity to listen for divine prophecy that can impact our future
7. An opportunity to have our hearts and minds changed forever
8. Guidance for navigating the turbulent socio-political landscape

In the End…

Certainly, dear reader, there are many more examples of general conferences within the pages of the scriptures. I have only chosen to highlight a few that I have grown familiar with as I have searched the scriptures myself. But what I have come away with is an increased reverence for the privilege that we as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been given to participate in this ancient tradition. As these eight patterns show, these events are of a sacred nature and provide another opportunity for heaven and earth to touch for two brief days.

As you listen to the speakers, think about Moses, Lehi, or Jacob as they wrestled within themselves to receive revelation and share the exact message Christ intended for His people to hear. You can be sure that each speaker that will share a message this weekend has endured a similar struggle.

As you listen to the speakers, take a moment to look around at your companions—whether it is a group of friends, your near and dear family, or just by yourself—and recognize that this is exactly how Christ has intended for us to receive revelation, surrounded by those who you feel an increase of love towards.

And finally, recognize that you are taking part in a sacred tradition that has endured from the beginning of religious tradition. Perhaps even before that (think our premortal life). What a welcome opportunity we have to participate in something so sacred and lasting, and to find new and unique ways to make it entirely our own.

Jessica Clark

Jessica Clark is a wife, mom, writer, runner, knitter, and proud Canadian. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Anthropology, and has been a student of people and cultures ever since. Right now she is busy studying the behavior and cultures of the people of Texas.

Entrance to the Garden Tomb, via LDS.org

Many times, a burial will include weapons, food, or trinkets that a social group believed their loved ones could use beyond the grave, clearly indicating a belief in an afterlife.

In one such case in Northern England at an iron age burial site, archaeologists uncovered a rare chariot burial. The departed was laid out in the bed of the chariot with all of his or her grave goods. These items included food, jewelry, weapons, clothing, etc. All was done with great care. But the real show stopper that excited everyone on the team was not the human remains—this time the chariot burial included two standing horse skeletons. This was a massive engineering feat—those horses had to be partially buried alive in order to keep them upright in the grave.

Can you imagine the effort it would take to keep those horses calm long enough to cover them in dirt up to their heads?!

So what does a random, if fascinating, archaeological dig have to do with the resurrection?

Well, to me, a lot.

The Hope for Life Beyond the Grave

As I’ve studied cultural groups and archaeological sites across the world and throughout time, one thing stands out very clear: deep at the heart of the collective human soul, there is a hope—a yearning, even—that this life is not the end and that there is more beyond the grave. It is such a strong yearning that before the advent of machinery, social groups would invest thousands of hours and hundreds of years building monuments and tombs to house their dead in the after life. Some of these monuments are astounding feats of engineering even to our modern sensibilities.

Just think—when food sources, life expectancy, and safety are less than reliable, and every second of your day counts towards your ability to survive tomorrow, it matters how you use your manpower. These monuments tell us a lot about where these social groups placed their priorities: on the afterlife of their loved ones.

To humans ever since the beginning of time, the belief in a resurrection was key to who and what mattered.

Did they understand that resurrection would come through Jesus Christ?

Most assuredly not.

For how could they?

But that didn’t stop the yearning of their souls.

Let’s fast forward a couple thousand years and find out why that yearning, or desire, to believe is such an integral part of human life.

Joseph Smith said:

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” (Teachings of Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1938], 121)

I have a personal belief that the gospel of Jesus Christ applies to all men and women, whether they are members of our church or not. Christ’s resurrection was a moment in history that applied, and applies, to all humans, whatever their belief system.

In fact, when God our Heavenly Father said, “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man,” (Moses 1:39) He really meant it—all men everywhere, during every time.

For those of us lucky enough to have a full understanding of the magnitude of this great gift, we can be emboldened with great power.

Let’s go back to another ancient time to determine just how powerful knowledge can be.

King Benjamin’s Last Sermon

King Benjamin

One of my favorite stories in the Book of Mormon is of a frail old man that finds himself awake at night because of an angelic visitor.

King Benjamin spent most of his life in the service of his fellowmen; indeed, he tells us so himself (but not to boast, mind you).

He was a man that not only served in his role as leader, but he was hard at work supporting his own family. He also stood in defense of his people and used his own sword in their defense. He was a skilled man with a wide and varied background.

And yet, at the end of his life, he finds himself old and frail, compelled by a holy visitor of the Lord to state his last will and testament: his clear and concise declaration of Jesus Christ.

For all the things he did in his life, the last message he gave was that of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ—before Christ even walked on this earth.

King Benjamin tells his sons with all the energy of his soul:

“My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance . . . not knowing the mysteries of God.” (Mosiah 1:3)

He further states:

“… I would that ye should remember to search them diligently that ye may profit thereby.” (Mosiah 1:7)

I do not believe that his use of the term “profit” here refers to money and dominion and fame.

I believe that it does refer to power, though.

The Testimony of Abinadi

The wicked King Noah

Let’s skip forward to a future descendent of King Benjamin—King Noah.

King Noah was not a good guy; in fact, he was a thoroughly nasty guy. He did not heed King Benjamin’s warning to diligently study the scriptures, and his life devolved into something closely resembling chaos.

However, with all of his worldly esteem, he had no power over Abinadi, a guy that showed up to tell him off.

Well, maybe not exactly just “a guy,” but we don’t know much about Abinadi beyond his fireproof testimony.

The testimony of Christ’s Resurrection that Abinadi shared was so powerful that Abinadi declared:

“Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me . . . ye see that ye have not power to slay me . . .” (Mosiah 13:3,7)

The message of Christ’s resurrection was so powerful that it could protect a man from his enemies.

We read of others in the Book of Mormon that shared the same testimony with much the same results, such as Alma and Amulek, Lehi and Nephi (the brothers in 3 Nephi), and Samuel the Lamanite… Just to name a few.

So what is it about this message that bears so much weight? Abinadi tells us himself:

“And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption. And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.”

(Mosiah 16:6-7)

And then he sums it up with this joyful noise:

“But there is a resurrection[!]” (Mosiah 16:8)

Can you imagine the boldness of this statement?!

Abinadi lived over a hundred years before Christ—and on another continent, no less—far removed from the social group and belief system that Christ would be born into.

And that is precisely what I love about Abinadi—he knew. And his knowledge gave him power.

And it can give you and me power too.

How do you feel when you read these words of Abinadi?

“But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.”

(Mosiah 16:8-9)

This is the game changer.

And it fills me with so much hope.

Death is Not the End

The grave hath no victory. The “sting” of death is swallowed up. The “sting”—I love that. Death, or any change, brings pain. But it doesn’t have to linger.

All of a sudden, the human story changes. Death is no longer the end of our ancient story. It becomes the middle, the way point; a chance to move forward into something greater.

Abinadi tells us more about this next great adventure:

“Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption . . .” (Mosiah 16:10)

When I read these words, I can’t help but think back to all of those cultures throughout time that built up fascinating and awe-inspiring monuments to life after death on the merest hope that there was a chance for an afterlife.

But enough about the ancients! What does this mean for us?

When I look at my children, I see eternal growth, an eternal family, and eternal opportunities to be driven crazy by my crazies. When I look at myself, I see eternal opportunities to repent of my woefully misguided mistakes and blunders… But I also see eternal opportunities to study and learn about the history and future of this great earth and all the people on it. When I look at my husband, I see eternal opportunities to love and be loved. An eternal opportunity to be with my best friend. I didn’t always think that way, but time, trials, and perspective have taught me much about love.

And when I look at the world, I see my eternal sisters and brothers, many of whom I have already met and have learned to love and value as my own.

The message, the good news of the gospel—the Resurrection—is designed to give us hope. A hope that we can be better, a hope that we can lift and serve more. A hope that you and I can make a difference, a hope that the life we live on this planet matters far longer than our mortal life. A hope that the monuments we build in this life do actually matter beyond the grave.

And that hope in Christ should lead to faith in ourselves, and in Christ’s plan for us to inherit all that He hath—to the effect that we act. Act in His name, and in His ways, to lift others to Christ, just as He was lifted on the cross and later ascended to heaven.

The ancients built monuments with a hope that it would add meaning to their afterlife. With the gift of the scriptures, modern prophets, and personal revelation, we of this generation know this to be true: that there is meaning in the afterlife.

And just as Abinadi of old had the power to withstand King Noah and his men as long as it was the will of God, we too can access that power, but in a different way—perhaps to overcome the fear of reaching out to strangers—as we seek to build a rock solid testimony, or a living monument, of the power and glory of Christ’s greatest gift: the Resurrection.

Featured Image: He is Not Here by Walter Rane

Jessica Clark

Jessica Clark is a wife, mom, writer, runner, knitter, and proud Canadian. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Anthropology, and has been a student of people and cultures ever since. Right now she is busy studying the behavior and cultures of the people of Texas.

Yes, everyone everywhere is looking to party and get gifts and to eat as much as they possibly can. Even if you don’t believe in Santa, or a Christ-centered Christmas is not your thing, a feeling of celebration and merriment is still in the air. It is almost tangible, like you could stick your fingers in it and get all pruny.

For myself and my family, though, I hope to make our celebration one that revolves around Christ and all that His birth means to the Clarks, as well as to the world. And that is what I want my boys to feel and bask in at this time of year.

Traditionally, when we think about Christmas and the the birth of Christ, our minds are immediately drawn to the Christmas story that is found in Luke chapter 2. We read about Joseph and Mary and their journey through the wilderness towards the ultimate event of the ages: the birth of the baby Jesus.

When we read this story, there is a sense of loneliness that permeates our souls—how could they possibly be turned away from the Inn?

Who does that?!

Who in their right mind turns a pregnant woman in labor away?!

And the actual birth of the baby occurs in solitary confinement—there is only Joseph to help walk Mary through the shadow of death to deliver a son that wasn’t even his.

I will admit, just thinking about this and the reality of the situation brings me to tears. Having gone through the experience of childbirth myself, I know that it is difficult and scary at best, and that includes being in a sanitary hospital surrounded by the latest medical technology and doctors galore. I can only imagine that for a girl who was little more than a teenager, this was a dark and dismal affair.

And isn’t any trial that we must go through dark and dismal? Don’t we often wonder at the reason for such troubled times? We often stumble along, unaware of what came before or what comes next, just focusing on the shroud of darkness in our way.

It is here, though, that I want to turn the tables on this, our Christmas story.

We all know through our reading of Luke 2 that Mary and Joseph were not really alone. Angels were watching over them and calling out glad tidings of great joy. A new star in the heavens was even winking its silvery light from the heavens above. Wise men had been journeying from afar to reach the side of this newborn babe, their adventure beginning most likely months in advance.

This was an event that was not some random occurrence. It was—and is—the reason for all that is our reality. And Mary and Joseph on that day so long ago were the focus of all that we hold dear—yesterday, today, and forever.

I have never been one to see what is right before my nose. In fact, it takes a pretty decent amount of time before I can actually see things making sense before my eyes. So please forgive me when I say that I did not fully grasp the reason for the Book of Mormon until a few years ago. That would put me at over 20 years of reading these pages over and over and over again. Pretty frightening when you think about.

Something changed in my reading comprehension a short while ago that made all the difference.

I began to realize that literally each prophet bares his testimony of Jesus Christ. There are so many powerful witnesses of Christ, his Atonement, and the plan for our salvation. In some way or another, each prophet shares his own experience discovering this testimony for himself.

And almost all of them include a special witness of Christ being born. Let me share three of my favorite examples: Nephi, Jacob, and King Benjamin.

Nephi

Nephi Rebuking His Rebellious Brothers by Arnold Friberg

Nephi. What a guy. What. A. Guy! I love his honesty with himself and with us. He often tells us in his writings just how it is with him, and I have grown to love his honesty. And it is because of this honest approach to his writings that I truly believe his testimony of Christ.

Is there anything more humbling than a young man taking himself apart and choosing to ponder on the things of God? That is exactly what Nephi was doing when he was caught away in the Spirit and asked if he believed in his father’s vision of the tree of life.

His response is nothing short of awe-inspiring:

“Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father.”

 

(1 Nephi 11:5)

I just can’t get over this bold statement: THOU KNOWEST.

It is then that Nephi is given his own vision, because if you read closely, you begin to understand that Nephi is treated to a little bit more than his own father saw.

Nephi sees the tree that his father saw and then:

“…after I had seen the tree, I said unto the Spirit: I behold that thou hast shown unto me the tree which is precious above all.

 

And he said unto me: What desirest thou?

 

…To know the interpretation thereof.”

 

(1 Nephi 11:9-11)

I love this. Nephi is speaking with the Spirit of the Lord and is being shown exactly what his father saw, and yet, he is burning to know more. And lucky him, for he is about to witness the Christmas story play out before his very eyes.

And he doesn’t even know it.

Which, to us, may seem unfathomable, even silly. But remember, Nephi grew up practicing the law of Moses, and at that time the very reason for this law had been forgotten.

Here is the next part of the story:

“And it came to pass the he said unto me: Look!

 

I looked…and beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair…

 

…and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?

 

And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair…

 

And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?

 

…I said…: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do know know the meaning of all things.”

 

(1 Nephi 11:12-17)

A depiction of the tree of life by Jerry Thompson

Even the great prophet Nephi had to start somewhere! I find myself very lucky to be at the beginning of his spiritual journey, and humbled to know that Nephi’s testimony, a testimony that I have relied upon myself hundreds of times, begins with this Christmas story.

Nephi’s story goes on from here. He is shown the mother of the Son of God bearing a child in her arms and is told by the Spirit that this child is,

“. . . the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!”

 

(1 Nephi 11:21)

And then Nephi is asked again if he now understands the meaning of the tree which his father saw. This time, Nephi knows the answer:

“…it is the love of God…”

 

(1 Nephi 11:22)

It is now that Nephi begins to understand and the vision is further unfolded to him.

For me, this is as beautiful as the original Christmas story. We get to see the beginning, the middle, and the end of the life of Christ and the importance of this event to mankind.

We understand the magnitude of the trial that Mary and Joseph are subjected to.

Jacob

Jacob is the younger brother of Nephi. We first hear about him when Nephi mentions the birth of Jacob and Joseph while his father dwelt in the wilderness in 1 Nephi 18. It is in this chapter that Nephi builds a boat and then sails with his family across the ocean. We learn that Laman and Lemuel tie Nephi to the ship’s mast and how this distresses Lehi, Sariah, and these two younger sons.

I can only imagine that this instance weighed heavily on Jacob throughout his life, and was probably a main factor in his decision to follow the example of his brother Nephi. We learn in Jacob 1 that Nephi gave Jacob the plates and charged him with the task of writing only that which was sacred.

And Jacob takes this calling very seriously.

“For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming…

 

Behold,…we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him.”

 

(Jacob 4:4-5)

Jacob also tells us in verse six of this chapter that he and his brother Joseph had many revelations during their time, and knew that Christ would be born and His kingdom would reign on earth.

I believe that he and Joseph must have had a similar experience to Nephi, and were also shown by the Holy Spirit the birth of Christ and His life thereafter.

Why do I believe this? As I have begun to seek out the testimonies of Christ from each of the prophets in the Book of Mormon, I have begun to notice some similarities. Let me share the testimony of King Benjamin with you and you can decide for yourself.

King Benjamin

“And the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel from God…he said unto me…Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee…the glad tidings of great joy.”

 

(Mosiah 3:2-3)

This is almost word for word a well-known verse in Luke:

“…I bring unto you good tidings of great joy…”

(Luke 2:10)

Something fishy is going on here…

King Benjamin goes on to say that the Spirit further witnessed unto him:

“For behold, the time soon cometh, that…the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth…shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay…

 

And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.”

 

(Mosiah 3:5,8)

There you have it again—another testimony of the Christmas story shared by a worthy king 121 years before the birth of Christ.

As I prepare to celebrate Christmas with my family this year, we are going to search the Book of Mormon and seek out further testimonies of Christ and try to discover the similarities of each.

I think it is the very nature of the book that prompted the prophet Joseph Smith to say:

“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on Earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

 

(Book of Mormon Introduction)

And finally, the next time you read the Christmas Story in Luke 2 and think of Mary and Joseph and their lonely journey, please remember that they were not alone. They had the hope and faith of all the holy prophets and anyone who believed on their word—and that includes all those who came before, and all of us who would come after. It is not a too farfetched an idea to consider just who was there that holy night oh so long ago.

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

 

(Luke 2:13-14).

This article was originally published in December 2015. Minor changes have been made.

Jessica Clark

Jessica Clark is a wife, mom, writer, runner, knitter, and proud Canadian. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Anthropology, and has been a student of people and cultures ever since. Right now she is busy studying the behavior and cultures of the people of Texas.

Like, your mind says “yes”, but your heart says “no”?

Potentially, this could be an incredibly touchy subject, but lately my friends, I have been suffering from a case of the “gimme’s”.

And that, I think, is exactly the problem.

Perhaps it is just schedule overload, I don’t know. But with two kids in football on opposite sides of the city, practicing three times a night with games on Saturday to boot, Church callings, community responsibilities, and various other obligations, I find myself barely able to stay afloat.

In between all of that, there is the inevitable daily routine of chores, cooking, and wrangling homework and breaking up fights.

So, all in all, I’m looking at a great big goose egg when it comes to me time.

This is where I find my focus starting to shift–shifting from “us” to “them”. I begin to feel outnumbered by my own team.

MAKING A CHOICE

For a marriage and a family, this is no bueno. Choosing to make a life together is just that–building a life TOGETHER. It is no longer just about “me” because you have just promised to make it all about “us.”

And the crazy thing is, when I find myself focusing too much on what I am doing for everyone else, and what they are not doing for me, I don’t even realize it. In fact, I feel justified in taking a daily tally of all the things everyone forgot to do.

Sometimes, I might even get a little bit of a rush out of it.

And nope, please don’t even bother to point out how childish that is. I promise you, you just don’t want to go there.

It is almost as if I have allowed a wolf in sheep’s clothing to enter into the very places that I have promised to protect–my marriage and my home.

TAKING MY OWN ADVICE

There is a little saying that I am constantly shouting out to my children:

“IT ENDS WITH YOU!”

Every time they come running to tell me what their brother just did to them, I calmly listen to their side of the story and then I ask them what they did first. It makes them stop in their tracks. You can see their little minds screeching to a halt as they realize that, Hmmm, maybe they themselves did have something to do with getting punched in the gut.

“I punched him first.”

I saw that one a mile away.

“It ends with you,” I calmly (not so much) remind them, and then tell them to go find their brother and give them a hug.

Yep, I usually say that to my kids. But maybe, just maybe, I should say it to myself too.

If I am feeling empty, used up, and under appreciated, it’s probably because I am focusing too much on myself at the moment. I mean, I could make a list a mile long with all of the:

• I did this
• I did that
• I woke up early to do x
• Didn’t you even notice that I did y
• For the last time, I already answered b!

I am sure this all sounds so familiar. I don’t mean to air out the dirty laundry, because I am sure you are tired of doing it over and over and over again and you simply don’t have the time for another load. But the fact is, we all have our loads to carry, it’s just all about how you look at it–what you choose to focus on.

And choosing to make it end with you.

Now, let’s get a few things straight here. I am not suggesting that mothers, or perhaps fathers, should do everything they have to do and just accept that as their lot in life.

I am suggesting, however, that we at least recognize the things that our family members are, in fact, doing.

REWIND, RETHINK, REWORK REALITY

Sometimes I do feel so overwhelmed with my role as mother. I feel so overwhelmed that I can hardly see or hear when my family is helping me. I get so used to feeling sorry for myself that I just assume that they aren’t helping along the way.

That is simply not true though. They actually do quite a lot. And they can do quite a bit more if I swallow my pride, get over the “gimme’s”. and ask them to help out some more.

It is easy to play the victim because it requires absolutely no brain power. Just like my sons, when they come running to me to complain about being punched in the gut, feeling totally justified in tattling, I sometimes allow myself to feel completely justified in feeling like I want to throw the towel in.

However, when I ask my kids what they did to deserve such retribution, their brain has to stop, rewind, rethink, and rework reality. Maybe there is more to the story than just a swift punch to the gut. Maybe it’s something that they have control over, like–what if they actually threw the first punch?!

So, what if I did a little rewinding, rethinking, and reworking reality of my own. Maybe there is more to the story than what I am telling myself. Perhaps I am simply choosing to not recognize the efforts of others to keep the home fires burning.

You see, when it becomes all about you, division is created and you are no longer a team player. And marriage and family is all about playing on the same team.

BUILD A FIRM FOUNDATION

An oft heard phrase is:

A house divided cannot stand.

Wouldn’t it be a sad thing if one of the very foundations of that house created the instability that made the house fall?

I have admitted to you that sometimes it actually is me that creates the division. If you are feeling discontent at home, I urge you to look inward and consider your own feelings. I have found that sometimes I am setting my sights on goals that are not at the right time or place.

To read more articles by Jessica, click here.

When I find myself thinking too much about “what can I achieve?” instead of “what can we become together?”, I hope I will take my own advice and remember:

It ends with you.

Marriage and families are special things, but they are only as special as we make them. This year is the 20th anniversary of The Family: A Proclamation to the World. I urge you to read it again and listen to a prophet’s voice remind us just how important marriage and families are to life here on earth.

And remember:

“No other success in this life can compensate for failure in the home”

President David O. McKay

Jessica Clark

Jessica Clark is a wife, mom, writer, runner, knitter, and proud Canadian. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Anthropology, and has been a student of people and cultures ever since. Right now she is busy studying the behavior and cultures of the people of Texas.

Before we trundle on any further, I would like to clarify what I have dubbed as our own “first vision”.

YOUR OWN FIRST VISION

The Sacred Grove

When Joseph shares with us his version of his journey of discovery in the Sacred Grove, he is essentially telling us how he developed an unwavering testimony of God’s hand in his own life. For each of us, we all must embark upon that journey ourselves if we want to create a bedrock foundation of truth to base our life on. Because, essentially, we do not choose to become active members of any type of group if we do not ascribe to its basic tenets.

And so, it only stands to reason that we would need to have our very own awakening–or, first vision.

HISTORY LESSON

I believe that if you want to understand something to its fullest, you have to understand the social and historical context in which you find it. Delving into the history of America leading up to Joseph’s encounter with deity does indeed give one food for thought.

After the revolutionary war with England, America was left with the scattered remnants of an old way of life. What Americans did know about themselves, however, was what they did not want their government to look like.

Under English rule, Church and State were united and there was a firm belief that God had put every individual in his or her place, and that struggling to overcome it was considered vulgar and socially unacceptable. In a way, this held society in a rigid social caste that had not changed much over centuries. If one wanted to be a part of the Church, you had to be born into a specific social group, and more often than not, those who joined the Church did so to provide themselves with a living, not necessarily because they had any predisposition to feel united with God. This led to a sabbath day that was not very uplifting and clergy members who were more interested in protecting their interests than in protecting their flock.

When America and England went their separate ways, a religious vacuum was left behind. No longer was there an organized state religion, nor was there any way of training members of the clergy. The playing field was leveled and many players stepped in to fill the gap.

Between the 1790s and 1830s, religious fervor (or fever) began to run high. During this time, the fastest growing religions became evangelical Methodist and Baptist. These religions preached individualism and celebrated ordinary people rather than favoring a more elitist mentality. They focused on a person’s free agency to change one’s circumstances, as well as relying on the grace of God. This was a far cry from the rigid social structure of the English empire.

Camp meeting during the great revival era of 1830.

The fire of religious zeal caught on and soon the most popular preachers were holding huge camp revivals that boasted gatherings of up to 30,000 people. In one such case, so caught up by the emotional appeal of the preacher, 20,000 people were baptized in one go.

For those of a similar lifestyle as Joseph and his family, choosing a religion was no small thing. It is easy to understand how anyone would become confused in such an atmosphere of fiery energy and emotional investment.

LEARNING FROM A BOY PROPHET

So let’s turn back to a young boy’s own historical observation, because this is where the pattern begins.

“In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?”

(JSH 1:10)

Joseph Smith

In this verse, Joseph expresses his confusion and discontentment. But, he also expresses his care. He cares enough to ask the question–”What is to be done?”. Do we care enough to ask our own questions? Do we care enough to want an answer? The first step in developing a testimony is to care.

In the very next verse, we discover the second phase.

“ While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

(JSH 1:11)

Even though he was just a young boy, he “labored” with his conscience and wanted help. And so, he began to study things out in his mind. He turned to the scriptures, the main source of knowledge available to him at the time. Within these holy pages, he found some guidance–if you don’t understand something, go to someone who does–God. And when you do go, go in faith, nothing wavering.

It is the same with our day. We must study out for ourselves–do our own research before we go before the Lord.

After declaring how important this verse was to him, Joseph goes on to say that he took himself apart for quiet and contemplation.

“After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God.”

(JSH 1:15)

This question was of such great importance to the young boy, he chose to remove himself from all worldly distraction. I love how he says it was a place that he “had previously designed to go”. The Sacred Grove was not some random choice. It is apparent from his words that Joseph Smith thought intently about his familiar surroundings and decided upon a place that seemed to him to be the most useful for contemplation.

If we ourselves want to receive personal revelation, we too must determine to rid ourselves of all that the world provides to distract us with.

First Vision by Gary Kapp

And lastly, Joseph prayed. He opened up his heart and poured out his questions and concerns. Not only did he ask a question, he waited for an answer despite all the turmoil he felt come over him.

“finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.”

(JSH 1:15)

AGAIN AND AGAIN

Just like Joseph Smith, we ourselves might not get an immediate answer. We might be overcome with such feelings of depression and fear that we waver between continuing in faith or giving up. But, if we care enough and are earnest enough, we can overcome this negative influence and continue to remain faithful.

Afterall, that is just what Joseph did, and eventually, he received his answer-a most marvelous answer that changed the history…and future of mankind, as we know it!

IN THE END

Much like the boy Joseph, we too live in a time when we are beset on all sides by buffeting voices calling for our attention and care. Whether they be social, emotional, political, or cultural, the distractions are very real and can be confusing.

Which is the right voice?

What path should I choose?

Who can I trust?

Why should I do this?

To read more articles by Jessica, click here.

The key to continuing on the right path is to begin like Joseph Smith did–to care. To care enough to ask a question. To care enough to study and research your dilemma. To care enough to to remove yourself from the cares and distractions of the world as you search. And finally, to care enough to take your decision to the a loving Heavenly Father; always remembering, however, that sometimes the process might need to be repeated again and again.

By staying close to the Spirit your questions can and will be answered, and you too will be entitled to your very own first vision–one that will set a foundation of belief for the rest of your life.

Jessica Clark

Jessica Clark is a wife, mom, writer, runner, knitter, and proud Canadian. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Anthropology, and has been a student of people and cultures ever since. Right now she is busy studying the behavior and cultures of the people of Texas.

It wasn’t until our last son Elden that I started to really think about why this song has become a staple lullaby at our house. Every night I tell him that I am going to sing him his favorite song, and he gets really excited and asks: “Is it going to be the Paw Patrol song?!” And then he starts to grumble when I break into the familiar refrain, “I am a child of God…”. But, more often than not, by the end, my little blond boy has joined in and is adding his own heartfelt melody.

Inevitably, night after night, after we have sung our duet, he always asks anew: “Mom, why do you always have to sing that song?!”

And of course, I always respond: “Because my dear boy, if there is one thing I want you to know deep within your heart, it is that you really are a child of God.”

GENERAL CONFERENCE 2016

You can probably imagine my surprise then, when, during the last Spring Session of the General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Hallstrom chose this very topic to speak on.

In his talk entitled “I Am a Child of God”, Elder Hallstrom asks us to ponder whether we really know this statement to be true for ourselves. He reminds us that sometimes, even the most important information can sometimes get lost in the background of our lives. But, he firmly states, the understanding that we are indeed children of a loving Heavenly Father is:

“essential to exaltation. It is foundational to comprehending the glorious 

Plan of salvation and to nurturing faith in the Firstborn of the Father, Jesus the Christ, and in His merciful atonement.”

Lately, I have felt the very real burden of teaching my children how to develop a testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for themselves. Just as Elder Hallstrom reminds us, I feel that it is all too easy for this precious knowledge–that we really are sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father–to become background noise.

Just like when I sing this song to my children at bedtime, sometimes the words are filled with wonder, and sometimes–they are sung by rote just to get the darn kids to bed.

So, how do I ingrain this gift of knowledge into the souls of my sons? Many prayers have I uttered in the hopes of gaining some direction, and after listening to this talk, I feel like I have received some direction.

To begin, Elder Hallstrom makes an interesting observation:

“Here on earth, we identify ourselves in many different ways…our place of birth, our nationality, and our language…by their occupation or their hobby. These identities are not wrong unless they supersede or interfere with our eternal identity–that of being a son or daughter of God.”

After reading this particular passage again, it became obvious to me that if I can enable my children to remember their divine heritage, it will be easier for them to make good choices. I thought about the song that we have sung together so many times–”I Am A Child of God.” I thought about my little talk with Elden every night when he asks why we sing that song so often.

And then I wondered if maybe I was stretching things a little too far.

I have come to realize, in my old age, that doubt is a tool of Satan. When we seem to be on the right path to obtaining revelation, he likes to sneak doubt in to disrupt our peace.

So, I turned to the scriptures.

GENERAL CONFERENCE CIRCA. 124 B.C.

And sure enough, in Mosiah Chapter 3:11-12, King Benjamin has this very same discussion with his band of faithful followers, at a very similar set-up to our own General Conference.

“…as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God…and always retain a remembrance, the greatness of God…and his goodness and long-suffering towards you…

Behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God…”

Essentially, King Benjamin is teaching his people that they are spiritual sons and daughters of God. He tells them that if they hold this knowledge within their hearts daily, they too will develop a strong testimony of Heavenly Father.

Along with imparting this knowledge to his followers, King Benjamin also speaks some very powerful words that have become one of my very favorite scriptures:

“Believe in God; believe that He is, and that He created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that He has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth…”

(Mosiah 4:9)

I love the boldness of this verse. These words remind us that it was our very Father in Heaven who is responsible for all things. And if that All Powerful Creator loves us enough to provide us with a Savior to return to Him someday because He wants us to always be with Him, then surely we can use our divine knowledge that we are His children to direct our paths for good.

And that is just what King Benjamin goes on to teach his people. In Mosiah 4:12-16, we find this direction:

• If ye do this ye shall always rejoice

• Be filled with the love of God

• Always retain a remission of your sins

• Grow in the knowledge of that which is just and true

• Ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably

• Ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked

• Or transgress the laws of God

• Or fight or quarrel with one another

• But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness

• Ye will teach them to love one another and to serve one another

• Succor those that stand in need of succor

Ah, this is what I have been searching for all along–a guideline for my boys to develop a testimony of God that will help them to choose the right.

IN THE END

And so, the other day, I had a little talk with my sons. I gathered them around me like a hen gathers her chicks and we sang this song together:

I am a child of God,

And He has sent me here,

Has given me an earthly home

With parents kind and dear.

I am a child of God,

And so my needs are great,

Help me to understand His words,

Before it grows too late.

I am a child of God.

Rich blessing are in store;

If I but learn to do His will

I’ll live with Him once more.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,

Help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do

To live with Him someday.

When we were done, I told them that if they ever felt bad because of what someone said about them, or if they were ever confused about what choice to make, if they sang this song to themselves by the time they were done they would feel God’s love. Feeling God’s love would help them to forgive and forget, or help them choose the right path. Over time, I told them, they would begin to recognize the familiar Spirit that accompanies this knowledge and that this feeling would be the Spirit of God witnessing to them that the words of the song are indeed true–I am a child of God.

To read more of Jessica’s articles, click here.

It is my hope and prayer, as it has been since the very day we welcomed each child into our home, that my boys will one day develop their own strong testimonies of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Plan of Salvation. I know that the words Elder Hallstrom and King Benjamin spoke are true–that this very basic, yet divine, knowledge can bring with it an awesome power–the power to choose the right no matter what the obstacle. That is the foundation of my testimony, and I hope, one day, it will be a firm foundation for my children as well.

Jessica Clark

Jessica Clark is a wife, mom, writer, runner, knitter, and proud Canadian. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Anthropology, and has been a student of people and cultures ever since. Right now she is busy studying the behavior and cultures of the people of Texas.

Before I go on, I want to throw out the disclaimer that, just like the atonement, I don’t think that grace is something that we will ever fully understand in this life. I think that it will take a trip to the other side of this mortal life to truly know just how much Christ has done for us. With that being said, I do believe that we should spend our mortal existence striving to know as much as we can about the special gift that Christ offers to us all-grace.

FILLING IN THE GAP

My new calling (volunteer opportunity) in church is to work with the Young Women–girls ranging in age from 12-18. Every sunday we meet together to discuss Christ and how his gospel can help to strengthen us through our trials and help us to achieve our dreams. One particular Sunday, the discussion of forgiveness came up.

As usual, we talked about how it was important to forgive because Christ has commanded it of us.

“I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.”

(D&C 64:10)

That’s when someone raised their hand and asked:

“But how do you do that?”

Touche!

True, it is really hard to forgive someone who has done you wrong. Especially when there is no justice meted out. But, we must daily remind ourselves that Christ didn’t just atone for our personal sins and shortcomings, he also suffered for each and every pain we might one day feel at the hands of ourselves or another.

It becomes easy to forgive (although still much easier said than done) someone when we allow ourselves to give up the pain and anger and frustration caused by another to the Lord’s great atonement.

So, let’s recap here.

• Christ died for our sins
• Christ died for our pains
• Christ died for our shortcomings

Basically, that means that our foibles are already taken care of, right?!

If Christ can take away the pains that we cause someone else, and the pains that someone else has caused us…can’t he take away the pain that we cause ourselves to feel?

Therefore, he has already made up for our very mortal imperfections.

We need not be perfect in this life (but we have been asked to try!) because Christ has already met the demands of justice for us. He has used His atonement to pave over our sins, weaknesses, imperfections, and so forth. He doesn’t just send down a ladder to help us climb out of the whole we have dug for ourselves—

There is no hole.

SO….WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU SAYING?!

Clearly, we need to discuss further here, because right now I myself am just a wee bit confused.

But I find that if I explain this idea to myself this way, I can understand it better.

Every day, before I leave the house to drop the kids off at school, I insist that we do our chores. I do not want to leave the house with it in a riotous mess. I want everything to be in ship-shape order.  That means that I will usually forgo breakfast in order to snap my fingers at the kids like a lion-tamer and shuffle them along from one task to the next. While I think that teaching them to stick to a schedule and fulfill their responsibilities is an essential part of parenting, the reality of the situation is–no one is going to grade me or them for the state of my kitchen after the school bell rings.

The only person imposing these demands on my family, and ultimately myself, is…well, me.

This, I believe, is the at the very heart of accessing the Lord’s grace. We impose the restrictions on ourselves. We are the one’s who suffer from our own personal pride, shame, or embarrassment–all things that keep us away from truly using Christ’s gift of grace.

That is why repentance is so important. It is the humble reminder in our life that keeps us turning our hearts and minds back to Christ and His gift of grace. Repentance keeps us on the path towards perfection. And, it helps us to always remember him.

THE FAITH BRIDGE

I think that no discussion about Christ’s atonement and gift of grace would be complete if we did not touch on faith.

“For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

(Ephesians 2: 8-9)

Let’s take this scripture and dissect it for a moment.

“For by grace ye are saved…”= Christ’s atonement is what makes up for all that we lack and for all the silly mistakes we make because of what we lack.

“…through faith:…”= We must have faith that Christ did atone for our sins, and that the atonement can truly make up for what we lack. It is this faith that keeps us repenting and returning to the Lord every time we make a mistake.

“…and that not of yourselves:…”= We have nothing to do with meeting the demands of justice caused by our fallen state. Only Christ can make up for that.

“…it is the gift of God…”= This bit I can see going two different ways–either Christ himself is the actual gift referred to here, or that Christ’s atonement as factored into the Plan of Salvation is the gift. But, I guess in either case, it all comes back to Christ and his atonement as the gift.

“…Not of works, lest any man should boast.”= There is nothing that we can do that can stand in place of Christ, his atonement, and the grace that it affords to mankind. Nothing. When we boast, we are turning away from Christ and choosing to bind ourselves with pride.

TAKING CHRIST’S YOKE UPON US

Understanding this has led to me to understand another concept that I have had trouble grasping in the past–that of taking Christ’s yoke upon us.

In Matthew 11: 28-30, we read:

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Just how are we supposed to take Christ’s yoke upon us?!

I mean, I can understand that His yoke might equal obeying his commandments, but how does that take away our pains and afflictions and ease our trials?

This has always left me so confused.

But now, with my new understanding of grace and how Christ has used His atonement to cover our imperfections, I understand this.

When we remember his sacrifice for us daily, and how it has already made up for what we lack, we do gain a power that can push us through our trials and spur us forward to good works that we might not be able to do on our own. It is in the understanding that the fight has already been fought and won that we can faithfully proceed with good works and slogging through trials.

Taking Christ’s yoke upon us simply means choosing to have trust that his atonement is all powerful, and that it can make up for what we lack, rather than being sucked back down by the World’s taunting that we are worthless and don’t deserve to strive for perfection.

Taking Christ’s yoke upon us means that we turn away from pride, and refuse to feel ashamed or embarrassed any longer after we have accessed His grace through repentance.

Taking Christ’s yoke upon us means that we have faith that the atonement is, in fact, enough.

Yoke accepted. Grace used. Good works done.

I guess now, the only thing that stands in the way of accessing the Lord’s grace in our own lives is…ourselves.

It’s not our imperfections or mistakes.

It’s not our sins.

It is our own pride, shame, or embarrassment that keeps us from turning our hearts and minds back to Christ each time we stray. We keep ourselves from repenting, nothing else.

IN THE END…

It is no wonder why Nephi admonishes us at the very end of his life to:

“…persuade…our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

(2 Nephi 25: 23)

Christ’s grace is available to all, but if we do not know that it is there for us, or how to use it, how can we find our way back to him?

We are asked to “always remember him” (D&C 20:79), and I believe this is because it is in the remembering of Him and what the atonement means–that justice has already been taken care of–that gives us courage to press forward in becoming like Him.

So, after more careful thought, I think I can add to my understanding of grace. I think that just like Sherlock Holmes, I can conduct a little experiment. The next time I am faced with a trial–big or small–I will put my new key to the test.

To read more articles by Jessica, click here.

And sure enough, last night, when my husband woke up with a pain in his shoulder and was moaning and groaning, I didn’t really feel like helping. I knew that if I fully woke up, it would be an hour or two before my brain shut back down again. But, I thought, you know what, Christ has already made up for me not wanting to help my husband at two in the morning, so maybe I can change my mind and show some compassion.

That was just what I needed to spur me on to good works.

Two extra strength Advil, one ice pack, and 60 minutes later, I was back in the business of sawing logs and grinding my teeth–sleep. I was resting easy, knowing I had used my new key to access  Christ’s gift of grace to turn a trial into a good work and realizing that it had worked.

Jessica Clark

Jessica Clark is a wife, mom, writer, runner, knitter, and proud Canadian. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Anthropology, and has been a student of people and cultures ever since. Right now she is busy studying the behavior and cultures of the people of Texas.

In fact, the term standard is from an old Frankish word for field sign.

Over time, standards became an important symbol of a nation’s freedom and rights. Those fighting under the standard were so converted to this symbolism that they would protect the actual standard with their life. One of Napoleon’s standard bearers is said to have continued holding his standard high even after losing both of his legs to cannon fire.

If the standard fell to the enemy, it meant defeat. It meant the end of life as that society knew it.

STANDARDS IN THE SCRIPTURES

In the scriptures, we read about standards too, although the name they have been given is ensign, another term for the same word.

In 2 Nephi 15: 26 we read:

“And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth; and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly; none shall be weary nor stumble among them.”

2 Nephi 21: 10 says:

“And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek; and his rest shall be glorious.”

In the Doctrine and Covenants, Zion is referred to as a standard in section 64:42–

“And she shall be an ensign unto the people, and there shall come unto her out of every nation under heaven.”

And what about the great Captain Moroni and his Title of Liberty? This story is a perfect illustration of just what a standard means to a group of people.

CAPTAIN MORONI SETS THE STANDARD

I know most of you have probably read this story in the Book of Mormon a dozen or more times, but here is a little refresher for those of us who need one:

In Alma chapter 46, we are introduced to a man named Amalickiah. It is said that he was large and strong and exceedingly wroth against Helaman and his brethren.

At this point in the history of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma has just departed out of the land of Zarahemla never to be seen again. He is replaced by his beloved son Helaman as the prophet, and Helaman sets out among the people declaring the word of God and preaching repentance.

Enter Amalickiah. He and his friends, many of whom are members of the ruling body of the land, albeit lower judges and therefore not wielding much power, decide that they are not interested in hearing what Helaman has to say. In fact, Amalickiah is so not interested in repenting or hearing the word of God that he begins to believe that he himself should be king. It has been 19 years since the Nephites last had a king, instead being ruled over by a group of judges, and Amalickiah wants to change all that.

He sets about leading away the hearts of the people through flattering words and promises of power. Not only is he successful in convincing his friends that he should be the sole ruler over the Nephites, he begins to succeed in drawing faithful members of the church away from their beliefs.

Soon, Nephite society as a whole is in an uproar.

It is here that we are first introduced to Captain Moroni. We are told that he is the chief commander over the armies of the Nephites. As a military man who has given his life in the defending of the Nephites against the Lamanites, one can imagine that he was not very impressed with a radical upstart who is trying to destroy the Nephites from within.

What was so wrong with Amalickiah’s desire to be king?

The difference between being ruled by a king and being ruled over by a body of judges is simple–freedom.

A king is beholden to no one. He alone decides what goes and what doesn’t. He can decide who gets freedom and who has broken the law. But a group of judges who are elected by the voice of the people can keep one another in check and thereby not one person gets a decided say in the rule of law.

This is what Amalickiah was trying to change–who determines individual freedoms.

Captain Moroni was not interested in Amalickiah’s form of government. And he is about to raise an army standard to prove it.

“And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it–In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children–and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.”

(Alma 46: 12)

I find this very interesting in light of army standards. Captain Moroni rends his coat in a sign of mourning for a society that he loved enough to give his life for. As he says above, this was a society that allowed for himself and his family to worship their god and afforded peace for his family. He knows that if this society is abolished that this will not be the case for long.

Remember that an army standard represents everything that a nation or a group of people stand for?

It is not until Captain Moroni puts on his full suit of armor and takes up his title of liberty–his standard–that he bows himself down to the earth and offers up mighty prayer unto God. Not only does he beseech God to protect the cause of Christians and freedom throughout the land, but he even lays out the very coordinates of the land that he is referring to.

“And it came to pass that when he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land which was south of the land Desolation…all the land, both on the north and on the south–A chosen land, and the land of liberty.”

(Alma 46: 17)

What Captain Moroni is essentially doing here is declaring holy war. He has risen a standard, has put on his emblems of war–his armor–and has asked God to justify his efforts and keep his army from destruction unless “we bring it upon us by our own transgressions” (Alma 46: 18).

When Captain Moroni finishes his prayer, he takes his cause to the people.

“Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.”

(Alma 46: 20)

He is asking others to join his army–to flock to his standard and to take an oath to protect their way of life.

And, oh, how they come!

“And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God…”

(Alma 46: 21)

I love this so much. The people came running…running! They didn’t stop to think about it. In fact, they came already prepared to fight in their own armor and rending their own garments as an oath to God.

These are men that are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in, even if it is not popular. Even if it is uncomfortable. Even if it means going against society.

IS THERE A STANDARD TODAY?

Do we find ourselves in scenarios like this in our day?

Are the values that we hold dear being eroded and degraded?

Has someone raised a standard for us?

Is there anything we can do?

It is true, if we are discerning, to see that we are living in a time quite like Captain Moroni found himself. And the values we hold dear are being mocked on every hand. A standard has been raised and there is something we can do about it.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers quite a few standards:

• The Family: A Proclamation to the World
• The Living Christ document
• The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
• The Plan of Salvation–shared by missionaries around the world
• Temples
• Prophets

As Captain Moroni was the standard bearer in Book of Mormon times, Christ is our standard bearer today. He has given his life in defending His gospel, and has provided us with these standards as symbols for us today.

But a standard only works as a rallying point if we are sure of what it stands for. If our testimony wavers even slightly, what is standing between us and our standard when the battle is raging around us? Will we stand firm and rally? Or do we turn coat and run?

In the old days, a person who did not rally and ran away was called a deserter. They payed for this offense with their life.

Christ will not require us to forfeit our life though. In fact, he has given us our agency to choose whether to rally or run. Incredibly, he has given his own life so that we can have the opportunity to choose.

If we are unsure about what our choice would be during times of stress, or if we are facing a trial of our faith right now, I urge you to choose one of these standards mentioned above.

Study it.

Pray about it.

Study it some more.

Find others to talk to about it.

Figure out if you are converted.

To read more articles by Jessica, click here.

A converted soldier is one who stays with the standard even when his legs have been blown off. A converted soldier is one who tries to emulate his master daily and in all things. We become converted as we seek our Savior through scripture and prayer daily so that we might have His Spirit with us always.

Will we come running with our armor on and with our garments rent? Ready at a moment’s notice? Are we ready to stand with Christ and Captain Moroni today?

Choose a standard and find out!

Jessica Clark

Jessica Clark is a wife, mom, writer, runner, knitter, and proud Canadian. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Anthropology, and has been a student of people and cultures ever since. Right now she is busy studying the behavior and cultures of the people of Texas.