IT CAME!!!
Tyler received his mission call. Belgium Brussels/Netherlands Mission, he reports January 28. I’m very excited. Email me if you want to see the video and I’ll send you a link. brian@amosfamily.net
Abrahamic Tests
Laurie mentioned a talk by Elder Maxwell on her blog I remember liking it, I haven’t read it in a while. It deals with murmuring.
I really should preface this post by some doctrinal insights that I’ve come across lately that have been really intriguing to me. Perhaps the main insight is that we must all overcome our own Abrahamic test. This insight came while reading a talk from the Sperry Symposium Classics on the Old Testament on this subject. I had heard mention of this idea before, but I really didn’t understand it. That talk made it come alive. In order for us to return to live with our Father in Heaven we must pass through the refiners fire. That occurs while we are passing through our tailor made trials. During these trials we are refined, provided we continue to persevere. For the last month or so every talk I hear, evey thought I have about the scriptures, I see the refiners fire. From Lehi bringing his family (whether they wanted to or not) out of Jerusalem to the promised land, to Moroni watching all of his people either deny the Christ or be killed. I can only imagine how hard it was for Lehi to get to the Tree of Life and relize that his two oldest sons weren’t there with him!
The talk about murmuring made me think about how we live our lives. Some will have one huge trial, others will have to endure many smaller ones. Some, it seems, only exist to pass through difficult times. During the priesthood session tonight Elder Eyring said that as he sees men who look like they are sailing through life he knows that either they have had a severe trial, or will soon have one. I can’t imagine Abraham murmuring as he took Isaac out into the wilderness during his severest of trials. While I’m sure that was the most difficult, it was definately not the only trial Abraham had. It seems that his life was one trial after another. It seems to me that throughout the scriptures are examples of the trials the prophets faced, and how they overcame them. From Adam, to Cain and Abel, to Peter, James and John, to Joseph Smith. None murmured. They patiently bore all of their afflictions, knowing that what they were obliged to experience on Earth was of little importance if they were saved in the Kingdom of God.
This idea scares me a bit. Perhaps scares isn’t the right word. Humbles is a better choice. It humbles me very much as I don’t see that I’ve had a life full of trials or tribulations. I’ve always had what I needed, I’ve always been healthy, I’ve always felt that the Lord has blessed me greatly. I’ve had a few difficult things to pass through, but at the time they didn’t seem difficult. I hope that as we pass through the refiners fire we might continue faithful, that the dross will be removed that we will be made pure.
I’m very grateful for the Atonement of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ. That through His great sacrifice in Gethsemane and Golgotha we might be made pure. I am also grateful that through His sacrifice we might receive the comfort, peace and strength we need to patiently overcome the trials through which we must pass. That we may be made perfect in that great day is my prayer.
Favorite Scriptures
(Book of Mormon | Moroni 7:42 – 48)
42 Wherefore, if a man have afaith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.
43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be ameek, and lowly of heart.
44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.
45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But charity is the pure blove of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
