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.
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