Approaching Deity
This one will be a religious post, so warned. All the usual disclaimers apply. While I will be referring to a discussion hosted by two apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ in this dispensation, the opinion, and commentary will be mine, and mine alone.
On 4 March 2017, Elder Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve, and President Eyring of the First Presidency hosted a Face to Face meeting, with the youth of the Church present, and through the world via the internet. It was broadcast from Palmyra, NY, near the site of the First Vision. For those who don't know, the First Vision was when God the Father and His son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Church),in direct response to his prayer. The Church recently released a new video regarding this event.
Here is the link to the Face to Face:
https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/face-to-face/eyring-holland?cid=HP_SA_4-3-2017_dPFD_fArchive_xLIDyL1-C_&lang=eng
And the link to the First Vision video:
https://history.lds.org/story/first-vision
The face to face drew heavily from the book of James in the New Testament, chapter 1, verses 5 and 6.
5 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.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
How many of us have wanted to know the truth of something? How many of us simply want to know that God knows us, each one? How can we know it? James provides the answer. So, what were some of my takeaways from this event? There were so many, let me list two.
Let me start by explaining what an opportunity it was, and is, to know that God has not left his children without modern day revelation, and modern day prophets to help understand His Will, today. Both President Eyring and Elder Holland are ordained Apostles. They fill the same role that the Apostles did after Christ ascended to heaven. They preside over the church, and provide realtime guidance. They are special witnesses to the Resurrected Christ, and so testify throughout the world.
A question was asked regarding a more informal manner of prayer, and a more casual conversation with God. True, He is our Father in Heaven. True, He loves us in a manner that we can only slightly glimpse as earthly parents to His spirit children. True, He wants us to call on Him, He is ready to answer. President Eyring reminded that we should remember that we are approaching the throne of God, to petition Him. Probably a truly casual relationship is not appropriate.
The second was far more personal to me. It was a question about Patriarchal Blessings. An explanation. A Patriarchal Blessing is individual guidance given for our lives. It is received under the hands of a duly ordained Patriarch. It is a blessing that tells many things. President Eyring said that when he received his, the patriarch, though related, knew nothing about certain things in his life, and yet they were referenced in the Blessing. It does provide promises, future blessings, and warnings.
The question was something that I have often thought about. Most of the blessings listed are predicated on the faithfulness of the recipient. I have not always been as faithful as I am now, or need to be. I often asked myself if the blessings promised were still available. If somehow God would still find me worthy of receipt of them. What I learned, was that God knows us. He knows each of us so well, that the blessings will come, in His time, when we are worthy to receive them. This life? maybe. Eternity? Definitely. In a different conversation, but in the same vein, Elder Holland said that you cannot put a stopwatch on God for answers to prayers.
He is right.
The Face to Face is about an hour. The First Vision, just a few minutes.
If you have questions about what I have written, or about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, you can either ask me, or visit mormon.org
On 4 March 2017, Elder Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve, and President Eyring of the First Presidency hosted a Face to Face meeting, with the youth of the Church present, and through the world via the internet. It was broadcast from Palmyra, NY, near the site of the First Vision. For those who don't know, the First Vision was when God the Father and His son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Church),in direct response to his prayer. The Church recently released a new video regarding this event.
Here is the link to the Face to Face:
https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/face-to-face/eyring-holland?cid=HP_SA_4-3-2017_dPFD_fArchive_xLIDyL1-C_&lang=eng
And the link to the First Vision video:
https://history.lds.org/story/first-vision
The face to face drew heavily from the book of James in the New Testament, chapter 1, verses 5 and 6.
5 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.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
How many of us have wanted to know the truth of something? How many of us simply want to know that God knows us, each one? How can we know it? James provides the answer. So, what were some of my takeaways from this event? There were so many, let me list two.
Let me start by explaining what an opportunity it was, and is, to know that God has not left his children without modern day revelation, and modern day prophets to help understand His Will, today. Both President Eyring and Elder Holland are ordained Apostles. They fill the same role that the Apostles did after Christ ascended to heaven. They preside over the church, and provide realtime guidance. They are special witnesses to the Resurrected Christ, and so testify throughout the world.
A question was asked regarding a more informal manner of prayer, and a more casual conversation with God. True, He is our Father in Heaven. True, He loves us in a manner that we can only slightly glimpse as earthly parents to His spirit children. True, He wants us to call on Him, He is ready to answer. President Eyring reminded that we should remember that we are approaching the throne of God, to petition Him. Probably a truly casual relationship is not appropriate.
The second was far more personal to me. It was a question about Patriarchal Blessings. An explanation. A Patriarchal Blessing is individual guidance given for our lives. It is received under the hands of a duly ordained Patriarch. It is a blessing that tells many things. President Eyring said that when he received his, the patriarch, though related, knew nothing about certain things in his life, and yet they were referenced in the Blessing. It does provide promises, future blessings, and warnings.
The question was something that I have often thought about. Most of the blessings listed are predicated on the faithfulness of the recipient. I have not always been as faithful as I am now, or need to be. I often asked myself if the blessings promised were still available. If somehow God would still find me worthy of receipt of them. What I learned, was that God knows us. He knows each of us so well, that the blessings will come, in His time, when we are worthy to receive them. This life? maybe. Eternity? Definitely. In a different conversation, but in the same vein, Elder Holland said that you cannot put a stopwatch on God for answers to prayers.
He is right.
The Face to Face is about an hour. The First Vision, just a few minutes.
If you have questions about what I have written, or about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, you can either ask me, or visit mormon.org
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