Space
There is never enough time is there? The time we have and what we do with it is what matters the most because we are accountable for our time spent in this life. How, when we stand before God, can we think to justify what we do not actually believe? Excuses that seem well enough for others in this life, excuses that we adopt because we see them put to use, will pale in His presence. As such, time, in conjunction with our actions, is our most precious commodity.
It is easy to think, ever being raised in the gospel, that there will be plenty of time for worship and deity in our lives - later. 'Right now, I just want to have fun. I still believe, but I don’t want to do anything (about it).' While we are young it is very easy to slip into this state of mind that allows for sloppy adherence, even complacency. We are learning new things and seeking new experiences - rightly so, as these help shape us into the people we will be as adults.
However, it is very easy (especially for youth) to become distracted by those experiences and place the pursuit of more life experience above our eternal goals. Take the case of Alma the younger. Not only was he raised in the church, his father was the Prophet. Talk about serious blessings! Anyway, he and his friends (the sons of King Mosiah) began to kick against the pricks when it came to the gospel. Sure they were surrounded by people who believed, but they hadn’t ever experienced the conversion. I imagine Alma as a typical young man, looking to his father for all the answers while young, even believing for a time the teachings of his father. But, as all children know, 'Because my father said so' only carries you so far with your friends.
Alma and his friends not only rebelled by not coming to church and practicing their religion, they went about persecuting the righteous people in the church. How much dishonor did he bring his father and his family? I don’t know how to measure it other than to say: a lot. Of course, his father, Alma, prayed for both his sons and the sons of Mosiah. Because he had such great faith in the Lord, his son was visited by an angel while in the presence of his friends. So great was the power shed upon him that he fell to the ground and was unconscious for a few days. Of course, in the account we read that he repented of his ways and Alma and his friends spent the remainder of their lives trying to rectify the damage they had done.
This is but one account we have of a miraculous visit from a heavenly being. Now, how does that work? How do Angles simply appear and disappear into thin air? Let me tell you a story about a place called Flat-Land. Flat-Land is a place where everything is two-dimensional. Which means, all things in Flat-Land, trees, animals and people can only move towards or away from each other in their sphere (2D). What if a person was traveling along a road in Flat-Land and came up against a wall they could not climb? How would the person move past it? Let us assume that this person cannot dig under it and cannot go over it. What then?
Well, you, who are not in Flat-Land, might pick them up and place them on the other side of the wall. Of course, the Flat-Man has no understanding of moving in 3D, so all he knows is that you moved him from one side of the wall to the other - a miracle! What if Flat-Man was choking on something and you reached in from the side and took it out of his throat? Another miracle! And would that not make you an angel or even a god to him?
Now let us assume that Flat-Land represents the earth on which we reside. We are the Flat-People and God and his angels are the ones who do those things which we cannot, being so limited in our view and understanding. Taking that one step farther, how many worlds has God created? An infinite amount? Assume now, that every Earth is represented by another piece of paper and they are all laid on top of each other in a book. Or woven together in some tapestry that He keeps charge of.
Is that a little easier to understand how God can keep tabs on everything? Of course, this is metaphorical in nature, but the Space and Time issue in regards to miracles really made send to me when I was 12 years old.
__________________________
Also, Congratulations to my youngest brother and his new wife, Michon! They were married this last weekend and a joyous occasion was had by all. Good luck, you two!
It is easy to think, ever being raised in the gospel, that there will be plenty of time for worship and deity in our lives - later. 'Right now, I just want to have fun. I still believe, but I don’t want to do anything (about it).' While we are young it is very easy to slip into this state of mind that allows for sloppy adherence, even complacency. We are learning new things and seeking new experiences - rightly so, as these help shape us into the people we will be as adults.
However, it is very easy (especially for youth) to become distracted by those experiences and place the pursuit of more life experience above our eternal goals. Take the case of Alma the younger. Not only was he raised in the church, his father was the Prophet. Talk about serious blessings! Anyway, he and his friends (the sons of King Mosiah) began to kick against the pricks when it came to the gospel. Sure they were surrounded by people who believed, but they hadn’t ever experienced the conversion. I imagine Alma as a typical young man, looking to his father for all the answers while young, even believing for a time the teachings of his father. But, as all children know, 'Because my father said so' only carries you so far with your friends.
Alma and his friends not only rebelled by not coming to church and practicing their religion, they went about persecuting the righteous people in the church. How much dishonor did he bring his father and his family? I don’t know how to measure it other than to say: a lot. Of course, his father, Alma, prayed for both his sons and the sons of Mosiah. Because he had such great faith in the Lord, his son was visited by an angel while in the presence of his friends. So great was the power shed upon him that he fell to the ground and was unconscious for a few days. Of course, in the account we read that he repented of his ways and Alma and his friends spent the remainder of their lives trying to rectify the damage they had done.
This is but one account we have of a miraculous visit from a heavenly being. Now, how does that work? How do Angles simply appear and disappear into thin air? Let me tell you a story about a place called Flat-Land. Flat-Land is a place where everything is two-dimensional. Which means, all things in Flat-Land, trees, animals and people can only move towards or away from each other in their sphere (2D). What if a person was traveling along a road in Flat-Land and came up against a wall they could not climb? How would the person move past it? Let us assume that this person cannot dig under it and cannot go over it. What then?
Well, you, who are not in Flat-Land, might pick them up and place them on the other side of the wall. Of course, the Flat-Man has no understanding of moving in 3D, so all he knows is that you moved him from one side of the wall to the other - a miracle! What if Flat-Man was choking on something and you reached in from the side and took it out of his throat? Another miracle! And would that not make you an angel or even a god to him?
Now let us assume that Flat-Land represents the earth on which we reside. We are the Flat-People and God and his angels are the ones who do those things which we cannot, being so limited in our view and understanding. Taking that one step farther, how many worlds has God created? An infinite amount? Assume now, that every Earth is represented by another piece of paper and they are all laid on top of each other in a book. Or woven together in some tapestry that He keeps charge of.
Is that a little easier to understand how God can keep tabs on everything? Of course, this is metaphorical in nature, but the Space and Time issue in regards to miracles really made send to me when I was 12 years old.
__________________________
Also, Congratulations to my youngest brother and his new wife, Michon! They were married this last weekend and a joyous occasion was had by all. Good luck, you two!
posted by Jeremy at 8:38 AM
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