It is my adopted philosophy that the purpose of formal gospel education is to provide an opportunity for students to take away at least one thing to remember in their lives. I figure the best method, at least in my case, is to take what you learned and write it down. In Brother Celaya's lesson this week, I've got three ideas to store in writing:
Firstly, fathers should have words for their sons to remember. While there are many references throughout the scriptures, this idea was taken specifically out of Alma 36:17-18 where Alma the younger recounts his dramatic conversion experiences to his son Helaman. As Alma was in a state of utmost despair, fearing the damnation of God while in his awful state of sin, he remembered the words of his father, Alma the High Priest, who preached unto the people concerning "Jesus Christ, a son of God, to atone for the sins of the world." Remembering his father's words is what enabled him to call on Christ in his time of need and recover from is awful state. Thus the idea is that fathers should waste no time in finding and sharing words specifically for their children to remember.
Second, is the idea that 'suffering is the process of self-change.' It really doesn't matter how much money we make, how much recognition we get, or really if we accomplish much at all in this world. Isaiah spent his whole life suffering and working hard only to fail in saving a hard-hearted people. What matters to an individual is how they have changed to become more like their Father in heaven. I can't think of any better way to change but what will require suffering to some degree either through affliction or self sacrifice. Often the greater suffering brings about greater change.
Finally, something referred to as the "Law of Restoration." This is taken from Alma 41, applying the change that comes over our souls in the Resurrection. Essentially, the point is that "Wickedness never was happiness" so you will not be changed from sin and/or wicked desires to light and good desires. Rather, in receiving a perfect and immortal body (described as 'spiritual' body by Paul) you are raised by God 'to your desire.' He helps you achieve what you really want and strive for by giving you the ability to obtain it--either eternal happiness or eternal misery dependent upon what direction you are pointing in. In other words: at the resurrection you are exactly the same person you were before… just enabled.
No comments:
Post a Comment