Being one, but not alone

Dear friend

If there is one of something it stands alone, separate, unique, singular. However if there is one of something and that something is a collective noun, it is not so easy to see its singularity. I'm thinking of a pod (of dolphins), a family (of beavers), a quorum (of Apostles), a parliament (of owls). As a collection of more than one it is not so easy for a collective to make a claim to uniqueness or singleness. But a group is a separate, distinct, lone entity, albeit a group has at least two and usually more members.

I'm quite interested in the dynamics of how groups act together "as one". The concepts of synergy and economies of scale would suggest there is inherent value in "some" becoming "one". The results can be powerful, even beautiful; such as with a murmuration of starlings and their undulating, mesmerising flights during the roosting season.

The concept of "many as one" is interesting as used in the scriptures, especially as the Lord sometimes applies it. For example in Doctrine and Covenants 35:2.

2 I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one.

A great debate in Christendom is the nature of the Trinity. Without giving a full treatment to that doctrinal dispute, this verse clearly teaches how a "we" may be a "one" in Christ, comparing it to Christ's oneness with the Father. Obviously in both cases this is not about being the same literal embodied person. Further insight can be found in the New Testament, Romans 12:4, 5.

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

In this case a "many" is a "one". The benefits of being "at one" as a Church body in Christ include; unity, mutuality, peer support, interdependence, collective achievement and more. Indeed the Lord says elsewhere that if we are not one we are not His.

Of course the perfect example of unity, especially of our being in and at one with Christ, is when we partake of the great "at-one-ment" (Atonement) of Christ. I hope we can see the value of being at one with Christ so He can verily be in us. I pray we will learn how to be unified with Our Lord as we come to understand the complete unity of purpose that exists between the Father and the Son.

Samuel.

Service is essential to salvation

Dear friend

There are a few very essential reasons why we are on the earth. We must obtain a physical body so as to become more like our Father. We must learn to live by faith which includes keeping God's commandments. We must make sacred covenants; purifying promises with God. When we err we must repent, learning from our mistakes as well as our achievements.

While we are completing this blessed bucket list, we pad out the rest of our mortal moment with work, play, rest and the miriad of minutiae that fill our lives, 24 hours at a time.

As we live with our eyes fixed on the eternity to come, I believe it is still important to focus on the geotic journey. In fact, I think the journey - the way we get through our terrestrial test - is a key aspect in determining our destiny. One of the basics of living a good life is described in the New Testament, Romans 15:1-3.

1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

I am convinced it is an essential element of earth life that we strive to assist each other to get through it. I love the idea that "you cannot help someone get up a hill without getting closer to the top yourself". Serving others as a lifestyle lynchpin is, I believe, as important to our eternal prospects as is living by faith. In some ways they are the same thing.

Jesus Christ is the One in whom we must have faith. We demonstrate that faith by how we live our lives. The best way to ensure you are living a good life is to pattern it after the Lord; to do the things He did. And at the core of His life was service to others, helping those in need, bearing the infirmities of the weak.

I hope that it will be an item on our daily bucket list to help someone where we can; to "please our neighbour". I pray that we will develop service giving as a defining part of who we are - a core characteristic of our better nature - to take the time or make the time to seek opportunities and be responsive to situations where we can improve the lot of others. Service is a spiritual lifestyle choice.

Samuel.

Nothing to gain from gainsaying

Dear friend

The ancient peoples that made up the children or house of Israel were given many promises. One of their opportunities was to be the means of blessing all the other people of the world as messengers or witnesses of God. Sadly Israel often spurned their chances to be chosen, electing instead to indulge in the practices of heathens. Perhaps recognising that in his day things had not changed much for Israel, the Apostle Paul spoke of them in the New Testament, Romans 10:21.

21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

"Disobedient" is a word with which we are sadly all too familiar, but "gainsaying" is one of those King James Version words long since dropped from modern parlance. It is defined as denying the truth, opposing, disputing, contradicting what is right. Gainsaying is a choice people make to rebel against an authority by refusing to accept what is true. A further, more descriptive treatment of gainsaying Israel is found in the Book of Mormon, Jacob 6:4-6.

4 And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long; and they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people; but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts.
6 Yea, today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts; for why will ye die?

Some truths are "inconvenient" or so it would appear, particularly if they tell us something we don't want to hear. In justifying their disobedience to some requirement people often try to suggest that the underlying principle of truth is somehow not correct. They block their need to comply by refusing to accept what they know deep down is right.

So let us learn the lesson of Israel's inconsistency and not harden our hearts by becoming gainsayers. Rather let us cleave to God with full purpose of heart. I pray that we will be true to truth and the only thing we deny is ungodliness.

Samuel.

Full of faith like Abraham

Dear friend

The great patriarch Abraham is a central figure in Judaism, Christianity, Islam as well as various lesser known religious traditions. Like others did, the Apostle Paul highlighted Abraham's life as exemplary. He once wrote about Abraham's great faith by citing the experience of him being told he was to become a father - at 100 years old. This was many years after having first been told he was to become the father of nations. Even nowadays, with all the advances in medicine, it would still be amazing to hear of a centenarian and his "barren" 90 year old wife conceiving.

Yet Abraham was not only full of years, he was also full of faith. Once he had understood the actuality of the expected child, he completely trusted God's promise, despite everything that would say it was impossible. Paul describes Abraham's faith in the New Testament, Romans 4:20, 21.

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

There is surely a lesson here for us. All received wisdom would stand against the prospect of a child being born under these conditions. But Abraham was not the least wavering in his trust. As with God Himself, Abraham in like manner acted as if it had already happened. He gave glory to God for having received the promised blessing.

Paul's phrase emphasising the totally of trust is enlightening: "being fully persuaded". If God were to tell you that some problem will all work out right, can you be so fully persuaded as to act like you know it will? If you worry about a past sin, do you sufficiently trust those called and set apart to assist you, so that in due course it becomes "remembered no more"? If the Prophet gives counsel that applies to you, is your faith firm enough to take it in?

I hope that we can grow towards total trust in God. I pray our faith becomes strong like Abraham's.

Samuel.