The Animal In Us

One of my all time favorite quotes from Neal A Maxwell:

So it is that real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed! Such is the “sacrifice unto the Lord … of a broken heart and a contrite spirit,” (D&C 59:8), a prerequisite to taking up the cross, while giving “away all [our] sins” in order to “know God” (Alma 22:18) for the denial of self precedes the full acceptance of Him.

I Scarce Can Take It In

More than 25 years ago I was in my car in a bank teller line. I was waiting for the car ahead of me. I must have had my window rolled down because I could hear the two women talking, the teller and the lady in the car in front of me. It was a small town and it was the Monday after Easter Sunday. They were talking about their Easter Sermon. They were both very disappointed and their sermon had left them wanting. As I listened I remember thinking how I had not left church that Easter Sunday disappointed or wanting. The gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness never leaves me wanting. In fact, truly, it fills me to the point that sometimes as the song says, I scarce can take it in.

C.S. Lewis

One of my three adorable one year old grandchildren is named C.S. Lewis. Quite like C.S. Lewis the author and theologian she has a way with words, well at least one word. Take for example the word “dog”. She excitedly spews that word from her mouth as well as any famous author ever could. That being said, let’s talk about the theologian. ☺ I really like the following words by Neal A. Maxwell where he quotes Clive Staples Lewis. It does however, contain a word I do not particularly like. You’ll know it. ( I much prefer “dog”.) Yet, I do love the quote with its pointed message. Elder Maxwell quotes C. S. Lewis when he said, “Do not company with fornicators---not because you are too good for them but, as C. S. Lewis wrote, because you are not good enough.” Point well taken.

The Tree of Life

I used to have the Illustrated Stories of the Book of Mormon. You know the ones. The young hungry zealous returned missionary comes to your door one summer afternoon and convinces you that you need them and then springs the shocking price on you. Yip, those ones. I no longer have them. Probably not long after I finally paid them off, I gave them away, by then the kids were grown and almost gone. One of the volumes had such an interesting preface in it that I wrote it in the front of my scriptures before I gave the book away. It was about the tree of life. Here is a little summary of that preface along with information I found in my Book of Mormon Reference companion.

The tree of life first grew in the Garden of Eden and as long as Adam and Eve partook of the fruit they lived eternally. We know the story. From the time of Noah the sacred tree of life became a religious symbol. The true meaning of the tree of life was lost through apostasy. It is fascinating to know that throughout the centuries various cultures portrayed the tree of life and its life giving fruit in their art and literature. Those cultures obviously knew something about the life-giving tree. Interestingly some Egyptian coffin lids actually depict a goddess growing out of the tree of life. All are interesting yet they are distortions and counterfeits of the original sacred tree. “The true meaning was that whoever ate the fruit could live eternally by arising in the resurrection after death.” This true meaning was restored to ancient Israel during the time and leadership of Moses and yet lost that meaning again over time. Knowing this gives deeper understanding to what we know of Lehi’s significant vision of the tree of life.

It is really interesting to me to know that the tree of life is symbolized in the menorah. The tabernacle built in the wilderness during the time of Moses housed the solid gold menorah. It stood before the entrance to the Holy of Holies. The burning lamps of the menorah symbolized the unending light from Jehovah to the children of Israel. This coincides with what we know about the fruit on the tree in Lehi’s vision. Symbolic of the love of God.

The menorah in the tabernacle stood as tall as a man, representative of the sacred tree. It did not hold candles as some small replicas we see today. It held and burned olive oil. The same sacred oil used to anoint. The Book of Mormon Reference companion says, “Even the lamps of the menorah filled with olive oil represent the presence and life of God. Anointing with olive oil symbolized partaking of the tree of life, whether in anointing prophets and kings, or in anointing the sick with a blessing of renewed and restored life.”

I love how each “piece” of the gospel of Jesus Christ fits together like the pieces of a puzzle. I love the tree of life piece of the puzzle. It adds understanding and depth to what I already know about Lehi, his vision, and the gospel in general. Each time a new puzzle piece is added, we can see more clearly our Heavenly Father’s plan. Awesome.

Always Learning

I’ve been reading “Yearning for the Living God” by F. Enzio Busche. It is a wonderful book filled with so many inspiring stories. One of the stories I like best is one he told when he was the president of the Frankfort temple. A small group of American military had come to attend the temple with one sister who had come to receive her own endowment. As Pres. Busche was teaching them about the temple prior to the session the one man in the group asked Pres. Busche when he thought the church would give the Priesthood to women. I love how Pres. Busche handled the situation. Rather than quickly giving a “stern response” he allowed time for the spirit to teach him so he could then teach the members of the group.
He said that a “calmness” entered his heart and He heard himself saying things that were even “somewhat new” to him. He said marvelous things to these sisters and brother about the Priesthood. He told them that the priesthood is neither male nor female, although it does have a male part and a female part and that different roles are given to men and women. It is through eternal marriage that the priesthood becomes complete. He elaborated on the various roles of men and women. My favorite part was that he said the role of men was to provide, protect, and admire. I love that “admire” part. The members of the group he taught that day were touched by the spirit and their hearts were softened as they were then “enlightened and their attitudes became mild and receptive” and “they were ready to participate in the additional experiences of the temple.”

I think the main principle I learned from Elder Busche in his book is just what he did in this situation; before we say words that we may regret or that can be too stern, allow the spirit to enter and teach. We can then proceed, being guided and enlightened. I love that.