So I haven't been the best at keeping up my blog.
Today, I was emailing a friend some insights that I had last year during a Sunday School lesson about the Old Testament. After I finished typing this up, I thought this was worth sharing, in case anyone reads this and needs a little reminder how much Heavenly Father loves them.
In D&C 121:34-46, (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/121?lang=eng) we learn that in order for men to use Priesthood power, they have to follow certain principles, which include selflessness, humility, righteousness, charity, virtue, etc. Also sometimes reproving people with sharpness, but then showing an increase of love, so that they know we are not their enemies and that our faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death. So I started thinking about our Heavenly Father, and how if this is really His power, then He must be perfect at showing each of these traits. I specifically was interested in how He sometimes reproves with sharpness and then afterwards shows increased love.
So I looked at a few of the most obvious Old Testament stories where He used a lot of sharpness, like when He drowned all the wicked people in the Flood, and when He confounded the people's language at the tower of Babel. Did He show an increase of love after both of these incidents?
The answer is definitely "yes", with a capital JESUS. (John 3:16-17, http://youtu.be/EjIlhu-yuTI)
There are scriptures that elaborate even more on how those people experienced this increase of love. The prophet Joseph F. Smith's vision (D&C 138:6-9 and vs. 29-37, or http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/138?lang=eng) explains how the Atonement was taught to those who died in the flood. And then Acts 2:1-8 (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/acts/2?lang=eng), and D&C 90:8-11 (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/90?lang=eng) demonstrate how the Gospel message surpasses language barriers. The Atonement shows that Heavenly Father's love and faithfulness is indeed stronger than the cords of death, and not just figuratively, but with Jesus's literal resurrection.
I've felt reproved at times by Heavenly Father, perhaps even with some sharpness. Ultimately though, these feelings are far surpassed by such an outpouring of love from Him. This is the core of the Gospel message. In her book, "A Heart Like His", Virginia H. Pearce compares our Father in Heaven to a parent on Christmas Eve. He delights in blessing us. (See Micah 7:18, http://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/micah/7?lang=eng) He expresses that love in so many ways, in fact in every way that a great parent expresses love.
Its inspiring to know that Heavenly Father's work continues after this life much the same as here. Angels work is to fulfill the covenants that Heavenly Father made with mankind (Moroni 7:27-34, and of course the rest of that chapter is so brilliant! http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/7?lang=eng). But this angelic work doesn't just happen in the Spirit World, or the afterlife. In the April 2007 General Conference, Elder Holland talked about the ministry of angels:
http://www.lds.org/general-
Angels are doing a considerable amount of work on us too, here in the world of the living! I love the thought that some people are also angels. Somehow Heavenly Father sends them to us at the right time to help us, to lift us, to fulfill the covenants that Heavenly Father has made with us, and to remind us of His love for us. If you think about it, perhaps the only difference between a person and an angel is that a person is mortal.
The Priesthood is literally the power of heaven here on earth, the power to do Heavenly Father's work, to fulfill His promises, and to communicate His love and the pathway home to Him. Heavenly Father doesn't only want to save us - He wants to exalt us! I feel so humbled and grateful for the Priesthood. I love how it gives us an opportunity to participate in the work of salvation. With the Priesthood, the work of exaltation seems to begin here on earth and then extend into eternity.
