Jesus Christ

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Apostolic Witness

January 17, 2010 in Jesus Christ by Greg | 7 comments

In the quote below, M. Catherine Thomas related a personal experience she had with her husband, twelve other mission presidents and their wives, in Buenos Aires in 1997. In this account Jeffrey R. Holland, an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, referred to his own apostolic witness of Christ’s resurrection:

Doubting Thomas by Caravaggio It was mid-morning in the Area Offices in Buenos Aires, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and his wife were due to arrive, but had been delayed by an emergency in a distant place. With little sleep and little time to refresh themselves, they entered our seminar room. After Elder Holland greeted each of us personally, he stood in the semicircle formed by some thirteen mission presidents and their wives and said, “We are not yet the Church of Jesus Christ.” His context was “the real way to do missionary work,” but the larger meaning of his principles went down into our hearts. “I testify that we are preparing for something, and there is a big gap between what we are and what we must become. I don’t know when the Savior will come, but the work is going very fast – faster than you think.”

“Why isn’t it easier?” he asked. “Because,” he answered, “we don’t believe in cheap salvation or cheap grace. We have to be pushed to the limit, back to the wall. Then the angels come and God speaks: ‘Be patient, Ill give you success. The only way out is through.’ We have to drink the bitter cup, even though we’re wanting, wishing for, another way. The Savior is the model: ‘I’ll drink the bitter cup to its dregs.’ The last words he said in the Old World were, ‘I will finish.’ The first words in the New World were, ‘I did finish.’ He suffered the will of the Father. This is required of all of us too. We bow our head and say, ‘Yes.’ That’s when all the miracles happen. We must be stretched as we can be, and then God will step in with His power.”

Then this: “If there are no miracles, it’s because we don’t want them. The majority don’t have miracles because they don’t live where miracles happen. When we become as obedient as Christ, we will have miracles.” He paraphrased the little French poem about our having to risk coming to the edge in order to experience the miraculous: “God says to us: ‘Come to the edge.’ ‘No, I’ll fall.’ ‘Come to the edge.’ ‘No, I’ll fall.’ ‘Come to the edge.’ So, I came to the edge, He pushed me, and I flew.”1

Then he paused and said, “I love Jesus Christ and have a relationship I cannot really share. He is the most compelling theme in my life – a very rewarding obsession. I have often borne witness: Now I AM a witness. I am a witness of the Resurrection in the same sense as Peter, James, John, Brigham, and Wilford.” His witness is the fruit of unconditional commitment.2

Elder Holland’s apostolic witness is similar to David O. McKay’s testimony in the post Partakers of the Divine Nature.

Sources:

  1. Based on my notes from the Mission Presidents Seminar, Buenos Aires, October 1997.↩
  2. Thomas, M. Catherine. Light in the Wilderness: Explorations in the Spiritual Life. Orem, Utah: Amalphi Publishing, 2008. 318-319.↩

No Atonement Except for the Character of Christ

November 10, 2009 in Jesus Christ by Greg | No comments

Last weekend, in an address about the recent Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple Dedication, our stake president referred to a talk by David A. Bednar called “The Character of Christ.”1 In this talk, Elder Bednar stated:

The Temptation of Christ by Ary Scheffer Last September I participated in an area training meeting in Twin Falls, Idaho. Elder Neal A. Maxwell presided at the training session, and on a Friday night and a Saturday morning he, the Idaho Area Presidency, and other general church officers instructed a group of approximately one hundred stake presidents. It was a meaningful and memorable time of spiritual enrichment, learning, and edification.

During the course of his teaching and testifying, Elder Maxwell made a statement that impressed me deeply and has been the recent focus for much of my studying, reflecting, and pondering. He said, “There would have been no Atonement except for the character of Christ.” Since hearing this straightforward and penetrating statement, I have tried to learn more about and better understand the word “character.” I have also pondered the relationship between Christ’s character and the Atonement–and the implications of that relationship for each of us as disciples. This morning I hope to share with you just a few of the learnings that have come to my mind and heart as I have attempted to more fully appreciate this teaching by Elder Maxwell.

Continue reading No Atonement Except for the Character of Christ »»

  1. Bednar, David A. “The Character of Christ”. 25 Jan 2003. BYU – Idaho. 8 Nov 2009.↩

Jesu the Very Thought is Sweet

April 1, 2009 in Jesus Christ by Greg | 7 comments

The song Jesu, the Very Thought is Sweet! is attributed to Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a French abbot of the 12th century. His legacy:

Bernard of Clairvaux by Georg Andreas Wasshuber Bernard’s theology and Mariology continue to be of major importance, particularly within the Cistercian and Trappist orders. Bernard led to the foundation of 163 monasteries in different parts of Europe. At his death, they numbered 343. His influence led Pope Alexander III to launch reforms that would lead to the establishment of canon law. He was the first Cistercian monk placed on the calendar of saints and was canonized by Pope Alexander III January 18, 1174. Pope Pius VIII bestowed on him the title of Doctor of the Church. He is fondly remembered as the “Mellifluous Doctor,” (the Honey-Sweet Doctor), for his eloquence. The Cistercians honour him as only the founders of orders are honoured, because of the widespread activity which he gave to the order.1

The video of this song that follows was created by the More Good Foundation and is dedicated to a friend of ours in whom we feel a deep and abiding sense of gratitude. Last Christmas season he suggested it might be one of his favorites and shared with us his feelings concerning this sacred hymn.2

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Below is the text to Jesu, the Very Thought is Sweet!, translated in 1851 from Latin to English by J. M. [John Mason] Neale (1818-1866). The last three stanzas of the song are not included in Max Wilberg’s arrangement. The text contains minor changes by our unnamed friend.

1 – Jesu! the very thought is sweet!

In that dear Name all heart-joys meet;

But O than honey sweeter far

The glimpses of His Presence are.

2 – No word is sung more sweet than this:

No Name is heard more full of bliss;

No thought brings sweeter comfort nigh,

Than Jesus, Son of God most high.

3 – Jesu! the hope of souls forlorn!

How good to them for sin that mourn!

To them that seek Thee, O how kind!

But what are Thou to them that find?

4 – Jesu, Thou sweetness, pure and blest,

Truth’s Fountain, Light of souls distressed,

Surpassing all that heart requires,

Exceeding all that soul desires!

5 – No tongue of mortal can express,

No letters write this blessedness,

Alone who hath Thee in his heart

Knows, love of Jesus! what Thou art.

6 – O Jesu! King of wondrous might!

O Victor, glorious from the fight!

Sweetness that may not be expressed,

And altogether loveliest!

7 – Remain with us, O Lord, today!

In every heart Thy grace display;

That now the shades of night are fled,

On Thee our spirits may be fed.

8 – All honor, laud and glory be,

O Jesu, virgin-born, to Thee!

All glory, as is ever meet,

To Father and to Paraclete.

It is difficult to put into words our friend’s message that accompanied this song. A short time later, I found this talk by Keith B. McMullin about obtaining the testimony of Jesus entitled Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee and Ann Madsen’s inspired talk Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee.

Sources and Notes:

  1. “Bernard of Clairvaux”. Wikipedia. 31 March 2009.↩
  2. “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee”. LDS Hymns, #141. 31 March 2009.↩

Was Christ Redeemed with Five Shekels of Silver?

August 8, 2008 in Jesus Christ by Greg | 2 comments

It is unlikely Christ was redeemed for five shekels of silver. The ceremony for the redemption of the firstborn son for five shekels of silver is called the Pidyon HaBen and hearkens back to ancient biblical practices.1 Pidyon HaBen means “redemption of the son” whereby “a firstborn son is redeemed from a Kohen in order to release him from his obligation to serve in the Temple”.

In William J. Hamblin’s recent interview with Margaret Barker, she pointed out that Christ was the “unredeemed sacrifice” because the New Testament record is silent about this ceremony when Jesus was presented at the temple (see Luke 2:22-39).

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Of course this fact is significant for a number of reasons. For one, the Savior said “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17-18).

If the Savior fulfilled the law, and assuming Joseph and Mary did not pay the redemption money to the priest, the Savior’s ministry in relationship to the temple priesthood takes on added significance.

Perhaps Paul had reference to these things when he wrote to the Hebrews, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession” (Hebrews 4:14).

Sources:

  1. See for example, Berrol, Ronn. Coinage for Redeeming the First Born: An Ancient and Modern Jewish Ritual. John Jencek Ancient Coins & Antiquities. 8 Aug 2008.↩