Tuesday, September 7, 2010

3 Nephi - Chapter 11

I think it is very interesting that the people couldn't understand the Father when He spoke to them, twice.  Then it appears that when the did understand His words it was a condition of them attuning themselves to God, not the other way around.  It becomes apparent that everything must transpire on His terms, not ours.  He is perfect and need not make an accommodation for our imperfection.  That is except the greatest accommodation of them all; the sacrifice of His only begotten Son.  A Son where thereby might mediate between the Father and ourselves until such time as we are able to abide His presence entirely on His terms.

No unclean thing may enter into His kingdom.  He makes no accommodation for anything but perfection.  Perhaps this was the case with the Nephites gathered at the Bountiful Temple.  He spoke in perfection and the people had to rely upon the divine assistance of the Savior in order to understand those perfect words.

Whether, I've interpreted this or not, it seems plain that we are the ones who much adjust our thinking and behavior, not God.

I cannot imagine anything more intimate and personal than to approach the Savior of the world and be invited to insert my hand into His side.  I don't know if this was considered an ordinance, but clearly it would have been a sacred experience.  It, like every ordinance we do, takes place one at a time, and in a very poignant way, one on one, with the one through whom we might have Eternal Life.  His invitation is to "come unto me," not to come near me or unto one of my representatives.  When Nephi calls Him, "my Jesus" he is indicating the deeply personal, intimate, one on one relationship we are invited to enjoy with our own personal Redeemer.  I also believe that His participation with us in the Atonement was also that intimate, personal and individual.

1 comment:

Barbara said...

I'm so glad you're back. I learn so much from your insights.