GETTING TO KNOW ME

Thoughts stimulated by – The Inexhaustible Gospel – by Neal A. Maxwell

During the time when I was having such a marvelous time sharing with some of the adults of South Orange County, California the wonderful talks by Elder Maxwell, periodically I would be struck with inspiration which led to an additional lesson on a talk. These lessons I called transitional, but I felt then and now feel that they were much more than that.

Therefore, this week’s Thought for a Sabbath Day will be based on one of those transitional lessons which were developed from feelings I had while leading those adults through several lessons based on a talk of Elder Maxwell’s which he had entitled All Hell Shall Be Moved.

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I know I am not alone when I recognize that oft times I have fallen short of fulfilling my responsibilities as a Kingdom builder for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The problem isn't that I have been unable to realize my short comings, but I think it is my not really understanding why I so frequently felt that I was falling short of my capabilities.

A dear friend and colleague of mine Jack Rushton who is now laboring on the other side of the veil, spent many years of his mortal span as a quadriplegic after an accident which happened while he was enjoying a day at the ocean with his family. With the help of family and friends and most especially his beloved wife, he dedicated many hours of that later span of his life, fulfilling his responsibilities in the kingdom as an ordained Patriarch, Sunday School teacher and entertaining speaker.

Jack’s explanation for why he was able to continue faithfully fulfilling his building the Kingdom duties was that the Lord had given him a vision which blessed him with the knowledge of who he really was.

There have been times during my various stewardships in the Church and as a father, when I have had eternal glimpses of who family members or those who fell under the umbrella of my stewardships really were. As I tried to express to them – if they really understood who they really were – I knew I was falling fall short of moving them forward to that understanding. The bonus for me, having received these brief incites of both family and friends, has been that in spite of what detours they might take away from the path during their lives, I know who they are and know the day will come when they too will know.

I have often wondered why we so often fall short of gaining those kinds of insights which would help us know who we really are. The problem seems to be that we often fall short of being able to distinguish between:

(1) The image of ourselves we have when we try to interpret the feedback from others of the impressions we think they have of us.

(2) The image we have of ourselves as we ponder and evaluate our thoughts, joys, sorrows, desires, reactions and struggles.

(3) The perception we think Heavenly Father and Jesus the Christ have of us, when we think of all the decisions we have made contrary to their desires.

THIS ABSOLUTE TRUTH REMAINS

I CAN ONLY COME TO KNOW WHO I REALLY AM WHEN GOD BLESSES ME WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING

We need to be ever on the alert that we are not creating faulty impressions about ourselves, based on superficial impressions others have of us as they see us through a dense fog. It would be a damaging mistake which could lead to halting performance in the Kingdom, if we were ever to allow the superficial interpretations of others to influence our belief in who we really are. We would really do damage to our future progress if we allowed these images to persuade us as to what our eternal possibilities or outcome might be.

At any given preliminary stage of our existence, we in and of ourselves will never have a complete knowledge of who we are. We are at times are blinded by too much light and at other times we stumble in darkness. We would drastically error and could even be led to fall short of our capabilities in the Kingdom, if we were to judge our eternal worth based on today’s product. Once again, we could do great harm to the level of our desire and performance, if we were to ever think that that which we are today is what we will ever be.

We all should have long ago come to the understanding that God’s knowledge and understanding are not our understanding. Therefore, whatever guesses we might make as to what Heavenly Father or Jesus the Christ might think of us we will always fall short of the mark.

We are left with two possibilities, we can either be blessed with an inspired understanding about who we are, such as that given to Jack Rushton, or falling short of that gift. We can begin by believing what the prophets have been inspired to tell us about who we are and what are our performance possibilities.

Through the Prophets of God it had been revealed:

We are children of Heavenly Parents

We progressed and passed the requirements of our First Estate (Also call our Pre Mortal Estate)

Whatever assignment we might have in the Kingdom – we should remember we have been called, ordained or set apart and been promised angels would attend us

Our eternal outcome will be perfectly and individually administered by Jesus the Christ

We can receive the gift of a personal understanding of who we are by receiving a patriarchal blessing

We can have the blessing of personal revelation assuring us who we really are

The Holy Ghost as the Comforter will bring peace to our souls as we haltingly attempt to do Father’s will

The Pure Love of Christ can be poured upon us, filling our soul with joy, as we attempt to put upon ourselves His attributes, characteristics and perfections

Although the glass I view eternal truths with continues to wobble between moments of clarity amid hours of opaqueness:

I have come to know that as we peel away the masks of deception molded by believing in the superficial interpretations which others have of us, we will with increasing frequency have a closer image of our own reality. And we will be of greater value in the Kingdom.

I further know that as the scales of misunderstanding we have of who we really are fall from our eyes, peace, happiness and joy will be more constant companions. And we will be of greater value in the Kingdom.

I absolutely know that as our understanding is enlightened by prophetic and personal revelation, we will find ourselves feeling an increase of love towards Heavenly Father and, more importantly, we will feel an increase of love from our Heavenly Father. And we will be of greater value in the Kingdom.

TRUE JOY CAN MOST FORCIBLY BE FELT AS THE BODY APPROACHES AND EMBRACES THE KIND OF LIFE THE SPIRIT REMEMBERS HAVING LIVED WHILE IN THE PRESENCE OF HEAVENLY PARENTS

IT IS A GREAT BLESSING THAT WE ARE ABLE FOR BRIEF MOMENTS DURING MORTALITY TO FEEL AS IF WE ARE ONCE AGAIN DWELLING IN THE KINGDOM OF OUR HEAVENLY PARENTS

THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY