WIDENING MY MYOPIC VIEWS

I think I remember and I know I have seen my posterity collectively engage in looking at the world through a straw, turning telescopes and binoculars backwards and rolling up sheets of paper to gaze at their surroundings.

If having a view of the world as if we were looking through a straw were just a child’s game all would be well with the world, but I have come to realize that most of the experiences we have in life, the social groups with which we associate, the mentors we choose to follow, seem to cause us all to view the world through ever narrowing tubes.

The last time I was asked to lead the discussion in a High Priest Group meeting, I was given the assignment of leading the discussion centered on the Atonement of Jesus the Christ. As so often happens in the abbreviated time allotted for lessons in our consolidated meeting schedule I was only able to get through the introduction of the material I had prepared. To be fair I cannot put the blame on the briefness of the time as the reason I only got through the introduction, since I remember countless two hour Institute classes where I got no further than the introduction.

It doesn't seem to matter which mentors we have been exposed to, especially in the area of religious beliefs, we are continually and abundantly exposed to a myopic view of what constitutes salvation and who merits it. We are taught to look through a straw which allows us to see ‘us’ and eliminates ‘them’ from our view.

And there cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ—for so shall he be called. And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection. They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death. And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord. And little children also have eternal life. (Book of Mormon – Mosiah 15: 21-25)

It seems the Lord would have us look through a scope with very broad perimeters when it comes to those whom He suffered the effects of His Atoning sacrifice to redeem and bring unto everlasting salvation. He presents a vision so expansive that it includes those who were ignorant of His gospel, little children whose minds were still in the bondage of innocence and those of all generations and times.

For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation. (Doctrine and Covenants 82:3)

The more we hear about inclusiveness and are taught to make it a part of our gospel understanding the more we realize that there never was a ‘one shoe fit all’ standard by which all of Heavenly Father’s children will be judged.

There is also little doubt that they who have been blessed with a greater degree of knowledge and understand will be held to a higher standard.

Therefore, we need to understand that the requirements, rules and roadways we see through our rolled up piece of paper, although it applies to us, does not necessarily apply to all those we see when we take the tunneled blinder from our eye.

The Savior has been very clear in letting us know His Atonement was infinite and inclusive both in its depth and its breadth in covering all of Heavenly Father’s children and the variances and lengths of their mortal paths.

One of the questions which has caused me to ponder at times during my life is why, since the Savior has all knowledge, did he not selectively pay His Atoning Sacrifice only for those sins which had been or would be repented of.

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance. (Doctrine and Covenants 18: 10-12)

The only conclusion I have been able to find a degree of satisfaction with is that if He had not suffered for all mankind, one of us lesser beings would come to the conclusion that we were predestined to be damned, because He did not take our sins upon Himself.

For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. (Doctrine and Covenants 19: 16-19)

The most important conclusion I have come to is that the Savior’s Atonement not only needed to be universal, but also individual in nature. He needed to have a perfect knowledge of every one of Heavenly Father’s sons and daughters. Otherwise, He would be incapable of making the perfect judgements about each of us.

The most assuring words I remember hearing about the absolute fairness of the Savior’s Atonement which uniquely qualified him to universally apply the law of justice were given in conference by President Boyd K. Packer. He stated that none of us know nor understand the vastness of the love of the Lord or the extent of His grace.

THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY