MYSTERIES OF GOD

I hold out little hope that my life has excelled, is excelling or will ever excel beyond the level of average in any area of experience or talent. In fact, because of my lifelong hobby of being a people watcher I have decided I could easily have been the poster child for ‘the average joe’.

During my preteen years I smoothly moved from being ‘Red Ryder’ – ‘Jack Armstrong’ – or – ‘Bob Feller’. (ask your grandpa or anyone of that age group) I also had a healthy case of ‘feeling invincible’ when I wasn't feeling ‘picked on’.

During my teen years, I thought I had a handle on all of life’s situations followed in rapid succession with wondering what life was all about. The hierarchy of my world experiences involved: first, boy good – girl better stuff – second, acing those school subjects which interested me and barely scraping by in those which did not – third, believing I was probably on the road to being the greatest athlete ever and then shortly being jerked into the reality of my ‘big fish in a small pond’ skill levels.

My post teen life has been spent on a pathway of ever learning and becoming more and more aware of how little I know and that I understand even less.

I remember one time when I was reading and searching in the Pearl of Great Price, I was particularly struck with Moses’ account of his marvelous vision where the history of this earth from its creation to its celestialization was revealed to him. Immediately as that vision was closing, Moses pled with the Lord for the privilege of seeing more of His works and glory. It came as a surprise to both Moses and me that the Lord rejected that petition. It was also interesting to me that it became obvious to Moses at the conclusion of his miraculous vision that man is nothing when compared with Deity.

I suspect one of the truths which has impacted me during this last phase of life is this powerful message concerning the nothingness of mortals. Another which is closely related is a thought Elder Neil A. Maxwell gave us toward the end of his earth bound mission. He taught that one of life’s realities we would all have to face was that we will leave this stage of existence with much left to do, and I would add worlds without end to learn about.

We get a small glimpse into the makeup of Nephi the son of Lehi in 1 Nephi 2:16 - 22, when Nephi, besides assuring us about being impressed with his young hard body, (just an average teenager) he also had great desires to know the Mysteries of God. Interestingly, what came from his earnest desire was a softened heart which caused him to believe in the words of his father and an absence of the spirit of rebellion which he had witnessed in the example of his older brothers. He was also blessed at this time with the knowledge that he would become a ruler and teacher over his brethren.

There was a time when my littleness of understanding kept me from seeing the greatness of and the connection between Nephi desiring to know the Mysteries of God and his father revealing to him his mission in life was to be a ruler and a teacher.

Ezra Taft Benson, who once animated the membership of the church to study the Book of Mormon with unbelievable results, among other great truths, also taught that the mystery of life we should all be seeking to have revealed to us, is the purpose for which we were sent to earth. This principle opened my eyes to the greatness of the mystery Nephi had revealed to him by his father Lehi.

As we read Nephi’s words about the events which transpired during the next 55 years of his life, we become acutely aware that having the mystery of being a ruler and a teacher was but the title given to his life’s purpose which would have many chapters, sub plots and assignments revealed to him as he progressed along his foreordained path.

We are reminded that if we diligently and earnestly seek to know our own mysterious purposes during mortality, each of us will go through life having our sub plots and assignments revealed to us line upon line, until in the end we find our once mysterious life which had but a title has become a book filled with what were once mysteries hidden behind the veil of forgetfulness which covered our preexistent understanding at the time of our mortal birth.

It has struck me as I write this thought, that just as Moses was counseled to be content with the knowledge with whom the Lord had blessed him, we, likewise, need to be content with our current glimpses through the veil about our missions in life and patiently wait upon the Lord for the hour He knows we will be ready for further light.

We find in the Bible Dictionary that a mystery is defined as a spiritual truth that was hidden but now is revealed. When I first read this definition I thought to myself, that can't be right, a mystery is something that we don't know about, but the same entry says that is a modern interpretation of the word and not its real meaning.

Joseph Smith gave an interesting insight into the Mysteries of God in the ninth Article of Faith when he proclaimed: We believe all that God has revealed (mysteries), all that he does now reveal (mysteries), and we believe that He will yet reveal may great and important things (mysteries) pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Usually we have taken this Article of Faith to have to do with the ongoing necessity of having living Apostles and Prophets who were spiritually prepared and could and would reveal the Lord’s will (mysteries) concerning the Doctrines, Covenants and Principles essential for the progress of His kingdom.

However, if we were to personally apply this Article of Faith to the compilation of our own book of life as it is revealed (mysteries) to us, I think we would all better understand the purpose of this stage of our eternal progression.

I marvel at the grace which attends the Lord’s plan of giving us bits and pieces, here a little, there a little, line upon line as we become ready for the next area of our mortal missions. Although, this portioning of the Mysteries of God as they pertain to our foreordained purposes are often met with impatience and lack of understanding, when at last we begin to gain a modicum of trust in His Omniscience, Perfect Love and Unending grace we will hopefully put our energies to work in doing the work of today while awaiting tomorrow’s assignment.

Therefore, in spite of my lack of ever having been in the top percentiles of mortal achievements, I find myself at ease and content, knowing that I have attempted to learn from and fulfill those revealed (mysteries) stewardships of my mortal mission as the Lord has chosen to reveal this great mystery to me.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY