I realize more and more every day that the world is simply confused.
We have come across many people this past week, some searching for
truth and others shut to any belief that is not their own, all of whom
were unaware of a simple truth.
“The prophet, Enoch, was shown the works of God and as he saw such, he witnessed the Father weeping… “
God is the Eternal Father. He created us not simply into the bodies we
now possess, but in truth we dwelt with Him before this life. Our
Father is not a Being that cannot be understood nor is He without
body, parts, or passions. His passion is “to bring to pass the
immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). In the premortal
realm He made this passion known and created a plan whereby we could
all receive such “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from
ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel
shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isaiah 46:10). He desires
nothing more than our salvation and our return to His presence. The
prophet, Enoch, was shown the works of God and as he saw such, he
witnessed the Father weeping. He asked “How canst thou weep?” Enoch
speaks of the innumerable creations of God and is puzzled that such an
Almighty Being could weep because of man (Moses 7:29-31). The Eternal
Father replies:
“Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own
hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge…[and] agency; And unto
thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should
love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but
behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood.”
(Moses 7:32-33)
When sin enters into our lives, when we choose to hate one another,
when we turn away from God, He weeps. The Most Supreme Being of All is
forever concerned and invested with our salvation and eternal
progression that it pains Him unspeakably when we choose adversely. He
is understood in knowledge, power, glory, and wrath all throughout the
Bible, but what He wanted us to understand most all of is His love for
each and every one of us. And so He gave His Son.
The mission of Jesus Christ was all encompassing and nearly
unfathomable to the mortal mind. Studying His sacrifice and example I
am dumbfounded time and again by the insights I receive through the
Spirit. In the Garden of Gethsemane the Beloved Son of the Father
suffered “pains and afflictions of every kind.” On the cross He gave
his life and gloriously He resurrected from the tomb “that he may
loose the bands of death which bind his people.” He did all of this
“that he might blot out [our] transgressions according to the power of
his deliverance” (Alma 7:11-13). However, all of these parts of the
Atonement would have been for naught if it had not been for the
example which He gave all throughout His life.
Click here to watch a short film about the life and teachings of Christ
Such an example fulfills more than I can begin to describe. Because of
how Jesus the Christ lived, we are able to comprehend a portion of
Heavenly Father’s love for all of us. John 3:16 “For God so loved the
world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
him should not perish, but have everlating life.” Not only does the
saccrifice and suffering of Christ allow us to see that God loves us,
but the Redeemer spent His entire time demonstrating compassion and
charity to every person willing to accept Him. Jesus of Nazereth
commanded his disciples saying “love one another, as I have loved you”
(John 15:12). If we emulate the life of Chirst we will be able to more
fully understand our Father in Heaven. Through His perfect life we
know how we must live also. An atonement cannot be utilized unless
repentance takes place. It is not enough to be saved through grace or
solely through forgiveness. Our will is required for salvation. We
must daily, even hourly, seek to change our lives and strive to follow
the example that has been put in place for us.
Love,
Elder Burdge
