Continuing from a previous post ‘So Much More,’ Letha Scrivner shares:
Love Teaches
The entirety of this life we live is an educational experience given to us for our benefit because God loves us. We learn clearly in the scriptures, (2 Nephi 2:21) that this life is a probationary or testing period wherein we learn the commandments (2 Ne 9:27) and then learn how to keep them as well. It’s easy enough to say “keep my commandments” but until you’re put into situations where there is a choice, you don’t learn the nuances of obedience.
God desires nothing more than our exaltation, where we achieve “immortality and eternal life” (Moses 1:39), and these things are achievable only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And because our Father wants us to succeed, He has given us multiple modes of instruction upon which we can rely.
Each generation has a prophet who expounds and clarifies the teachings of God. This teaching is done in our own language for our time. It may take some work, but patterns can be seen in the teachings of the prophets wherein the concerns of the current generation are specifically addressed in ways they understand. Isaiah and Abraham are confusing for us sometimes, but they weren’t back then. Joseph Smith is easier for us to understand, but he was easiest to understand during his time. President Nelson is the easiest for us to understand because he is ours. And 50 years from now, the prophet at the time will be easiest for that generation to understand. This is intentional because God wants us to understand. He abhors confusion and the simplicity of the gospel is beautiful.
Scriptures are available in our language — this is taken for granted these days. It wasn’t too long ago in the history of the world where being able to read the scriptures was nearly impossible due to language barriers and educational deficits. But even then — the word of God was read around to the congregations and taught to the people. Yes, it is true that some people responsible for the teaching of the gospel abused their power. However, the truth of the Savior’s mission was not lost and was always taught.
The Holy Ghost is a marvel and a miracle in our education. He will testify of truth when it is taught and heard. When we place ourselves in a position to learn, we also receive revelation. Through listening to the prophets, by reading the scriptures, and by pondering the truths of the Gospel, the Spirit will make the truth known to us in His way: through the feelings of “love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith” (Galatians 5:22). And what is so wonderful about this learning method is that nobody can take it away. Nobody can tell you that you did not feel these feelings because you KNOW you did. This experience is uniquely yours. People can muddy the teachings of the scriptures, they can argue the lessons taught by our current church leaders, but nobody can tell you that you did not feel peace when you did. And I think this is further evidence of the Love of God for us — he gives us one solid, irrefutable method to learn and hold fast to, even when everything else may be confusing or tumultuous.
Because God loves us, he gives us multiple educational opportunities. The prophets, scriptures, and Holy Ghost are ways we learn doctrine and eternal truths. But other educational opportunities are the application of these lessons in our own lives. For example, we learn the Ten Commandments in the scriptures, like the commandment to keep the sabbath day holy. But what does that mean? I won’t get into it right now, but I have learned through the help of prophets, scriptures, and the instruction of the Holy Ghost, that individuals come to learn the breadth and depth of this commandment on their own and how they keep it and how I keep it may look different, but we are still keeping it in our way. ~ Letha Scrivner
continued . . . .See So Much More III
