I had a friend (in fact, I’ve had several….I even still have some!) who said to me “I don’t need to come to Church. I feel closer to God in the mountains among His creations than I do in a stuffy Sacrament Meeting. Worship is a private matter, between me and Him. I worship Him on my own.”
Being somewhat of an outdoors aficionado myself, I was unsure what to say to her. I, too, love being outdoors and I, too, have felt God’s closeness amongst His creations. Yet I know that we are commanded to attend Church. And, more than that, I know it is the right thing to do.
So what to tell her? She fancied herself to be an independent thinker, a rebel of sorts, so telling her that she ought to do it because it was a commandment was not likely to convince her. (Incidentally, Satan thought himself an independent thinker as well. He was also a rebel of sorts. It is amazing to me how many of us, thinking we are independent thinkers, are actually like thousands of others who are also rebelling .)
This week while I was reading the Book of Mormon (#whereareyou), I was struck by this verse:
Christ said, “I have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see”. (3 Nephi 18:25)
In this passage Christ had just instituted the Sacrament, a sacred ordinance that allows us to renew our covenants and helps us to keep them. We cannot take the Sacrament in the mountains or on our own. We must come unto Him in His house. By taking the Sacrament we keep our promise that we will always remember Him and we open the door so that He can keep His promise that the Spirit will always be with us.
The wording of verse 25 was particularly poignant to me. “I have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see;” When we come unto Him, in His home, we feel Christ’s presence as we see each other and worship together. Feel and see. I love it!
Christ has repeatedly invited us to come unto Him, to gather in His presence. One such passage (a favorite of mine because it is farm based!) is found in 3 Nephi 10:4-6. Pay close attention to the verbs Christ uses.
“…how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you.” (vs 4)
“…how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings , and ye would not…” (vs 5)
“…how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings…” (vs 6)
Mother hens gather their chicks under their wings for a variety of reasons. At the risk of being anthropomorphic, I am going to state that the little ones find protection, instruction, comfort, and safety under their mother’s wings.
Ignoring all risk, I want to state emphatically that we will find protection, instruction, comfort and safety if we will “gather” unto Christ.
“…how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you.” (vs 4)
If we will honestly reflect back on our lives, we will find countless incidents when Christ has figuratively gathered us under his wings and nourished us. Miracles large and small. Tender mercies that testify of His watchcare and love. They are there, in our lives (and hopefully in our journals….Life is the stories you can tell!).
“…how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not…” (vs 5)
How many times have we refused to be gathered? Determined to do our own thinking? Destined to be like thousands of others who insist on doing “it” their way? Denying ourselves Christ’s help and love and nourishment in ways large and small?
“…how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings…” (vs 6)
This is my favorite part. The invitation is still open!!! It does not matter how many times we have already accepted and/or rejected His invitation, it still stands!! He will still protect us, instruct us, comfort us, and give us safety if we will allow ourselves to be gathered.
Come! Come unto Christ.
See and feel.
And, in so doing, experience joy.
Alma invited those he taught and his invitation applies to us as well. “….cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God…that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son.” (Alma 33:22,23.)
As we gather to Christ, our burdens will be lightened and we will experience joy; joy now and joy later.
Come! Come unto Christ. Feel and see.
Being somewhat of an outdoors aficionado myself, I was unsure what to say to her. I, too, love being outdoors and I, too, have felt God’s closeness amongst His creations. Yet I know that we are commanded to attend Church. And, more than that, I know it is the right thing to do.
So what to tell her? She fancied herself to be an independent thinker, a rebel of sorts, so telling her that she ought to do it because it was a commandment was not likely to convince her. (Incidentally, Satan thought himself an independent thinker as well. He was also a rebel of sorts. It is amazing to me how many of us, thinking we are independent thinkers, are actually like thousands of others who are also rebelling .)
This week while I was reading the Book of Mormon (#whereareyou), I was struck by this verse:
Christ said, “I have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see”. (3 Nephi 18:25)
In this passage Christ had just instituted the Sacrament, a sacred ordinance that allows us to renew our covenants and helps us to keep them. We cannot take the Sacrament in the mountains or on our own. We must come unto Him in His house. By taking the Sacrament we keep our promise that we will always remember Him and we open the door so that He can keep His promise that the Spirit will always be with us.
The wording of verse 25 was particularly poignant to me. “I have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see;” When we come unto Him, in His home, we feel Christ’s presence as we see each other and worship together. Feel and see. I love it!
Christ has repeatedly invited us to come unto Him, to gather in His presence. One such passage (a favorite of mine because it is farm based!) is found in 3 Nephi 10:4-6. Pay close attention to the verbs Christ uses.
“…how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you.” (vs 4)
“…how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings , and ye would not…” (vs 5)
“…how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings…” (vs 6)
Mother hens gather their chicks under their wings for a variety of reasons. At the risk of being anthropomorphic, I am going to state that the little ones find protection, instruction, comfort, and safety under their mother’s wings.
Ignoring all risk, I want to state emphatically that we will find protection, instruction, comfort and safety if we will “gather” unto Christ.
“…how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you.” (vs 4)
If we will honestly reflect back on our lives, we will find countless incidents when Christ has figuratively gathered us under his wings and nourished us. Miracles large and small. Tender mercies that testify of His watchcare and love. They are there, in our lives (and hopefully in our journals….Life is the stories you can tell!).
“…how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not…” (vs 5)
How many times have we refused to be gathered? Determined to do our own thinking? Destined to be like thousands of others who insist on doing “it” their way? Denying ourselves Christ’s help and love and nourishment in ways large and small?
“…how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings…” (vs 6)
This is my favorite part. The invitation is still open!!! It does not matter how many times we have already accepted and/or rejected His invitation, it still stands!! He will still protect us, instruct us, comfort us, and give us safety if we will allow ourselves to be gathered.
Come! Come unto Christ.
See and feel.
And, in so doing, experience joy.
Alma invited those he taught and his invitation applies to us as well. “….cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God…that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son.” (Alma 33:22,23.)
As we gather to Christ, our burdens will be lightened and we will experience joy; joy now and joy later.
Come! Come unto Christ. Feel and see.
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