I have been thinking and meditating on an Ensign article from June 2013. The article is entitled "Dear are the Sheep that Have Wandered" by James E. Faust. It is reprinted from April 2003 Conference and May 2003 Ensign.
As part of his discourse, he quotes the words of Joseph smith with regards to children who have wandered. "None of Joseph's children would partake of the temple ordinances:
I believe and accept the comforting statement of Elder Orson F. Whitney:
'The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught more comforting doctrine—that the eternal
sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for
valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves,
but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the
eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the
tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them
back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will
return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer
for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at
last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s
heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray
for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your
faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God.'"
Elder Faust further goes on to tell how this is done. True, that the redemption of the family is based on conditions of the atonement and repentance. However to quote president Faust, "Perhaps in this life we are not given to fully understand how enduring
the sealing cords of righteous parents are to their children. It may
very well be that there are more helpful sources at work than we know.
I believe there is a strong familial pull as the influence of
beloved ancestors continues with us from the other side of the veil."
I must conclude that the work of restoring wayward children to the fold is a worldly, as well as other worldly endeavor. I wonder what influences there are in my own family? Who are the sources of pricks (Acts 9:5) from the other side. I have been writing the history of my ancestors, and I must think they are influencing me, but they are also whispering to my children. Grandparents, and great and great-great grandparents are turned to their descedents, and worried and influencing them. In similar manner, are those who have passed away more recently, Sheri's older brother, Mark, who died as a youth, and our still born baby, Billy Boy. There is also mother's brother who died after living a short time, but was remembered at the temple and was sealed to the family be proxy. There are influences for good "“They that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kgs. 6:16). Elder Faust further said, "As we get older, the pull from our parents and grandparents on the other
side of the veil becomes stronger. It is a sweet experience when they
visit us in our dreams." So my advice to my children, please let these ancestors have place in your hearts. Please listen to the Spirit of God. Please don's kick against the pricks.
No comments:
Post a Comment