Read without ads and support Scribd by becoming a Scribd Premium Reader.
See Premium Plans
 
Incomparable Christ: Our Master and ModelVaughn J. Featherstone
© 1995 Deseret Book CompanyAll rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, Deseret Book Company, P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah84130. This work is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Theviews expressed herein are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church or of Deseret Book Company.Deseret Book is a registered trademark of Deseret Book Company.
Introduction
Vaughn J. Featherstone,
 Incomparable Christ: Our Master and Model 
( 1995)xIntroductionxDuring general conference in 1950, President Harold B. Lee stated, "It is my conviction that every manwho will be called to a high place in this Church will have to pass these tests not devised by humanhands, by which our Father numbers them as a united group of leaders willing to follow the prophets of the Living God and be loyal and true as witnesses and exemplars of the truths they teach." (ConferenceReport, April 1950, p. 101.)xWriting this book has helped me understand the love, mercy, and condescension of our Savior and Lord,Jesus Christ. It has provided personal insight into the eternal consequences of His mission. I have becomemore aware than ever before who this Jesus really is. I believe I understand more clearly what it means towalk in His steps. The essence and sum of His life consisted of His suffering for others, His serving,healing, weeping, teaching, soothing, loving, enjoying, empowering, and befriending all who walk theearth. He continues to touch our innermost lives as deeply as we individually permit Him. Hisunconditional love is absolutely void of force, dominion, and compulsion.xThose who choose to let Him become the center of all they are and do will surely be tested. In our ownway we tread our individual winepresses, for, as President Lee stated, we will pass through tests notdevised by human hands. But we need not do it alone.xOur son Scott recently received word that one of his sons is deaf. This is the third deaf son in his family.I believe this is a test not devised by human hands. Scott and Lori have a wonderful attitude regarding thistest: "If God sends us one more
 special 
child," they say humbly, "we can handle it." They have and theywill continue to "handle it"; nonetheless, it is not easy. These three boys, in addition to three more hearingsons, require a tremendous amount of time, finances, and care.xOne day as I considered the test this family faces, the following thought came to me. These three boysare young children. Perhaps they will be here when the Savior comes in His glorious return to earth. If they are, perhaps someone will bring to His attention that there are three men from the Featherstonefamily who are all deaf. I can imagine Him blessing and healing them. In reality, I know that whether thismiraculous event occurs is of little eternal consequence, for after the resurrection they will all hear—alater but equally great miracle.xI would gladly give my hearing for any one of these three special boys, but God does not work that way.Each must bear his own burden. I hurt deep inside whenever I think that in this life they will never hear amother's song, a prophet's voice, laughter, wind, storms, birds, animals, and all the sounds that make uplife. They will not hear the wonderful singing of the Tabernacle Choir, the sacred hymns, or the happymusic of children laughing.1Yes, we tread our own private winepress, and sometimes it seems to us too great to bear. It is crucial thatwe then recall the majesty of this Supreme Being, the Only Begotten of the Father,
 
© 1995 Deseret Book CompanyPrinted from Gospelink.com
Holiness to the Lord
Vaughn J. Featherstone,
 Incomparable Christ: Our Master and Model 
( 1995)1PART ONE3OUR MASTER 3Chapter One3Holiness to the Lord3The season of the world before us will be like no other in the history of mankind. Satan will unleashevery evil scheme, every vile perversion ever known to man in any generation. Just as this dispensation of the fulness of times brought the restoration of all that is good and holy, so also did it bring the fulness of evil. As parents, spouses, children, and members of Christ's church, we must find safety. Unfortunately,many will struggle mightily before recognizing this bitter truth:
there is no safety in this world— 
wealthcannot provide it, enforcement agencies cannot ensure it, even membership in the Church will notguarantee it.3 - 4As the evil night darkens on this generation, we must come to the temple for light and safety. Only inthe house of the Lord will we find quiet, sacred havens where the storm cannot penetrate. There unseensentinels watch over us. So it was that the Prophet Joseph pled with God during the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple: "And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house[temple] armed with thy power and that thy name may be upon them . . . and thine angels have chargeover them." (D&C 109:22.) The Lord has promised: "I will go before your face. I will be on your righthand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear youup." (D&C 84:88.) Surely angelic attendants guard the temples of the Most High God. It is my convictionthat as it was in the days of Elisha, so it will be for us: "Fear not: for they that be with us are more thanthey that be with them." (2 Kings 6:16.)4Before the Savior comes the world will darken. The time will come when even the elect will begin tolose hope if they do not come often to the temples. I believe that the Saints will come to the temples notonly to do vicarious work but also to find a God-given haven of peace. True and faithful Latter-day Saintsthe world over will long to bring their children to the temple for service and for safety.4The Lord has promised that He will "suddenly come to [His] temple." (D&C 36:8.) "The day or the hour no man knoweth; but it surely shall come." (D&C 39:21.) We need to prepare for that day.4There are those among our youth today who will be someday called to the holy apostleship. The rest of us are walking with them daily, unaware that one day God will move His hand and the mantle of apostleship will rest upon them. We must keep those who have been so foreordained sweet, clean, and pure in our wicked world. Mothers will cradle in their arms and nurse at their bosoms babes who will yet become God's living oracles.4There are great unseen hosts in the temple. Joseph told the brethren, "And I beheld the temple was filledwith angels." (
 History of the Church,
2:428.) I believe deceased prophets of all dispensations visit thetemples. Those who attend the temple will feel their strength and companionship. We will not be alone inthe house of the Lord.4 - 5Faithful, endowed members of the Church who keep all their covenants and properly wear their sacred coverings will be safe as if protected behind temple walls. The covenants and ordinances are filled
 
with faith as a living fire. In a day of desolating sickness, scorched earth, barren wastes, sickening plagues, disease, destruction, and death (seeJoel 2:2-6;alsoD&C 29and 133), we as a people will rest in the shade of trees. We will drink from the cooling fountains. We will abide in places of refuge from thestorm. We will mount up as on eagles' wings; we will be lifted out of a wicked, insane, and evil world. Wewill be as fair as the sun and clear as the moon.5The Savior will come and honor His people. Those who are prepared and therefore spared on thatglorious, triumphant day will be a temple-loving people. They will know Him and see Him "red in hisapparel, and his garments like him that treadeth in the wine-vat. . . . The sun shall hide his face in shame,and the moon shall withhold its light, and the stars shall be hurled from their places." The redeemed "shallmention the loving kindness of their Lord, and all that he has bestowed upon them according to hisgoodness." (D&C 133:48-49, 52.) They will cry out, "Blessed be the name of he that cometh in the name of the Lord. . . . Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee." (Psalm118:26,28.) Then we will all join in one grand hosanna that will ring from one end of eternity to theother, a hosanna shout to God and the Lamb.5Those who live in that day—whether that be us, our children, our children's children, or some futuregeneration—will bow down at His feet and worship Him as the Lord of lords, King of kings. They will bathe His feet with their tears, and He will weep and bless them for having suffered through some of thegreatest trials ever known to man. His bowels will be filled with compassion, His heart will swell wide aseternity, and He will love them as no mortal can love. He will bring peace that will last a thousand years,and they who have become his children of the covenant will dwell with Him.7Let us prepare this special future generation with faith to surmount every trial and every condition. Wewill do it in our holy, sacred temples. Come, oh, come up to the temples of the Lord and walk in Hisedifices wherein there is truly "holiness to the Lord."© 1995 Deseret Book CompanyPrinted from Gospelink.com
Justice According to the Supreme Goodness of God
Vaughn J. Featherstone,
 Incomparable Christ: Our Master and Model 
( 1995)7Chapter Two7Justice According to the Supreme Goodness of God7I have thought much about the topic of justice according to the supreme goodness of God. (SeeAlma12:32.) Not surprisingly, I have discovered that God's justice is centered on the Savior's atonement. TheAtonement was wrought for our sins. "The blood of Jesus Christ . . . cleanseth us from all sin," wrote theApostle John. (1 John 1:7.) The Atonement was the greatest act in time or in eternity by any mortal soulwho has ever walked this earth. Through the Atonement the lost shall be saved, the prisoner shall go free,the burdened will receive peace. All that is required of us to receive this wonderful gift of God is torepent.7All my life I have spoken of and been grateful for mercy. Mercy is an act of incomprehensible andnever-ending charity. Mercy must of necessity be extended into the lives of all who would be partakers of divine forgiveness of their sins and transgressions. As a General Authority, I have witnessed mercy beingextended through many wonderful experiences.7 - 8InAlma 42:24we read: "For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth allwhich is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved." Note that justice exerciseth
his
own,and mercy claimeth all which is
her 
own. It is interesting that we give daughters names like Mercy, Faith,Hope, and Charity, whereas sons are named after justice, such as Justin or Justus.
Search
Search History:
Searching...
Result 00 of 00
00 results for result for
  • p.
    • Notes
    Load more