Because of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have many doors open to us:
And the great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son
in the coming of the Redeemer into the world;
That through his atonement, and by obedience to the principles of the gospel, mankind might be saved.
(D&C 138:3-4)
What are we saved from? Death, Sin, and Sorrow as well as being strengthened, healed, comforted, guided, chastened, and even filled with courage by God’s Spirit. Here are some real-life examples:
(1) From Corrie ten Boom and her challenge to forgive terrible wrongs from a concentration camp guard:
And I stood there—I whose sins had again and again been forgiven—and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place—could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?
And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion—I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. Jesus, help me! I prayed silently. I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling. And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.
“I forgive you, brother!” I cried. “With all my heart. . . .” I realized it was not my love. I had tried, and did not have the power. It was the power of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Romans 5:5: “because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Tramp for the Lord, pp. 55–57)
What gave her the impetus to reach out her hand? I suppose that it’s knowledge of the Gospel and God’s commandments to us.
(2) From Immaculee Ilibagiza exercising great courage and love facing a Hutu with a machete and no earthly help available:
“Get out of the truck,” I said to my friends. “Everybody out . . . the French are leaving us here.” The cries of disbelief and fear coming from the back of the truck drew even more attention from the killers, who were now moving toward us. I looked one Interahamwe straight in the eye and held his gaze. My heart told me that he was a person just like me, and that he really didn’t want to kill. I held my rosary and summoned all my will to send a message of love to him. I prayed that God would use me to touch the killer with the power of His love.
I didn’t blink . . . and we stared into each other’s eyes for what seemed like a lifetime. Finally, the killer broke my gaze and looked away. He turned his back to me and dropped his machete, as if the devil had left his body. But there were plenty of other devils to take his place. At least 15 Interahamwe were now standing a few yards from the truck, with machetes in their hands and smirks on their faces. They were figuring out what was happening, waiting to see if any of my companions would dare leave the truck. . . . We were moving very briskly, but the killers were all around us now, circling us, slicing the air with their machetes. We were defenseless, so why were they waiting to strike?
Take the evil from the hearts of these men, and blind their hatred with Your holy love.” . . . “If they kill me, God, I ask You to forgive them. Their hearts have been corrupted by hatred, and they don’t know why they want to hurt me.”
After walking a half mile like that, I heard Jean Paul say, “Hey, they’re gone . . . they’re gone!” I looked around, and it was true—the killers had left us. Jean Paul said later that it was probably because they knew the RPF soldiers were close by, but I knew the real reason, and I never stopped thanking God for saving us on that road! (from her book, Left To Tell, pp. 171–173)
What’s the Common Denominator in These Two Stories?
LOVE—the Love of Christ!
(3) From Jacob Abbott’s book, Alfred the Great, on how he conquered the Vikings and established the beginnings of Western Civilization in England:
> Alfred was the legitimate king of England in the 900s AD when England had been besieged by invading Vikings, bent on plunder and conquest for hundreds of years.
> He had been nearly defeated by a large invading Viking army and then driven into hiding.
> Rallying both his courage and his Saxon chieftains, they defeated the invaders and offered them a choice:
> Become Christians and peaceful settlers or be mercilessly driven out. They settled their previous conquered English territory of Southeast England, under the kingship of Alfred.
> Alfred rebuilt England’s infrastructure, rather than live luxuriously on the taxes of the people. He required that English Courts be scrupulously impartial in all cases brought before them, whether from Celts, Saxons, or Vikings and other settlers.
> Alfred spearheaded long-lasting peace in England and contributed to the start of Western Civilization, promoting literacy, and the groundwork for English common law.
Alfred is the only king ever called The Great in all of British history.
(4) Brother Yun, The Heavenly Man, Brings Old Man to Christ in China:
The doctor poured out her heart [to Brother Yun], “My father has suffered a stroke because of a blood disease. Now half his body is paralyzed. We’ve taken him to numerous doctors in many cities. One specialist advised us to use long term massage therapy to ease his pain. . . .
[Later] I told the dear old man how Jesus had borne his sin and sickness on the cross. I urged him, “Now, you have to open your mouth and invite Jesus Christ into your heart. Trust in him and you shall receive healing [from paralysis because of a stroke].” I urged him not to delay, because, “Now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)
I laid hands on the man and his wife, and comforted them with words of joy and hope. They tearfully renounced their sins and invited Jesus to be the Lord of their lives. Although the man did not immediately feel any better, I knew God had captured his heart and would soon heal his body. . . .
Brother Yun, The Heavenly Man, Brings Old Man to Christ in China:
The doctor poured out her heart [to Brother Yun], “My father has suffered a stroke because of a blood disease. Now half his body is paralyzed. We’ve taken him to numerous doctors in many cities. One specialist advised us to use long term massage therapy to ease his pain. . . .
[Later] I told the dear old man how Jesus had borne his sin and sickness on the cross. I urged him, “Now, you have to open your mouth and invite Jesus Christ into your heart. Trust in him and you shall receive healing [from paralysis because of a stroke].” I urged him not to delay, because, “Now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)
I laid hands on the man and his wife, and comforted them with words of joy and hope. They tearfully renounced their sins and invited Jesus to be the Lord of their lives. Although the man did not immediately feel any better, I knew God had captured his heart and would soon heal his body. . . .
The next morning before dawn, the old man suddenly felt someone strike him on his neck and back. For the first time in months he could easily move his head. He exclaimed, “It feels as if a rope around me has snapped!” He stood to his feet and freely moved his neck and back. The man’s wife jumped around the room in gladness. The whole family came together and thanked God for his goodness to them.
The old man’s health recovered and soon he was able to walk up and down the stairs. This was remarkable for a man who’d been paralyzed by a stroke! He witnessed to all his old friends and sought forgiveness from people he’s wronged in the past.
This is a book so worth having, available used on www.bookfinder.com:
(5) King Haakon of Norway—A Man of Conviction Facing Unthinkable Demands from Hitler:
Norway was invaded by the naval and air forces of Nazi Germany during the early hours of 9 April 1940.
The German Ambassador to Norway called on Haakon to accept Adolf Hitler’s demands to end all resistance and appoint Vidkun Quisling as prime minister. The King consulted with Norway’s government stating: For my part I cannot accept the German demands. It would conflict with all that I have considered to be my duty as King of Norway since I came to this country nearly thirty-five years ago. He went on to say that he could not appoint Quisling as prime minister, since he knew neither the people nor the Storting (parliament) had confidence in him. However, if the cabinet felt otherwise, the King said he would abdicate so as not to stand in the way of the Government’s decision. . . .
[The Legislature supported the King’s stance but the monarchy and government evacuated].
The King’s official residence in England was the Norwegian Legation at 10 Palace Green, Kensington, which became the seat of the Norwegian government in exile. Here Haakon attended weekly Cabinet meetings and worked on the speeches which were regularly broadcast by radio to Norway by the BBC World Service. These broadcasts helped to cement Haakon’s position as an important national symbol to the Norwegian resistance.
The Minister of Church and Education in Norway gave this observation: This made a great impression on us all. More clearly than ever before, we could see the man behind the words; the king who had drawn a line for himself and his task, a line from which he could not deviate. We had through his five years [in government] learned to respect and appreciate our king, and now, through his words, he came to us as a great man, just and forceful; a leader in these fatal times to our country. (Source: Wikipedia)
What Line We Will Each Draw in the Days Ahead?
King Haakon’s Descendants—A Triumph of Righteousness:
> King Olaf V
> King Harald and Queen Sonja
> Crown Prince Haakon
All are loved and respected as the moral leaders of Norway, if only in a figurehead position relative to the government. Crown Prince Harald and commoner Sonja Haraldsen somewhat secretly dated for 9 years before his father finally granted permission for them to marry, a requirement mandated by the Norwegian Constitution. The couple have lived a long life, and are still on the throne at aged 88. They have two children, Princess Martha Louise, and Crown Prince Haakon. Amazon Prime 4-part miniseries, The Commoner, is about the 9-year courtship of Harald and Sonja, see this picture:
Is Life Random or a Foreordained Plan? From Elder Richard G. Scott:
So that the period of mortal testing and growth would yield its greatest benefit, you were taught and prepared for the circumstances you would personally encounter in mortality. Our Father’s pattern for guiding you through mortal life was explained. He would choose from among the most valiant, obedient spirit children prophets and other authorized servants to hold His priesthood, to be taught His truth, and to be guided to disseminate that truth among His children on earth. God would give each child moral agency, the right to choose His counsel or to ignore it. All would be encouraged but not forced to obey. You understood that while you could choose your path on earth, you could not determine the outcome of your choices. That would be decided by eternal law. (“Truth Restored,” Ensign, October 2005)
At the End of Your Rope, Tie a Knot in It and Hang On:
O Little Town of Bethlehem, Hymn 208:
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
It Came upon the Midnight Clear, Hymn 207:
For lo! The days are hast’ning on, by prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold,
When the New heav’n and earth shall own the Prince of Peace their King,
And the whole world send back the song which now the angels sing.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!