Choose Your Parent

My brothers and sisters, the longer I examine the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more I understand that the Lord’s commitment to free agency is very, very deep! So much deeper than is our own. The more I live, the more I also sense how exquisite is his perfect love for us! (Neal A. Maxwell, “Patience,” Ensign, Oct 1980, 28)

This quote keeps running through my mind as I am considering what it means that the Lord addresses both Moses and Abraham as "my son." (Moses1:6, Abraham 3:12) It is not the first time I have considered and studied within the scriptures how the Lord addresses his children and tries to teach them of their Heavenly Parentage. The list of scriptures is extensive: (Psalms 82:6, John 10:33-36, Hosea 1:10, Romans 8:16-17, Acts 17:29, Galatians 4:6-7, Hebrews 12:9 for starters.) One thing that is very much a pattern in these scriptures is that the ability to recognize our true spiritual heritage is dependant upon a desire to learn and willingness to be taught by the spirit.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God. (Romans 8:16)

And because ye are sons, god hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)

The natural man is an enemy to God, and has been since the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy spirit… and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ and becometh as a child…willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. (Mosiah 3:19)

But there are also several scriptures which affirm that if we choose, we can use this mortal opportunity to sever our paternal tie to our Heavenly Father and literally choose a different father- we can forgoe His plan for our eternal welfare. Seeing the sorrow giving us agency has brought to the Lord, we begin to understand the importance being able to choose plays in the opportunity to become like our Father. It is breathtaking to think of the depth of love and sacrifice involved in giving us this mortal opportunity. For instance, as part of the vision shown to Moses, the Lord showed Enoch, Noah, and the flood. Moses witnesses Enoch's conversing with the Lord, and the Lord weeping over the choices his children have made.

Behold these they brethren…,I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment that they should love one another and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection…. There has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren….Satan shall be their father. (Moses7:32-37)

What does that mean- "Satan shall be their father?" What do we know about Satan and about what, through his choices he has become? In Revelations 12:10, he is identified as the "accuser of our bretheren." So it was no surprise to discover that is exactly what the title "el satan" means in Hebrew- "the accuser." It indicates a person who accuses as an adversary, with an eye, not towards justice, but towards the destruction of the person they are accusing, so slandering and lying are perfectly acceptable to bring about the desired end. The word "devil" has a similar meaning. In fact, the same Greek word can be translated "slander." No wonder he is identified as the "father of lies" and the "father of contention." (Moses 4:4, 3 Nephi 11:29)

Now lets look at what we learn of how Satan became who and what he is from the accounts of the council in Heaven we received as part of the restoration.(Moses 4:1-4, Abraham 3:27-28) In them the key difference between the Savior's response to the Father's plan and Satan's is a pretty heavy accusation. Satan accused the Father of making a plan that was not the best for His children. Satan claimed his plan was better. In making that accusation Satan is literally claiming that the knowledge, perspective, and wisdom he has is sufficient for him to consider himself equal to the Father. His definition of the word "son" seems to be that the Father should use His power according to Satan's self proclaimed knowledge and wisdom. He claims that he has no room for growth.

But the Savior, with perfect faith in the Father, said, "Father they will be done, and the glory be thine forever." (Moses 4:2) The Savior led out in showing what it truly means to be a "son of God" and "submit in all things, even as a child doth submit to his father." He was the creator, under the direction of the Father, of heaven and earth, and yet he came to earth in very humble circumstances, and "he received not fullness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fullness. And thus he was called a son of God, because he received not a fullness at first." (Doctrine & Covenants 93:13-14)

So he not only is our advocate, pleading our cause and paying the debt for this mortal opportunity we do not have capacity to pay; but he, himself obediently submitted to the Father's plan for celestial growth. "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all that obey him." (Hebrews 5:8-9) He was the first to fully become what the Lord wants for each of us to become through consistently affirming (never accusing- in full faith- even in the midst of bruising opposition) the Father's perfect knowledge, wisdom, love, and plan. He was the first, in the words of Elder Oaks', to accept the "Challenge to Become:"

In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something…. We are challenged to move through a process of conversion toward that status and condition called eternal life. This is achieved not just by doing what is right, but by doing it for the right reason—for the pure love of Christ. (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Challenge to Become,” Ensign, Nov 2000, 32–34)

So, when Jehovah talked with Moses and Abraham, and called both "my son," it was not only an affirmation that they (and we) are literal spiritual children of our Heavenly Father, but more specifically it was an affirmation of what Moses and Abraham have desired to gain through this mortal experience. That they have chosen to do things the Lord's way, be born again through Jesus Christ, follow his commandments, and "pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that (they) may be filled with his love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are the true follower of his Son, Jesus Christ; that (they) may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him." (Moroni 7:48)

Incredible what this means for each of us! One of beauties of studying the Old Testament is the opportunity to see how this promise was fulfilled in the lives of many of the people we will study. Over and over, not only do they testify of God with their words, but their stories and life experiences themselves become types and similitudes that testify of Christ and his mission. We literally see "his image in (their) countenances." (Alma 5:12) They did become "windows to his love." That is what being born again through Christ, and choosing our Heavenly Father means.

Moses 1 - Patterns

When I was young, my mother tried to teach me how to sew. I found it tedious, and soon decided sewing was not  for me. I did learn valuable lessons that came in handy. I could mend rips and do basic fixes for my family and gained sufficient skill to sew a strait line for curtains. But, a few years ago, when my daughter really wanted a renaissance dress for Halloween, I came to appreciate what I now think of as the "parable of the renaissance dress."

We first looked to purchase a dress. We couldn't find one she liked, and the ones we did find were prohibitively expensive. I thought back to the times when my mother had created dance costumes, prom dresses- all made specific to my taste and for much less than they could be bought- and felt a desire to give that kind of gift to my daughter. But a dress? That sounded way too complicated! I had long ago accepted that I was not seamstress material. But, my mother had repeated often, as she sewed clothes for us, that it wasn't hard, if you were just careful in following the pattern. I decided to entertain the idea she was right, and my daughter and I went to check out the possibilities found in the fabric stores. We found a pattern we loved, marked for beginners, and the perfect materials. I remember trying hard to hide my nervous trepidation as I paid for the materials. The amount was very reasonable- provided we actually got a dress out of it! This time, I carefully followed the pattern and instructions, and although it took a week, my daughter had her dress. As I have remembered her in that dress I have thought, "What a difference it makes when you want to learn and are ready and are willing to follow the pattern designed by one who has already succeeded and mastered what you are trying to do."
Moses 1 is one of the chapters of scripture that turned this experience from a life lesson, to a personal parable of eternal significance. In Doctrine and Covenants 52:14 the Lord promises, "I will give unto you a pattern in all things that ye many not be deceived." And that is what this first chapter of Moses is all about. I find it so remarkable, such a testament to the Lord's love, and the careful preparation of His instructions to us, that as part of the restoration, we were given the Book of Moses. In the church curriculum, when the Old Testament is studied, it begins with Moses 1. And Moses 1 is a perfect, compact, information packed example of what I have come to call the "Lord's pattern for growth and learning."  And it is not limited to Moses.  It was while reading this chapter that something clicked- I realized that what Moses experienced in this chapter paralleled a pattern seen in the lives of other righteous individuals including- but certainly not limited to- Adam, Abraham, Joseph, Isaiah, Lehi, Joseph Smith, Peter, and even the Savior. It is, among other things, the Lord's tutorial on how to approach this mortal experience and the study of His word to really learn.  Here is my take on that pattern:

Step 1: I believe this step is most eloquently phrased by James, "If any man lack wisdom."(James 1:5) Before the Lord can teach us anything, we have to choose him as our teacher. I mentioned a handful of men above, and for each of them, the scriptures also provide and example of someone who chose to maintain that they did not "lack wisdom." For example, both Moses and Pharaoh witnessed the miracles of the Lord, but their responses, and where those responses led them, were very different. The same can be said of Peter and those who plotted the Savior's death, of Nephi and Laman, and the list could go on.

I think my favorite insight from Moses 1 with regard to this step is that we don't have to be perfectly humble and teachable for the Lord to answer our prayers and tutor us. It is after he has the first marvelous teaching session recorded in this chapter (which verse 17 tells us was sometime after Moses' initial call) that Moses says, "Now for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed."(Moses 1:10) Moses' experience illustrates the remainder of what James taught. The Lord will "give liberally" and "upbraideth not." The key is to "awake and arouse you faculties, even to experiment upon (the Lord's) words." (Alma 32:27) Which brings us to step 2.

Step 2: Inquire (or search, ponder, and pray). As Moses' experience shows us, this is not an idle asking, but an active, deeply involved inquiry. Like most words used in the Old Testament, the word translated inquiry denotes active involvement and could also be translated as "seek" or "search." It indicates an intense desire to find and obtain something. I have come to believe that this life boils down to an opportunity to discover for ourselves what we most desire, or as the Savior put it, "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Luke 6:21) And where our heart is usually dictates what we do with our time.

One thing my children have taught me is that questions are not always inquiries. For example "Why can't I….?" from the lips of my teenagers is usually not an opening for me to explain or teach. Rather, from their perspective it is the beginning of trying to show me why they know better than me. Although there lips ask a question, they are completely uninterested in the information I have to offer. In retrospect, I can see that the times I have felt frustrated and doubted the Lord was there, I've approached Him with a similar agenda. It is asAlma described:

It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him. And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full. (Alma 12:9-10)

Step3: Manifestation (or spiritual experience): I think this is the Lord's favorite part of this mortal growth regime. Think how many times in the scriptures he laments that we will not gather to Him, learn from Him, and receive the gifts he has prepared for us. (Matthew 23:7, Doctrine & Covenants 29:2, Exodus 14:13-14, Isaiah 48:2, Doctrine and Covenants 88:33- there are lots more.) "Truly the Lord delights to bless those who love and serve him". (See D&C 76:5.) (Spencer W. Kimball, “Becoming the Pure in Heart,” Ensign, May 1978, 79) Our obedience, or searching and inquiring of him - these are ways we exercise our agency to "authorize the Spirit to teach (us)." (Elder Richard G. Scott, "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance", Ensign, November 2009, p8.)

Step 4: Trial (Hold on). In 2 Nephi, Lehi teaches his son: "For there must need be opposition in all things" so that through experiencing opposition we could come to know righteousness, happiness, and joy. (2 Nephi 11:11,13,25) In other words, life is hard. No matter where you are born, not matter what your race or religion, life will hold difficulty and pain. Believe it or not, it is part of what we came here for. It is not comfortable or fun- and I am in agreement with President Hinckley, that I'll take as little of that opposition as the Lord deems necessary for me. But the question is not whether we as mortal beings can escape adversity- we can't- it is whether that adversity will be wasted suffering or through the miracle of the atonement become an important part of building our eternal muscles. In keeping with the muscle theme, I like to remember when things are not as I wish, that I have accepted the services of the master trainer and I am now in midst of a "celestial training experience."

One of the things I love about this chapter is the way that the Lord's allowing the adversary to come and add "resistance training" to Moses' growth regimen, is smack dab in the middle of two remarkable, wonderful manifestations from the Lord. Most of us learn "line upon line,here little and there a little."(Isaiah 28:10) And our oppositional moments are also not always this intense. Nor can we always see the interconnectedness between are difficult moments, and how the Lord has prepared us so they can be times of important growth. So the way Moses successfully hung on and got through this visit from Satan is very helpful. He was afraid- he was very afraid. I've thought of how easy it would've been (because I've let it happen) to allow that fear to lead to questions like: "Why is the Lord allowing this?" "Didn't he promise, when he called me out of the bush that He would be with me?" (Exodus3:12) Where is He?" Which in turn could lead to thoughts like, "I can't stand against this powerful being." "I regret it, but the Lord isn't here and I have no choice but to bow, or he will destroy me."

But Moses thoughts seemed to take a different tract all together. One that affirms a pattern we see over and over again- he remembered what he had already learned and what it felt like to feel the Lord's presence. He did what Paul counseled and "cast not away…(his) confidence,trusting in the Lord's recompense."  (Hebrews 10:35) And in looking to what the Lord had given him, he found himself prepared- for instance he relied upon the knowledge that he is "a son of God, in similitude of his Only Begotten." And he remembered it with gratitude: "Blessed be the name of my God for his Spirit hath not altogether withdrawn from me, or else where is they glory, for it is darkness unto me…I will not cease to call upon God, I have other things to inquire of him." (Moses 1:13,15,18)

That last line brings to mind Peter's experience in John 6. At the end of the chapter many who had thought the Savior was the promised Messiah, left from following Him because what he taught in that chapter didn't make sense to them or fit with what they thought the messiah should be doing and saying. The Savior asks Peter if he will also go and Peter replies, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the word of eternal life."

Mormon reacted in the same pattern, as we can see when he wrote his son about the destruction and pain brought about by his peoples' choices. These choices deeply impacted Mormon's life in horrible, painful ways, and he doesn't in anyway deny that, but he also wrote," My son, be faithful in Christ, and may not these things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up….And may the grace of God the Father,…be, and abide with you forever." (Moroni 9:25-26)

His son, Moroni, in turn, described this faith, this holding on to the promises of the Lord as an "anchor to the souls of men." (Ether 12:4) Doesn't that just describe what we sense in Moses' words?- An anchor that held him through this storm?

Step 5: Greater Manifestation (Witness). Again, I love this fairly compact chapter because we can see that not only did Moses receive more, but the very opposition he struggled through- the Lord allowing Moses to literally meet Satan and have personal knowledge of him- means that Moses was able to gain so much more from what the Lord then taught him. Out of 84 times the title Satan is used in our standard works, 34 are in the Book of Moses alone. (So I have two things to remember here: 1) Adversity works the same way in my life, and 2) having realized that learning about Satan and the way he works is a repeated theme in the next chapters, I can ride on Moses' coattails a little bit and learn a little more what he learned as I go through the rest of this book.)

Finally, (really!) we need to realize this is a pattern of growth that is never over, never at a standstill, and never done. The last step is: repeat. But not in a futile, running like hamster on its wheel kind of thing. No this is a taking it to the next level kind of thing. I particularly love the way President Eyring explained it while acknowledging that one of the oppositions we face as we grow is the call to greater service:

The tough part of that reality, however, is that for Him to give you that increased power you must go in service and faith to your outer limits.

It is like building muscle strength. You must break down your muscles to build them up. You push muscles to the point of exhaustion. Then they repair themselves, and they develop greater strength. Increased spiritual strength is a gift from God which He can give when we push in His service to our limits. Through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our natures can be changed. Then our power to carry burdens can be increased more than enough to compensate for the increased service we will be asked to give (Henry B. Eyring, “O Ye That Embark,” Ensign, Nov 2008, 57–60).

Doesn't that just describe what happened for Moses? Remarkable what can happen when you willingly follow a pattern established by one who has successfully completed the project and who promises you all that you need to do likewise.