He Who Stands In The Gap

He Who Stands In The Gap

I don’t want to make any light-hearted comparisons, but I am always amazed at the loving and relatable ways the Lord helps me understand things. Perhaps it is just because I am a simple-minded guy in many ways and He knows I will connect the dots better with relatable imagery. But as I was studying, pondering and praying this morning, and feeling grateful for my Savior, some impressions came to my mind.

What came to me was the scene from the Lord of the Rings, when the fellowship are fleeing the mines of Moria, and are being pursued by the ancient demon, called the Balrog. The company is fleeing across a narrow bridge as the demon is about to overtake them. But in this company of little hobbits and mortal men, is a powerful wizard, named Gandalf. At this pivotal moment, Gandalf stops upon the narrow bridge to confront the fiery beast, standing between the demon and his friends.

Holding a sword in one hand and his staff in the other, he proclaims… no commands… “You shall not pass!!!”

Single-handedly he battles the demon and falls through deep caverns, and is wounded, but eventually emerges from that battle, having slain the Balrog, and having transformed himself from Gandalf the Gray… into Gandalf the White.

In this simple literary and cinematic imagery which came to my mind, the Lord showed me how He stands in the narrow way, between myself and the fiery adversary we would call, the devil. He alone held in his hands the power and ability to command death and hell proclaiming, “You shall not pass!!!” With a sword and staff, he conquered both physical death through the resurrection and spiritual death through His atoning sacrifice. He was willing to condescend and descend through the depths of hell to overcome the darkest of foes, and emerged from the pit a resurrected and glorified Being of pureness.

"He Lives" by Simon Dewey

And even still, like Gandalf the White in the story, He is willing to continue to ride into battle with us in our personal battles against our enemies in the daily walk of life…. Right down in the trenches with us in all the dirty muck of it all. All so he can teach us how to be warriors, how to conquer our fears, and how to become worthy of the crown He so longingly wants to place upon us in His Kingdom.

I am so grateful for my “Gandalf the White”, my Savior and Redeemer, even Jesus Christ!!!

Through my covenants with Him, He stands in the breach between me and the foul demon. He was willing to take my blows, whips and suffering upon Himself… all so that He could lead me towards learning to become a King myself and inheriting a throne in His kingdom.

Oh, how my heart rejoices because of Him! That humble Babe in a manger, once wrapped in simple swaddling cloth, who now stands in royal robes of White! All honor and glory be to Him! He is ever worthy of all our adoration and devotion!

THE CALL TO BATTLE

 The Call to Battle

Yesterday, a good friend shared with me a link to the reading of the full 7,400+ word letter Joseph Smith wrote while a prisoner in Liberty jail (to which I will place a link below).  Small excerpts of that letter are now found in Sections 121-123 of the Doctrine and covenants.  But hearing those sections in context of the full letter and all that surrounds it was very informative and shed new and wonderful light on some of those verses we know and love.  I would recommend listening to it if you have an hour to spare in the link below.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe2V-tKuDKQ

One of the things which struck me, was a portion when Joseph was explaining how all of their sufferings, trials and persecutions in jail, and those of the Saints in general who were being driven out of their homes and deprived in terrible ways, was a necessary occurrence.  It was necessary so that they would then feel welcome, and not ashamed, to be in the presence of the faithful ancients who gave their all for the gospel’s sake and for their love and testimony of God, but would now someday stand worthily in their company.

 

Forgive me for a Lord of the Rings parallel, but it brings to mind the scene from “The Return of the King” of Théoden, the King of Rohan.  He had lived a portion of prior life being deceived and unwittingly serving some of the forces of darkness, having been misled by his counselor ‘worm tongue.’  He was essentially in a state of spiritual slumber, and was not fulfilling his role as King to his people.

Through events he had then been awakened from his bewitched slumber, but suffered doubts and concerns as to his reign and how he would be remembered or compared to the heroic ancient Kings.  But finally, when the call to final battle had come against the enemy forces of darkness, he had risen to the occasion.

He fought bravely and valiantly, and in the face of overwhelming odds he proved himself a true King.  As he lay upon the field of battle, broken and dying, he briefly reflects upon his life and proclaims, “I go to my fathers.  And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed.  I have felled the black serpent.  A grim morn, and a glad day, and a golden sunset!”

It occurred to me during the explanation of Joseph Smith in his full letter, that in addition to the personal spiritual refinement which the trials, persecutions and calamities preceding the Second Coming will help us with, it will also serve to offer us the opportunity to sacrifice at a necessary level to put us on par (at least in some small degree) with the ancients, who have gone on to inherit their eternal reward.  Of course, our sacrifices will all be individualized and meted out according to what the Lord sees fit.  But what Joseph seemed to be indicating throughout his full letter to the Saints, is that we must gracefully and willingly endure such events to be worthy of the grand company we hope to associate with some day.  And I think that perspective can offer us more resolve in facing what must come, and why it must come for our betterment, and our eventual eternal reward.

 

We may not know what our personal part and portion will be in the winding up scenes between now and the glorious Second Coming of our Savior, but we can know that the Lord has customized and allowed it for our betterment, and to prove our own resolve, so that we too might stand worthy to mingle with the faithful ancients who we admire.  We who have made covenants with God and our Lord, and seek to be true disciples of Jesus Christ, are being mustered to the battle.

And our most important and significant battles will likely not be in the public eye upon some grand stage, but rather, within the private chambers of our own hearts and within our own homes.

 

In another Lord of the Rings parallel, consider what we may face in our lives in context of the scene when the riders of Rohan are being mustered to arms, to go and join the fight to deliver the world from evil.  Their Captain and King call to them:

“Now is the hour come, Riders of the Mark (Covenant people of the Lord).  Foes and fire are before you, and your homes are far behind.  Yet, though you fight upon an alien field, the glory that you reap there shall be your own forever.  Oaths ye have taken; now fulfill them all, to Lord and land and league of friendship!  …Forth now, and fear no darkness!”

 

May we too faithfully heed the call of the trumpet, fortify our spiritual foundations, and face with face and fortitude the days and years to come.  We need not fear or tremble, knowing that our Lord is with us and that He has already triumphed over all the foes of darkness.  He is but giving us the chance to rise, humbly yet faithfully, into the ranks of the righteous who will inherit the eternal reward, and feel worthy among the Mighty Company which there awaits us with rejoicing!

"Blessed is the man that resisteth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." - James 1:12

STRENGTHENING OUR SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS

 STRENGTHENING OUR SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS

If you have ever read the Lord of the Rings books or seen the movies, you might recall the battle which took place at Helm’s Deep.  It was a fortress and refuge built up against the solid towering mountains.  It was a place which had always withstood the attack of its enemies throughout the history of the people of Rohan.  It had never fallen.  So, when the evil Orc armies began to attack, the King ordered all of the people to retreat into Helm’s Deep where they could outlast and hold off the invasion attempts.  The King was confident in their security in this time-tested and proven stronghold.

 

But as the orc army attacked, their brutality, relentlessness, and endless numbers were unexpected!

They assaulted the causeway and the main door with a battering ram. They used ladders to try and scale the high, protective walls.  And yet the defenses held.  Despite the attacks, the King remained confident and proclaimed, almost in a challenge to his enemy, “Is that it? Is that the best you can muster?”

 

But the enemy had discovered one, small, previously unnoticed weakness in the foundation of the protective walls.  It was a small drain hole.

And the enemy seized its opportunity.  Using a new tactic, they set an explosion, breached the wall, and began to overrun the castle and those who were fighting to defend it.

As the people were falling and retreating deeper into the fortress in an effort to protect themselves, King Théoden, is in shock, and declared, “What can men do against such reckless hate?”  He was caught unawares at the relentless brutality of the attack and did not know that a weakness existed in the previously sure and solid foundation of his fortress.

 

Now consider some of what Pres. Russell M. Nelson just taught and encouraged us to consider in this latest conference.

 “…it is now time that we each implement extraordinary measures—perhaps measures we have never taken before—to strengthen our personal spiritual foundations. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures.  My dear brothers and sisters, these are the latter days. If you and I are to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, it is imperative that we each have a firm spiritual foundation built upon the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  So I ask each of you, how firm is your foundation? And what reinforcements to your testimony and understanding of the gospel are needed?”

 

How much have we considered and followed up on these invitations?  Have we begun to look at our own spiritual foundations, and prayerfully asked the Lord to show us what weaknesses and previously unknown spiritual drain holes might exist and make us vulnerable to attack?  Have we asked Him how we might go about filling those potential weak spots and fortify ourselves more completely?  Is our foundation sure, solid, and FULLY anchored to the Rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ?

 

It seems we have been warned repeatedly over the past several years, that between now and when the Lord comes again, the attacks of the adversary against our spiritual foundations will be intensified, relentless, brutal, unexpected, and in ways we have never been assaulted before.  And we cannot rest upon our previously successful attempts and measures of defense.  We have been repeatedly counseled, encouraged, and pleaded with to take new, extraordinary, and unprecedented protective measures and preparations if we hope to survive the attacks.

 

I also find another interesting comparison in the Lord of the Rings stories and what the prophet is trying to tell us, in regards to temple worship and the urgency of gathering Israel through covenants on both sides of the veil.  This is in relation to the battles of Helm’s Deep and also the enemies unprecedented assault on the white city of Minas Tirith.

 

In both battles, the enemy was only overcome and defeated because supportive armies and outside friendly forces came to offer support to those who were defending their walled cities which were being overrun.  And in the case of Minas Tirith, it was an army of deceased warriors, who had been summoned to fulfill their covenants and oaths to fight for the King, who eventually provided the strength in battle to overcome the evil forces and prevent the walled city from falling.

 

I find those parallels fascinating in relation to the work and service in the temple, as we strengthen not only our own spiritual foundations through our worship and service there, but also provide opportunities for our deceased ancestors to make covenants with the Lord through proxy ordinances.  And as we serve in their behalf, I believe many or most of them are so grateful, that they in turn seek to do all they can to then protect and guard us through our mortal journey and the attacks of the adversary.  

 

And oh, how I think we will need the strength of our ancestors as we face the unprecedented attacks in the months and years ahead.  Now is not the time to shy away from our temple covenants, service and worship, or to hesitate or doubt because of small procedural changes which the Lord may be implementing to Hasten the Work of this important gathering of friendly forces on both sides of the veil.

It is also interesting to note, that in both battles in the Lord of the Rings series, the outside help only came in the final hours.  The defenders had to determine to "fight to the last man" and be willing to endure to the end, whatever that end might be, or else they would have been swept off before the help finally came to deliver them.

In similar manner, we must hold faithful and true to the knowledge we have and the covenants we have made.  We worship a God of the 4th watch, who often steps in with His divine deliverance only after we have proven ourselves fully committed to the cause.  So Hold strong and battle on, even when the odds seem out of your favor!

Pres. Nelson adds, “The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. His essential ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. Then, as we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power.  And oh, how we will need His power in the days ahead.  We have been promised that ‘if [we] are prepared [we] shall not fear.’  This assurance has profound implications today. The Lord has declared that despite today’s unprecedented challenges, those who build their foundations upon Jesus Christ, and have learned how to draw upon His power, need not succumb to the unique anxieties of this era.  …I plead with you to seek—prayerfully and consistently—to understand temple covenants and ordinances.  Spiritual doors will open. You will learn how to part the veil between heaven and earth, how to ask for God’s angels to attend you, and how better to receive direction from heaven. Your diligent efforts to do so will reinforce and strengthen your spiritual foundation. …Please believe me when I say that when your spiritual foundation is built solidly upon Jesus Christ, you have no need to fear. As you are true to your covenants made in the temple, you will be strengthened by His power. Then, when spiritual earthquakes occur, you will be able to stand strong because your spiritual foundation is solid and immovable.”

 

May we double and re-double our humble efforts to prepare, seek the Lord’s help in discovering and fortifying the previously undetected weak spots in our foundations, and build up and summon our friendly, supportive, outside forces to help us stand strong and overcome the attacks of the adversary, and stand with humble confidence and faith upon the Rock of our Redeemer, whose foundation in sure and cannot fall.

 

“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” – Helaman 5:12