Monday, December 29, 2008

The Lord Is Able to Do All Things According to His Will -- 1 Nephi 7:12

What is the will of the Lord? People often claim to know what it is, especially when they conclude that the will of the Lord is on their side of some issue. People often wonder whether something tragic is the will of the Lord, whether it be natural disasters, atrocities of war and terrorism, the suffering and death of loved ones, or a host of other sad events. The supposed will of the Lord has been the source of much strife, suffering and bloodshed through the centuries.

As we consider these questions, we must recognize that there are four aspects to the will of the Lord: (1) His Revealed Will; (2) His Sovereign Will; (3) His Permissive Will; and (4) His Providential Will. In this posting, we will consider the first two aspects, namely the Revealed Will and the Sovereign Will.

The Revealed Will of the Lord is, simply, what He has told us that He wants us to do. This is the aspect of the Lord's Will that the Savior taught his disciples on both hemispheres to ask "be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matt. 6:10; 3 Nephi 13:10). This Will is perfectly followed by celestial beings. Unfortunately, on earth, this Will is most often ignored and disobeyed. As it pertains to the world and to the Restored Church as a whole, we find the Lord's Revealed Will in the scriptures and the instructions of living prophets. As it pertains to the various units of the Church, we find the Lord's Revealed Will in the inspired decisions made by, and inspired callings issued by, those holding the priesthood keys to preside over that unit. Of His inspired priesthood bearers, the Lord has said, "And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation." (D&C 68:4). As it pertains to individuals, the Revealed Will of the Lord may be found in the answers to fervent prayer, the inspiration that comes as we contemplate the scriptures and the inspired blessings pronounced upon us by patriarchs and other priesthood holders.

Certainly, we cannot say that tragedy and atrocity are part of the Revealed Will of the Lord. In fact, peace, safety and salvation are to be found in following the Revealed Will. "Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name. Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked— And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out." (Hel. 3: 27-30). When we strive to be obedient to the Lord's Revealed Will, we have the assurance that we are doing what He would have us do -- and in this there can be deep comfort.

The second aspect of the Lord's Will is His Sovereign Will. The Lord's Sovereign Will includes all those things that, as all wise, all good and all powerful Lord of the universe, He has decreed shall absolutely come to pass. "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Dan. 4:35). "And from thence, whosoever I will shall go forth among all nations, and it shall be told them what they shall do; for I have a great work laid up in store, for Israel shall be saved, and I will lead them whithersoever I will, and no power shall stay my hand." (D&C 38:33). "How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints. (D&C 121:33).

To the extent the Sovereign Will has been made known to the world and to the Church, it relates primarily to implementing the major aspects of the plan of salvation as decreed in the pre-mortal councils in heaven. We see it implemented in the Creation, the Fall, the Atonement and the Resurrection. It includes such things as the restoration of the Gospel in the last days, never again to be removed; the gathering of Israel; the second coming of Christ to reign throughout the Millennium; and the final judgment. These are things that the Lord has told us He is going to do, and there is no power, in heaven, earth or hell, that can alter them.

The Sovereign Will of the Lord is found primarily in the prophecies and promises that appear in the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets. In His introduction to The Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord declared, "Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same" (D&C 1:37-38). It was the Lord's Sovereign Will that the Prophet Joseph had in mind when he uttered the famous reassuring words, "The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecution may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”

The Lord's Sovereign Will, as it may pertain to individuals, remains largely unrevealed. There is one aspect of it, however, that does give us comfort and assurance. When we make covenants with the Lord, He promises blessings to us, contingent on our keeping our part of the covenant. When we have done so, however, we have His sovereign promise that the blessings will come. "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." (D&C 82:10). In speaking of those who receive the Holy Priesthood, the Lord promised, "Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved. But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come." (D&C 84:40-41).

Understanding of the Lord's Sovereign Will strengthens us in times of widespread fear and commotion with the conviction that He is in charge and that, ultimately, nothing can interfere with His plans for the world and His faithful children. As we make covenants with this Sovereign Lord, we stand upon the promise that the blessings will come according to our faithfulness.

We love to hear thy holy word
Proclaimed in latter days.
It lifts our hearts; our souls are stirred
To glorify thy ways.

We love to read thy holy word
With quiet thought and prayer.
Thy Spirit’s whisp’rings we have heard;
We feel thy constant care.

We love to share thy holy word;
Thy gospel we proclaim.
We humbly bear our witness, Lord,
Of thy redeeming name.

We thank thee for thy holy word;
With joy we sing thy praise.
Oh, help us, Lord, to learn thy word
And live it all our days.

Hymns, Thy Holy Word, no. 279.