Heavenly Perspective

I was asked to speak on preparing for the second coming. I feel like this topic is so complicated that could be an entire course- spanning several months… Or summed up in a 3 second talk, simply keep your covenants. Because of that, this is the third talk I’ve written in the past 9 days.

But as I was pondering the topic, once again, and listening to a book, as I often do. One of the wise characters in my book said, “The world is monstrous at times, and there are those who would have you believe that you are terrible by association. [You are not]. For you see it flows the other direction. You are not worse for your association with the world- but it is better for its association with you.” (Sanderson, Oathbringer, 2017) On pondering this, I felt strongly that I need to change my talk, again, and speak on changing our perspective to a Heavenly perspective in preparation for the second coming.

In April’s conference, President Nelson spoke on what is, in essence, a change of perspective. By building our confidence not in ourselves or things of the world, but by building confidence in the Lord.

Our world is often a monstrous place, with death, illness, hatred, temptations, and pain of all manner. It is easy, at least for me, to feel disheartened. To feel like I am not strong enough to weather the storms. I believe the adversary works hard to keep us focused on all that is wrong and all the ways in which we are helpless, hurting, and not enough. Keeping us focused on how scary the world is becoming. The adversary loves half-truths that leave us buried under unbearable weight.

How do we find truth and Gods perspective, which is one of hope, joy, peace, and safety?

While I have had many amazing spiritual mentors in my life, that have taught me many incredible perspective shifts. One of the ones I find most applicable is remembering that we are the very, VERY, young children of the perfectly rational and perfectly loving Heavenly Father.

When a baby learns to walk, as many parents can attest, it is exciting. Watching the first few stuttering steps that end in a fall, moving everything from the edge of couches and tables as they walk along the edge grabbing everything. Within a few months they go from baby to toddler, and from there, they move onto running, jumping, dancing, every movement. Sharing in joy as they realize that those feet will carry them anywhere in the world they dare to go.

But, from the perspective of the child… learning to walk is frustrating, painful, often taking much too long, often it is too scary… and when they are tired, facing the 100th fall of the day, it may indeed feel like the end of their small world. In those moments, they cannot fathom the joy the journey will bring them. It is at this point, their loving parents will scoop them up, hold them, and smile, understanding that there is no other way to learn to run.

So, it is in our lives. We are the babes, God our perfect father. It is hard, from our limited view and experience, to understand why we can’t seem to obtain promised blessings or goals. It might be an eternal marriage, children, a job, health, or some other miracle we are seeking. Quitting may seem the best course, I know I have found myself exhausted with what feels like treading water. Not advancing to the good things I feel called to. The Eternal perspective is outlined in James 1: 3-4. “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” God is aware and will fulfill all in his perfect time. We are not ready to run yet, still falling after only a few steps. Slowly building all the experience he knows we need.

We may not know how to deal with the terrible pains we face in the world, illness, death, poverty, divorce, hatred, isolation, and sin. He is beside us each time we fall. When it feels like our world is ending- he wraps us in perfectly loving arms. The adversary would drag us down with guilt from our own sins and bury us in pain that is a fall out from the sins of others. The truth, which I feel for me is a VERY hard perspective to hold, was given to Joseph Smith when he was a prisoner. Listing the many storms, he could face D&C 122 vs 7 concludes “and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my [child], that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for they good.” We cannot know how necessary each heart ache is, how our own journey through the atonement will shape us, and we do not understand how this mortal realm is our first steps preparing us for the vast journey we have before us. But we do know it will be for our good.

It may seem like God holds our hands too tightly- not letting us exercise our own freedom. Why do we need to sacrifice our time, our efforts, why do we need to follow those rules, attend church, love those people, hold that calling. In Ephesians 6 we learn that Gods rules are armor against the adversary. We need to grow to understand that he knows exactly how much guidance and what guards we need to thrive.

And maybe it feels as though he took his hand away too early and we are facing things afraid and alone. Why do we not have more support, why are we so isolated. We do not feel him, standing behind us, steadying every step. In the scriptures it says some variation of Fear Not, over 380 times. (That is more than 1 time per day, fyi). You are led by an omnipotent and all powerful God. He is on your left and your right.

It is important to note, changing our perspective to an eternal one, doesn’t stop pain, poverty is still real, death unavoidable, and loneliness can still be consuming, even Jesus wept. But it can transform our darkest journeys from one of world ending pain, to one where we remember that we are just a very tired, very young child. That we have a perfect Heavenly Father, who will hold us just the right amount of time and then encourage us to move forward and fall again. The truth, President M. Russell Ballard shared, “There is one important identity we all share now and forever… That is that you are and have always been a son or daughter of God.” Our worth was inherited in our spiritual birthright and is infinite.

If you struggle, like I do, to hold the eternal perspective in your mind, I encourage daily prayer. In the Bible dictionary, under “prayer”, it says “Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God.” As Gods will does not change. But to bring our will to his. If you find yourself struggling to understand the Heavenly perspective, lean into prayer. Allow your will to be brought to his will. You may not understand why, I never have, but you can understand the temporary nature of what you face and gain Heavenly perspective.

We have been told these are the last days. To prepare for the second coming. As the world darkens, do not let it darken you. Let it be better because you elevate your perspective to an eternal perspective. That you can reach out with charity to those around us. Particularly those you think are unworthy of it. That you can give charity to yourselves. That you don’t live small and fearful. That you can be as Matthew said, “a city set on a hill”. Giving light, hope, peace, and safety from the storm.

I bare my testimony that Gods perspective is one of love, joy, and peace. That we are each his beloved child. That our older brother, Jesus Christ, atoned for each person and that atonement is infinite and all encompassing. He atoned so that our Father might be perfectly merciful and perfectly just. That through faith, obedience, and prayer, we can weather all the storms of the world. So that one day we can have a joyous reunion with our Savior. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.