Easter Thoughts
I’ve had a wonderful Easter Sunday!
I’ve had a chance to ponder and reflect on what I believe and why I believe it.
In the past, I’ve been asked by friends (who were good enough friends to feel comfortable asking) questions like “you’re a pretty intelligent and educated guy, how do you still believe in God? (Or Jesus Christ, or your religion etc.)”
These questions seem to imply that being educated and believing in Jesus Christ are somehow mutually exclusive.
I feel incredulity at the notion that science and religion are contradictory. I would say that it is something very similar to what is called the scientific approach that has led to my conclusion of the reality of God, His Son, and the existence of commandments and Divine authority (AKA religion).
My life has been comprised of thousands of hypotheses (whether conscious or unconscious) where I thought and therefore acted in some way or another, and then in hindsight have been able to observe the outcomes of my actions.
As a child, I had such simple prayers, such as requesting aid in finding a missing shoe before the school bus passed my house. A spark of inspiration would ensue, and there, under a smelly shirt on my bedroom floor, or wherever I put it, I would find the missing shoe.
I have had such simple prayers answered time and time again, whether it is shoes, keys, a camera, a document, that the car would start, whatever.
As I reflect on those simple prayers, they were never experiments to begin with; the intent was never “let me ask for this so that I can see if God is there.” Rather, it was I have a problem, I need help, I think God can help me, I ask for a specific thing, and afterwards, I notice that that specific prayer was answered.
An evaluation of my prayers over my lifetime helps me see that pattern repeated over and over with similar outcomes, though the pleas were often for more than just missing shoes.
People have many different views about God, and those views affect how they interact, or don’t interact with him.
For me, I think of God as a Father, and viewing him that way, I consider him having the best attributes of my father, as well as the best attributes that I have and wish to have as a father myself.
When I view my relationship with God like this, that God is my Father, and I am his son, then prayer is not foreign or difficult, but natural and instinctive.
This relationship also helps me understand why and when my petitions will or will not be granted.
As a father, I love my two kids, I’d do anything I could for them, but I don’t do everything they ask me to, not give them everything they ask me for. But if they ask for something that I’m willing and able to give them, I most certainly will, every time.
Sometimes I see opportunities to help my kids, but I don’t jump in and help them every time I could. Clara (my 2 year old) very often wants to do things herself, and if I try to help, she’ll let me know that “she” wants to do it. However other times, she does want me to help her. How do I know the difference? Usually she’ll ask. (Other times I notice the frustration, and when I offer to help she accepts.)
I view my prayers in much the same way; it is communication me and my Father. Let me borrow an excerpt from the definition of prayer in the Bible Dictionary. “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, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them.”
Having consistently received answers to my prayers has drawn me to the conclusion that I literally am a son of a real and living God who is my Father, and who answers my prayers.
So prayer is how I communicate, and express my wants and needs to God, how does he communicate and express his desires to me? I think there are a lot of ways that he could, and does do that, but let me talk about two ways that he communicates to me.
The first way is through commandments. I know that the word commandment has a dogmatic stigma around it, but when I view it through the parental relationship, the word softens quite a bit. Commandments from a parent to a child may be things like “don’t hit your brother.” “You need to keep your seatbelt on.” “No you can’t watch that movie (or play that game.)” “You need to do your homework.” “Eat your vegetables” Or “Go to bed.”
These “commandments” from a parent to a child serve to teach right from wrong, prevent injury to self or others, protect them from actions with consequences that they don’t fully understand, set them up for success, and keep them healthy.
Despite all of the above being commandments, a child can still choose whether or not to follow their parents’ instructions. In general the child would have always been better off to follow these “commandments”. But it often it isn’t until the corresponding same age of parenthood that the child will ever fully understand the purpose behind each “commandment.”
Although a child doesn’t always feel this way, there is no attempt in suppression, harm, or dominion in any of the above “commandments”, rather a desire for the happiest and best possible outcome for a child who the parent dearly loves.
I see commandments from God in the very same way, God’s desire for the happiest and best possible outcome for me, a child who He dearly loves.
Throughout my life I’ve inadvertently conducted a statistical experiment, with cases of when I’ve followed God’s commandments and times when I have not. For whatever reason, this sample also includes times when I was following commandments and stopped, as well as times when I wasn’t keeping them and started.
From these hundreds of cases, I’ve learned that I’m always happier when I’m acting in accordance with my Father in Heaven’s will. And I have never, never found a case where I was better off after deliberately disobeying his commandments. Overall, I’ve found my life richly blessed by trying to follow His commandments.
The Bible, the Book of Mormon, and other scriptures are full of “commandments from God.” Sometimes they are spoken directly by God the Father, or by Jesus Christ, other times by Prophets, Kings, Judges, and Apostles etc. who were given that Divine right. Some are directed to specific people in various times and circumstances, others appear to be to all people in all times. There are also Prophets and Apostles today who have Divine authority to speak in the name of God, and give direction and commandments from Him.
In every case, the way I know that a commandment “really” is divine is simple, does it lead me to do what is right and good? Secondly, if I follow it, did I end up better? Jesus said “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
Like I mentioned before, I’ve had plenty of cases where I’ve followed, and haven’t followed commandments, this has caused me to trust in the sources mentioned above as places and person’s to receive God’s commandments.
The second way that God, as a parent communicates to me is through personal revelation. This comes through thoughts and feelings, impressions, and from reflection on inspired words I’ve heard others say. Through personal revelation, I have been guided, directed, warned, been prepared for future events etc. I’ve had forgotten things brought back to my memory, I’ve spontaneously learned things I had never thought of or heard before. I’ve felt the truth of words I’ve read in scriptures, and that I have heard from modern day prophets. This personal revelation is the complement to prayer, and a way I have received answers to prayer.
It was through Prophets and Scriptures, and my parents that I was taught of Jesus Christ’s life, His teachings, and His Atonement that meet the demands of justice. It is through living His teachings that I know they are true, and it is from tasting the sweet feelings of peace and joy and forgiveness that I know of the truth of his Atonement. It is through the words of the Christ Himself, and through the testimony of his servants that I have been taught of his Resurrection that Easter Morning, and it is through the personal revelation that I have received that I believe, and know that I too will live again.
Happy Easter to you all!
-Ammon
