The Art Collector

As a follow up to yesterdays post on Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer, I remembered an old story that I had on file that illustrates an aspect of the Atonement in a different way. Please be warned, it may seem a little cheesy, and may have been sent to me in what I would term "Internet Spam", but it has a wonderful message. I would give credit to the author, but unfortunately I do not know who that is. Feel free to share that information with me if you know and I will gladly give credit to them.

Being warned....here it is:

THE ART COLLECTOR

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate. The widowed elderly man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son's trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.

As one particular winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram informing him that the young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic. Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness.

On Christmas morning, the depressed old man was awakened by a knock on the door. Upon opening it, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand. The soldier said, "I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you." Inside, as the two began to talk, the solider told of how the man's son had often told everyone of his father's love of fine art. "I'm an artist," said the soldier, "and I want to give you this." As the old man unwrapped the package, he saw a portrait of his son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man's face in striking detail.

Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the picture above the fireplace. A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, pushing aside thousands of dollars of paintings, the old man hung the newly acquired portrait where promised. The rest of the day the man sat in his chair gazing at the gift he had been given.

During the days and weeks that followed, the man learned that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart. As the stories of his son's gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease the grief. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the works of the masters.

The following spring, the old man became ill and eventually passed away. With no surviving relatives to inherit his collection, it was announced that the paintings would be sold at an auction. In fact, according to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Christmas Day.

When the long anticipated day arrived, eager art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on these most spectacular paintings. However, the auction began with a painting that was not on any museum's list. It was the painting of the man's son. When the auctioneer asked for an opening bid, the room was silent. "Who will open the bidding with $100?" he asked. Minutes passed, but no one spoke.

"It's just a picture of his son. Let's forget it and go on to the good stuff, " someone yelled out. More voices echoed in agreement.

"No, we have to sell this one first," replied the auctioneer. "Now, who will take the son?"

Finally, a friend of the old man spoke. "Will you take ten dollars for the painting? That's all I have. I knew the boy, so I'd like to have it."

"I have ten dollars. Will anyone go higher?" called the auctioneer. After more silence, the auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice. Gone." The gavel fell. Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, "Now we can get on with it and we can bid on these treasures!"

The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked, "What do you mean it's over? We didn't come here for a picture of some old guy's son What about all of these paintings? They're worth millions of dollars! I demand that you explain what's going on here!"

The auctioneer replied, "It's very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son...gets it all."

The message is still the same for us today. Because of a Father's love for His Son who went away and gave his life rescuing others, whoever takes the Son gets it all.

Savior and Redeemer

Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?

When I think of Jesus Christ and the many roles that he plays for us, understanding His role as Savior and His role as Redeemer, and what effect they have on our lives, are among the most important to understand.

At first glance these two roles may sound synonymous, but I believe they are significantly different as well.

Before one can discuss the merits of the Atonement, a full understanding of the consequences of the Fall must be understood. The Fall brought about three types of deaths. For more information on the Fall, a previous post called “The Fall Brought About Death” might be of interest.

According to the dictionary definitions of the two terms, the term Savior means simply “one who had saved them” whereas the term Redeemer is “one who had bought them”.

The Old Oxford English Dictionary adds further meaning to the term Redeemer as “to buy back (a thing formerly possessed); to make payment for (a thing held or claimed by another).”

So without the Atonement, what would lay claim to us?

2 Nephi 9: 8 O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more.

9 And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness.

10 O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit.

11 And because of the way of deliverance of our God, the Holy One of Israel, this death, of which I have spoken, which is the temporal, shall deliver up its dead; which death is the grave.

12 And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall deliver up its dead; which spiritual death is hell; wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.

Jesus Christ is our Savior because he saved us from the effects of the fall and placed us back in our rightful place of innocence, allowing us to “choose for ourselves”. This is the salvation that is promised to all men. He also is our Redeemer because he paid the price to redeem us from our sins, this redemption takes place as we choose to realize the full power of repentance because of the Atonement. This makes His sacrifice total and complete to satisfy the demands of justice because of the broken law.

Why did Jesus Christ do it?

In Section 19 of the Doctrine and Covenants The Savior gives us a few of His reasons:

19: 2 I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me—having done this that I might subdue all things unto myself—

3 Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment, which I shall pass upon the inhabitants thereof, judging every man according to his works and the deeds which he hath done.

We can see from the information given that He has complete submission to the will of the Father. The Father loves His children and desires that they return to Him, thus if Christ’s will is in complete line with the Fathers, we can conclude that He loves us and desires for us to return to the Father as well. Therefore it is evident that He lives the law of Obedience and Sacrifice, and all laws culminating in complete Consecration of His self in an attempt to persuade us to return to the Father as well. We can see the example He set for us, as one to follow in order to return. He loves the Father, and therefore He loves us as well.

When Christ explains another reason as one that He “might subdue all things unto myself”, we might wonder what He needs to actually subdue. The duality of man comes into play with this reason as well. The spirit being lineally perfect must subdue the “unredeemed” earth or physical body, this process is our progression through this life. It is a task that alone, we could not meet. Christ literally subdues the earth, every particle of it (that means our body as well), by “overcoming the world” through the Atonement. He brings every living thing into subjection, which allows him to control by choice. The choice is still ours to make. Satan was in complete opposition to this beautiful plan which was initiated by the Father.

Because of this complete control over the earth, He has the ability to “retain all power”. What does that mean for you and I? He retains power to judge because of this infinite act. His complete submission to the Father allows Him to subdue His Earth, cast out Satan, and retain the power to judge all who would be allowed to reside on His Earth.

Can you think of anyone else who could be a better judge than Christ who is completely motivated by Love?

He has only one request of us and that is to repent.

D&C 19:6 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

Ultimately the choice is always up to us.

Fire and Brimstone Preaching

Last week during Institute I asked my class if they were familiar with the term, “fire and brimstone preaching”. You may be interested to know, they had no idea what it was. Perhaps it is because the preaching of today has so drastically changed to emphasize the principle of grace, what do you think?

That wasn’t the case in the 1830’s. During that time period many of the preachers who made the preaching circuit were those who preached of “fire and brimstone”. They used imagery such as a hell, being a place for the wicked, “a lake of endless fire, continually burning but never consuming”. Many of the lessons they taught caused fear and trepidation about the volatile relationship one held between the individual and the Savior. Many people who heard these “fire and brimstone” sermons were simply “scared straight.”

In Section 19 of the Doctrine and Covenants we learn that our relationship to the Savior should be anything but scary. It is here, in this beautiful revelation from Jesus Christ himself, we come to know more about Him and the role he plays as Savior and Redeemer. This knowledge was necessary for those in the early Church because they were on the verge of establishing the organization of the Church itself. It is necessary for us because we need that knowledge to further that work today. In fact, it is so necessary for us today, it is one of the qualifiers for entrance into His most holy place, the Temple.

One of the false teachings the Lord clears up in Section 19 is that of the “fire and brimstone” preachers’ verbiage of “endless torment”, this would have been the exact terminology used by those preachers of the time. In a beautiful way He explains:

D&C 19: 6 Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment.

7 Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name’s glory.

8 Wherefore, I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet unto you to know even as mine apostles.

9 I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest.

10 For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore—

11 Eternal punishment is God’s punishment.

12 Endless punishment is God’s punishment.

Progression is an eternal principle. The term “Endless punishment” is simply punishment that is given by the Lord who is Endless. Endless is another name for Jesus Christ, therefore the punishment given by Him is Endless punishment. It is not referring to a time frame as the “fire and brimstone” preachers of the day were implying.

This concept, in and of itself, shows us the “Endless” love that the Savior has for His children. For that I will be Endlessly grateful.

O, Divine Redeemer- Neal A Maxwell

"No member of this Church must ever forget the terrible price paid by our Redeemer, who gave his life that all men might live- the agony of Gethsemane, the bitter mockery of His trial, the vicious crown of thorns tearing at His flesh, the blood cry of the mob before Pilate, the lonely burden of His heavy walk along the way to Calvary, the terrifying pain as great nails pierced His hands and feet...

We cannot for that. We must never forget it, for here our Savior, our Redeemer, the Son of God, gave Himself, a vicarious sacrifice for each of us."
Gordon B. Hinckley

"The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it."
Joseph Smith