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ask4mynemo-blog · 4 years

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Celestial Chemistry

Written by Benny Millar

Homeward Bound

My patriarchal blessing quotes a scripture that I love, “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.” (Doctrine & Covenants 82:10) I prefer looking at verses 8-10 together for a more complete perspective on this wonderful verse in modern scripture:

And again, I say unto you, I give unto you a new commandment, that you may know my will concerning you; or, in other words, I give unto you directions how you may act before me, that it may turn to you for your salvation. I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

I’ve been thinking about this in relation to our walk on the covenant path and it made me realize how much our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to stay “bound” to us! We individually might say, “I, Benny, am bound to the Lord when I make and keep sacred covenants in His temple; and when I do what He says, I may claim His promises.”

I am developing a new analogy that I call “Celestial Chemistry.” It conceptually focuses on the idea of hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, and covalent bonds in relation to faith, obedience, and priesthood covenants. I would love to share it with you. Please understand that I am not promoting these ideas as doctrine, but simply laying out my personal thoughts that emerged as I pondered and studied the doctrine of making and keeping priesthood covenants.

Hydrogen Bonding and Water

Water is the classic example of hydrogen bonding. On the basic atomic level, there exists partial positive charges and partial negative charges which hold two hydrogens to one oxygen. This creates an attractive polarity within each H2O molecule and an even more unique bonding association with many other H2O molecules nearby. Water is composed of a molecular neighborhood wherein each hydrogen atom is actually bonded to two separate oxygen atoms though more strongly to one. The bonding in liquid water is such that the closest neighboring H2O molecules form a tetrahedron which is 90% electrostatic and 10% covalent.

Perhaps this is pushing the spiritual chemistry analogy too far, but the tetrahedral bonding formation of liquid water could represent the baptismal covenant. This covenant is like a bond requiring five separate contributing parts:

The individual making the covenant

God the Father

Jesus Christ

The Holy Ghost

Authority of the Priesthood

Hence, there are five bonded parts in one tetrahedral structure. I find it interesting that five parts (or five words) is a common theme in our covenant relationship with deity. When children of God desire to live through covenant obedience they must demonstrate a willingness to follow God’s directions which will show them how to “…act before [Him], that it may turn to [them] for [their] salvation.” Nephi personified this willingness when he said, “I will go and do.” Living by this five word mantra qualifies an individual to become connected to heaven and prepares her/him for making and keeping sacred priesthood covenants.

Another five word symbol of advanced covenant relationships can be found when we think about the inscription on every temple built in the latter-days, “Holiness to the Lord, The House of the Lord.” One day after a temple recommend interview with a member of our stake presidency, my sweet wife asked the counselor a question. She asked him what he understood to be the meaning of the phrase, “Holiness to the Lord.” His answer was profound. He told her a story of a famous national news reporter who interviewed a prominent member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Boston, Massachusetts. The two men sat on a bench not far from the Boston temple and the interviewer asked if he could ever go inside the temple himself. “Of course,” the brother explained, “if you qualify by meeting the standards of holiness to the Lord.” Then he reverently shared with the journalist all the temple recommend interview questions. The reporter was astounded and replied, “You mean to tell me that every member of your church who is granted entrance into that temple answered every one of those questions? I don’t think I could honestly answer any of them myself. That is remarkable!” Holiness to the Lord is a personal preparation to enter His temples. “The House of the Lord,” (another five word mantra) stands as the designated place for Heavenly Father’s family to enter into the higher covenants of salvation. Inside the temple, the pattern of fives is repeated in special and perhaps subtle ways that cannot be shared in this essay. Look for them on your own as you worship in The House of The Lord. Now back to some chemistry.

If hydrogen bonding in water were too strong, life could not be sustained at lower temperatures and if the bonding were too weak then life could not be sustained at higher temperatures. There exists a “Goldilocks Principle” of not too strong and not too weak which keeps water and life sustained over a wide range of temperatures. If the bonds in liquid water break, they quickly reform as long as the tetrahedral molecules remain close and actively engaged. This is like enduring repentance and faithful service which is life sustaining and reminds me of the two great commandments. As we strive to love God with all of our heart, soul and mind, and strive to love our neighbor as ourself, we are able to retain a remission of our sins and maintain the unique spiritual hydrogen water bonds of our baptismal covenant.

Water is “sticky” because of the easy and abundant hydrogen bonds throughout the liquid structure which creates surface tension. This is how a skin forms on the surface for insects to walk upon, how humans can easily drink water through a straw, and how plants can draw up a column of water through roots and channels against gravity! Perhaps we need to appreciate the “stickiness” of our baptismal covenant, too. Baptism is the ordinance of immersion in water being surrounded completely by hydrogen bonded water molecules and represent the first step on the covenant path. The hydrogen bonding interactions serve as a spiritual analogy of how this baptismal covenant guides our actions and strengthens our influence on those we minister to. We must interact with others in sticky, up close, and personal ways: mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all places, repenting quickly and interacting through love continuously. This spiritual bonding stays connected and true through a wide range of trials and situations sustaining spiritual life as we know it.

Remember in water, each hydrogen atom is bonded to two separate oxygen atoms one more strongly than the other. So it is with our baptismal covenant; the bond with God is stronger than the bonds with our neighbors, but both are crucial to maintain the spiritual life giving properties of the water covenant.

In simple chemistry terms, there is a hierarchy of bond strength: hydrogen bond < ionic bond < covalent bond. This progression lends itself to further understanding in my spiritual chemistry analogy and has obvious covenant path symbolism.

Ionic Bonding and Salt

Salt (sodium chloride) is the classic example of ionic bonding. The transfer of electrons between two atoms is called electrovalence. Atoms that gain electrons become positive cations and atoms that give up electrons become negative anions creating electrostatic attractions between the two. This attraction leads to the formation of an ionic bond that is stronger than a hydrogen bond but weaker than a covalent bond. Ionic compounds like salt form crystalline structures that can break neatly and can be dissolved in water dissociating ions into solution.

Take sodium chloride for example. When this ionic compound dissociates in water, such as in food preparation, a small amount of salt will savor a large amount of the solution. In Matthew 5:13 the Savior said to his faithful followers, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?”

Like the special properties of ionic bonds, various types of relationship bonds can be formed between neighbors, class and quorum members, ward families, missionaries and investigators. Perhaps a spiritual ionic bond is established through righteous priesthood service and when faithful disciples bear humble testimony to others. Subsequently, righteous spiritual electrons are transferred to another individual flavoring their experience and promoting the formation of a medium strength bond between the two persons — an empathetic give and take relationship of savory spiritual influence.

“Ye are the salt of the earth.” This responsibility pertains to all faithful disciples of Christ who have been baptized and confirmed—men, women, youth, and children. It also has direct implications for priesthood holders and holds them accountable to savor the earth by sharing their “ionic” personal influence with everyone they meet by virtue of the priesthood, and in the name of Jesus Christ.

Although these bonding interactions certainly strengthen relationships, congregations and communities, they are not strong enough to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Spouses, nuclear families and extended families across the generations must be bonded more strongly than this, even welded and sealed for time and all eternity.

Covalent Bonding and the Temple

Temple covenants are like celestial covalent bonds sharing electron orbitals (power in the priesthood) across both sides of the veil. They are the strongest chemical bonds and the strongest spiritual bonds, especially when linked or welded together in a generational chain.

Perfection, sanctification, pure conversion cannot happen on our own merits of obedience, but they require the grace of God to cure and finish the process. The bond must be two ways and must invoke heavenly, divine, celestial powers overlapping with our own righteous offering in order to manifest the powers of godliness now and through the eternities. Christ is symbolically represented by the temple, specifically the veil of the temple (see Hebrews 10:20). So I propose that the following phrases are mostly synonymous: “in the name of Jesus Christ” and “through the veil.” Consider covenant making and keeping as the method of forming a celestial covalent bond between God and His children through the power of Christ’s priesthood and the gift of His grace.

I will now emphasize a play on words which is not gender specific and should be extrapolated in its entirety to women and men. The electrons traveling around both atoms form a shared orbital which makes the strongest covalent bond between the two atoms. Think of this as two “Adams” one seeking holiness and the other a divine “Man of Holiness;” one on each side of the veil with the electron orbital passing “through the veil.” This power transfer through the veil happens by virtue of, and in the name of Jesus Christ. Thus, the power of godliness is made manifest “through the veil” in this fashion thus binding the mortal covenant keeper to her/his God. This is the power that must rest upon us now and forever. It is the manner in which Christ not only reveals us to His Father but binds us to Him, saving us and perfecting us in the process. “We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.” (The Third Article of Faith) Please notice another five word mantra here, “through the atonement of Christ.”

In chemistry the strongest single covalent bond occurs between carbon and fluorine C-F making CF4 (carbon tetrafluoride) a very stable covalently bonded molecule. How interesting that C could stand for “covenant” and F could stand for “faith.” Molecules that bind multiple carbons in a chain with multiple fluorides are especially strong and in theory almost unbreakable. A cross-generational family or a Zion community covalently-bonded through consecrated keeping of sacred temple covenants can and should be virtually unbreakable.

For weeks, I have been pondering the meaning of the Savior’s words found in Matthew 11:28-30:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

His yoke represents the sum of all the covenants that we make in His name. Hence, we take upon us His yoke when we make our personal covenants and each Sunday we renew that yoke as we worthily partake of His sacrament. When we learn of Him, we actually learn about Him, learn from Him, and through faithful covenant relationships learn to be like Him.

Rest is an interesting word. It has etymological origins to re-stand or re-turn. His rest, the rest that He gives us and the rest that we hope to enter into one day, represents the “promise" of entering into the kingdom of God to receive eternal life and exaltation. Entering into His rest is synonymous with standing again in the presence of the Lord.

Rest can also be a verb. In this way “rest” refers to power placed upon mankind such as the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, Priesthood Power, and in some instances Priesthood Keys. You can’t spell Restoration without “rest.” The eternal purpose of restoration in the plan of salvation is to bring Heavenly Father’s sons and daughters back into His “rest.” This is why the Priesthood keys and sealing power had to be restored to the earth. It is no wonder that Moroni quoted Malachi’s prophecy to Joseph Smith on each of his four first visitations to the boy prophet.

Being “bound” is a two way eternal “covalent” connection that depends upon us loving God enough to obey His commandments or follow His directions. This includes making and keeping temple covenants. The power of the Priesthood and the Holy Spirit of Promise bring celestial power into a common orbital that surrounds the covenant (covalently) bound mortal and her/his immortal Father in the strongest known bond. This covenant bond cannot be broken except by disobedience on the mortal side of the veil. Thus, as righteous keeping of the covenant is maintained, the covalent celestial bond permeates across the veil for time and all eternity.

Bound is synonymous with other words like: seal, turn, weld, plant, graft, and remember. Whenever you see such words in the scriptures, I encourage you to think about covenants. When we do what Heavenly Father says, this represents making and keeping our covenants and enduring to the end so that the celestial covalent bond will endure forever as well.

Being perfected is the process of complete conversion accompanied by sanctification. It happens in conjunction with a righteous combination of love, obedience, faith, repentance, covenant making and keeping, and a constant nourishment through the grace of Jesus Christ. The process must be in line with the keys of His priesthood authority which eventually “unlock the gate of heaven and let us in.” (There is a Green Hill Far Away, Hymn 194)

Pointing Our Souls to Christ

When we are resolved to see that everything points us to Christ, we will also see that all good things point us to His holy house. All directions, instructions, and commandments work for us to our salvation as we learn of Him, and through His grace transform our eyes, our hearts, our souls asymptotically ever to be like Him, “…then when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as he is...” (Doctrine & Covenants 130:1, Moroni 7:48) The process of considering the scriptures in context of how they pertain to our temple covenants, will make our eyes to see more clearly, our hearts to feel more strongly, and our minds to understand more completely. Take Matthew 7:7-8 for one powerful illustration of this method. The Savior said:

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

We must individually desire further light and knowledge, and we must recognize our lack of wisdom then eagerly go to the true source to find it. True asking is to converse with God in the name of His Son. True seeking is being willing to wait for a divine message in return which surely will come through true messengers of the Father (this could be missionaries, ministering sisters or brothers, Church officers, family members, or from the Holy Ghost himself). We must seek to hear when He speaks for the Lord declared, “…whether by my own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” (Doctrine & Covenants 1:38) When we have ears to hear Him, and we strive to faithfully obey His voice, then at a certain place that will be shown to us, we shall have the opportunity to knock and it shall be opened unto us to let us enter into His rest.

If we are to be homeward bound on our journey through mortality, we must faithfully walk the Lord’s covenant path. The bonds we make with our neighbors, our families, and with our God, will enrich our lives, enhance our joy, and bring us to our celestial home “through the veil” or “in the name of Jesus Christ,” to re-stand in the presence of the Lord, and to claim the promises associated with our covenants.

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ask4mynemo-blog · 4 years

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The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming

By President Russell M. Nelson

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is preparing the world for the day when “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:9).

You and I get to participate in the ongoing Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is wondrous! It is not man-made! It comes from the Lord, who said, “I will hasten my work in its time” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:73). This work is empowered by a divine announcement made 200 years ago. It consisted of only seven words: “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (see Joseph Smith—History 1:17).

Uttered by Almighty God, that announcement brought a young Joseph Smith to the Lord Jesus Christ. Those seven words launched the Restoration of His gospel. Why? Because our living God is a loving God! He wants His children to gain immortality and eternal life! The great latter-day work of which we are a part was established, on schedule, to bless a waiting and weeping world.

I cannot speak of the Restoration in tempered tones. This fact of history is absolutely stunning! It is incredible! It is breathtaking! How amazing is it that messengers from heaven came to give authority and power to this work?

Today, the Lord’s work in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is moving forward at an accelerated pace. The Church will have an unprecedented, unparalleled future. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, … the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9; see also Doctrine and Covenants 76:10).

Remember that the fulness of Christ’s ministry lies in the future. The prophecies of His Second Coming have yet to be fulfilled. We are just building up to the climax of this last dispensation—when the Savior’s Second Coming becomes a reality.

Gathering Israel on Both Sides of the Veil

A necessary prelude to that Second Coming is the long-awaited gathering of scattered Israel (see 1 Nephi 15:18; see also the title page of the Book of Mormon). This doctrine of the gathering is one of the important teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Lord has declared: “I give unto you a sign … that I shall gather in, from their long dispersion, my people, O house of Israel, and shall establish again among them my Zion” (3 Nephi 21:1).

We not only teach this doctrine, but we participate in it. We do so as we help to gather the elect of the Lord on both sides of the veil. As part of the planned destiny of the earth and its inhabitants, our kindred dead are to be redeemed (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:15). Mercifully, the invitation to “come unto Christ” (Jacob 1:7; Moroni 10:32; Doctrine and Covenants 20:59) can also be extended to those who died without a knowledge of the gospel (see Doctrine and Covenants 137:6–8). Part of their preparation, however, requires the earthly efforts of others. We gather pedigree charts, create family group sheets, and do temple work vicariously to gather individuals unto the Lord and into their families (see 1 Corinthians 15:29; 1 Peter 4:6).

Families are to be sealed together for all eternity (see Doctrine and Covenants 2:2–3; 49:17; 138:48; Joseph Smith—History 1:39). A welding link is to be forged between the fathers and the children. In our time, a whole, complete, and perfect union of all dispensations, keys, and powers are to be welded together (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:18). For these sacred purposes, holy temples now dot the earth. I emphasize again that construction of these temples may not change your life, but your service in the temple surely will.

The time is coming when those who do not obey the Lord will be separated from those who do (see Doctrine and Covenants 86:1–7). Our safest insurance is to continue to be worthy of admission to His holy house. The greatest gift you could give to the Lord is to keep yourself unspotted from the world, worthy to attend His holy house. His gift to you will be the peace and security of knowing that you are worthy to meet Him, whenever that time comes.

In addition to temple work, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon is a sign to the entire world that the Lord has commenced to gather Israel and fulfill the covenants He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see Genesis 12:2–3; 3 Nephi 21; 29). The Book of Mormon declares the doctrine of the gathering (see, for example, 1 Nephi 10:14). It causes people to learn about Jesus Christ, to believe His gospel, and to join His Church. In fact, if there were no Book of Mormon, the promised gathering of Israel would not occur.

Missionary work is also crucial to that gathering. Servants of the Lord go forth proclaiming the Restoration. In many nations our members and missionaries have searched for those of scattered Israel; they have hunted for them “out of the holes of the rocks” (Jeremiah 16:16); and they have fished for them, as in ancient days.

Missionary work connects people to the covenant the Lord made with Abraham anciently:

“Thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations;

“And I will bless them through thy name; for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father” (Abraham 2:9–10).

Missionary work is only the beginning of the blessing. The fulfillment, the consummation, of those blessings comes as those who have entered the waters of baptism perfect their lives to the point that they may enter the holy temple. Receiving an endowment there seals members of the Church to the Abrahamic covenant.

The choice to come unto Christ is not a matter of physical location; it is a matter of individual commitment. All members of the Church have access to the doctrine, ordinances, priesthood keys, and blessings of the gospel, regardless of their location. People can be “brought to the knowledge of the Lord” (3 Nephi 20:13) without leaving their homelands.

True, in the early days of the Church, conversion often meant emigration as well. But now the gathering takes place in each nation. The Lord has decreed the establishment of Zion (see Doctrine and Covenants 6:6; 11:6) in each realm where He has given His Saints their birth and nationality. The place of gathering for Brazilian Saints is in Brazil; the place of gathering for Nigerian Saints is in Nigeria; the place of gathering for Korean Saints is in Korea. Zion is “the pure in heart” (Doctrine and Covenants 97:21). It is wherever righteous Saints are.

Spiritual security will always depend upon how one lives, not where one lives. I promise that if we will do our best to exercise faith in Jesus Christ and access the power of His Atonement through repentance, we will have the knowledge and power of God to help us take the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.

The Second Coming

The Lord will return to the land that He made holy by His mission there in mortality. In triumph, He will come again to Jerusalem. In royal robes of red to symbolize His blood, which oozed from every pore, He shall return to the Holy City (see Doctrine and Covenants 133:46–48). There and elsewhere, “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5; see also Doctrine and Covenants 101:23). His “name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

He will govern from two world capitals: one in old Jerusalem (see Zechariah 14) and the other in the New Jerusalem “built upon the American continent” (Articles of Faith 1:10). From these centers He will direct the affairs of His Church and kingdom. Another temple will yet be built in Jerusalem. From that temple He shall reign forever as Lord of Lords. Water will issue from under the temple. Waters of the Dead Sea will be healed. (See Ezekiel 47:1–8.)

In that day He will bear new titles and be surrounded by special Saints. He will be known as “Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that [will be] with him [will be those who] are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14) to their trust here in mortality. Then He “shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

The earth will be returned to its paradisiacal state and be made new. There will be a new heaven and a new earth (see Revelation 21:1; Ether 13:9; Doctrine and Covenants 29:23–24).

It is our charge—it is our privilege—to help prepare the world for that day.

Face the Future with Faith

Meanwhile, here and now, we live in a time of turmoil. Earthquakes and tsunamis wreak devastation, governments collapse, economic stresses are severe, the family is under attack, and divorce rates are rising. We have great cause for concern. But we do not need to let our fears displace our faith. We can combat those fears by strengthening our faith.

Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord “shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives.

How you deal with life’s trials is part of the development of your faith. Strength comes when you remember that you have a divine nature, an inheritance of infinite worth. The Lord has reminded you, your children, and your grandchildren that you are lawful heirs, that you have been reserved in heaven for your specific time and place to be born, to grow and become His standard bearers and covenant people. As you walk in the Lord’s path of righteousness, you will be blessed to continue in His goodness and be a light and a savior unto His people (see Doctrine and Covenants 86:8–11).

Do whatever it takes to strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ by increasing your understanding of the doctrine taught in His restored Church and by relentlessly seeking truth. Anchored in pure doctrine, you will be able to step forward with faith and dogged persistence and cheerfully do all that lies in your power to fulfill the purposes of the Lord.

You will have days when you will be discouraged. So pray for courage not to give up! Sadly, some whom you thought were your friends will betray you. And some things will simply seem unfair.

However, I promise you that as you follow Jesus Christ, you will find sustained peace and true joy. As you keep your covenants with increasing precision, and as you defend the Church and kingdom of God on the earth today, the Lord will bless you with strength and wisdom to accomplish what only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can accomplish.

We are to be builders of an individual faith in God, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and faith in His Church. We are to build families and be sealed in holy temples. We are to build the Church and kingdom of God upon the earth (see Matthew 6:33). We are to prepare for our own divine destiny: glory, immortality, and eternal lives (see Romans 2:7; Doctrine and Covenants 75:5).

I humbly testify to you that—as the Prophet Joseph Smith proclaimed—the restored gospel of Jesus Christ “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” (History of the Church, 4:540).

We are engaged in the work of Almighty God. I pray for His blessings to be with each and every one of you.

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