Though estranged, we hunger for reunion [with God]. ... Meanwhile, only a few come to this mortal experience with substantial saintliness already in tact. Rather, our individual best is but the bud of possibility. Even so, these buds of possibility are unmistakably there...
During this stressful sojourn on earth, we should make no mistake about who we and others really are. Amid our budding possibilities, in the words of CS Lewis, we are "in a society of possible Gods and Godesses, in which there are no ordinary people. We have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations, these are mortal, and their life to ours is as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit."
When you and I begin to know who we are, brothers and sisters, then we also know much more clearly what we might become, and also how and when. The gospel, therefore, emancipates us from uncertainty of our identity...since Jesus descended below all in order to lift us all up, why are we so busy putting each other down?...
If we fail to learn who we are, however much other information we acquire here, we shall be "ever learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim.3:7). With the acceptance of knowledge about premortality, there comes a greater realization of what it means to be true to ourselves and to our possibilities...The doctrine of premortality is among what Paul calls "the deep things of God." which God has revealed to us.
Neal A. Maxwell, BYU Devotional Address, March 26, 1989, A Wonderful Flood of Light.
Aug 1, 2008
Immortals.
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5 comments:
I don't know why but this made me think of celebs. I always look down on them and their lifestyle and I guess I forget they are really people and children of God too. Random
As to your comment on my blog, there are million books out there on parenting and infants and pregnancy. However, I would definitely say your best resource once you have a baby would be your mom and sisters and friends. There is a lot to figure out and learn! It's ongoing.
This makes me think of our RS lesson two weeks ago. It was a great one and almost in passing our teacher said that her mom taught her to remember that we have to remember that everyone is doing the best they can with what they have. I haven't been able to get it off my mind...simply to give people the benefit of the doubt.
Love when you post quotes. Thanks.
Now that is nice. If we could all keep that in mind as we go through our days things would be a lot smoother and happier. Thanks for sharing.
I used that quote, in part, in a church talk I gave some years ago. It is magnificent and true. Thanks for the reminder.
I read this talk years ago and it really struck me. Thank you so much for sharing. I seriously just love that message of working toward our eternal potential. Thanks for sharing. Remind me I have that thought from the church news for you.
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