Sabbath Reflections - Willing to Submit

In our society today we face a world in commotion and situational standards that tear at the very fabric of what truly matters. Words and definitions have changed; "tolerance" has become acceptance and embrace - even if contrary to core values and principles, "choice" has become the entitlement of society without accountability and responsibility, and "equality" has come to mean that we are all entitled to what everyone else has irrespective of consequence, principles or liberties compromised. We are being taught that good is bad and bad is good. Amid the commotion of it all, it is imperative that we are grounded in eternal principles, adhering in all things to the tender and "still" entreaty of the Master, willing to submit with exactness and honor to He who suffered all things for each of us, because He loves us and desires to be happy - we are after all, His friends - He has chosen us. It is imperative that we teach our children eternal truths and principles, in plainness, that they may be clad with the necessary armaments and remain pure in heart.

“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.” Matthew 11:28-30

To quote the moving words of Neal A. Maxwell: "Jesus Christ is utterly incomparable in what He is, what He knows, what He has accomplished and what He has experienced. Yet, movingly, he calls us his friends. We can trust, worship, and even adore Him without reservation. As the only perfect person to sojourn on this planet, there is none like Him. In intelligence and performance, He far surpasses the individual and the composite capacities and achievements of all who have lived, live now and will yet live. He rejoices in our genuine goodness and achievement but any assessment of where we stand in relation to Him tells us that we do not stand at all. We kneel.

Indeed we cannot teach him anything. But we can listen to Him, love Him, honor him, worship him. We can obey his commandments and read his scriptures. We are never forgotten by him. We are his work and his glory and he is never distracted. We are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand."

"Dear to the heart of the shepherd, Dear are the sheep of his fold.
Some from the pasture are straying, Hungry and helpless and cold
See the Good Shepherd is seeking, Seeking the lambs that are lost
Bringing them in with rejoicing, Saved at such infinite cost."

In Matthew we are tenderly entreated to Come, to learn and to know our Savior and Redeemer, to become one with Him. If we submissively heed the counsel offered, we are promised peace, or rest unto our souls, being a spiritual rest or comfort. Notwithstanding, it requires a proactive effort on our part to, learn of Him, to know Him and to be one with Him. It is interesting to note that of all the qualities perfected in Christ, He encourages us in our own perfection by stating, in conjunction with the tender call to “come unto Him,” that He is “meek and lowly.” Of all His qualities, He highlights that of being meek and lowly with the clarion call that such is what we should become. For it is in meekness and humility that we become submissive. And it is in submissiveness that we become obedient and teachable. Therefore meekness becomes the basis of our progression on the pathway of discipleship, thereby leading to a submissive heart. And it is with a submissive heart that we become one with the Master and our Heavenly Father.

Even so, as counseled by further by Mosiah, we must “become as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” (Mosiah 3:19)

We must adopt the perspective of spiritual beings in a human, or “natural man,” environment, rather than human beings seeking for a spiritual environment. Accepting the atoning gift, freely and submissively given by He whose love is infinite, can only be accomplished in meekness and submissiveness.

The subtleties of this life are the destroying elements of life itself, we must put on the full armor of God and not just the breastplate. We must become fully engaged, fully yoked and obedient. If there ever was a time not to grow weary and stand firmly on the pathway, it is now. Disciples can still, and must, live in the world and not be of it. As men and women of Christ we are, as stated in Ephesians 4, to "be kind to one another, tenderhearted and forgiving," without contention. Howard W. Hunter further counseled us to “treat each other with more kindness, more courtesy, more humility and patience and forgiveness.” Our ability to do so is wholly dependent upon our discipleship in Christ, born of our proximity to the Savior.

Contention is divisive and weakens our capacity to meet the full measure of our creation. Contention is disabling in our defense against the enemies in society that would tear us and our families asunder. May we strive in all things, willing to submit and be one with He whose tender love is without measure; that we may always find love in our homes and in the simplicity of living as men and women of Christ, unfettered by the world.