So I don't have a social network to go to when I want to put something out there and get a response (or two or three). Instead, I tried the more invasive course of emailing everyone in my family the following:
Dear Family, (Yes, each of you would be a name on the back of a family reunion t-shirt either for a McDonald family reunion or a Facer family reunion!)
If each of you would be so kind to take 5-10 minutes to read and respond to this email, I would be greatly touched. I am asking for a simple one sentence thought in response to the possibility of being embraced figuratively (as opposed to literally) in this life by the Savior OR a one paragraph personal story in response to the question, "Have you had a personal experience with a figurative embrace by the Savior that you would be willing to share?"
Why am I doing this? Well, I was familiar with the scripture from Matthew 23:37, "How often would I have gathered you together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" And I was familiar with Christ being the way in which we must enter into God's presence once we die. (John 14:1-6.) But I heard the following quote for the first time last Friday and can't stop thinking about the hopeful joy that it contains for us while we are yet here on this earth:
Elder Neal A. Maxwell (On the nature and character of God):
If each of you would be so kind to take 5-10 minutes to read and respond to this email, I would be greatly touched. I am asking for a simple one sentence thought in response to the possibility of being embraced figuratively (as opposed to literally) in this life by the Savior OR a one paragraph personal story in response to the question, "Have you had a personal experience with a figurative embrace by the Savior that you would be willing to share?"
Why am I doing this? Well, I was familiar with the scripture from Matthew 23:37, "How often would I have gathered you together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" And I was familiar with Christ being the way in which we must enter into God's presence once we die. (John 14:1-6.) But I heard the following quote for the first time last Friday and can't stop thinking about the hopeful joy that it contains for us while we are yet here on this earth:
Elder Neal A. Maxwell (On the nature and character of God):
I love you. I respect you. I appreciate you. And if there is any imagery upon which I would focus as I close, it is two scriptures from the Book of Mormon. The one in which we are reminded that Jesus himself is the gatekeeper and that “he employeth no servant there.” (2 Nephi 9:41.) Once I assumed, with partial correctness, that that scripture was a clear indication that Jesus would be there to certify, because he knows perfectly well who could enter and who could not. And I am sure that is one of the reasons he stands at that gate and “employeth no servant there.” But I will tell you . . . out of the conviction of my soul . . . what I think the major reason is, as contained in another Book of Mormon scripture which says he waits for you “with open arms.” (Mormon 6:17.) That’s why he’s there! He waits for you “with open arms.” That imagery is too powerful to brush aside.... It is imagery that should work itself into the very center core of one’s mind—a rendezvous impending, a moment in time and space, the likes of which there is none other. And that rendezvous is a reality. I certify that to you. He does wait for us with open arms, because his love of us is perfect. And when he entreats us to become like him, it is that we might have his joy, the fulness of which we presently can only guess at. ("But a Few Days," Address to CES Religious Educators • 10 September 1982 • Salt Palace Assembly Room)
So, your thoughts or responses would be very welcome to me as I try to "work [this imagery] into the very center core of [my] mind." Wow.
So, your thoughts or responses would be very welcome to me as I try to "work [this imagery] into the very center core of [my] mind." Wow.
I have been strengthened by the responses from my family members, and I wondered if sharing these would help to strengthen others as well. So, I asked for and received permission to share the following thoughts. If anyone didn't respond yet who would like to leave their comment, please do so at the end of this post.
J____ said, I don't feel that I have been touched or haven't really tried to have him touch me. The only good thing is that I do have [my spouse] in my life. :) I feel that I'm more confused with the religion side, only because I have been to so many and haven't really thought of "what group" to join or be with and commit to.
J____ said, I don't feel that I have been touched or haven't really tried to have him touch me. The only good thing is that I do have [my spouse] in my life. :) I feel that I'm more confused with the religion side, only because I have been to so many and haven't really thought of "what group" to join or be with and commit to.
Seth said, I know from personal experience (before, during and now after my drug abuse) that I don't have to die in order to feel Christ's embrace. Always, in varying degrees, I feel comfort from somewhere or something when I'm feeling worthless. I choose to call that someone Jesus and seek for Him each and every day. When I am right with my fellow man and God, I experience a daily reprieve from this mortal existence and feel a little bit of God. It's pretty cool when this happens, and I'm grateful to have a piece of His joy.
James, Sr. said, I will share with you another imagery from the Book of Mormon that is really exciting to me. It is from Third Nephi chapter 27 verses 19 and 20.
This may be more than you wanted. Or, not really what you wanted. I am very, very grateful that we are together forever!
19 And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.
THAT IS SO EXCITING TO ME, TO IMAGINE MYSELF CLEAN AND SPOTLESS STANDING BEFORE OUR SAVIOR. AND, one more:20 Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand SPOTLESS before me at the last day.
LOVE IS THE ANSWER. IT IS THE WHY of the PLAN OF OUR EXISTENCE (our Father's amazing love) and the HOW of our futures together (our Savior's love and complete trust in our Heavenly Father, and his love for us.) That is what I want!! I want to love like that. As I feel and see these images, I do know that my future reunion with my Savior (my absolutely dependable friend) is really coming and will be joyous. And then comes more reunions!1 Nephi 11:21 "Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?22 And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.
This may be more than you wanted. Or, not really what you wanted. I am very, very grateful that we are together forever!
J____ said, For whatever reason I have been blessed from an early age to feel the Savior's love. While a Primary child, I could feel the embrace of Jesus. As a teen of 14, I bore testimony of Jesus wrapping His arms of mercy around me. Later in life, I learned that the Savior embraced every Nephite and knew that I too have been, will continue to be, embraced until the final embrace when I shall see and feel the tokens of His love.
A____ said, Yes, I believe you can feel the Lord's embrace in life. Literally being wrapped in someone's arms is one if the most comforting feelings here on earth, especially when it is someone you hold dear and they feel the same way. No one loves us the way Jesus does, and so being wrapped in the security of his embrace is more comforting than anything. If it weren't possible for the Lord to express his love for us than we would be a sorry lot indeed and never make it to God's kingdom. Everyone needs a lift and to feel love at some point in their lives.
P____ said, I'm not sure if this is the type of experience you're looking for, but it keeps coming back into my mind. Just a couple days ago, I was contracting pretty bad, and I was extremely uncomfortable. All I did was pray for comfort. It didn't come right away, but I have been reading D&C, and the one line that came to me was, "It will all be for your good." Just those 7 words have helped keep me feeling that my Savior is there and understands my needs.
J____ said, Yes, the feeling of embrace from God is true and real. We are able to experience this feeling in prayer and when we feel the Spirit.
N___ said, I enjoyed your email with Elder Maxwell's quote and have been thinking about it a little. Actually over the years I have lot about it a lot. Two of the scriptures I love concerning this idea are in 2 Nephi 1:15 and D&C 6:20. Beside one of those scriptures I had written, "A hug is a symbol of returning home." That is true in my life today and I believe it is true in my life when I return to my Heavenly Father.
Sometimes when things are, or have been, challenging, I have definitely felt those arms encircled about me. Then the Savior seems to say, "I know what you're going through and I won't wait until I see you in heaven to give you a hug. You need one right now." I've heard people talk about that almost physical feeling of being held and comforted when they have lost loved ones.
I also love the story of the hen and her chickens. (I have a picture of that in my kitchen.) I would love to talk about that more at the reunion--so much symbolism. And I know my father's favorite scripture is 2 Nephi 9:41. I always think of that when I am at the temple getting ready to end my session.
Sometimes when things are, or have been, challenging, I have definitely felt those arms encircled about me. Then the Savior seems to say, "I know what you're going through and I won't wait until I see you in heaven to give you a hug. You need one right now." I've heard people talk about that almost physical feeling of being held and comforted when they have lost loved ones.
I also love the story of the hen and her chickens. (I have a picture of that in my kitchen.) I would love to talk about that more at the reunion--so much symbolism. And I know my father's favorite scripture is 2 Nephi 9:41. I always think of that when I am at the temple getting ready to end my session.
T____said, I feel His embrace each time I have a powerful feeling through the Holy Ghost. My body doesn't literally feel His arms around me, but my heart sure does...literally!
As for me, my response would be that the Lord knows exactly how to succor me in this life and will do so each and every moment if I believe, ask and trust in Him to do so. These phrases found in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 136 (starting with verse 21 and going to 31) speak to me as well:
My humble thanks to all who have and who will yet contribute to this thread. May we all take courage, be still, and know/feel that God lives and loves and embraces the embraceable you constantly.
As for me, my response would be that the Lord knows exactly how to succor me in this life and will do so each and every moment if I believe, ask and trust in Him to do so. These phrases found in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 136 (starting with verse 21 and going to 31) speak to me as well:
aKeep yourselves from evil ... for I am the Lord your God ... and my arm is stretched out in the last days, to bsave my people Israel ... [B]e adiligent in bpreserving what thou hast ... for it is the free gift of the Lord thy God, and thou art his steward. If thou art amerry, bpraise the Lord with ... ethanksgiving. If thou art asorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be bjoyful. Fear not ... My people must be atried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the bglory that I have for them ... and he that will not cbear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom.
When my life gets hard and I am tempted to turn to my own creature comforts or habitual fixes, I would do well to turn to the Savior instead whose "hand is stretched out still" waiting to embrace me and truly bring me the "peace which passeth all understanding." The world does not have to be paradisiacal before experiencing this kind of peace.
My humble thanks to all who have and who will yet contribute to this thread. May we all take courage, be still, and know/feel that God lives and loves and embraces the embraceable you constantly.
