Week 56 His People

September 4, 2019

Week 56

Another week here in Adelaide has flown by like nobody's business. Last Thursday, we took care of a family history stand in a shopping center, and we weren't allowed to discuss religious beliefs, just family history. It is lots of fun doing what you can to NOT relate family history back to the gospel. Especially when you get people from other denominations who all they want to do is "discuss" religion with you when they see your name tag, despite you telling them again and again: "We cannot discuss religion here, but we are happy to meet up elsewhere." Some lovely people just seem to be born without the ability to listen.

On Saturday, we also attended the wedding of a couple that we are teaching, who will be baptized in two weeks!

A miracle that we saw this week came into view on Monday. Nearly 3 months ago now, we taught a friend of ours. We taught him how important the Book of Mormon is and shared our testimonies with him. Before we parted, we gave him his own Book of Mormon. We didn't hear from him until last week, when we "coincidentally" ran into him on the bikes. We thought he had blocked us, but apparently he was just having phone issues. Anyway we met him on Monday, and at that time, he told us that he had read the entire Book of Mormon! He told us that it has truly helped him to find more happiness in his life. There truly is power in that book. We are meeting with him again today.

His People

There is a scripture reference fairly known among members of the church, and I like to think of it as "the basic doctrine behind the Atonement." It is found in Alma 7:11-13. But before I quote it, I am going to say, I have read this passage many, many times. But this time something stood out to me that never has before. In fact, a week before I looked into this, I had just a few words pop into my head one night, so I jotted it on a sticky note, forgot about it, until a few days ago when I pieced it all together. Here is Alma 7:11-13:

        "11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

                12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

                13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."

So why does this reference specify that Christ suffers for "His People?" Because I thought that He was the Savior of the world (John 4:48) not just "His people." 

I see it like this:  Christ did suffer and die for everybody, however,  Alma specifies that He suffered and died for His people, because His people would surely be persecuted, and suffer, just because they choose to follow Him. Look at the example of Joseph Smith. Whenever somebody receives greater light from God, and tries to live by it, and to share it, they are persecuted. 

JSH 1:23-25

       "23 It caused me serious reflection then, and often has since, how very strange it was that an obscure boy, of a little over fourteen years of age, and one, too, who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily labor, should be thought a character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day, and in a manner to create in them a spirit of the most bitter persecution and reviling. But strange or not, so it was, and it was often the cause of great sorrow to myself.

                24 However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise.

                25 So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation."

So when we are told that Christ suffered for "His people" He truly did, because His people would suffer. That is the beauty of the message that we missionaries are called to share. It is not the fact that as soon as you become one of "Christ's people" all of your troubles disappear, it is rather the fact that when you are one of His people, you are entitled to the strength, peace and comfort to guide you through whatever difficulty, trial, or obstacle that you face. Here is how you become one of His people.

Mosiah 18:8, 10:

"Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people...

...[be] baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments..."

John 10:27

"27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me"

Jesus Christ's people (His sheep) are those people who follow Him by being Baptized by proper authority.

Jesus Christ did suffer and die for all of us. But He cannot help us, unless we show Him that we want that help. Not because His gift is only for a select few, but because He has given the gift to all, and it us up to us to receive that gift. He cannot take our sins upon Him, unless we are willing to give them to Him, and He cannot give us His Atonement, unless we are willing to take it from Him, by being obedient. He is the way, but it is up to us to follow that way. 

This is true! I love it! I would not be who I am today without my Savior Jesus Christ, as revealed to me in the Book of Mormon, which was translated by Joseph Smith, a man who I know was the Prophet of "the restitution of all things" (Acts 3:21)

Firm in the Faith,

-Elder Cozzens 

Photo: Elders Rawlings and Cozzens at the Chapel, Hackham West