「Saints」を含む日記

はてなキーワード:Saintsとは

2023-03-26

■アメリカの教会 リーダーが臨死体験でイエスの生涯を目撃する話

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1989/10/the-sacrament-and-the-sacrifice?lang=eng

The Sacrament—and the Sacrifice

By ElderDavid B. Haight

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Ipray foryourfaith andprayers that my utteranceswill be received and understood “by theSpirit oftruth” and that myexpressionswill be given “by theSpirit oftruth” so that we mightall be “edified and rejoicetogether.” (See D&C 50:21–22.)

As I standhere today—a well man—words of grat itudeand acknowledgment ofdivine intervention are so very inadequate inexpressingthe feelings in mysoul.

Six months agoat theApril general conference, Iwas excused from speakingas Iwas convalescing from a serious operation.My life has been spared, and Inow have the pleasant opportunity of acknowledging the blessings,comfort, and readyaid of my Brethren in the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, and other wonderfulassociates andfriends towhom I owe so much andwho surrounded mydear wife,Ruby, and my familywith theirtime,attention, andprayers. For the inspireddoctors and thoughtful nurses Iexpress my deepest grat itude, and for the thoughtful letters and messages offaith andhope received frommanyplaces inthe world,manyexpressing, “You have been in ourprayers” or “We have beenasking ourHeavenly Fat her to spareyourlife.”Yourprayers andmine, thankfully, have beenanswered.

One unusual card caused me to ponder upon themajesty ofit all.It is anoriginal paintingby Arta Romney Ballif of theheavensat night withits myriadgolden stars.Her caption,taken fromPsalms, reads:

“Praise ye theLord: …

“He healeth the broken inheart, and bindeth up their wounds.

“He telleth thenumber ofthe stars; he calleth themall by theirnames.

“…His understandingis infinite.” (Ps. 147:1, 3–5.)

As I lay in the hospitalbed,I medit atedon all that had happened to me and studied the contemplativepaintingby President Marion G. Romne y’s sister and the lines fromPsalms: “He telleth thenumber ofthe stars; he calleth themall by theirnames.” Iwas then—andcontinue to be—awedby the goodness andmajesty of theCreator,who knows notonly thenames ofthe stars but knowsyourname and myname—each of usas His sons and daughters.

Thepsalmist,David, wrote:

“When I consider thyheavens, the work of thy fingers, themoon andthe stars, which thouhast ordained;

“What is man, that thouart mindful ofhim? …

“For thouhastmade him alittle lower than theangels, andhast crownedhim withglory and honour.” (Ps. 8:3–5.)

To be rememberedis a wonderful thing.

Theevening of my health cris is, I knewsomething very serious had happened to me.Events happened so swiftly—thepain striking with suchintensity, mydear Ruby phoning the doctor and our family, and Ion myknees leaningover the bathtub for support and somecomfort andhoped relief from thepain. Iwas pleading to myHeavenly Fat her to sparemy life a while longer to give me alittle more time to doHis work, ifit was His will.

Whilestill praying, I began to lose consciousness. Thesiren of the paramedic truckwas thelast that I remembered before unconsciousnessovertook me, which wouldlast for thenext severaldays.

The terriblepain and commotion of people ceased. Iwas now in acalm,peaceful setting;all was serene and quiet. Iwas conscious oftwo persons in thedistance on a hillside,one standingon a higher level than the other. Detailed features were not discernible. The person on the higher level was pointing tosomething I could not see.

I heard no voices butwas conscious ofbeing in a holy presenceand atmosphere. During the hours anddays that followed, there was impressedagain and again upon my mind theeternal mission and exalted position of the Son ofMan. I wit ness toyou that Heis Jesus the Christ, the Son ofGod,Savior toall, Redeemer ofall mankind, Bestower ofinfinite love, mercy, and forgiveness, theLight andLife ofthe world. I knew this truth before—I hadnever doubtednor wondered. Butnow I knew, because of the impressions of theSpirit upon myheart andsoul, these divine truths in amost unusual way.

Iwas shown a panoramicview ofHis earthly ministry:His baptism,His teaching,His healing the sick andlame, the mocktrial,His crucifixion,His resurrection and ascension. There followed scenes ofHis earthly ministry to my mind inimpressive detail, confirming scriptural eyewit ness accounts. Iwas being taught, and theeyes of my understanding were openedby the HolySpirit ofGod soas to beholdmany things.

The first scene was of theSavior andHis Apostles in the upper chamberon theeve ofHis betrayal. Following the Passover supper, He instructed and prepared the sacrament of theLord’s Supper forHis dear est friends as a remembrance ofHis coming sacrifice.It was soimpressively portrayed to me—theoverwhelminglove of theSavior for each. I wit nessedHis thoughtfulconcern for significant details—thewashing of the dusty feet of each Apostle,His breaking and blessing of the loaf of dark bread and blessing of thewine, thenHis dreadful disclosure that one would betrayHim.

He explainedJudas’s departure and told the others of theevents soon totake place.

Then followed theSavior’s solemn discourse when He said to theEleven: “These things I have spoken untoyou, that in me ye might havepeace. Inthe world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I haveovercomethe world.” (John 16:33.)

OurSavior prayed toHis Fat her and acknowledgedthe Father as the source ofHis authority andpower—even tothe extending ofeternal life toall who are worthy.

Heprayed, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee theonlytrue God, and Jesus Christ,whom thouhast sent.”

Jesus then reverently added:

“I have glorified theeon theearth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

“Andnow, O Fat her, glorify thou mewith thine own selfwith theglory which I hadwith thee beforethe world was.” (John17:3–5.)

He pled notonly for the disciples calledout fromthe world who had beentrue to their testimony ofHim, “but for them also which shall believe on me through theirword.” (John17:20.)

When they had sung a hymn, Jesus and theEleven wentout to the Mount of Olives. There, in thegarden, in someman nerbeyond our comprehension, theSavior took upon Himself the burden of thesins ofmankind from Adam to the end ofthe world.His agony in thegarden,Luke tells us,was so intense “his sweat was as … great drops ofblood falling … to the ground.” (Luke 22:44.) He suffered an agonyand a burdenthe like of which nohuman person would be able to bear. In that hour of anguish ourSavior overcameall the power of Satan.

The glorifiedLord revealed toJoseph Smith this admon ition toall mankind:

“Therefore Icommand you to repent …

“For … I,God, … suffered … forall, that they might not suffer if they would repent; …

“Which suffering caused myself,evenGod,the great est ofall, to tremble because ofpain, and to bleedat every pore, …

“Wherefore, Icommand you again to repent, lest I humbleyou with my almightypower; and that you confessyoursins, lest you suffer these punishments.” (D&C 19:15–16, 18,20.)

During thosedays of unconsciousness Iwas given,by thegift andpower of the HolyGhost, amore perfect knowledge ofHis mission. Iwas also given amore complete understanding of what it means to exercise, inHis name, theauthority to unlock the mysteries of the kingdom ofheaven for the salvation ofall who arefaithful. Mysoul was taughtover andover again theevents of the betrayal, the mocktrial, the scourging of the flesh ofevenone of theGodhead. I wit nessedHis struggling up the hill inHis weakened condition carrying thecross andHis being stretched upon it as it layon the ground, that the crude spikes could be driven with a mallet intoHis hands and wrists and feet to secureHis body as it hungon thecross for public display.

Crucifixion—the horrible andpainfuldeath which He suffered—was chosen from thebeginning.By that excruciatingdeath, He descended belowall things,as is recorded, that throughHis resurrection He wouldascend aboveall things. (See D&C 88:6.)

Jesus Christ died in the literalsense in which wewill all die.His body lay in the tomb. The immortalspirit of Jesus, chosenas theSavior ofmankind, went to those myriads ofspiritswho had departed mortallife with varying degrees of righteousness toGod’slaws. He taught them the “glorious tidings of redemption from the bondage ofdeath, and of possible salvation, … [whichwas] part of [our]Savior’s foreappointed and unique service to thehuman family.” (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ,Salt Lake City: DeseretBook Co., 1977, p. 671.)

I cannotbegin to convey toyou thedeep impact that these scenes have confirmed upon mysoul. Isense theireternal meaning andrealize that “nothing in the entire plan of salvation compares inany way in importancewith that most transcendent ofall events, theat oning sacrifice of ourLord.It is the most importantsingle thing that has ever occurred in the entirehistory of created things;it is therock foundation upon which the gospeland a ll other thingsrest,”as has been declared. (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine,Salt Lake City:Bookcraft, 1966, p. 60.)

Fat her Lehi taughthis son Jacob and ustoday:

“Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for heis full ofgrace andtruth.

“Behold, he offerethhimself a sacrifice forsin, toanswer theends of the law, untoall thosewho have a brokenheart and a contritespirit; and unto none else can theends of the law beanswered.

“Wherefore, how great the importance tomake these things known unto the inhabitants of theearth, that theymay know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence ofGod, saveit be through the merits, and mercy, andgrace of the Holy Messiah,who layeth downhis life according to the flesh, andtakethit again by the power of theSpirit, that hemay bring to pass the resurrection of the dead,being the first that shouldrise.

“Wherefore, heis the firstfruits untoGod, inasmuchas he shall make intercession forall the children of men; and they that believe inhim shall be saved.” (2Ne. 2:6–9.)

Ourmost valuable worship experience in the sacrament meetingis the sacred ordinance of the sacrament, forit provides the opportunity tofocus our minds andhearts upon theSavior andHis sacrifice.

The ApostlePaul warned the earlySaints against eating this bread and drinking this cup of theLord unworthily. (See 1 Cor.11:27–30.)

OurSavior Himself instructed theNephites, “Whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh andblood unworthily [brings] damnation tohis soul.” (3Ne. 18:29.)

Worthy partakers of the sacrament are inharmony with theLord and put themselves under covenant withHim toalways rememberHis sacrifice for thesins ofthe world, totake upon them thename of Christ and toalways rememberHim, and to keepHis commandments. TheSavior covenants that wewho do so shall haveHis spirit to be with us and that, iffaithful to the end, wemay inher it eternal life.

OurLord revealed toJoseph Smith that “there is nogift greater than thegift of salvation,” which plan includes the ordinance of the sacramentas a continuous reminder of theSavior’sat oning sacrifice. He gave instructions that “it is expedient that the church meettogether often to partake of bread andwine in the remembrance of theLord Jesus.” (D&C 6:13; D&C20:75.)

Immortality comes to usall as a freegift by thegrace ofGod alone, without works of righteousness.Eternal life, however,is the reward for obedience to thelaws and ordinances ofHis gospel.

I testify toall ofyou that ourHeavenly Fat her does answer our righteous pleadings. The added knowledge whichhas come to mehas made a great impact upon my life. Thegift of the HolyGhost is a priceless possession and opens the door to ourongoing knowledge ofGod andeternal joy. Of this I bear wit ness, in the holyname of Jesus Christ, amen.