“Come unto me…and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief” (Ether 4:13)

My desire to know the hidden things of the Lord is probably just my natural curiosity, but any time the Lord talks about His mysteries being unfolded to the children of men, when He promises to show us greater things, or invites us to ask, seek, and knock, I am reminded of how much He wants to reveal His truths to us. In chapter four of Ether in the Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ says, “I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world.” (Ether 4:12) He is, literally, light, life, and truth, which means as THE source of truth He yearns to reveal His truths to us. 

Definitions

I love seeking knowledge by first defining what I’m looking for. Certain words or paragraphs in the scriptures catch my attention for various reasons and because the Spirit knows what I need better than I do, I’m often led on a journey to unveil His mysteries by defining words that are common and generally understood. Identifying a word’s full definition, however, can unlock hidden treasures I wouldn’t otherwise find.

My favorite dictionary to use when studying the scriptures is the Webster’s 1828 version. It’s an amazing resource for classical literature and Bible study because it defines words in the context of that era. The words that jumped off the page for me were light, life, and truth. 

When defining words, I only seek definitions that stand out to me in the context of what I’m looking for. In this exercise, I’m looking for words that describe the Savior according to my understanding and knowledge of Him. However, definitions that don’t seem as relevant may still have significance because they may create a perception of Him I hadn’t considered. Generally though, not every definition adds value. 

LIGHT

This first definition was quite long and not all relevant, so I only used the first sentence to examine through my “Savior lens.” 

• The ethereal (heavenly, celestial, spirit) agent or matter which makes objects perceptible to the sense of seeing, but the particles of which are separately invisible.

An interesting definition for sure, but upon closer examination, this is my version: Jesus Christ is a Celestial being who enlightens our minds through the power of the Holy Ghost (also a Celestial being) and helps us see with spiritual eyes, something that isn’t visible to our physical eyes.

The definitions for light went on for a while, but below I’ve listed a few more that were meaningful to me:

• Illumination of mind; instruction; knowledge
• Means of knowing
• A state of being seen, perceived, understood or known
• Christ
• Joy; comfort; felicity
• Prosperity; happiness
• Support; comfort; deliverance
• To kindle; to inflame

“Come unto me…and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief.” (Ether 4:14)

Jesus Christ guides, directs, and illuminates our minds as we come to Him and believe in Him. He will manifest truth to us and help us see the bigger picture or as President Nelson lovingly puts it, “Think Celestial.” Our life on earth and the challenges that come with it are only temporary. Our eternal home with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and our families await if we believe in and trust in Them.

He is LIGHT!  

LIFE

I wanted to find a definition that explained the power the Savior has to make life meaningful and purposeful. Life is so much more than the temporal aspect. These definitions included:

• Supreme felicity (prosperity, blissfulness, blessedness); the author and giver of supreme felicity
• Eternal happiness in heaven
• Restoration
• A quickening, animating, and strengthening principle, in a moral sense

Already, the scripture in Ether chapter four has so much more depth than before. Jesus Christ is prosperity, restoration, eternal happiness, strength, supreme felicity…

My understanding of the Savior and His plea to “Come unto Him” expands every time I study more about Him–even through the most simple means, like definitions. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us, most of us know that, but that statement becomes trite if we don’t dig into the depth of that love.

The Savior invites us saying, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28) because He is, literally, LIFE-giving. He is the ONLY ONE who can give us rest from our burdens, sins, trials, pain, and suffering. Helaman reminds us, “...that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ…he cometh to redeem the world.” (Helaman 5:9)

He is LIFE!

TRUTH

This one is interesting. The world has become so accustomed to saying things like “Speak your truth,”  “This is my truth,” or “That’s your truth” as if truth can be manipulated, changed, or adjusted to fit an idea or belief. There is no my or your truth. There’s just truth.

Truth is:

• Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be.
• A true state of facts or things
• A correct opinion
• Fidelity; constancy
• Honesty; virtue
• Exactness; conformity to rule
• Just in principle; real state of things
• Sincerity

“Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief…yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel…then shall my revelations…be unfolded in the eyes of the people…and signs shall follow them that believe in my name.” (Ether 4:15-17)

Rending unbelief, to me, is coming to the Father with a broken heart and a contrite spirit—with a willingness to accept truth as it is, has been, or shall be. “The Savior’s perfect submission to the Eternal Father is the very essence of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Christ’s example teaches us that a broken heart is an eternal attribute of godliness. When our hearts are broken, we are completely open to the Spirit of God and recognize our dependence on Him for all that we have and all that we are. The sacrifice entailed is a sacrifice of pride in all its forms. Like malleable clay in the hands of a skilled potter, the broken-hearted can be molded and shaped in the hands of the Master.” (A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit, Oct. 2007 General Conference)

Living true principles, accepting truth, and standing for truth is to trust Him and do anything and everything God asks of us. That is the mark of a truth seeker.

He is Truth!

Hidden Treasures

Jesus Christ is not complicated. His path is simple, just not easy because of our fallen state. However, there is hope! Because He has overcome the world we can too through Him (John 16:33). He’s already paid the price. All He asks in return is to “Come unto Him.”

How do we do that? How do we “Come unto Christ”? 

We shall rend the veil of unbelief and call upon His name with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (Ether 4:15-17). This act of faith is a precondition to repentance. We are fallen, thus, there are divers ways and means we can sin (Mosiah 4:29). That’s why it’s so important to renew our covenants by partaking of the sacrament every week. Jesus Christ gave us a way to start fresh and let the power of the Holy Ghost sanctify and purify us.

As we freely and humbly submit to the will of the Father without resistance or resentment “we cease to do things our way and learn to do them God’s way instead. In such a condition of submissiveness, the Atonement can take effect and true repentance can occur. The penitent will then experience the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost, which will fill [us] with peace of conscience and the joy of reconciliation with God.” (A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit, Oct. 2007 General Conference). 

For me, the veil of unbelief is rent as I study who Christ is and what He’s done for me, personally, not as a whole, not in the sense that He atoned for everyone, but that He atoned for me. 

What a treasure! 

Repentance used to feel like a punishment or condemnation of my poor behavior. Yet, we read here that it’s the precondition that opens the gift and power of the Atonement in our lives, which brings us peace, joy, and reconciliation with our Father. How can THAT be a punishment? 

My heart is filled with gratitude that I can overcome the world, sin, pain, discouragement, fear, inadequacy…everything…through Jesus Christ. No guru, motivational speaker, or seminar can bring us that kind of promise. 

“And if it so be that they repent and come unto the Father in the name of Jesus, they shall be received into the kingdom of God” (Ether 5:5)

He is LIGHT!

He is LIFE!

He is TRUTH!

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