"This is My Work and My Glory"

“For behold, this is my work and my glory – to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”  This scripture is found in the book of Moses where God reveals his grand purpose for His children.  While studying the Renaissance and Reformation, I have noticed in particular how God’s hand played a role in the very details of events transpiring in this time span. Throughout the 14^th – 17^th century and then later in the 19^th century when the gospel of Jesus Christ was brought back to the earth in what we know as the restoration.  

The restoration of the gospel was happening long before the spring of 1820.  Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught, “Beginning in the 14th century, the Lord began to prepare those social, educational, religious, economic, and governmental conditions under which he could more easily restore the gospel for the last time among men.” 

Spiritual journaling: growing closer to God

John Donne in his ‘Holy Sonnet No 14’ opens himself up, completely expressing how he feels about his relationship with God.  This is written well after his young, wild days and he writes in current and utmost humble state.  One thing I really appreciate about this sonnet of Donne’s is that he isn’t trying to impress anyone through elaborate word choices or creative uses of metaphors.  He writes in very sincere language, as if he is writing directly to God.  He has a line at the end of the sonnet that says, “except you enthrall me, never shall be free, Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.”  This to me speaks volumes, and has me wondering about how I can strengthen my relationship with God through writing my thoughts down.

I’ve never been the best at journaling, but I do try to make an effort to keep a spiritual journal to write down thoughts and impressions as they come.  I have found that when I do this, I feel closer to God. I really like the example of Donne writing in a deeply heartfelt manner; his sole desire is to become changed by God and to become one with him.  I feel like if we were to take the time to write out our feelings toward God, we would see a strengthened relationship with Him.  

image cred: http://ocw.nust.na/gutenberg/4/8/6/8/48688/48688-h/images/