Sometimes, a great truth comes in a small package. In a Sacrament meeting (a few years back) the talks ran long, and our High Councilman had only about two minutes to give his talk, the last of the meeting. So he said [paraphrasing]:
About 5 minutes ago I changed the talk that I was going to give. For years I have wondered why the Savior said on the cross in his final minutes, “Lord, Lord why hast thou forsaken me.” A few weeks ago I realized the answer. When Jesus took on the sins of the world, his Father’s spirit could not abide with Him. God the Father could not be with his Son at that crucial moment because Jesus literally took on the sins of the world. Jesus literally took on those evils, and as such, the Father had to take leave at that moment.
Think what Jesus went through. He had been in the presence of the spirit of his Father all his life. Think of the pain Jesus must have felt in losing the comforting spirit of his Father. To me, this thought makes the concept of atonement all the more powerful.
Our High Councilman’s “accordion” talk (that is, collapsed talk) was the best of the meeting, and I told him so. Sometimes short talks (and short blogs too) are better at making important points than long ones. Less is often more.
Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.
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11 comments:
S.Faux,
I don't think that high councilor will pick that person to be his companion speaker again. He gave a very nice message that will probably stay with people longer than other talks.
If less is sometimes more, is that why your post is short?
Ciao!
"If less is sometimes more, is that why your post is short?"
Yes, at least, I was hoping so.
I just wish people would apply that concept to opening/closing prayers and to bearing testimonies. Let's keep it concise and to-the-point, please, instead of rambling on and on and on.....
FelixandAva:
Amen.
Yup. Thanks.
Ardis:
U2.
An institute instructor I had in college presented an alternate view of how Christ’s followers might have understood his words. The phrase, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” is the start of Psalm 22, one of the greatest Messianic Psalms. Several verses prophesy the very sufferings Christ experienced.
* Verses 6-8: The Messiah is “a reproach of men, and despised of the people”; “all that see me laugh me to scorn”; his tormentors derisively say, “He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.”
* Verses 16-18: The Messiah is surrounded by the wicked; “they pierced my hands and my feet”; “they part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
My instructor’s point was that Christ may have been telling his followers that they were seeing the fulfillment of prophecy. In effect, by calling out the beginning phrase of a very well known Messianic psalm, Christ was bearing witness from the cross that he was the promised Messiah.
Note: I do not think that these explanations are mutually exclusive. It is very clear that Christ took upon himself the full, incomprehensible burden of sin and suffering, atoning for all mankind. Many of the brethren teach very clearly that which the high council member stated in his “less is more” talk. I am also reminded of Christ’s concern from the cross for his mother. Perhaps he voiced a similar concern and witness for his disciples and apostles, who never seemed to fully comprehend who he was and what his mission required.
Dee:
Superior reaction. I appreciate your contribution. Thanks!!
Awesome! <-(Keeping the comment short.)
All High Councilman talks should be short.
Anonymous:
I would go one step further. All meetings should be short.
My tombstone will probably read something like: "That last meeting really killed me."
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