Declaration of the Word

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.blogspot.com

As we continue to reflect on this season of gift-giving, we pause and express gratitude for the declaration of God’s Word.  The phrase can mean many things including declaring that Jesus is the Christ.  It can refer to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It can also refer to the preaching of the gospel.  This is the season when we ponder the significance of all three – Jesus, His gospel, and the preaching or declaring of His word.

I have a good number of friends who have accepted that Jesus is their Savior, that His gospel has been restored upon the earth, and whose souls resonate when the doctrine of Christ is read or heard preached.  However, salvation – the kind we call exaltation is not found by just reading, just hearing, or feeling.  It comes by doing and persevering.

Having our name upon the rolls of the Church brings neither the fullness of salvation nor the fullness of grace.  It is only when our names are written upon that Sacred Scroll known as the Lamb’s Book of Life that we are assured of such salvation and grace. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”  Revelation 20:12

We can think of no better season to give the gift of our complete submission to Christ, to His gospel, His grace and His offer of salvation through grace - after all we can do to receive of His covenants and ordinances.  There will be no better time than now - for the signs and wonders are all around us.  The final Scrolls are being prepared. This week’s meditation ask each of us, “Is my name to be found?”

  

Declaration of the Word

And Alma went and began to declare the word of God unto the church which was established in the valley of Gideon, according to the revelation of the truth of the word which had been spoken by his fathers, and according to the spirit of prophecy which was in him, according to the testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who should come to redeem his people from their sins, and the holy order by which he was called. And thus it is written. Amen.

                                                                                               Book of Mormon   Alma 6:8

Revelation declares God’s word

That Christ’s atonement may cleanse

My inner self, that grace be conferred

And redeem me from my sins

Declared by revelation of truth

That which God has spoken

To wayward adults and willful youth

And all who accept the gospel token

Declared by the spirit of prophecy

As a sacred anchor to my soul

A divine beacon that I might see

The light and a saintly life unfold

Declared by the testimony of Christ

Who came to rescue and redeem

If I will repent and pay the price

And His laws and ordinances esteem

Declared by the Holy Order’s power

Even the Holy Order of Priesthood

God’s authority to bless and empower

Me to redemption and sainthood

And thus is the declaration spoken

Recorded in my heart and soul

Covenants never to be breached or broken

And recorded upon the Sacred Scroll

Larry Doyle Crenshaw