Who is the Lord?

Podcast Link

Those who are happiest in life have the best relationships. Not only best in the sense that their relationships are whole and honest, but also in the sense that their relationships are with the best people. This is because happiness is not found in following our hearts desires or, as the scriptures put it, the natural man. Friends and family that encourage us to follow after righteousness, influence us in positive ways that eventually will lead to happiness, if we are faithful and patient.

Yet, Because people are so dynamic and complex, our relationships are constantly changing and evolving. Sometimes the friends that used to encourage us to do what is right end up leading us down the wrong paths as they choose to give in to temptations and their natural man. The only surefire relationships would be with people who are always making the best decisions. But there is no one currently on earth that actually fits that description. In fact, there is only one person who ever lived on this earth that does – The Savior, Jesus Christ.

Said ElderM. Russell Ballard, “of all the friends that everybody ought to want to have as their best friend, it would be the Lord Jesus Christ.”

It is in the Godhead – Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost – alone through which we can find individuals to rely on perfectly. This is not to discredit our relationships with family and friends, but to point out that the relationship we should put the most stock in is the one we have with the Lord.

So, the question this talk brings up, ‘who is the Lord?’, is valid; one worthy of pondering and study. This being the case, however, doesn’t mean asking it comes without consequence

Here are some examples in the scriptures of those who ask this question:

Moses 5:16 – And Adam and Eve, his wife, ceased not to call upon God. And Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bare Cain, and said: I have gotten a man from the Lord; wherefore he may not reject his words. But behold, Cain hearkened not, saying: Who is the Lord that I should know him?

Exodus 5:2 – And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

Mosiah11:27 – Now when kingNoah had heard of the words which Abinadi had spoken unto the people, he was also wroth; and he said: Who is Abinadi, that I and my people should be judged of him, or who is the Lord, that shall bring upon my people such great affliction?

The first example is a record of the first murder mentioned in the bible. The second example refers to the time when Moses pled with Pharaoh to let his people go, before all the plagues and pestilences and hardships began. The third example is of a wicked king Noah that lived in the Americas before Christ’s birth and who was eventually burned at the stake because he chose not to listen to a prophet of the Lord.

Why do all the above examples of this important question being asked show a negative and woeful reaction? Each of these events from history have one thing in common. The individual who asked didn’t stop with a simple ‘who is the Lord?’ They also added the suffix phrase, “that I should…”

The reason scriptural accounts of individuals asking who the Lord is often leads them to misery is because these accounts are of those who ask in a mocking and insincere manner. There is a difference between questioning the Lord’s omniscience vs. asking Him or His servants sincere questions. The most obvious difference is in the motivation behind doing so.

When we question the Lord, we are seeking justification in continuing to live the way we are currently living. Yet, when we ask questions in honesty and faith, it opens up opportunity for the Spirit of the Lord to testify to us why we have need to change, repent, and turn to the Lord.

The Lord’s desire is to bless us, but He can only do so based on our diligence in following His word in the first place. This is one major reason why the scriptures point out constantly the need for faith first and foremost. It is this faith that allows us to boldly state, I will keep the commandments because… Which is a far cry from the disposition of hard-hearted individuals who lack faith and say I will keep commandments if…

The purpose of studying the scriptures is not to become afraid of discovering questions along the way. Delving deeper into the word of God can enlighten our minds and strengthen our resolve to follow the Lord. Understanding the consequences of insincere questions should in fact motivate us be more sincere in our seeking out truth and asking the Lord to shed light on our minds. Indeed, faith and fear cannot be present in the heart at the same time, but faith and questions surely can.

The Lord commands us to study the scriptures because He wants us to receive the blessings of this commandment. One major benefit of diligently reading and pondering God’s word is that the answer to the question, ‘who is the Lord?’ is very clearly laid out. Perhaps one reason the examples shown in the scriptures of individuals asking who the Lord is are of those who lacked faith and wanted to question God’s authority is because more than pondering who the Lord is, the Lord wants us to build a relationship with Him.

It’s the idea that learning who someone is has more to do with spending time with that individual one on one than it does reading about them or hearing second hand stories concerning their character and experiences.

And the reality is that we can spend one on one time with the Lord.

Our Heavenly Father has also commanded us to pray. Sincere prayer is not just a phone call to a distant land, it is the conduit between ourselves and heaven. Earnest prayer with real intent is not a one-way moment of pleading, the Lord intends for us to converse with Him and spend time experiencing who He is in the process.  

GordonB. Hinckley beautifully taught that, “The trouble with most of our prayers is that we give them as if we were picking up the telephone and ordering groceries—we place our order and hang up. We need to meditate, contemplate, [and] think of what we are praying about and for.”

You see, prayer is the perfect witness to the power of the Godhead. When we pray, we address our Father in Heaven because we are literally talking directly to the Father of our spirits. This is the same Father who loves us enough to have sacrificed His only begotten son for our sakes. We are able to converse with our Heavenly Father because of Christs atoning sacrifice. For this reason we address the Father in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Then, through the power of the Holy Ghost, we receive the peace, comfort, and enlightening responses to our prayers.

This pattern is consistent for all people, at all times, and under all circumstances. Meaning, we can be in constant conversation with the Lord. Our hearts can be turned to Him in prayer even when we are not physically on our knees. In this sense, prayer becomes even less about ordering the blessings on our minds and instead becomes more of a pattern of learning and growing alongside a divine tutor.

Indeed, we can apprentice before the master Himself. We will not physically be in His presence but He will teach us in His own way as we get to know Him through prayer. And the Lord’s way of teaching is very straight forward. As we reach out to Him in the sincerity of our hearts, He provides opportunities for us to exercise patience and faith in Him.

Mosiah23:21-22 – Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day.

While the Lord has commanded us to pray and exercise faith and patience in Him, He hasn’t given a specific commandment to make Him our best friend. Yet, with all that he has done for us, He truly is the best friend any one could ask for.

The hymn Reverentlyand Meekly Now states this perfectly:

At the throne I intercede;

For thee ever do I plead.

I have loved thee as thy friend,

With a love that cannot end.

Be obedient, I implore,

Prayerful, watchful evermore,

And be constant unto me,

That thy Savior I may be.

The Lord’s hands are always outstretched toward each of us. 

We can honor the friendship that the Lord offers by learning who He is through sincere and consistent prayer. Trials will come our way and may tempt us to question Him, but I testify that as we diligently take time to counsel with and apprentice before the Lord in prayer during the good times, our testimony and understanding of who the Lord is will carry us through the bad times.