Fearful Reconciliation in Casualine Meyer's "Reflections on Hebrews 10:31"

The opening stanza in this poem caught my attention quickly. I read through the poem and decided I had to go read Hebrews 10:31. It is interesting that this poem made me want to open the bible and read the verse for myself. The verse in Hebrews reads,  
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

My interpretation before reading the verse and after was completely different. After reading the verse, the image in the first line, "Far more fearful to leap from them" was clearer in my mind. At first I asked myself, "Far more fearful to leap from what?" In my mind, the poet took me on a journey of what it feels like to leap from the safety of God's hands in to unknown and possibly sinful paths. I had to read the poem several times; each time receiving new light in to it's meaning. This interestingly has similarities to my personal study of scripture. I have found that many verses or chapters of scripture take on new meaning and feeling after reviewing them again.

Analyzing this poem, I could identify some formal qualities such as repetition, emotion, structure, and allusion. Hands are referred to five times and the emotion of fear is referred to four times.  To me, one of the more palpable images the author creates is at the end. 

       But faith, there is no sting or breaking in hitting the hands
       of the living God, no matter how artless our fall,
       for we always splash down in the center of either hand
       into a small pool, warm as blood.

As I read this, Christ's bloodied palms from the nails in the center of his hands at his crucifixion, painted a graphic and powerful image. In the Latter-day Saint culture, it is common to refer to the suffering (bloodshed) of Jesus, or Atonement, as a means to find comfort or support. I think the line, "...no matter how artless our fall" appeals to a core LDS doctrine of forgiveness and mercy to those who come to God, even if mistakes are made along the way.

(357 words)

O, Remember, Remember

Section: Alma 62-Helaman 5

Helaman 2:8 servant of Helaman speaks to Kishkumen

Helaman 5:6 Lehi & Nephi recall the words which their father spake

Helaman 5:9, 10 Flashback to King Benjamin’s sermon and to Amulek’s speaking to Zeezrom

Helaman 5:26 Nephi and Lehi speak to the crowd while encircled by fire

Helaman 5:29, 32, 33 Voice of an angel crying repentence 3X

Helaman 5: 38-42 Dialogue between crowd and Aminidab

Helaman 5: 47 Voice from heaven declaring peace

Specific section analyzed: Helaman 5: 6,9-10

“Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good

O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world. And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins.”

In this passage, Helaman begins by clearly stating that his purpose for addressing his audience (his sons, Nephi & Lehi) is for them to keep the commandments and declare the gospel.  He then establishes his credibility by alluding to earlier prophets and their words, beginning with a reference to Nephi & Lehi’s namesakes, and then continuing by paraphrasing King Benjamin and Amulek. Helaman focuses on the word “remember”, at one point repeating it, clearly pointing to the teachings of those who went before him. The focal point of what he asks his sons to look back and recall is the atonement of Jesus Christ, which was at this point still in the future.

Rough Around the Edges

Mission farewells are possibly my favorite. The summer after my Senior year of High School, boy, there was a lot of 'em. It was the summer after the age changed from 19 to 18 for guys to leave and there were weeks I was at 2-3 farewells instead of my own ward. These were all the guys I grew up with, some I barely knew and some who were my very best friends.

It was a typical Sunday. Trying to bounce from one Sacrament meeting to the next and make it on time to hear all my boys speak. This meeting started out pretty average; a hymn, opening prayer and the sacrament service, then a speaker and it was time for the missionary. FINALLY what I had come to hear.

 He was a football player, one I'd heard more about than I actually knew. I'd become better friends with him throughout my senior year but I'm not sure how justified I was in being there. He was tough. Maybe a little rough around the edges. In no way was I prepared for what he was about to say. I have no idea what the majority of his talk was about, probably Christ, his path to his mission, something along those lines (that's what they're all about right?). All I remember is the story he told. 

The story was called "The Room" By Joshua Harris. I had never heard the story before that day. But I remember listening to that boy who was a little rough around the edges tell this story. This AMAZING story of the Atonement made my eyes start to swell. Tears started rolling down my cheeks and it hit me harder than any hit that boy had taken in any game, and trust me, he was a line backer. Never had I known that literature, a story, a simple silly story, could make me feel what I was feeling. After that meeting I barely made time to say goodbye to him. I gave him a quick hug and rushed home, afraid the tears would come back.

 About a week later I looked that story up and read it again, and again, and again. Each time the story elicited the same response as it did that Sunday prior. To this day it is a story I hold close to my heart.