1.
Gathering the Elect of God
Since the earliest days in Mormon Church history, Mormon
missionaries have understood they were called to gather the elect of God. The following revelation was given to the
Prophet Joseph Smith in September of 1830, first speaking of the special
calling given to the latter-day missionaries—to declare the gospel with
joy--and then speaking to their charge to assist with the gathering of the
elect. “Verily, I say unto you that ye
are chosen out of the world to declare my gospel with the sound of rejoicing,
as with the voice of a trump…. And ye
are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my
voice and harden not their hearts.”
D&C 29: 4; 7. But what are we
to understand by the phrase “the elect of God.”
Not surprisingly, the phrase has been used in several
different ways in the scriptures. First,
as noted above, the “elect of God” denotes those who hear and accept the
gospel’s message. Saints show their
“election” by not hardening their hearts, and by being open to the gospel’s
message. In this sense, “election” is
not a gift or privilege bestowed upon one, separate and apart from one’s
behavior—but instead is something evidenced by one’s acceptance of the
gospel. The same theme is reprised in
the Gospel of John. “Elect” status is
defined in terms of “hearing” the word of God and “following” after the
Savior. “I am the good shepherd, and
know my sheep, and am known of mine…. My
sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10: 14; 27-28. The Apostle Paul speaks to the
characteristics that are to be possessed by the “elect of God.” They are to be “holy and beloved” and to
possess the “bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,
longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man
have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity,
which is the bond of perfectness. And
let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in
one body; and be ye thankful.” Col. 3:
12-15. As so used, it not clear whether these
behaviors are merely “characteristics” of the elect or whether these
characteristics actually define what it means to be “elect.” If one is “elect”—however that might be
separately defined, one acts in a certain way; or, if one acts in a certain
way, one by definition is “elect.”
On occasion, the “elect
of God” is also used to refer to those whom God himself as foreordained as
“His” servants, an action taken by God before the foundations of the world, marking
those entitled to special blessings in this life, but presumably blessings that
will only flow to them if they are obedient while on the earth. In this sense, it is impossible to separate
righteousness from “election,” because it is only possible to identify the
“elect” through their acts of faithfulness.
Speaking of the saints in Ephesus, who were faithful in Christ Jesus,
the Apostle Paul said: “According as he hath chosen us in him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in
love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory
of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Eph. 1: 4-7.
This passage, together with other similar verses, has given rise to the
doctrine “predestination”—the notion that some have been selected by God, for
reasons not clearly seen, as His people—“His elect”—a determination made
“before the foundation of the world.” Those
who are elect were “predestinated” to be so, and their election is evidenced or
proven through their faithfulness. In
this sense, the focus is on the action taken by the Lord—who makes the
“election” in the first instance. He
chooses His servants and they in turn hear His voice and follow His will. When speaking of his closest disciples, the
Savior said: “Henceforth I call you not
servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called
you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known
unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I
have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and
that your fruit should remain….” John
15: 15-16. It is the Lord that “calls”
and “ordains;” not men that earn a reward or become entitled to that privilege
because of what they have done in this life.
One looks in vain in the Old and New Testament for an explanation as to
why the Lord calls or ordains “some” but not others. When speaking with non-believing Jews, Jesus
said: “Jesus answered them, I told you,
and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness
of me. But ye believe not, because ye at
not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My
sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10: 25-26. The passage begs the threshold question—how
is that some are the Lord’s sheep and others are not? What is it that predisposes some of God’s
children to listen and others not.
Sometimes the phase “elect of God” is used to refer to the
House of Israel, as a tribe upon which special blessings have been bestowed as being
the literal descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To Abraham, the Lord pronounced the following
blessing: “And I will bless them that
bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of
the earth be blessed.” Gen. 12: 3[1]
“For Jacob my servant’s sake, and
Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed three,
though thou has not known me. I am the
Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though
thou has not known me….” Isa. 45: 4-5.
These scriptures seem to consider the House of Israel to be the “elect”
of God, whether they follow Him and whether they are aware of the blessings
that have been specially called down upon their heads. Here the term “election” seems, at least in
part, to be at odds with the term as used by the Savior in the New
Testament. There “election,” though
perhaps not defined by one’s behavior, is at least evidenced by one’s
willingness to accept the message.
Pointing to one’s lineage is not sufficient.[2]
Working within the doctrines of
traditional Christian orthodoxy makes it difficult to make sense of the
doctrines of “election” or “predestination.”
If God is fair and not a respecter of person, and if all men and women
are His offspring, how can one account for the idea that any portion of God’s
children should be singled out, before they have even lived, for special
treatment—as the “elect of God” or as people deserving of special treatment as
the choice descendants of Father Abraham or as ones entitled to the blessing
bequeathed upon the House of Israel.
Indeed, in a broader sense, how is it possible to account for the
different, and seemingly inequitable, circumstances in which men and women are born? On what possible basis can those differences
be reconciled with a loving Heaven Father, who cares equally for all His
children and who is fair in His treatment of them. Having no prior history upon which to make
judgements, all of God’s children should start life equally, no one entitled to
privileges or advantages over others.
Even if the circumstances of their births were not identical, at
least they should be similar enough as to give all the same or a reasonably fair chance to
enjoy the blessings of a rich and comfortable life, and to be exposed to the
greater light and knowledge represented by the “fulness of the gospel.” But
as we all know, such equality in opportunities does not exist, nor has it
existed since the earliest times—instead there are enormous differences—some
come into this life with great privileges, others are disadvantaged—whether
such differences are measured in terms of access to gospel truths, talents and
skills, the comforts of life, health, position, status, righteous parents, a
health environment--indeed, the list is virtually endless.
Perhaps, one might seek to justify
the differences in view of God’s omniscience—since all things are present to
God even before they have occurred—he may be said to know, even before this
world was created, how men and women, once given a chance to come to earth,
will meet life’s challenges—whether they will be obedient or defiant, compliant
or rebellious, virtuous or degenerate. Perhaps, in view of this foreknowledge, the
“election of God” is nothing more than God’s prophetic statements about how men
will respond to life’s challenges when they are actually met. The “elect” are those that God knows will be
obedient and faithful; the “non-elect” are all others. Apart the risk of creating “self-fulfilling”
prophecies, one wonders what sense it makes for God to makes such authoritative
statements as to how men will behave before their have actually had the
opportunity to choose for themselves.
Should we not be left to make our own decisions, without living upon the
cloud or penumbra of prophetic statements, shading our behavior and limiting
our options? The doctrine of “election”
and “predestination “ flies squarely in the face of the belief that God is just
and is not a respecter of person. Those
doctrines seem fundamentally unfair.
Mormon doctrine introduces novel concepts that create an
intellectual framework that makes sense of the concept of “election,” and at
the same time of the potential inequalities in the circumstances in which men
and women come into this life. Birth
does not represent the beginning of our existence. Instead, Mormons believe that all are the
spiritual children of our Heavenly Father and had a premortal existence that
stretched through endless eons of time before this world was created as place
to which such spirit children could be sent.
During that pre-existence, we grew, worked, made choices, developed and
progressed. And just as in this life,
some made better choices than others, progressing further than their fellow
spirits, the same was true for the pre-existence. In light of this, it does not make sense that
all of God’s spirit children would come to earth with exactly the same set of
circumstances and the same set of skills, talents, and aptitudes.[3] Indeed to reset the bar, having everyone
start at the same place, disregarding the differences that resulted from our
prior behavior, would appear to be blatantly unfair.[4]
Abraham, the great patriarch, was given
a vision of our premortal life, and said:
“Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were
organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the
noble and great ones; And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood
in the midst of them, and he said: These
I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw
that they were good; and he said unto me:
Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast
born.” Abr: 3: 22-23. Indeed, Mormons believe that Christ himself
was one of those spirits, chosen to take upon himself the sins of the world,
and to act as the Savior, precisely because of his diligence and nobleness in
the premortal life. “And there stood one
among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with
him: We will go down, for there is space
there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth 0whereon
these may dwell; And we will prove them
herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall
command them. And they who keep their
first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate
shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first
estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their
heads for ever and ever.” Abr. 3: 24-26.
While Mormons believe that many were foreordained to special
callings in this life, whether or not they realize the blessings to which they may
have claim depends ultimately upon their worthiness in this life. They are promised certain blessings, but
those blessings are contingent upon their being faithful in this life. That concept is not foreign to Mormons—it is
implicit in the wide-known scripture that many are called but few are chosen,[5]
in the blessings pronounced in patriarchal blessings, and in the covenants made
in temples.
Let me not be misunderstood.
Even though Mormons believe there are linkages between the premortal
life, and our circumstances in this world, no one presumes to know precisely
how those linkages work—how the traits and attributes developed in the
preexistence translate into specific circumstances here on earth. For example, it is possible that the many of
the most valiant in the pre-existence were asked to come into life in trying circumstances,
rather than in circumstances of comfort.
No doubt in time the Lord will see fit to reveal to us how these
connections work. Yet absent the belief
in a pre-existence, the inequities and differences, so obviously apparent here
on earth, are both inexplicable and unfair.
“And now, it came to pass that after Abinadi had spoken
these words he stretched forth his hand and said: The time shall come when all
shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and
people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are
just.” Mosiah 16: 1.[6] Perhaps at first blush, such a pronouncement
appears to be innocuous—little more than a foregone conclusion assuming that
God is just—hence His judgment must be just.
But upon reflection it is amazing to think that all, whatever their
circumstances—easy or difficult, comfortable or trying—will on the Day of
Judgment acknowledge God’s judgments to be “just.” When thinking of this, one must remember that
we think of justice in at least two very distinctive ways: first, have I been
treated justly or fairly given what I have done; and second, when I compare
myself with others, have I been treated justly or fairly, in that I have not
been treated unfairly in a comparative sense.
Somehow the Lord’s judgment will be so comprehensive that none of us--however
stacked the deck may have been against us—will have cause to complain to the
Lord. We will not fling at the Lord’s
feet a brief complaining of comparative fairness.[7] Instead, we will be prepared to confess that
we were treated fairly, they were treated fairly, and in each case, such
fairness took into account all of the different circumstances that each of us
faced when coming into this life. I
doubt it is possible to underestimate the enormity of such confessions—today,
with our limited world view, virtually everyone finds himself/herself with
grounds to complain—life is or appears to be fundamentally unfair, especially
when we compare our treatment to that of those not so very dissimilar from
ourselves.
Over time there has been a shift in our interpretation of
where the elect are to “gather.” For
many years, the “gathering” of the elect was understood to be a physical gathering--whether in Jackson County, Missouri or later to the barren valleys of the intermountain west—Utah, Idaho, Arizona and
Nevada--where the majority of the saints lived[8]. Hence, the great migrations of
the early Mormons from Western Europe and the islands of the seas to Salt Lake
City. In recent time, Mormon Church
leaders have urged members to remain in the countries where they joined the
church, to build up the stakes of Zion throughout the world. Zion is now understood to be where the “pure in
heart”[9]
reside—a symbolic place rather than a literal destination.
The other day I asked Carole if she thought we could see the
“elect of God” in the Mormon Church—be it in the congregations in the United
States or those in Malawi. For this
purpose I was thinking of the “elect” in the sense of those who possess the
characteristics that the Apostle Paul associated with the “elect:” they have “bowels of mercies, kindness,
humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and
forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave
you, so also do ye. And above all these
things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”[10] Before sharing some of the thoughts we
discussed in response to that question, it is important to bear in mind that
none of us can judge how another has done with the light and truth given to
him/her. Certainly it will be against
that standard that each of us will ultimately be tested. “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be
judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”[11] Remembering also that it is only through the
Savior, who has descended below all things, that righteous judgment will
come. Nonetheless it is still fair to
ask if we see in the lives of Mormons the “fruits of the spirit.” That question is not about how particular
individuals will fare at the time of judgment, but whether we see in the Mormon
Church conduct befitting the saints of God.
[1]
See also Abr. 2: 9-12.
[2]
See, for example, Matt. 3: 9-10. “And
think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say
unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of
the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn
down, and cast into the fire.” This
scripture on its face seems to refute the notion of “election” being a
hereditary blessing.
[3]
See, for example, D&C 130: 18-19.
“Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will
rise with us in the resurrection. And if
a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his
diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the
world to come.” It is hard not to
believe that the same principle applied, at least in some form, as to the
experiences we had in the pre-existence.
[4] We
are, for example, told that one-third of the host of heaven did not keep their
first estate, siding instead with Lucifer and opposing the plan proposed by God
the Father, and supported by Christ as our elder brother. Their choices limited and defined their
future opportunities for growth.
[5]
D&C 121: 34-36. “Behold, there are
many called, but few are chosen. And why
are they not chosen? Because their
hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors
of men, that they do not learn this one lesson.
That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the
powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor
handled only upon the principles of righteousness.”
[6]
See also Mosiah 29: 12. “Now it is
better that a man should be judged of God than of man, for the judgments of God
are always just, but the judgments of man are not always just.” Isa: 11:3.
“And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and
he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the
hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and
reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth
with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the
wicked.”
[7] The
parable of the laborers in the vineyard squarely raises the question of “relative
fairness.” Whether rightfully or
wrongfully men are prone to compare their treatment by the master against the
treatment that He will accord others.
See Matt.: 20: 1-16.
[8]
“And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among
all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting
joy.” D&C 45: 71 See also D&C 101: 70: “Which saith, or teacheth, to
purchase all the lands with money, which can be purchased for money, in the
region round about the land which I have appointed to be the land of Zion, for
the beginning of the gathering of my saints.”
[9]
“Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion—The
Pure in Heart; therefore, let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked shall
mourn.” D&C 97: 21.
[10]
See Col. 3: 12-15.
[11]
Matt. 7: 1-2.
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