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| Russell M Ballard Speaking in Toronto |
If you were asked to identify ‘the most remarkable event in history’ you would, as a Christian, be spoiled for choice. I know the obvious answer is the events on Golgotha, the cross and the atoning sacrifice of Christ, but there are some pretty close run second place events in Christian history.
What about the incarnation itself, God taking on human form and, as John so eloquently puts it:
‘The Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled, pitched his tent) among us and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.’ John 1:14
Then again, that this Word become flesh went about healing the sick, raising the dead, and more remarkable still, forgiving sins – full of grace and truth indeed – must be up there.
The unveiling of his glory atop mount Hermon, to which John alludes – ‘we have seen his glory’ – is a truly remarkable event. The Son of God, his glory veiled in flesh, revealing his true nature and character to three Galilean fishermen – remarkable!
The appearances of the risen Christ, before his disciples witness his ascension back to glory, has to be considered remarkable. But of course, the most remarkable of all, his sacrifice for sins and the incredible truth put so simply yet powerfully by Paul:
‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me…’ Gal.2:20
Think of it, he loved me and gave himself for me that he may live in me and I live for him. Spend a week pondering, contemplating, meditating on just this one marvellous truth and you begin to see the remarkable thing done on the cross, the great significance of the fact it is now empty, as is the tomb.
Paul, passing on what had already become a fixed tradition in the church, makes clear those things that are ‘of first importance’:
‘For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as one untimely born, he appeared also to me.’ 1 Cor. 15:3-8
The Book of Mormon
If you are a Mormon you might add the appearance of the risen Christ in the Americas:
‘And it came to pass...they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared to them. And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:
Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world, and behold, I am the light and light of the world…’ 3 Nephi 11:8-9
Of course, we don’t for a minute believe that, but if it was true it would, surely, be up there with the rest.
A Modern Apostle Speaks
President Russell M Ballard is a senior Mormon apostle and was recently visiting his old stomping ground of almost 50 years ago as mission president, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Testifying to the gathered saints, he declared:“The most remarkable thing in the history of the world happened in the Sacred Grove in 1820. The heavens opened…It must have been something that penetrated his being — from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet — when he heard our Heavenly Father call his name, ‘Joseph: this is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!’ That is our message,” he told the missionaries, repeating for emphasis. “That is our message.”
He does go on to speak of the atonement, the familiar claim that ‘this is the Church of Jesus Christ,’ but it all now seems incidental to this ‘most remarkable thing in history.,’ this event that he seems to suggest sums up the message of the Mormon Church. Not even the most remarkable thing in this dispensation, which would be understandable, but ‘in history.’
Sometimes the truth is so clear and obvious, the lie so brazen and blatant you might think people would stop and question it. Russell M Ballard might as well, if he were speaking in the style of Paul, have said:
‘For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Joseph Smith went into the woods to pray, that he was spiritually attacked by dark forces, that he persevered in prayer until that force left him, and that God the Father and Jesus appeared to him. That they told him he was to be the prophet of the restoration. Then he was visited by the angel Moroni, three times on the same night, finally retrieved the gold plates, which he translated with the aid of a rock in a hat. These things I say in the name of’...hmm, whose name should I put here? A puzzle, isn’t it?
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