I've been holding this thought for a long time because I haven't really been able to find a good way of fully expressing what's in my head and I probably won't do it justice here but I have to clear out some space in my head so I need to write this down.
I've been thinking how we are naturally drawn to equality in all things and yet we fail in this area when it matters most. Let me try to explain *deep breath*. The first thing that came to my mind that made me think of this is a dream I had where I had won a $50 gas card for submitting the winning safety suggestion. We actually have that at work (funny how reality feeds our dreams...but that's another topic for another time). The very first thought that came to my mind was "Oh good, $25 for each car" See?, equality!! The odd part is that my cars have different size tanks, gas prices fluctuate, etc. There are a number of things that could be considered as far as inequality, but the first thing that came to my head was equally splitting it between the cars.
Interesting. As I thought about this more and more, I began to think of symmetry. Many of us understand symmetry as two sides of an item when split in two as being exactly the same. I used to think this too until I saw a lecture from Prof. Richard Feynman who explains in physics what the law of symmetry really means. Its expressed in the law of the conservation of symmetry. See...things can be symmetrical across more than just an item, they can be symmetrical across time, space, and a number of other mediums. I won't get into more detail as I'm not a physicist, but essentially Prof. Feyman's point was that symmetry can better be defined as taking something that is initially symmetrical and then altering the medium (time, space, whatever) and the item is still symmetrical. The symmetry is conserved. Its really a much more interesting topic. Check it out on the internet.
Anyways, as I saw more and more examples of equal portions for all (I forget many of them now...I've had this thought in my head for over a month now), I began to apply the gospel to it. God is no respecter of persons. We are all equal in his sight. There is no hierarchy. This is a major theme in the temple. We all dress the same, we are all equal. The law of conservations keeps things that way. All contribute and all is re-distributed so that we all have according to our needs. Some may have more than others, but we all have sufficient for our needs. Sound familiar? The church is a great institution, but we are obviously not living by a celestial law here. There is inequality and God said that there will always be poor among us to test us. Why is it that we are drawn to equality? Perhaps we remember what it used to be like (to a small extent) we have reminders of our previous life.
In accounting, we always have to have everything balance. It all has to be equal. Why do couples exist? Why does the 3rd wheel always feel so awkward? Where does Yin and Yang come from? Why is there opposition in all things? Equal just feels right. If I give you one chip and you give me one chip and I give you one more chip, and then I talk about something else completely, aren't you frustrated because you didn't give me one more chip? The law of mercy and the law of justice must balance. (mercy + punishment = judgement) An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. There are so many examples, and yet when it comes to money or possessions or power or anything that Satan offers, we couldn't be further from equality. Why is it so hard? D&C 14:7 provides the answer.
The last thing that made me finally sit down and write this post was an article a friend of mine in the church told me about today. Its an article from Elder Nelson about God's love being conditional. It didn't seem quite right. Don't go bonkers and call me a heretic yet, but to me, it seems that God's love is unconditional, but that our rewards/consequences are. I feel like Elder Nelson combines and sometimes blurs the two making me uncomfortable about this article but getting back to this topic of this post, it would seem to me that God loves all equally and unconditionally. Love can mean many things but it seems that equality is something that is a celestial principle as is love and therefore, I have a hard time with this article. I challenge all of my readers to read the article and let me know what you think via the comments and also of other areas where you see equality represented.
Link to talk: lds.org/liahona/2003/02/divine-love?lang=eng
When are we able to feel of His love for us? It is conditioned upon our obedience to him. It is always available to us, but we feel it when we choose the right/have the spirit with us. If we loose the feeling of His love for us, we can always gain it back through repentance--which happens through the return of the spirit.
ReplyDeleteThink of the vision of the Tree of Life. The “fruit was desirable to make one happy” (1 Nephi 8:10). Nephi says it is the “love of God . . . it is the most desirable above all things” (1 Nephi 11:22). There was a rod of Iron that led to the tree which represents good choices and necessary ordinances completed. Therefore, those that were able to hold to the rod, were able to partake of the fruit. Those that were led away from the rod, could not partake of the love of God.
Similarly, we feel the same about our parents. It is easier to feel their love when our choices are consistent with their expectations.