The Will and Unity of the Father and Son

Do God the Father and Jesus Christ have the same desires--the same will?

In recent months, I've been pretty active in the comments for the Now You Know series published by the Church on YouTube.  It's been a very positive experience for me, whether helping to clarify errors stated by other users or answer sincere questions from seekers of truth.  Today the interaction brought me to a thought I'd never had about a subject that I've understood for years.

The interesting comments were in response to a video about the nature of the Godhead.  As could be expected, some Christians of other religions had some disagreements.  Some members of the Church responded and some were more proactive in their comments; one quoted Jesus Christ asking the Father if the metaphoric cup could pass from Him, of course followed by his statement, "Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."  The Church member then suggested that it wouldn't make sense for a being to ask permission of itself and then acquiesce to itself.  I agree.  Then, in a reply, another user (whose religion was not stated), asked: "Interesting... if Jesus knew he was God, why would he ask the Father for permission? Why would he put the Father's will before his own? Do their wills differ?"

One of the major aspects of the nature of the Godhead is that They are united in purpose.  That makes it easy to raise the question, "Do their wills differ?"  If Christ subordinated His will to that of God the Father, then Their wills *must* have differed in some way.

I think the key difference in Their wills comes from the very fact that They are separate entities.  Jesus was nearing the end of His mortal experience, but still mortal, and performing an infinite Atonement for our sins that caused Him more emotional and physical anguish than anyone else has ever known.  His body was subject to pain and a natural desire to avoid or end that pain.  Thus, the Man who was experiencing the pain of the Atonement had, within Him, the will that it should stop.  However, because of His great love for His Father and for us, He put that will beneath the will of His Father, who surely empathized with His Son but yet knew that the Atonement of Christ was necessary for the salvation of all.

So during His mortal life, Jesus' mortal experiences in a physical but imperfect body would have given Him desires that, although supremely tempered and controlled by Him, were a part of His will.  That was what made His selflessness and righteousness so great.

Last thoughts for now:
I'm grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful for His perfect example to us.  I'm also grateful to be able to continually learn through study and testimony.

Restored Christianity

Over two years ago, when I was at BOLC II at Fort Sill, OK, I remember another new lieutenant asking me about the Church. He was an interesting fellow; very humorous, though crass at times, and he had given up drinking, apparently after having some very negative experiences. When we spoke of the Church on this occasion, he was basically just expressing general but sincere curiosity. I don't remember exactly what he asked me at the time, but I do remember briefly relating to him the account of Joseph Smith, including his First Vision. The conversation must have then turned along the lines of him asking why some people said we weren't Christian. I was struck, as I began to answer, that all of the issues were encapsulated in Joseph Smith's early experiences.

Joseph received revelation from God. Some churches do not believe that revelation is given to Man in our day.

Joseph saw Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ, distinctly as two separate beings. To my knowledge, essentially every other church believes in the incomprehensible concept of a trinity.

Joseph was told to not join with any other church. Some people, and some churches, accept the logic that if various churches teach different doctrines that at most one of them can possess a full measure of truth, but many take offense to the idea that there can be only one true Church.

In addition to receiving direct revelation, Joseph Smith brought forth the Book of Mormon. Most any church will say that the only valid scripture is the Bible (though which version of the Bible, and even what books should be included in it, is a lasting dispute), and that there can be no other Word of God.

Interestingly, I had been listening to a general conference talk by Elder Holland's on one of these very issues. While I was explaining these things to the lieutenant, one of my roommates, Lieutenant Cameron, suggested that I just have him listen to Elder Holland's talk, because he said it very well. (My roommates must obviously have heard the talk when I listened.) The two talks given by Elder Holland in the fall of 2007 and spring of 2008 are among those I consider "modern classics".

(Links for those two talks are here:
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-775-15,00.html
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-851-30,00.html )

I remember the story of Joseph Smith's First Vision as one of the best ways as a missionary to help people feel the Holy Ghost. Well, the Holy Ghost testifies of truth, and Joseph Smith's experiences brought some hugely significant truths to a world that had lost them. How strange that the world should have such a poor understanding of their God, and how strange that people who do have a better understanding should be labeled "not Christian", but how wonderful that our loving Heavenly Father should restore these truths to us!

Yes, Joseph Smith introduced truth that didn't mesh with "traditional Christianity", but traditional Christianity lost something, had been altered; aspects of modern "traditional" Christianity simply aren't like what Christianity was in Christ's time. What we practice is not traditional Christianity, it's restored Christianity. As Latter-day Saints, we hope to be true Christians, not in name only but in Spirit and character, and in a way that is evident through our actions and our lives.

Last thoughts for now:
There will always be some who defame, and there will always be some who refuse to use the term "Christian" for members of Christ's true Church, but that doesn't matter. What does matter is that we recognize the powerful truths that God has restored to us, that we seek to follow Christ through his Atonement, and that we don't hide the goodness of our discipleship from the world so that others may also discover restored Christianity and fully pursue their exaltation.