Brigham Young University (BYU) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.” As part of their undergraduate coursework, BYU students take multiple semesters of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.
Here, in this column, students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the Old Testament and gospel of Jesus Christ in the form of letters to someone they know. In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to witness to all of us of the relevance, power, and beauty of the Old Testament, and God’s plan of happiness for each of us. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures. Let us know how these may help you in your own life. Share them with a friend.
Mormonism: The Savior
Wanna read a good story that you probably don’t read all that often? Read Hosea.
Here it is in a wrap.
Hosea is a prophet. He is commanded to marry Gomer. Gomer is a harlot.
Even though we choose to leave Him sometimes, the Savior is always willing to accept us again.
They have children. Their children’s names mean: “sow or gather, spread, scatter”; “no mercy”; and “not my people.”
Gomer says – I will return to my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink. Say what? Your lovers will give you bread? And water? Bread – symbolic of the Bread of Life? of Jesus Christ? Your lovers can give you that?
Gomer breaks her covenant and goes to her former lovers. Can I just say how when I read this – it hurt. I was legitimately so angry with Gomer. Hosea married you when you were a harlot. And you leave him for your former lovers who you think can give you bread?
But Hosea doesn’t give up on her. Hosea lets her go for a season. Then he goes after her.
He “allures” her into the wilderness and “speaks comfortably” to her. He cleans her up.
And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt (Hosea 2:15).
At first I thought Hosea was crazy. How could he let her come back?
And then, as my teacher so tenderly pointed out, I realized . . . This is my story. This is an object lesson for the Savior and me. Sometimes, I go to other places for my flax and wool. It can be hard. I learn from my trials. But Christ comes back for me and he forgives me.
I know that I’m not perfect, that I sometimes get wrapped up in things that I shouldn’t get wrapped up in. I forget Him. But, I want so desperately to follow my Savior. He comes back for me. He is waiting for me, with open arms. He is my Savior. I am nothing without Him. And He loves me.
Following Him is more than just believing in Him and then going and doing whatever I want. Gomer just went back to her lovers, and yeah, she messed up and came back.
But what does coming back consist of? Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; repentance; baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost; and enduring to the end living a continuous Christian lifestyle.
I am so grateful for my Savior.
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