In Institute last week, we were talking about grace. These lessons are always interesting to me because teachers approach it differently. Teachers choose certain concepts to focus on, and the class responds accordingly with their thoughts.
Honestly, in my very limited opinion, I think one of the reasons we all differ so much on this idea of grace is because grace is a concept we mortals have a hard time understanding and grasping. I think it’s one of those things that our brains reach to comprehend … but fall just a little bit short.
That’s how I feel anyway.
Because even after listening to Brad Wilcox’s devotional “His Grace is Sufficient” my brain still yearns to fully grasp what grace means. While I’m listening to the devotional, I’m thinking, “Wow, this makes a lot of sense!” Then it’s over, and I’m thinking, “What was he saying again? Wait—how does grace work again?” It happens again and again. After listening to something that breaks grace down into chewable concepts, I still find myself asking: What does it mean? What are its implications? What does “after all we can do,” mean? What does “we are saved by grace,” mean? What are the expectations for my part? Is it okay that I “owe” Jesus Christ? How does that work? How do I thank Him? Why did He do it?
You see? Lots of questions. Of course, I wrote some of those to make a point, and I have an answer for them that appeases me/makes sense. Most of the answers involve, “I’m not sure my limited understanding can even comprehend the majesty of the truth. My human brain isn’t ready for that yet.”
I think a lot of us feel that way, so we continue to grapple with this idea of “grace.”
For example, this concept of “after all we can do” almost always comes up.
It’s kind of up for interpretation, don’t you think? There is no one clear way of defining this or understanding it, so once again, teachers take a stab at it, and we discuss.
Allow me to go off on a tangent.
Have you ever read that book about the little girl who really wanted a bike? She expresses that she really wants a bike, and her parents give her jobs around the house to earn money. She saves every penny, every cent.
One day, they go to the bike store to buy her bike.
But she doesn’t have enough. She is short.
The dad takes her in his arms and tells her that he will make up the rest. She did all she could do, and he will make up the difference.
“You are Priceless: The Parable of The Bicycle” by Stephen E. Robinson
They buy the bike, and she is ecstatic!
The book then goes on to relate this story to the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ will make up the rest “after all we can do.”
But that doesn’t align with what Brad Wilcox teaches or what others believe.
See how it gets confusing? And that’s only one example.
Nevertheless, I am not writing today to confuse anyone. Perhaps some pondering is called for, and I am in support of that. But let me tell you what I think. (I am by no means a professional or an expert; I’m just sharing my honest thoughts.)
I think “after all we can do” means after all we can become.
And we don’t become passively. We don’t sit back and suddenly transform into a whole new person. No, it takes work. It takes effort. It takes obedience, sacrifice, discipline, consecration, diligence (to name a few). It takes active participation in the process. That is what “all we can do” means to me.
Christ isn’t concerned with us earning His grace or trying to pay Him back or trying to fill a heavenly account with “good things.” He is hoping we change. That our hearts soften. That we come to Him humble, meek, lowly of heart. That we come to Him repentant.
Grace is a freely given gift. We don’t have to earn it. We don’t have to “do enough” for it. We don’t have to pay for it. No, we just get it. Because of love.
But “no unclean thing” can dwell in God’s presence. D&C 94:8-9 say, “8 And ye shall not suffer any unclean thing to come in unto it; and my glory shall be there, and my presence shall be there. 9 But if there shall come into it any unclean thing, my glory shall not be there; and my presence shall not come into it.”
So grace is a gift we are freely given, but we cannot passively wait until judgement day and then receive all the Father has. No. Instead, we are asked, encouraged, challenged, pleaded with … to change. To become.
Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Parents want us to become. That’s what grace is for. It’s there to ensure our efforts to change our very selves mean that we can live with Them again.
We must “believe in Christ” and become “reconciled to God.” We must turn away from our carnal selves and embrace the Divine.
Another question a lot of people get tripped up by is, “So do my efforts matter?”
To answer this important question, YES! Of course our efforts and decisions and choices and actions matter! They are NOT insignificant. But they don’t earn us grace or earn heaven or pay Christ back. They are needed because they help us to become. That’s what this is all about. It’s about a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Parents. Any action we can take, any decision that we can make, any choice we can choose that strengthens our relationship with our Heavenly Family? Those are what matter most.
Because let’s be honest. What’s the very best way to become like someone? It’s by getting to know them. It’s by spending time with them. It’s by having a relationship with them. The more time you spend with this person, the more their influence will rub off on you. The more you’ll love them. The more you’ll feel their love.
A relationship. That’s the best way to become like whoever you’re trying to become. In this case, like Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, and Heavenly Mother.
To finish with words from The Book of Mormon,
“It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”
And I would add to the end of that sentence, “to have a relationship with Them. To strengthen our relationship with Them. To become like Them.”
So to put it all together:
“It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” to have a relationship with Them.
“It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” to strengthen our relationship with Them.
“It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” to become like Them.
23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
Go to the next page for my “P.S.”
I, too, ponder grace from time to time. For me understanding grace has been a process of growing and learning. What you have written is beautiful, raw and real!! Thank you!!