Yesterday while I was sitting with Sopwith (which was also a great computer game) waiting for Anna to finish drying her hair so we could get to Stake Conference on time (which didn’t really even matter considering daylight savings. Whatever.), I thought I would look up some churchy videos on YouTube. There was one called The Transfiguration by some Priest that I watched. It was ok- he focused on how when you have a spiritual experience you are likely to run into a lot of opposition directly after and then showed how Peter, James, and John were all mega-tested in that last week of the Savior’s life.
So I got to thinking and I decided that Peter, James, and John must have been terrified. They had known Christ for years and have walked with him and joked with him and fasted and camped out with him. They knew that he was the son of God, but I can’t imagine they understood everything that that meant. So they walk up to the top of this hill and Moses and Elijah show up and it sounds like they were both just talking with Christ. Peter offers to make a little shrine for them all and then BAM! a voice from a cloud said “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” and they all fell down on their faces. And then they walk down the mountain. I wish sometimes we had little side quips like on reality shows to have the disciples explain what they were thinking right then. That whole thing must have been pretty intense.
Joseph Smith said that “[t]he Savior, Moses, and Elias, gave the keys to Peter, James and John, on the mount, when they were transfigured before him. The Priesthood is everlasting—without father, mother, etc.” Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith p. 158. So the disciples experienced a lot more than just bright lights and a loud voice. They actually participated in it all and had things explained to them. That must have been so crazy. You know how you never really appreciate anything momentous as it is actually happening? It all seems so small and normal at the time; reading about it or watching it later seems much more meaningful. Anyways, it would be cool to have been there.
1 comment:
We actually talked about this in Institute last week! I thought it was interesting when the teacher brought up the fact that John the Baptist (beheaded earlier by Herod) was also present - but not as a resurrected being, as none of them were. Also, that Moses and Elijah were strengthening and encouraging Jesus because he was going to go through the atonement soon. So many things to learn.
Post a Comment