“For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness” (3 Nephi 24:2-3)
I was touched by this scripture this week and thought a lot about the times that I have been tried in the refiner’s fire of life. As I pondered on this scripture and looked for greater understanding I was reading in the LDS institute of religion student manual the following explaining this verse: “Malachi employed powerful symbolism by describing the Messiah’s coming “like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap”. A refiner is “a man who separates the precious metals from the dross with which in nature they are usually found mixed. Part of the process consists in the application of great heat, in order to bring the mass into a fluid state, hence the term ‘refiner’s fire’” (Bible Dictionary, “Refiner,” 760)
The Savior is like a refiner. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained: “His mission is to cleanse, purify, and refine the human soul so that it can return to his Father’s kingdom in purity, free from dross. (3 Nephi 27:19–21) His cleansing power ‘is like a refiner’s fire, … And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver’ in that great day when he comes to judge the world. (Malachi 3:2–3; 3 Nephi 24:2-3; D&C 128:24)” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 624).
There have been different times in my life that I have felt pain and loss. When my testimony was struggling and I was not sure what the outcome would be. But in those times I have often thought back to a dear friend from High School that one day asked me a very simple question, “Are you saying your prayers?” My answer then was no, and his council was that if I was struggling then maybe I should go ahead and pray. That simple advice has stuck with me for a very long time and I have called upon that advice more than once. When things are difficult, am I calling upon the Lord to help me through the refiner’s fire? Do I turn to His words in the scriptures to find the Balm of Gilead to help me soothe and to heal?
“There are many kinds of challenges. Some give us necessary experiences. Adverse results in this mortal life are not evidence of lack of faith or of an imperfection in our Father in Heaven’s overall plan. The refiner’s fire is real, and qualities of character and righteousness that are forged in the furnace of affliction perfect and purify us and prepare us to meet God.” (Elder Quentin L Cook, 2011) Although it is hard to face the trials that come to us in this life, I know that the Lord will bless us for remaining faithful and by relying on Him.
I was touched by this scripture this week and thought a lot about the times that I have been tried in the refiner’s fire of life. As I pondered on this scripture and looked for greater understanding I was reading in the LDS institute of religion student manual the following explaining this verse: “Malachi employed powerful symbolism by describing the Messiah’s coming “like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap”. A refiner is “a man who separates the precious metals from the dross with which in nature they are usually found mixed. Part of the process consists in the application of great heat, in order to bring the mass into a fluid state, hence the term ‘refiner’s fire’” (Bible Dictionary, “Refiner,” 760)
The Savior is like a refiner. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained: “His mission is to cleanse, purify, and refine the human soul so that it can return to his Father’s kingdom in purity, free from dross. (3 Nephi 27:19–21) His cleansing power ‘is like a refiner’s fire, … And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver’ in that great day when he comes to judge the world. (Malachi 3:2–3; 3 Nephi 24:2-3; D&C 128:24)” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 624).
There have been different times in my life that I have felt pain and loss. When my testimony was struggling and I was not sure what the outcome would be. But in those times I have often thought back to a dear friend from High School that one day asked me a very simple question, “Are you saying your prayers?” My answer then was no, and his council was that if I was struggling then maybe I should go ahead and pray. That simple advice has stuck with me for a very long time and I have called upon that advice more than once. When things are difficult, am I calling upon the Lord to help me through the refiner’s fire? Do I turn to His words in the scriptures to find the Balm of Gilead to help me soothe and to heal?
“There are many kinds of challenges. Some give us necessary experiences. Adverse results in this mortal life are not evidence of lack of faith or of an imperfection in our Father in Heaven’s overall plan. The refiner’s fire is real, and qualities of character and righteousness that are forged in the furnace of affliction perfect and purify us and prepare us to meet God.” (Elder Quentin L Cook, 2011) Although it is hard to face the trials that come to us in this life, I know that the Lord will bless us for remaining faithful and by relying on Him.
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