Prepared to Receive the Glory

Yesterday I wrote about how the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. In our Gospel Doctrine class on Sunday, we discussed the relationship between worth and worthy. The point was made that sometimes because of our focus on being worthy, the youth in the church who are not living up to the standards of the gospel feel that they have no worth. In other words, when they learn, for example, that they are not worthy to go to the temple because they are not keeping the commandments, they may feel that they are not of any worth. I think it is unfortunate that these two words in English are so similar. In French, for example, the two words are different: digne relates to being worthy whereas valeur refers to worth. Similarly in Spanish dignos is used for worthy and valor refers to worth. But I can understand that in English a focus too much on being worthy can send the wrong message about worth, and we must teach our youth that indeed they are of great worth always, no matter how they mess up. Our instructor referenced this podcast in which FSY leaders Jen and Sam Norton suggested that a better word to focus on with the youth instead of worthy might be prepared. To be prepared is perhaps more readily associated with action and choices instead of fundamental worth.

                So, what do the scriptures say? To be worthy is indeed a scriptural term used commonly in both the New Testament and the Doctrine and Covenants. The Savior said, for example, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36). In the parable of the marriage of the king’s son, the king said of those who rejected his servants, “The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy” (Matthew 22:8). Paul entreated the people of Thessalonica, “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12). The angel said to the church at Sardis of those who had “not defiled their garments” that “they are worthy” (Revelation 3:4). In our dispensation the Lord said, “There has been a day of calling, but the time has come for a day of choosing; and let those be chosen that are worthy” (Doctrine and Covenants 105:35). In another revelation He said, “He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:100). He also declared, “I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy. For if ye will not abide in my covenant ye are not worthy of me” (Doctrine and Covenants 98:14-15). Examining these verses, we can see that while being worthy is indeed a common scriptural term, as seen above it is always related to choices. To watch and pray in order to be worthy is a choice; those who rejected the marriage of the king’s son did so by choice; those who defiled not their garments made a choice not to do so; and those who abide or reject the covenant of the Lord do so with their own agency.    

To Brigham Young the Lord said, “My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom” (Doctrine and Covenants 136:31). In this verse we see the idea both of being prepared and worthy. I believe that here the Lord is saying the same thing with both words; we need to be prepared for His glory and we need to be worthy of His kingdom. To be worthy is to be prepared, and this is not related to individual worth or the love the Lord has for us but rather readiness to return to God and be with Him.