The Truth in Rock and Roll

Almost every Saturday I go for a long walk. I have a traditional four-mile route circling around Springville. Equipped with my iPod, I can take in the beauties of nature while listening to my favorite music. If you know me, I'm a musical fanatic. With over 2,000 songs on my iPod, I put it on shuffle and enjoy whatever comes up. Sometimes I think I get a little help from above with tailor-made messages especially for me!

Last Saturday I began with prayer before my walk. Sometimes I get down on myself and want to cry out like Nephi, "O wretched man that I am!" (2 Nephi 4: 17). Impatience is high on my list of character defects and impatience with self is a major stumbling block. I cried out, "Why do I keep struggling with the same issues?"

Then I put on the headphones and started walking. Almost out of nowhere came a thought of a verse of scripture. The verse goes like this:

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Corinthians 13: 12). 

I used to think the word glass meant something like looking through a glass window. But what are we looking at? When I learned of the origin of this word it gave me new insight into what Paul is speaking of. The word glass is translated from the Greek word esoptron, and it actually means "mirror." Here is a link to the original Greek word.

Could Paul be speaking of how we view ourselves? And how does this view affect our perception of others?

There is a related verse speaking of celestial glory. "They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness and of his grace" (D&C 76: 94). Can you imagine seeing yourself as the Lord sees you?

I thought of another verse: "My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning; therefore my hand shall be over thee" (Abraham 2: 8). Do you see it? He sees you as the finished, polished, refined product. He sees you as you can and will become.

Before the thought could flee away, a new song started. I listened to the lyrics. You will probably recognize this one:

"There's a hero if you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid of what you are
There's an answer if you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know will melt away

And then a hero comes along with the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside 'cause you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth that a hero lies in you."

Okay, if you're a rock 'n roll purist, you will recognize this isn't a rock 'n roll classic, but rather a sappy ballad, but it has a nice melody and it was good enough to inspire me on Saturday morning.

But the next song was a rock 'n roll classic. I'll let you figure out the songs and artists. It goes like this:

"Deal me up another future
From some brand new deck of cards
Take the chip off of my shoulder
Smooth out all the lines
Take me out among the rustling pines
Till it shines."

Take the chip off my shoulders, let me not feel sorry for myself. Let go and let God. But like Neal A Maxwell once said, "We tremble at the tuition." (For what it takes to be refined  . . . 'til it shines.)

I thought of a verse of scripture that goes like this:

"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" (Malachi 3: 3).

Jesus watches the silver (you and me) as it's being refined. If it doesn't stay in the fire long enough, it has no strength or character. If is stays in too long, it can be destroyed. He watches until He sees His own reflection in the shiny metal. "Til it shines."

I walked through Brookside and approached Springville High School, my alma mater. The sign says, "Home of the Red Devils." Interestingly, the song I was listening to (on random shuffle) had some lyrics about the devil:

"Do as they tell you to
Don't want the devil to
Come and put out your eyes

And it's always up to you, if you want to be that

Want to see that, want to see it that way"

Then I thought of another verse of scripture: "And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost" (1 Nephi 12: 17).

Then I realized who it is, who wants me to see myself obscurely through the mirror.