The Gospel of Adoption

One thing that I always found interesting as I have attended my ward and stake meeting throughout the years is the heritage of the members of the church.  It is fascinating to listen to people tell tales of their ancestors coming across the plains, or being a decedent of Brigham Young, or their great-great grandparent meeting the Prophet Joseph Smith.  These stories have always been neat, and awe-inspiring; something that I wish I could have such a claim and tale to tell my own children, my classes, and my ward.

But I don’t.

I am the child of two converts to the church.  They loved me, and they loved the gospel – and more importantly, they tried their best to live it.  But nevertheless, every 24^th of July, there is always a tale told in sacrament meeting – glorifying the acts of the early saints (as they should be) and in some small way highlighting in my mind the fact that I have no such heritage in my own family.

It was not a devastating notion when I considered the reality that I don’t have such a heritage, but I can honestly say that it was a disappointing idea; it was something that I wished I had.

Particularly with the early saints, as member of the church, we seek to associate ourselves with them, their lives, and their faith.  There are stories in the history of the church which touch us, teach us, and make us want to be better and more committed to the gospel.  And I think at times, we have a desire to share the same blood with these saints, to call them our own, and to be one with them.

In addition to this the scholar of the gospel learns pretty candidly how much bloodlines meant to those of the ancient covenants.  There was a reason why Christ needed to come from the line of Jesse and David; there is something to be said for being born of goodly parents, and inheriting such blessings.  If this were not the case, than why worry about the line of Israel which we descend from.  The fact is that these blood lines do matter, they do mean something, and they contribute to the creation of who we are and who we can become.  And this fact at times can yield a heightened sense of disappointment that we may be the blood of first generation members of the church.

Yet, when these feelings of distance takes place from those who we admire in the gospel narratives we tend to forget the very essence of what the gospel is.  The gospel in reality is the very Gospel of Adoption, of bloodlines, of histories, and family association.  The Gospel current is that of coming into the fold of Christ and becoming one with Him.

Nearly every ordinance of the Gospel brings us closer to the blood which we long to be a part of.  The very act of Baptism makes us the blood of Abraham, and later learn through our Patriarchal Blessings that we are adopted into his family through one of the lineage of his grand children, the twelve tribes of Israel.

Consider what the Doctrine and Covenants say in relation to the ordinance of the priesthood – found in the oath and covenant.  We become the very sons (and daughters) of Moses and Aaron, and the offspring of Christ himself.  We become the very blood of these remarkable people and inherit all of the promised blessings to their posterity.  We literally become the Sons of God (Christ) in addition to becoming the Sons and Daughters of our Heavenly Father.  We can inherit (as children) all the honors, glories, and privileges that come from being children of Christ.

This gospel is the gospel of adoption. When we hear tales of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Parley P. Pratt, and those faithful saints who crossed the plans – we may not be in the genealogical charts in the family history museum but we have been adopted into the faith which has granted their experiences as our spiritual progenitors.  They are our heritage, and we own those experiences as much as anyone when they have touched our souls and hearts, and increased our faith.

When we participate and honor the covenants of the Lord we infuse our souls with the blood of the prophets and the righteous who have received such promises – even the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.  And there is no greater family, no greater progenitor to have, and no better model to emulate than his love, his actions, and his warmth.