The Pillars of Eternity Are the Human Experience

Bruce R McConkie taught in a BYU Devotional in 1981 the following:

"The three pillars of eternity, the three events, preeminent and transcendent above all others, are the creation, the fall, and the atonement. These three are the foundations upon which all things rest. Without any one of them all things would lose their purpose and meaning, and the plans and designs of Deity would come to naught."

As I pondered over these key events after a recent visit to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, I realized that we emphasize the pillars of eternity because they are a representation of our own lives and include a pattern we must follow.

Creation Is a Spiritual Birth
The creation of the Earth is its birth and is a critical event, for without it, the future events would not be possible. The journey of discipleship begins when one is baptized, a spiritual rebirth. This is the "creation" of a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because covenants are made to follow the Savior and take His name upon oneself. I propose that the weekly partaking of the Sacrament is a weekly "creation" as we renew our covenants and are spiritually born again.

The Fall is Personal Sin
Despite our best intentions as disciples of Jesus Christ, we sin and fall short of the glory of God. None of us can maintain the state of purity in which we arise from the baptismal waters or obtain through repentant participation in the Sacrament. Sin is not something God can tolerate and the consequences are inevitable as they are just. It leaves us in a fallen state, distanced from God and unable to make amends on our own. We find ourselves falling short weekly, even daily.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ Saves Mankind from the Fall and Us from Personal Sin
Just as Christ's Atonement saves mankind from many of the consequences of the Fall, it also saves us personally from the consequences of our own personal sins. When I sin, I know that I can receive forgiveness and be cleansed through the grace of Jesus Christ. The Savior's Atonement is infinite and should help us every time we fall short, even daily.

Conclusion
These three personal pillars of eternity are the foundation upon which all things rest in our own lives. This mortal existence loses its meaning if we do not choose to follow Christ and make repentance a part of our life throughout our journey of discipleship. We must do our best to avoid sin, but when we do make mistakes, let us recognize them as opportunities to grow closer to our Savior through sincere repentance and reliance on Him.

I personally believe this parallel is a key reason we are reminded of the pillars of eternity so powerfully in our temple worship. The process of partaking of the Sacrament weekly, of making mistakes constantly, and of relentlessly repenting is the process of sanctification and becoming perfect (eventually). This is the human experience.

On the Road to Emmaus

Two Disciples walk and dine with the resurrected Lord as recorded in Luke 24:13-35. What can we learn from this account?

What were these disciples doing at the time they encountered Jesus?
The disciples were discussing and pondering the events of and leading up to the Savior's crucifixion. This is why the Lord "drew near and went with them." As we talk of and ponder about the Savior, we invite him to draw near to us as well.

How did Jesus teach them?
First, he has asked a good open-ended question that allowed the disciples to share what they knew. Then, he met them where they were and expounded the scriptures unto them. He taught the prophesies of the prophets concerning His resurrection and helped them to understand. Our own teaching should be patterned after the Savior; teach people not lessons by starting where they are.

How did the disciples respond to His teachings?
As Jesus was about to depart, "they constrained him, saying, abide with us." They sought for Him to be with them. Do we seek for the Savior to stay with us? Do we make every effort to keep Him with us?

How did they feel when with the Savior?
The scripture describes it best: "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" This burning of their heart is a manifestation of the Holy Ghost, which testifies of truth and testifies of Christ, who is truth. The Holy Ghost can be manifested in many ways, but it is commonly described as a burning within. When we study the scriptures or have spiritual experiences, the Holy Ghost testifies to us of truth, and we feel it inside.

What were they doing when the Savior revealed Himself to them?
Their eyes were opened, and they realized it was the Savior when he "took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them." Similarly, the Savior will reveal Himself to us as we worthily partake of the sacrament each week. We'll feel his love and know that he is there.

What did they do after learning it was the Savior?
The disciples "rose up that same hour, and returned to Jerusalem" to tell the other disciples and the Apostles that they had seen the resurrected Lord. They had gained a testimony and needed to share it with others. As we are converted to the Lord, we also have a desire to share our testimony with others and to help them become converted.