Have you received His image in your Countenance?

3 Nephi 27

Jesus gives the name of his church, and spells out his gospel. He commands the people to repent, be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. They are to be even as Jesus is.

I've always marveled at idea that the people wanted to know what to call the church. It is such logic to me that it doesn't even need to be talked about. Could it be because I was raised with this logic? And then in v11 it says “. . . they will have joy in their works for a season. . .” v12 “For their works do follow them. . . and they are hewn down. . .” You see that in a lot of upstart religions. They remind me a lot of shooting stars, though there is nothing illuminating about them in the least. In fact, many of them are frightening.

I've especially enjoyed reading about the Doctrine of Christ (v13-22). It's so simple! It is basically the 4^th Article of Faith. And then in v21we are told to do what we have seen the Savior do. What did He do? He was loving at every turn. Until we develop that same kind of love, there is room to grow.

It saddens me when he talks about the fourth generation falling away and “. . . turning their works upon their own heads.” (v32) We know when we keep reading that this prophecy is fulfilled. But what exactly does it mean when our works are turned upon our own heads? We have some really righteous people as examples whose countenance really shines and we are drawn to them like magnets. They don't seem to be getting older, but rather better. Well, this works in the opposite direction as well. As people embrace a self-centered and indulgent lifestyle, their countenance becomes hardened. It is almost embarrassing to be in their presence because you feel sad for what they have lost and what they have become. They have a hardened look.

I've seen it both ways. I've seen the hardened reach out and embrace gospel principles and become beautiful in the process. Their countenance changes and it is as if “their works are turned upon their own heads”. Isn't it a person's head (face) where we make our first opinion?  Maybe this interpretation is just a little too literal.

So how does this apply to me today? Is there vanity involved in this at all? Maybe. I want ever so badly not to have that hardened look. I want to have my countenance shine and therefore, I must continue in my faith, repenting when I slip up (as we all do), and keep moving forward, aka enduring to the end.