"And who had offered sacrifice in the similitude of the great sacrifice of the Son of God, and had suffered tribulation in their Redeemer’s name.All these had departed the mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection"  (D&C 138:11-15)

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The Fellowship Of The Suffering Of Christ

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Jules

I’ve contended for a long time well, most of my life really, with attempting to figure out the purpose for the innocent to undergo excessive misery. It’s one thing to “suffer the buffetings of Satan” as a natural consequence of sin.  But what about those who suffer as the victims of sinners; such as the victims of various types of abuse, victims of adulterous spouses, or the targets of bullying or persecution? What about those who are victims of severe health issues and afflictions, the poor, the widowed, the oppressed, etc.? Most all of us can think of someone even if it’s the subject of a news story on television, who appears to have a life filled with an inordinate sum of seemingly useless and warrant-less suffering.

Some blame God for their anguish and become bitter. Others presume that suffering is inherently a result of sin – attributing the fault to individuals, and asking:

“… who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2)

To which the Savior responds by affirming:

“… Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” (John 9:3)

What I have learned about the meaning of this – beyond the rest of the story where the Savior heals the blind man through the power of God, I will explain further.

With regard to many of my own life-struggles, I’ve been offered well intended counsel by some, and by others, have been quoted scriptures about the Savior and all He suffered, including the following:

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

I have been reminded time and time again, that I have no place to grumble. Even the Prophet Joseph Smith who clearly underwent extreme tribulations, was chastised for bemoaning the obstacles placed before him:

“If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea; If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb; And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all.  Art thou greater than he?” (D&C 122:5-8)

He was admonished that this would be “for his own good”, and as I too have been reminded, that the Savior endured much more.

Though this may be true, I admit that at times it has not been a solid basis for immediate comfort during my trials which are very real, and very painful to me. Some individuals (myself at times being one of them), have thrown their hands in the air and pronounced that it was simply unfair that they’ve had to bear some of the trials they have.

Just recently, a friend of mine proposed a tangible (at least to me anyway) PURPOSE (beyond “for your own good”) for the extreme trials that some including myself, sustain. Paraphrasing, he told me that I had to suffer the things I have in order to understand what my spirit children in the eternities, would endure in their lives. He illustrated the point with this analogy:

“120,000 years from now, you are a goddess and you have a daughter going thru mortality who has gone through a LOT of bad things. Through tears of desperation and anguish by her, you go and comfort her and tell her you understand what she’s going through. And you tell her everything is going to be just fine. In that moment, your reward will have been a hug and a kiss on the forehead of your daughter. And somewhere, someone will be saying to you, “well done.””

Well maybe everyone else “gets” this already, but it struck me sharply when my friend put it in this light. I felt the Spirit confirm what he said, and do still as I read over his words. I thought however, that this bit of “light” would be the end of my realization on the subject at least for 120,000 years or so.

Just a day or two after that, I was reading from the book “Visions of Glory”, by: John Pontius. He writes the account of the amazing visions of a man who has walked and talked many times with angels, has met the Savior in spirit… and who has suffered a lifetime of horrific health afflictions to the degree of causing his death four times (so far). In this account, Spencer (the name given to this man to keep his true identity private), is given a vision where an angel explains to him and shows him, the reasons for his lifelong persistent health problems. When I read this account, I was filled with the spirit, and received an additional witness that what my friend told me was not only true, but only just scratched the surface of the blessings associated with this type of suffering. I also realized that I had heard something similar years before though when it was given to me then, it was not explained in this way, and it did not resonate with me as powerfully as it did this time.

The angel described to Spencer a concept called “The Fellowship of the Suffering of Christ“. The first part of this vision showed a group of people who had suffered much tribulation and as he expounded:

“… he showed me in vivid detail the pains and sufferings and abuses these people had endured while living on this earth. They had been persecuted and killed for generations…”  (Visions of Glory, John Pontius: http://www.amazon.com/Visions-Glory-Mans-Astonishing-Account/dp/1462111181 .)

The angel told Spencer:

“Only individuals like you, who have been willing to undergo similar pain and abuses as these people have, will they ever listen to and trust. You must continue to drink of this bitter cup and not become bitter yourself. This will give you the experience and knowledge you need so that when you are called to work with these people, they will trust you and recognize in you that you are a fellow sufferer and refugee from persecution. These sufferings and your personal triumph over them will be written on your very soul and into the sinews of your body, and they will recognize it and trust you… They will see that you also belong to the “Fellowship of the Suffering of Christ“.”  (Visions of Glory, John Pontius: http://www.amazon.com/Visions-Glory-Mans-Astonishing-Account/dp/1462111181 .)

I read this and was filled with the Spirit realizing that this paralleled and added to my understanding of what my friend told me just a few days prior! Quoting a few additional passages from “Visions of Glory”, Spencer explained the following from his vision which was a “type”, or representation of things he was given to understand about his mission on this earth:

“The red stood for sacrifice, but not in the way that I had previously understood sacrifice. The knowledge I received included a full understanding of the condescension and Atonement of Christ, but it also symbolized a willingness to likewise sacrifice as Christ had, to be prepared for this mission. In order to receive the key, and the assignment it represented, one had to be prepared by sacrificing their will, their earthly possessions, their health if called upon, or even their lives if need be, to follow the path God ordained to prepare that person with charity, faith, doctrinal purity, sound understanding, and, most of all, perfect obedience to God’s will. This is the course Christ had submitted Himself to, though His suffering was far greater and for all mankind. This lesser suffering we go through is to prepare an individual for their specific mission.I was given to understand that there was no other way, and no other path to this type of service. It was a path that could require the shedding of blood and sacrifices of similar magnitude. When a servant of God followed this path to its end, it left a recognizable mark upon the servant a glow, if you will, of righteousness. It was a preparation that made it impossible to fail, which those to whom he or she would minister would recognize and then follow.The key in my vision is representative of the key every latter-day builder of Zion will obtain for their specific mission. Each individual will probably not see an actual key being handed to them, but they will go through this same process that was shown to me of sacrifice… I have come to understand that in order to complete my life’s mission, I had to receive this key in the ordained way, by becoming a member of the “Fellowship of the Suffering of Christ“, and by doing it freely, willingly, even joyfully. I now understand that it is a personal journey of great consequence. It is not a pathway for seekers of comfort and casual service. I did not realize I was even upon this path, or that my suffering was a part of any path other than a process of my life… When we do this, we are no longer serving the Church, our families, or even ourselves we are serving Jesus Christ directly and doing the Father’s work of preparing the world for the end of time and the return of Christ.”  (Visions of Glory, John Pontius: http://www.amazon.com/Visions-Glory-Mans-Astonishing-Account/dp/1462111181 .)

After reading these things, and reflecting on the words of my friend, a multitude of scriptures suddenly made sense! I was given to understand that those who were called – some of whom were foreordained to suffer great trials, were in this “fellowship” with Christ, because of their decision to come to this earth and bear these travails, that as the Savior elucidated: “…the works of God should be made manifest in…” them! Those who suffer in this way – as Christ did, will be equally rewarded for their pain – as Christ was!

Neal A. Maxwell explains:

“President [Brigham] Young said of Jesus, “Why should we imagine for one moment that we can be prepared to enter into the kingdom of rest with him and the Father, without passing through similar ordeals?” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 346). The Apostle Paul noted how this sacred process produces an exclusive cadre–those who have known the “fellowship of [Christ's] sufferings” (Philip. 3:10). These are they who will have the greatest capacity for endless service, joy, and happiness.”  (Enduring Well, Ensign, Apr. 1997, 8)

Following are some additional scriptures and quotes I have been directed to that accompany this concept:

• “He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;”  (D&C 88:6)

• “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)

•  ”And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.”  (Nephi 3:13)

• “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,To aninheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” (1 Peter 1:3-13)
  

• “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:18-24)
  

• “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed“ (1 Peter 5:1)
  

• “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.They shall hunger no more, neither athirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:13-17)
  

• “So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thess. 1:4-12)
  

• “For I know that thou wast in bonds; yea, and I also know that thou wast stoned for the word’s sake; and thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee.And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” (Alma 38:4-5)

• “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Rom. 6:5)

•  ”It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:11-12)

• “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”(Romans 8:17-18)
  

•  ”Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God”  (Acts 14:22)

• “For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.”(D&C 58:2-4)

• “As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great.And there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality;And who had offered sacrifice in the similitude of the great sacrifice of the Son of God, and had suffered tribulation in their Redeemer’s name.All these had departed the mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection, through the grace of God the Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.I beheld that they were filled with joy and gladness, and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand.” (D&C 138:11-15)

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