What do we mean when we talk about ‘Fulness’? The Come Follow Me lesson for this week, covering D&C 93, suggests that it’s related to exaltation—but I’m not sure that we know exactly what exaltation is either. ‘Fulness’ suggests some kind of completeness or satiation—we will have everything we need, and maybe everything we should want. But again this is kind of vague. I suspect that the problem with understanding these terms lies in their eternal nature. Our understanding of these hereafter itself is at best very incomplete. Perhaps the principal thing we can say is that it’s the life that our Heavenly Parents live.

However, we are promised that we can receive this “fulness”—that we can be glorified and exalted. And I’m confident that this is something we should want. One element of fulness that seems likely to me is that my needs and shortcomings will disappear, or be replaced, or no longer be part of my life. I’m sure that exaltation means, therefore, that I will be whole. I feel my shortcomings, so that seems very desirable. Some of our LDS poetry addresses this.

 

Like Jesus Christ, I can be glorified and receive God’s “fulness.”

D&C 93 suggests that we progress “from grace to grace,” which sounds to me like a learning process, and maybe a transforming process. But maybe it also involves heavenly power. The early LDS poet Thomas Ward thought so, and suggested as much in the following poem. Ward was a dynamic English convert, who joined the Church in 1840 and by October 1842 was serving as Mission President of the British mission. Released after a year, Ward and others attempted to help English saints to emigrate through a joint-stock company, which failed in 1846. Ward died the following year, aged 38. Still, during his 6 years in the Church, he published many poems in the Millennial Star, including the following:

 

Sonnet to Religion

by Thomas Ward

Religion! much abused, yet glorious theme;

The enthusiast’s life—the zealot’s all;

The abused of every tribe; and yet

The glorious plan by which heaven deigns

To bind intelligence with matter; when

With knowledge like as Gods, of good and ill,

And thus redeemed by Christ’s atoning blood,

Man shall receive a fulness of that power

Which renovates from evil, and bestows

A moral fitness for a throne on high!

O! let me drink life’s waters from thyself,

Nor rest content with earth’s polluted streams.

1843

 

The glory of God is light and truth.

Our understanding of fulness suggests that fulness is a fulness of the glory of God. And in D&C 93 we’re told that this means a fulness of light and truth. I think that since both light and truth are intangible, having a fulness of them feels like it makes one lighter, easier to move, unimpeded.

Unimpeded might be a good description for B. H. Roberts, who seemed able to contribute to building the kingdom in many ways. While best known for his doctrinal work, Roberts also wrote some literature, including the novella Corianton, a short story and a number of poems. The following gives his view of the Glory of God.

 

The Glory of God

by Brigham H. Roberts

“I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” — Moses to the Lord. (Exodus 33:18.)

The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament sheweth his handiwork —

For the Glory of God is Intelligence!

Day unto day uttereth speech,

And night unto night sheweth knowledge, —

For the Glory of God is Intelligence!

There is no speech nor language

Where their voice is not heard —

For the Glory of God is Intelligence!

Their line is gone out through all the earth,

And their words to the end of the world —

For the Glory of God is Intelligence!

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple,

For the Glory of God is Intelligence!

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart,

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes —

For the Glory of God is Intelligence!

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether —

For the Glory of God is Intelligence!

More are they to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey and the honey comb —

For the Glory of God is Intelligence!

Moreover by them is thy servant warned;

And in keeping of them there is great reward —

For the Glory of God is Intelligence — Amen!

1920

 

“Set in order your own house.”

Perhaps the best way to explain the need for order is to think about what might get in the way of the light and truth we are seeking. And order should start with how we build our lives. We can think about how we structure ourselves, what things we spend our time on, what knowledge we seek, what talents we develop, so that these things enhance instead of detract from light and truth. Thoughtful ordering of our lives allows light and truth in.

The metaphor of constructing a house appears frequently in all sorts of literature, including in the scriptures (build a house on a rock, we’re taught). So it’s not surprising to see it as a metaphor for building a house of faith, where light and truth can dwell. Poet Birdie Beatrice Ekman does this in the following poem. Born in Tooele in 1875, Ekman lived most of her life in Salt Lake City. Her poetry won the Eliza R. Snow contest in 1936, and often appeared in the Relief Society Magazine up until her death in 1962.

 

In My Father’s House

by Beatrice K. Ekman

She built her house of dreams,

A little here, a little there, each day;

Its roof gave shelter from the rain, its beams

Were strongest timbers that no storm could sway;

The walls were square, the windowpanes were bright

With faith that shed a never-failing light;

Her friends who knew the courage she possessed,

Took heart from her example and were blessed.

This house of dreams, this faith that spurred her on,

Has it grown to be a mansion in the place where she has gone?

1950