Types and Shadows

Yesterday I listened to many of the Inaugural proceedings as I cleaned my house. I listened to the prayers (and thanked my Heavenly Father that we are privileged to live in a land that STILL prays)! I've heard many this morning who took offense at the closing prayer. It didn't occur to me to do that, it made me smile. It felt sincere. I winced for President Obama as he stumbled over the oath. He must have been nervous. I prayed in my heart that he would be in tune with heaven, that he would feel the prayers of a nation. I don't agree with any of his liberal views and they frankly scare me. I just pray that he will moderate as he realizes the burden of his office.

I marveled at our form of government and I felt the spirit reconfirm to me that this land was born with the hand of providence for the purpose of restoring the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that this land is still in the Lord's hands. I am comforted by the promise that the gospel will not be taken from the earth again, but will endure and blossom during the millennium. I don't know what trials we have to endure before that day, but I sang the song in my heart (which I KNOW to be true) "Victory, victory, through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

I was also struck with the thought that our government, our constitution with it's division of power and the amazing way that power is transferred from President to President and other elected offices by the people, in an orderly and peaceful manner, is a type and a shadow. A type and a shadow always happens in history to foreshadow a coming event, such as Abraham sacrificing his son, foreshadowing the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It struck me that perhaps the government of this nation was a foreshadowing of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day Saints; how our church transitions from one prophet to the next (with far less fanfare) and in complete order. And then I thought of how Abraham did not have to sacrifice his son, but how our Father in Heaven literally did; the real event so complete and perfect whereas the type and shadow just that, a shadow. I thought of how each type and shadow builds toward perfection, and then my heart soared as I imagined the culmination of that PERFECT transfer of power one day when Christ will reign on earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Now that is THE inauguration I pray to behold!