My definition of Heaven

My new definition of Heaven- “Mangosteens everyday”. OK, well maybe that is a bit hedonistic, but if ever there were ambrosia suited to the Gods, mangosteens would certainly top the list far above durian (the smell of which for some might qualify as eternal torment!)

                                   

The problem with heaven however, seems to be the cost to get there. At least that’s what the devil would have us think- the cost is too high for us, and “Oh, by the way, I have a cheaper surrogate over here…” I found some mangosteens for sale the other morning on my way back from a jog around the local park. I asked how much they were, and heard only the last digits, and thought to myself, “Wow, that’s great! There must have been a bumper crop.” So I asked for two kilos, thinking that we would have even more reason to think of our stay in Ho Chi Minh City as heavenly. But the puzzled look on the fruit-sellers face when I  handed her my paltry sum for her treasure let me know that I had missed something in translation. But by then I was committed, and fortunately grace (my wallet) was with me and I had enough additional cash to not lose face by asking her to put all but 200 grams of them back on display! Well they are still delicious, especially when chilled.

Ironically however, the cost of discipleship, the cost to truly follow Christ, is at the same time everything, and yet also purchased “without money or without price.” The king of the Lamanites avowed before God after hearing the missionary Aaron teach him of his divine nature, that he would indeed give up everything he possessed, even his whole kingdom, to know him. That willingness was later required of him, or at least his son, who with his people left their kingdom in the midst of religious persecution, for a life in a new land, living "after the manner of happiness."

While none of the native kings and queens we have met have made this bargain, we nevertheless see people making great sacrifices to taste the heavenly fruit. Ha, who literally ran, dripping wet, from the baptismal font to go upstairs to change, was filled with joy and exclaimed "Awesome!" as he made his way upstairs. Elder V, whose family nigh disowned him when he chose to serve a mission rather than enter into the family business and get married, and indeed whose girlfriend (whom he dearly adored,) also cut relations with him at his departure, has likewise tasted the "heavenly fruit" of his choice, perhaps more greatly enhanced by the sacrifices needed to partake.

To switch analogies, Vietnam is a producer of pearls, with many fine high quality pearls marketed here and exported to the rest of the world. But we see day after day many who willingly trade those or other treasures for the one pearl of great price that the Master Jesus Christ spoke of, membership in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

As Brigham and Heber shouted, so do we "Hurrah for Israel!"