Face to face as familiarity with God
God’s relationship with you is filtered by certain protocols designed to protect you4 from the negative effects of accessing more of his glory than you are prepared to bear.5
The existence of these barriers becomes more evident by describing what it is like to have them removed. This degree of relationship with God is referred to in scripture by the phrase “face to face.” “Face to face” can be interpreted as a measure of intimacy. In this sense, to see God face to face is to see him as fully as he sees you, to communicate with him as you would another person, and to have him communicate with you as your closest friend would.6 This would include the ability to ask him about anything, and have him fully explain it to you, up to the limits of your understanding.7
The artificial distance imposed between us and God includes, but is not limited to, frequency of his contact with you, manner of his contact with you, breadth or depth of what he says to you, and formality of his contact with you. God desires the reduction and eventual removal of these barriers between you and him. God places these barriers between you and him for your benefit, and they are removed as soon as you are capable of bearing more of his glory.
To reduce the barriers between you and God:
- Reduce the differences between you and God. You will never see much more of him than you live up to.
- Learn to value holiness based on how much better it is, not artificial qualities such as the popularity or recognized authority of the messenger or the riches or comfort provided by the message.
- Learn to notice holiness even when it is not presented loudly or with pomp. Those dependent on specific settings, rituals, or clothing are not ready for greater familiarity with God.
It is possible for you to come to stand in the presence of God and speak with him face to face as plainly as you would another person.8 Until you are ready to do so, the Lord will continue to do all he can to teach you the next increment of how he is, providing you with continual incremental invitations to improve,9 forming an unbroken ramp towards how he is that you can travel as fast as you are willing to notice and implement them.10 This path is exemplified by Jacob, who met the Lord face to face.1302 While Jacob’s famous wrestle with the Lord was an event that happened in one night, it was just the next step of a process that had been unfolding his whole life—a life of facing challenges that lay beyond his limits and incrementally overcoming them through learning more about and living like God.
Footnotes
- 1. For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5, NLT) Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved. (2 Nephi 10:23-24) ↩
- 2. If we remove every difference between us and God revealed as he shows us more of his glory, he will show us more and more of his glory, and we will be gradually transformed into his image, just as the Lord was, from his spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18, Author’s Reflection) ↩
- 3. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. (Psalm 90:8) ↩
- 4. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12) ↩
- 5. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (John 16:12) ↩
- 6. And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. (Exodus 33:11) ↩
- 7. To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. (Acts 25:16) ↩
- 8. ...I have seen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me face to face, and that he told me in plain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things; (Ether 12:39) And I saw the Lord; and he stood before my face, and he talked with me, even as a man talketh one with another, face to face; and he said unto me: Look, and I will show unto thee the world for the space of many generations. (Moses 7:4) ↩
- 9. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged....Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:7-11, 13-15) ↩
- 10. And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours. (D&C 78:18) ↩