The Goldsmith's Face

Refinement is an interesting word. In society, when some one is "high class" they may be boast this quality of refinement (ok "refined lady" may be a little old-fashioned, but bear with me). They are in essence,getting rid of all that is not acceptable in such a society. They are not coarse or vulgar. They are genteel, elegant, and polite. They are subtle and discriminate (according to the dictionary). This could also mean that they are discriminate in what traits they should adopt. So, through their discrimination they are free from impurities, and they are purified.
Though, in the scriptures, refinement is symbolically represented by a purging of precious metals, the concept is the same. In the Bible, Book of Mormon and D&C, the refiner's fie is purging and making pure. As we are being purged, we are also setting at naught all those things that re not of God. We are being discriminate. But there is a process by which we do this. To be refined, it seems that we have to go through a lot of heat. In Isaiah 48:10, the scripture indicates that refinement may be brought about by affliction.
God knows that by trials we grow stronger. He wants us to return to him, so he sometimes allows trials to come upon us. Trials can do 1 of 2 things:They can bring us closer to God, or they can repel us further away. What distinguishes between the two is not the nature of the trial, but our own nature. We are the deciding factor. It is my hope that through our tribulation we would be brought closer to Christ. Through our trials, we may become stronger. This is illustrated in John 15:2. The branch that brings forth (good) fruit will be purged so that it may bring forth more fruit. There is a purpose in our afflictions. James E. Faust said, "There is a divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. They prepare, they purge they purify, and thus they bless." Through our trials we can bring forth more good fruit - more good qualities and refinement.
In this I do not meant to say that God will show forth his wrath in the attempt to purge us. No, He is not an afflicting God. President Joseph F. Smith taught that, "It is a feeble thought to believe that the illness and affliction that come to us are attributable either to the mercy or the displeasure of God." We see this illustrated int he story of Job int he Bible. Satan comes before the Lord and says that God has prospered Job for his obedience, but he suspects that if God did not "hedge about him" (shelter him from affliction) he would curse God. He proposes a plan: "But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face." Now read closely the Lord's reply: "Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand." See how the Lord did not curse Job? He merely granted permission to the dragon to -well- basically create havoc.
So it is with us. At times, the Lord will simply lift his arm of protection. But it will all work together for our good (D&C 122:7). Again, it is not the nature of the trial that brings us closer to God, but out nature. One great example of this is one of my favorite stories. One Sunday meeting, a group of people were criticizing the Martin and Willie Handcart companies because they left too late in the season. They seemed to think that because they left so late, they were responsible for the many deaths along the trail. One man in the back was quiet. Then he arose calmly, but with emotion in his face revealed that he had been a member of the Martin Handcart company. He proceeded to explain that through the hard times he had been a recipient of help from the angels. He had learned how to be stalwart. Then he said this: "Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company." Wow. He just said that the price he paid was worth what he gained: to become acquainted with God. It reminds me of the King of the Lamanites that the missionary, Aaron taught. He said, "I will give all my sins to know thee. This brings me to my next point.
I personally think that the refiners fire is something internal, rather than external. I will explain further. Alma the younger had an experience with an angel and was "touched by an angel" (he he). He was unconscious for three days! But while he was still unresponsive to the world around him, his mother and father were rejoicing that their prayers were being answered! Why? Because his heart was being changed. He went through and internal battle. He saw the bitterness of his own sins. He realized he would rather cease to exist than to face God with all his impurities. But then he called on the name of Jesus. His heart was changed and he was forgiven. He had been through the refiner's fire. (see the story of Paul, Acts 22)
Take another example, Enos. In Enos 1:2, Enos explains that his experience was a "wrestle" that he had before God. He said his soul "hungered" (Enos 1:4) as he knelt down to pray. He prayed all day! a good 12 hours perhaps! And then his prayer was answered with a forgiveness of sins. And why did he receive a forgiveness of sins? Because of his faith on the Savior (Enos 1:8), he was purified.
I think we all have to go through our own internal struggles. This change may be invoked by our trials as we try to draw strength from them, but I believe the true refinement takes place in the deep chambers of our hearts. As we strive to know our Savior, we tend to become more like him, and we bring forth good fruit. Then we discover more impurities and allow God to purify us again. This pattern is a cycle we encounter until all of our dross is removed and all that is left is a pure metal. What happens at this point? The metal is so pure that the Goldsmith's face is reflected in us. We become so pure, that his continence shines in us. Our visage resembles his, so that the people who don't know Christ can know Him because they know us. It is an extraordinary thing. And all the while, the Goldsmith and master is keeping diligent watch over us and our progress. We are Never Alone in our refinement.
"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" (1 Peter 1:2). Let us seek to develop in us the gold that does not perish through the trial of our faith within ourselves so that we may be found pure at the appearing of Jesus Christ.