The Three Little Pigs: God Is No Respecter of Persons

Several weeks ago, as I was writing about Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, I made a point about the wicked queen eating the heart of a pig, instead of the heart of Snow White. Making the pig a symbol of all things gentile, un-kosher and non-Isrealite, or unclean, started me thinking about – The Three Little Pigs. I had just recently viewed all the Shelly Duval Faerie Tale Theater videos. Most I liked and some I thought silly. However, I did like “The Three Little Pigs” with Billy Crystal. He was delightful as the confident, cheerful youngest pig of three pig siblings. If you don’t remember the story, it’s very simple. It goes like this.

Once upon a time, there were three pigs who set off from home to make their fortune in the world. As they traveled along, a man came by with a wheelbarrow of straw. The eldest pig thought the straw would make a great house. The stuff was cheap and it wouldn’t take long to build the thing. He buys the straw and off he goes to make his home.

The next two pigs continue on their way. Along comes a man with a cart full of sticks. The second eldest pig thinks the sticks are better than the straw and will make sturdier house. It’s a bit more expensive, but that’s OK. He buys the sticks and goes off to make his house.

The youngest pig had a big dream. He wanted a house of brick. He knew it would be expensive and take a while to build, but he also knew it would be sturdy and keep him safe and snug and warm. Finally, he came to a brick maker. It took a while to build his house, but when it was done, it was a beauty.

In that same country was a big, bad wolf. And he was hungry. He smelled out the first pig who lived in the hut of straw. We all know the little taunt wolf yelled out to his victims. “Little Pig, little pig, let me come in!” “Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin!” “Then I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house in!” And the wolf huffed and puffed and blew in the house of straw. He does the same to the house of sticks.

OK, let’s just go that far. First of all we have our number three, that recurring number that means, cleansing. Of the three pigs, it’s the youngest that holds out for a brick house. Quite frankly, the two older pigs think the younger pig is being foolish for spending so much time and money on a house. After all, the house of straw and the house of stick will keep the rain off just fine, thank you very much.

We’ve already talked about the foolish youth in the Twelve Dancing Princesses. And in the Book of Mormon, in Lehi’s dream after he partook of the white fruit that made him feel so wonderful, he saw the great and spacious building with boatloads of people mocking all those who had partaken of the fruit. In the world today, those who choose to be followers of Christ and keep his “binding, restricting” commandments, are considered foolish.

I’d like to think this story of The Three Little Pigs goes right back to the parable of the foolish man and the wise man.

Matt. 7: 24-25
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Luke 6: 48
48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

But in our story, the hero is a pig. He’s unclean. And that takes me to the New Testament, the Book of Acts, Chapter Ten. Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, a gentile, and considered unclean by the Jews, has learned of Jesus Christ and believes in him, but is concerned because he is not a Jew. An angel comes to him and instructs him to find Peter, the chief Apostle of Christ who is residing at the moment in Jaffa, at the house of Simon, the Tanner. So, Cornelius sends messengers to find Peter.

9 ¶ On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

Peter marvels over the love of God, that his salvation is extended unto all who will believe on Christ and keep His commandments. Cornelius and all those with him are baptized and the Gospel of Jesus Christ literally goes to all the world. Wherever a ship can take a man, that is where the Apostles traveled to.

And who is the wolf. I hope you can see the obvious. It’s Satan, of course, who, with his wiles (wily wolf) will trick mankind into taking the easy way out, be indolent and self gratifying. And what does the wolf want to do? He wants to devour the pig. What does Satan want to do? He wants to devour mankind and destroy the work of God.

Now, in our modern sensibilities, since we have handed these stories over to children, we have the first two pigs managing to run away and join their younger brother in his house of bricks. But the older versions of the story are not so nice. Once the straw house and the stick house are blown down, the wolf is free to chase after the pigs and eat them up. Which he does.

When he comes to the youngest pig in his house of bricks, he huffs and he puffs, but he cannot manage to blow down this well founded, solid house. So the wolf tries to get in through the chimney, but ends up as stew for his efforts. And the youngest pig lives happily ever after in his solid house.

This is not only a valuable story about hard work and high aspirations, it’s a story about salvation. It’s a story that tells you it doesn’t matter what race, color, creed or nationality you are, you are a child of God, and anyone, - anyone – who enters into a covenant with God, keeps his commandments, builds their life on the Rock and foundation of Jesus Christ – can be saved in the Celestial Kingdom of heaven and enjoy the priesthood and privileges found there.

Remember those three degrees of glory? I think we can add to them.

Telestial – Stars – Straw
Terrestrial – Moon – Sticks
Celestial – Sun – Bricks

So, whether of Israel, or not, whether pig or wicked queen, sleeping beauty, or young foolish Hero, the atonement of Jesus Christ covers us all, everyone, if we but learn to repent, call on His name, keep His commandments and do His works.

Well, that about wraps it up for fairy tales. At least for now.

Next Week; The most important legends in English traditions - Arthur

Western Civilizations Sacred Stories - Fairy Tales: Summary

Just shortly after I started this blog, while I was writing about Snow White, I pulled out my copy of “The DaVinci Code” and popped it into the player. I watched and scrutinized it with my skeptic mind as the story made it’s way through clues and puzzles and dangerous moments. The story finally wraps up. The prime character, Doctor Robert Langdon, makes his way to the glass pyramid at the Louvre, having discovered for himself the final resting place of the Lady Magdalene. The camera sweeps over the image of the sarcophagus, the stone image on the lid looking like...

I’m sorry, I laughed out loud! There it was! Sleeping Beauty! “There she sleeps beneath the starry skies.” Oh my goodness, the whole thing, the premise for this story was -- a fairy tale. A woman forced to flee into the wilderness. The woman pained to be delivered of a child. The true bride, awaiting her handsome prince to come and rescue her from obscurity. The whole book and movie was nothing but a complicated, glorified fairy tale. Go! Watch it! See for yourself. All the elements of the fairy tale are there retold in a modern setting with a conspiracy twist.

But only men conspire. God does not. He simply reveals His truth to those who will listen with humble hearts. And His truth isn’t earth shattering. It’s heart breaking. God’s people have broken hearts and contrite spirits.

I really do like fairy tales. I like authors who take fairy tales and write novels, like Robin McKinnely’s “Beauty” or Shannon Hale’s “The Goose Girl.” And I love the beautiful picture books, like “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” as told by Marianna Mayer and Illustrated by K.Y. Craft. They all evoke a something in me - a longing and a yearning. Sometimes I think I’m yearning for my own mortal prince. I think what I’m really yearning for is - home.

This is the promise of our fairy tales, of The Book of Revelation and it’s themes of redemption and restoration. We all are on a sojourn through this sea of mortality. We want to go home to that heavenly realm of absolute peace and love and rest.

I believe that is why these stories have endured through the dark ages, the age of enlightenment and reason, the industrial revolution and the information age. They are indeed sacred stories. The divine never dies.

We gave these stories over to our little children and perhaps that will be our salvation. Children still believe, they have faith, they play dress up and slay dragons. They are keeping these sacred stories safe for us. I think that’s the right place for them - for now. After all...

“Suffer the little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away.

Next week: One more fairy tale.

The Twelve Dancing Princesses: Restoration and the Wedding Supper of the Lord. Part 3

At the end of our story, “The Twelve Dancing Princesses,” our young Hero marries the youngest daughter of the realm and there is great celebrating throughout the kingdom. And, of course, they lived happily ever after! Thus ends most of our Fairy Tales: Rapunzel, The Goose Girl, The Frog Prince, Beauty and the Beast, as well as all the other stories I have mentioned previously.

And thus ends the Book of Revelation as well. Chapter 19, verses 7- 9, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

Well, I don’t know about you, but that’s a party I would like to be invited to. I find it interesting that the Lord used weddings as the basis for two of his parables and both are in Matthew: The Marriage of the King’s Son, where people were invited, but didn’t come, and The Ten Virgins where only half were prepared to greet the Bridegroom. I also find it interesting that Christ’s first recorded miracle took place at a wedding supper.

I think God is very serious about all this marriage stuff. After all, marriage is a turning point in people’s lives. It defines you. It says you belong to someone. Our Savior wants us to belong to him, and when we do, some very remarkable things happen. Satan shall be bound a thousand years. When the end comes, the saints who were valiant and faithful unto the end enter into that Celestial Glory prepared for them. Is not this, “happily ever after?”

Oh, that our young people could know that “happily ever after” is not for mortality. Mortality is a testing ground, the place of tears, struggle, trial and woe. When Christ wipes away all tears, it is in that higher realm and woe is swallowed up in the salvation of our God. Happily ever after is for the here-after.

“The Twelve Dancing Princesses” clearly foretells the triumph of Christ over the world of sin and darkness. He breaks all spells and enchantments, but only when His people choose to follow him, keep the commandments and give their icy hearts over to Him.

In our story there were twelve princesses in all. What will become of the other eleven? Well, if you really think about it, the Princesses are the House of Israel. The Book of Revelation is all about the restoration of all the Tribes of Israel, not just one. So that means, eventually, all the princesses will become the bride of the Young Hero. This is what the Book of Revelation is all about, redemption and restoration, the restoration of Israel, the keeping of promises to The Fathers; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

And now we know that in order to be called to the marriage of the Lamb, we need to enter into His Kingdom, a kingdom far, far away, and once upon a time. We must recognize the true bride, the only true Church, and then do all in our power to be obedient to the laws and ordinances of that kingdom and church, sustain it ans support it, so that we might be called to the marriage supper and join in the celebration. For God has said, “man is that he might have joy (2 Nephi 2:25)!”

And then, you may dance and dance and dance - and your dancing slippers will never wear out.

Next Week: A Summary of Western Civilizations Sacred Stories - Fairy Tales.

The Twelve Dancing Princesses: Restoration and the Wedding Supper of the Lord. Part 2

I’m sorry for the delay. First it was the holidays, and then I caught a really bad cold. I’m much better now, so let’s get back to our story.

Our Hero follows the Twelve Princesses into an underground realm of mystery. To his surprise, they descend and pass through a series of forests. First they pass through a forest with leaves that sparkle and glitter like the stars. Next, they pass a forest with leaves silver as the moon. Finally, they pass through a forest with leaves that are golden, like the sun.

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it.

Always, our hero is behind the youngest of the daughters, and her he watches most. Once through the forest, they come to a dark lake. At the shore is a small peer where wait twelve boats. Each princess gets in a boat and is ferried across the lake to a great palace on an island in the middle of the lake. This is where they go night after night, dancing at a ball with young men who seem to be in a trance, their hearts as cold as ice. It turns out these young men, these princes, are the very young men who had followed the princesses into this dark realm in an effort to solve the mystery, and have been trapped there.

The young Hero learns all this, wearing his cloak of invisibility. He watches the princesses and when dawn nears, he follows them back the way they came. Armed with truth, he is now ready to mount a rescue.

Europe was not the only area of the world which fell into a dark age. It was almost universal around the globe. In reading accounts of pre-Columbian cultures of the Americas, it’s agreed by some scholars that the golden era was between the First and Third Centuries A.D. and then everything sank into obscurity and darkness shortly after that. It seemed to be true everywhere. Mohammad rose up with light in a country plagued with idol worship in the 5th century. Asia’s history is shrouded in war and obscurity. Poverty of knowledge seemed to be everywhere. It was like the whole world fell asleep. And the place of sleep is where the Princesses go. In Jungian Psychology dream analysis, waters represent the subconscious, the place of dreams and sleep. Instead of one sleeping beauty, we have twelve. It isn’t just the ten tribes of Israel that are lost. All are lost, shrouded in ignorance and sleep.

Knowing the truth, on the last night of this three day trial, the Hero allows the princesses, fully visible now, to lead him into the underground realm. There he dances with each princess in turn, but his attention is mostly on the youngest, who seems to be equally interested in him. After the dancing, there is a feast. He is offered a special drink - one that will entrance him like all the other young men in the dark realm. As he is about to put it to his lips, the youngest princess stops him and dashes the goblet from his lips. This one act breaks the horrible spell that had not only shrouded the princesses, but all the young men who had followed them into this realm.

Everyone woke up. They came to their senses. The underground realm is broken and the palace begins to fall apart. With haste, they get out of the palace, out of the dark realm and up into the light.

As a reward for solving the mystery, the Hero is allowed to select one of the princesses as his bride. Surprisingly, he selects the youngest.

In part one, we likened the Twelve Dancing Princesses to the Twelve Tribes of Israel. I said this was a story of restoration and redemption - and it is. It is all about the restoration of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Everything in the Book of Revelation is about restoration and redemption, bringing the woman out of obscurity - and a marriage, the wedding supper of the Lord. In fact the restoration of Israel is one of the greatest of the signs leading to the Second Coming of the Lord. Yet, who is looking for the return of Israel? I’ll tell you who, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Doctrine & Covenants is full of information about the restoration of Israel and her Twelve Tribes. In fact, our patriarchal blessings give us first thing, revelation about our lineage. The vast majority of the early membership of the Church were told they were of the house and lineage of Ephraim. Of all the tribes of Israel, who’s the youngest?

The two sons of Joseph of Egypt were named Manassah and Ephraim, Ephraim being the younger of the two, yet when Jacob blessed the boys, he gave the birthright blessing to the younger Ephraim. When the twelve tribes were brought out of Egypt, there were actually thirteen tribes. Twelve of these tribes were given land grants, while the tribe of Levi was given priesthood and administrative responsibilities among the rest of the tribes. Ephraim and Manassah had equal standing as a tribe with all the other tribes of Israel. So the tribe of Ephraim is the youngest - and - according to the doctrine and history of the Church, the first to be gathered into the restored gospel.

The Hero marries the youngest princess.

Next Week: Part 3 - The Wedding Supper of the Lord.