A few days ago, I watched Sleeping Beauty. Not all of it, mind you - just the part where Prince Philip escapes the Forbidden Mountain and kills Maleficent. [Spoiler Alert, but then again, who hasn't seen Sleeping Beauty?] Because our copy of Sleeping Beauty is on a DVD, I was able to just jump ahead to the scene where Prince Philip begins his escape, but before that happens, Maleficent comes into his dungeon cell to mock him. As I listened to her monologue, I was surprised at how much of what she said reflected eternal truths. President Uchtdorf's talk, Your Happily Ever After came to mind at least once, and many other things she said reminded me of truths I've been taught since I was a child.
Oh, come now Prince Philip, why so melancholy? A wondrous future lies before you. You, the destined hero of a charming fairy tale come true.
First of all, she addressed him as "Prince Philip." She did that because he was a child of a king. Now, that should sound familiar to all of us. She makes reference to a "wondrous future." God has a wondrous future prepared for all of His children. And what Maleficent says about "a charming fairy tale come true" reminded me instantly of President Uchtdorf's talk. Maleficent didn't mean to be giving a Sunday School lesson to anyone, but she certainly reminded me of my heavenly parentage and potential.
Next, she gave us some details.
Behold, King Stephan's castle. And in yonder topmost tower, dreaming of her true love, the Princess Aurora. But see the gracious whim of fate - 'Tis the selfsame peasant maid who won the heart of our noble prince but yesterday. She is indeed most wondrous fair, gold of sunshine in her hair, lips that shame the red, red rose. In ageless sleep, she finds repose.
Naturally, King Stephan's castle doesn't hold a candle to the Celestial Kingdom, but that doesn't matter. It's just a symbol. And not every "Princess Aurora" has golden blonde hair or ruby red lips, but they're all beautiful in their own ways. And there's also no guarantee that the Princess will the resting in heaven for a while before the Prince gets there. But that doesn't matter either. Whichever one gets there first, they'll both get there eventually, and the important thing is that they'll be together when they're there. That's one of the most beautiful promises of the Celestial Kingdom - We can be with our eternal companions there.
But first, we have to get through life (more on that in my next blog post). From our perspective, life is long and difficult, but God encourages us to stay faithful.
The years roll by, but a hundred years to a steadfast heart are but a day.
As part of our mortal lives, we all sin. That sin separates us from God, and makes us unworthy to enter the Celestial Kingdom. It puts us in a dungeon, so to speak. But God knew that would happen, and He had a plan for it. He sent His Son to suffer for us, to take our sins upon Himself and then die for us, so we could be freed.
And now, the gates of the dungeon part, and our prince is free to go his way. Off he rides on his noble steed, a valiant figure, straight and tall, to wake his love with love's first kiss, and prove that true love conquers all.
I know Maleficent was just mocking Prince Philip. I know that she didn't mean any of this. And I also know that an evil sorceress is not a good person to ask to teach a Sunday School lesson. But, wow. So much of what she says can be linked perfectly to the plan of salvation and our Eternal Potential. True love does conquer all. Or at least, Christ's love does. Through His Atonement, no matter what happens, it can be made right, and we can be freed from sin. I am so grateful for the Eternal Truths that are taught in the scriptures and in church. And I'm glad to hear a few of those truths, ironically, echoed in the words of an evil witch.
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