God's purpose and plan is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) Jesus fulfilled the part of immortality, the eternal life part is up to us. We must use the blessings, talents, trials and heartaches that we go through to come to Christ. What is eternal life? D&C section 132:22-24 22 For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.
that it is in our hearts, but this is false. Joseph Smith stated in D&C 130:3 3 John 14:23—The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false. We cannot wait to see Christ after this life. This is the day of our probation, this is the day for us to prepare to meet God. Let us wake to our awful state and take hold of the iron rod that leads to the pure love of Christ(1 Nephi 8). Doctrine and Covenants 76 speaks specifically about the three degrees of Glory. It is a beautiful section and one that allows us to see what experiences we should be having in order to be a part of any of these 3 degrees of Glory. Verse 56 states: 56 They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory; Those of the celestial kingdom are priests and kings who have received the fullness and glory of God. If we are to be judged in order to enter into one of these glories wouldn't it fit that we will be judged by what we have received and experienced in this mortal probation? Joseph Smith taught in Lectures on Faith the Sixth verses 7-8 7 Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things: it was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life; and it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things, that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has, for the truth's sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice, because he seeks to do his will, he does know most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life.
8 It is in vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are heirs with those, or can be heirs with them, who have offered their all in sacrifice, and by this means obtained faith in God and favor with him so as to obtain eternal life, unless they in like manner offer unto him the same sacrifice, and through that offering obtain the knowledge that they are accepted of him. What are we doing? This is not an experience only to be had by the elite of the church. There are no elite. NONE!!! If we are willing to sacrifice all that we have and are, even to our very lives for the Lord's sake we will receive all that the Father hath. We will enter into His presence. The president and other leaders of the church can and will fail, in many ways the way that any of us do. Look to Christ and live. Receive of His Glory. We cannot wait for a man to lead us to Christ. The Journey, the relationship is individual and personal. We attend the temple to learn how to part the veil for ourselves, not after a leader parts it, but we must do it for ourselves. We cannot part the veil after we die, for all will part the veil. The veil is for us, here on the earth. We must part it!
2 Corinthians 14 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.
Joseph Smith stated,"After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, which is the first comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other comforter, which the Lord has promised the Saints.” Joseph Smith – TPJS, p. 150. According to Joseph Smith in order to receive our calling and election made sure we must be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, live by every word of God, and serve Him at all hazards. Simon Peter in 2 Peter 1:3-11 said, 3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We cannot receive an entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord, without receiving calling and election made sure. Joseph Smith said: “Though they might hear the voice of God and know that Jesus was the Son of God, this would be no evidence that their election and calling was made sure. … They then would want that more sure word of prophecy, that they were sealed in the heavens and had the promise of eternal life in the kingdom of God. Then, having this promise sealed unto them, it was an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast. Though the thunders might roll and lightnings flash, and earthquakes bellow, and war gather thick around, yet this hope and knowledge would support the soul in every hour of trial, trouble and tribulation.” (Teachings, p. 298.) My question is, if this was taught by Joseph Smith, why are we not being taught this? Apparently he thought it appropriate to teach and taught that when we received this, it would be an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast, that this would help and support in every hour of trial, trouble and tribulation. This is important!! This is not a mystery, this does not happen after we die and if we do not receive this in this life, who is to say that we will receive our exaltation? We must receive our calling and election sure. Many have already received it and know not what they have received. I encourage all to ask God if you have received this and when you hear His voice giving you the answer, I encourage you to be like Enos and believe His words for He cannot lie. This is part of the line upon line, precept upon precept. If we do not accept what He tells us, how can we receive more? We won't believe Him. We can all receive personal revelation. The idea that we are not to seek the mysteries of God is a false teaching and one that if looked at the scriptures will be made known to be false. D&C 76:5-7 5 For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
23 But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that where I am ye shall be also.
24 This is eternal lives—to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my law. Eternal lives is to know God and Jesus Christ. Few will find it, because we won't receive Him in the world. Many believethat it is in our hearts, but this is false. Joseph Smith stated in D&C 130:3 3 John 14:23—The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false. We cannot wait to see Christ after this life. This is the day of our probation, this is the day for us to prepare to meet God. Let us wake to our awful state and take hold of the iron rod that leads to the pure love of Christ(1 Nephi 8). Doctrine and Covenants 76 speaks specifically about the three degrees of Glory. It is a beautiful section and one that allows us to see what experiences we should be having in order to be a part of any of these 3 degrees of Glory. Verse 56 states: 56 They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory; Those of the celestial kingdom are priests and kings who have received the fullness and glory of God. If we are to be judged in order to enter into one of these glories wouldn't it fit that we will be judged by what we have received and experienced in this mortal probation? Joseph Smith taught in Lectures on Faith the Sixth verses 7-8 7 Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things: it was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life; and it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things, that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has, for the truth's sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice, because he seeks to do his will, he does know most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life.
8 It is in vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are heirs with those, or can be heirs with them, who have offered their all in sacrifice, and by this means obtained faith in God and favor with him so as to obtain eternal life, unless they in like manner offer unto him the same sacrifice, and through that offering obtain the knowledge that they are accepted of him. What are we doing? This is not an experience only to be had by the elite of the church. There are no elite. NONE!!! If we are willing to sacrifice all that we have and are, even to our very lives for the Lord's sake we will receive all that the Father hath. We will enter into His presence. The president and other leaders of the church can and will fail, in many ways the way that any of us do. Look to Christ and live. Receive of His Glory. We cannot wait for a man to lead us to Christ. The Journey, the relationship is individual and personal. We attend the temple to learn how to part the veil for ourselves, not after a leader parts it, but we must do it for ourselves. We cannot part the veil after we die, for all will part the veil. The veil is for us, here on the earth. We must part it!
2 Corinthians 14 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.
Ether 4:15 15 Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.
This is not an after death experience. I am sure that it could be, but what chances are there that we will receive the blessing of The Brother of Jared who parted the veil in seeing the finger of God. As well as Joseph Smith, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Adam. It is through the experiences that these men had, that we have the hope of attaining these things. Joseph Smith stated,"After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, which is the first comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other comforter, which the Lord has promised the Saints.” Joseph Smith – TPJS, p. 150. According to Joseph Smith in order to receive our calling and election made sure we must be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, live by every word of God, and serve Him at all hazards. Simon Peter in 2 Peter 1:3-11 said, 3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We cannot receive an entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord, without receiving calling and election made sure. Joseph Smith said: “Though they might hear the voice of God and know that Jesus was the Son of God, this would be no evidence that their election and calling was made sure. … They then would want that more sure word of prophecy, that they were sealed in the heavens and had the promise of eternal life in the kingdom of God. Then, having this promise sealed unto them, it was an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast. Though the thunders might roll and lightnings flash, and earthquakes bellow, and war gather thick around, yet this hope and knowledge would support the soul in every hour of trial, trouble and tribulation.” (Teachings, p. 298.) My question is, if this was taught by Joseph Smith, why are we not being taught this? Apparently he thought it appropriate to teach and taught that when we received this, it would be an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast, that this would help and support in every hour of trial, trouble and tribulation. This is important!! This is not a mystery, this does not happen after we die and if we do not receive this in this life, who is to say that we will receive our exaltation? We must receive our calling and election sure. Many have already received it and know not what they have received. I encourage all to ask God if you have received this and when you hear His voice giving you the answer, I encourage you to be like Enos and believe His words for He cannot lie. This is part of the line upon line, precept upon precept. If we do not accept what He tells us, how can we receive more? We won't believe Him. We can all receive personal revelation. The idea that we are not to seek the mysteries of God is a false teaching and one that if looked at the scriptures will be made known to be false. D&C 76:5-7 5 For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
6 Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory. 7 And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.
Alma 26:22 22 Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance. This is exciting! We can receive so many blessings and promises. Let us cast off the unbelief that our religions and traditions have heeped upon us. This is what caused the Nephites to err. The traditions of men, the teachings of men, mingled with scripture. Look to God!! There is a time coming, maybe soon, when we will have to have a personal relationship with God in order to be protected from the coming calamities and trials. Omni 1:12-14 12 Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla; for behold, he being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of theland of Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness—
Alma 26:22 22 Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance. This is exciting! We can receive so many blessings and promises. Let us cast off the unbelief that our religions and traditions have heeped upon us. This is what caused the Nephites to err. The traditions of men, the teachings of men, mingled with scripture. Look to God!! There is a time coming, maybe soon, when we will have to have a personal relationship with God in order to be protected from the coming calamities and trials. Omni 1:12-14 12 Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla; for behold, he being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of theland of Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness—
13 And it came to pass that he did according as the Lord had commanded him. And they departed out of the land into the wilderness, as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord; and they were led by many preachings and prophesyings. And they were admonished continually by the word of God; and they were led by the power of his arm, through the wilderness until they came down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla. Even though Mosiah was made King, the only ones that followed him, were not those that sustained him, they were not those that stood at his entering the room, were not those who had applauded his every effort; it was those who also hearkened unto the voice of God. Be careful about who your idol is! Just like in one of the previous scriptures shared, we must be willing to sacrifice all things, even our leadership.
2 Nephi 25:23-30 23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
24 And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled.
25 For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments.
26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.
27 Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away.
28 And now behold, my people, ye are a stiffnecked people; wherefore, I have spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot misunderstand. And the words which I have spoken shall stand as a testimony against you; for they are sufficient to teach any man the right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law.
29 And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out.
30 And, inasmuch as it shall be expedient, ye must keep the performances and ordinances of God until the law shall be fulfilled which was given unto Moses.
Christ has come, He has fulfilled the law, follow Him and Live!
No comments:
Post a Comment