In class we've recently talked about the idea of Exaltation a lot, using the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. It's a beautiful principle. Simply put, it's what happens after Salvation.
In the pre-earth life (before the world was created) we were born as spirits. We lived in the presence of God and were His children. There He presented the Plan of Salvation to us and gave us the possibility to come to the earth, to get a physical body to clothe are spirits and to have a mortal experience. Those of us who are on the earth, chose then to follow God. Those who chose not to come to this earth followed Satan and were thrown out of the God's presence. Before coming here we all followed God and we could see Him. While on the earth we must learn to follow Him without being able to see Him, we must "walk by faith," as the Apostle Paul said.
During this mortal life we all must try to keep God's commandments. But, sometimes we fail and sin. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be made pure again, washed clean from our sins and mistakes. When we make a promise with Christ to take His name for our own (become Christians) at baptism and promise to obey Him we become His children. If we remain faithful to Him and to that promise for all our lives we will receive Salvation as His children.
Exaltation comes after this. As great of a gift as exaltation is, it isn't all that God wants to give us. In Matthew, chapter 19 Christ is talking to a man that wants to know what he has to do to have eternal life. In verse 21 of that chapter Jesus says to him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." Christ doesn’t say that the “treasure” will be heaven, but says that the "treasure will be in heaven, signifying that there is something more than heaven, something after Salvation. If we are faithful to God and do all that He asks us to do we can and will be exalted and become, "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17).
"And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him." -Doctrine and Covenants 84:38
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Exaltation
Monday, December 8, 2008
Classes
In my writing class I've recently been working a lot on a paper that talks about some of my experiences being taught about the Gospel and other things by my parents and how those experiences have shaped my life. My dad became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was 20. Learning about the Gospel of Christ changed his life entirely, for the good. Neither of his parents practiced a religion as he grew up, and they still don't, so he didn't know hardly anything about Christ before his conversion, but now he knows so much.
Thinking about this as I wrote the paper and thinking about my parents and who they are and what they stand for, made me think more about the Doctrine and Covenants and more specifically about the people who lived in the early days of the LDS Church, at the time when the Doctrine and Covenants was written. I'm really grateful for those people who stuck to their beliefs despite the hard times they had. People hated them and physically persecuted them and even tried to kill them because of the things they believed, but they wouldn't deny God or any of the knowledge that He had given them, no matter what the earthly cost was. I'm glad they were true to God, because they set a great example for me.
I'm also grateful to my own parents and for the choices they've made. If my dad hadn't become a member of the LDS Church he probably wouldn't have met my mom (they met in Church) and I probably wouldn't exist. I'm also very grateful that they taught me about Jesus Christ and that through His Atonement I can be free from sin and death and have the chance to live with Him and Heavenly Father forever, after this mortal life.
Thinking about this as I wrote the paper and thinking about my parents and who they are and what they stand for, made me think more about the Doctrine and Covenants and more specifically about the people who lived in the early days of the LDS Church, at the time when the Doctrine and Covenants was written. I'm really grateful for those people who stuck to their beliefs despite the hard times they had. People hated them and physically persecuted them and even tried to kill them because of the things they believed, but they wouldn't deny God or any of the knowledge that He had given them, no matter what the earthly cost was. I'm glad they were true to God, because they set a great example for me.
I'm also grateful to my own parents and for the choices they've made. If my dad hadn't become a member of the LDS Church he probably wouldn't have met my mom (they met in Church) and I probably wouldn't exist. I'm also very grateful that they taught me about Jesus Christ and that through His Atonement I can be free from sin and death and have the chance to live with Him and Heavenly Father forever, after this mortal life.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Family
The past couple of class periods we've been talking about section seventy-six of the Doctrine and Covenants. It's one of the greatest revelations ever. Our professor explained that in Joseph Smith's time many people were searching for Salvation. The authority to perform the ordinances of Salvation (such as baptism) had long since been lost from mankind and no one on the earth knew where to go to receive these ordinances and be saved. God gave us the solution to this problem through Mormonism. Through the Restoration of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the authority of God to perform these ordinances, or the Priesthood, was restored to the earth. Now people knew where to go to be saved. But, then what?
As time progressed and the Lord revealed more knowledge to His followers through the prophet Joseph Smith, we eventually learned the answer to the question, what comes after Salvation? What happens after we're saved as individual persons in Heaven? Section seventy-six explains the degrees of glory that exist within Heaven, namely the Celestial, the Terrestrial and the Telestial Kingdoms. We learn how we can reach the highest of those three, the Celestial Kingdom, where we can dwell with God and Christ forever. We can only reach it with a family, it's impossible to get there alone. After Salvation, comes Exaltation, or a life in which we will live forever with God, Christ AND our families. The familial bonds that we create in this life can and will be perpetuated beyond the grave if we but follow God and do as He asks us. That's amazing! It's incredible that God is so merciful and loving that He would even allow us to keep those relationships we attain in this mortal life that are most precious to us. I'm so grateful for the opportunity He has given to all people to do this.
This is why the family is so important to Mormon people, because we believe it will last forever, but only if we want it to and show that desire by continually living faithful to God and Jesus Christ.
As time progressed and the Lord revealed more knowledge to His followers through the prophet Joseph Smith, we eventually learned the answer to the question, what comes after Salvation? What happens after we're saved as individual persons in Heaven? Section seventy-six explains the degrees of glory that exist within Heaven, namely the Celestial, the Terrestrial and the Telestial Kingdoms. We learn how we can reach the highest of those three, the Celestial Kingdom, where we can dwell with God and Christ forever. We can only reach it with a family, it's impossible to get there alone. After Salvation, comes Exaltation, or a life in which we will live forever with God, Christ AND our families. The familial bonds that we create in this life can and will be perpetuated beyond the grave if we but follow God and do as He asks us. That's amazing! It's incredible that God is so merciful and loving that He would even allow us to keep those relationships we attain in this mortal life that are most precious to us. I'm so grateful for the opportunity He has given to all people to do this.
This is why the family is so important to Mormon people, because we believe it will last forever, but only if we want it to and show that desire by continually living faithful to God and Jesus Christ.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Thanksgiving
This past week we had the Thanksgiving holidays. The celebration caused me to reflect some on purpose of our holiday. From the name of the holiday it's clear that we should be focused on giving thanks. Everything we have comes from the Lord and so the thanks rightly should go to Him. On Thanksgiving day I was at my roommate's family's house (because home is little far for me to go to just for a few days) and as we ate and had fun I thought of the things that I'm thankful for. I'm thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for His Atoning sacrifice. I'm thankful for my knowledge of Him and how it has shaped my life. I'm thankful for the words of God in the Book of Mormon, Bible and Doctrine and Covenants and that I live in a land that has laws protecting my right to worship God in the way I wish. I'm thankful for my family, even though they're far from me now, and for the love and support they give me. I'm thankful for amazing friends. I'm thankful for a lot.
Even though this holiday was great for me, in other parts of the country people didn't fair as well. I read in the newspaper about the recent deaths, fights and all the craziness of "Black Friday". Right after giving thanks for everything, many left their gratitude at home, put on their greedy hats and went out into the world of "stuff" ready to shop and get their hands on all of the possessions they wanted regardless of the cost. I read one story of a Jamaican man trampled to death at a Wal-Mart in New York. How do you just step on another human being? The other customers were so uncaring about this person that they not only walked all over him until he had died, but they had to be forcibly removed from the Wal-Mart so that police and employees could get to and move his body. Is getting "stuff" for cheap really so important? More important than human life? Just a day before others may have been giving thanks for the presence of this son, brother, husband, friend in their lives, and now they lament the loss. We shouldn't let gratitude overcome our greed. and rule our lives. We should be thankful for what we have and let thanks rule our lives.
Even though this holiday was great for me, in other parts of the country people didn't fair as well. I read in the newspaper about the recent deaths, fights and all the craziness of "Black Friday". Right after giving thanks for everything, many left their gratitude at home, put on their greedy hats and went out into the world of "stuff" ready to shop and get their hands on all of the possessions they wanted regardless of the cost. I read one story of a Jamaican man trampled to death at a Wal-Mart in New York. How do you just step on another human being? The other customers were so uncaring about this person that they not only walked all over him until he had died, but they had to be forcibly removed from the Wal-Mart so that police and employees could get to and move his body. Is getting "stuff" for cheap really so important? More important than human life? Just a day before others may have been giving thanks for the presence of this son, brother, husband, friend in their lives, and now they lament the loss. We shouldn't let gratitude overcome our greed. and rule our lives. We should be thankful for what we have and let thanks rule our lives.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Zion
Recently in class we've been talking a lot about the early days in the LDS Church and how the members tried to create Zion-like communities. They wanted a community where everyone was equal and loving, shared their stuff, gave to the less-fortunate, etc. Sadly, they were never able to make their attempts permanent, but the did try.
This has made me think a lot about our society as whole today in America. A Zion-type community is based on charity, putting others and their needs and wants before you and yours. It's sad to think about, but this ideal seems pretty far away from actually happening in today's culture. Most people think solely of themselves. We can see this pretty clearly with the rises in divorce, abuse, crime, drugs, war, etc. Most people think about themselves and act in a way that benefits themselves alone. Many people even do charitable things (like donating money/possessions to help people) because they get some kind of tax or other benefit out of it. It's a really sickening thing to see so much blatant selfishness in the world.
But, despite the bad things that are going on there's still hope. I thought of the story of Enoch and how the community that he lived in was called Zion and everyone helped each other and put others first. They didn't start out that way, they worked to become that way. If other human beings can work to set aside their differences -- but, not just their differences, to set aside themselves and concentrate on others, then a significant change can be made in this world and we can have Zion-like communities all over.
If everyone knows the good news of the Gospel, learns why they should help others and becomes truly convinced that that's right, then the world will change. So, all we have to do is spread the word.
This has made me think a lot about our society as whole today in America. A Zion-type community is based on charity, putting others and their needs and wants before you and yours. It's sad to think about, but this ideal seems pretty far away from actually happening in today's culture. Most people think solely of themselves. We can see this pretty clearly with the rises in divorce, abuse, crime, drugs, war, etc. Most people think about themselves and act in a way that benefits themselves alone. Many people even do charitable things (like donating money/possessions to help people) because they get some kind of tax or other benefit out of it. It's a really sickening thing to see so much blatant selfishness in the world.
But, despite the bad things that are going on there's still hope. I thought of the story of Enoch and how the community that he lived in was called Zion and everyone helped each other and put others first. They didn't start out that way, they worked to become that way. If other human beings can work to set aside their differences -- but, not just their differences, to set aside themselves and concentrate on others, then a significant change can be made in this world and we can have Zion-like communities all over.
If everyone knows the good news of the Gospel, learns why they should help others and becomes truly convinced that that's right, then the world will change. So, all we have to do is spread the word.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Obeying those chosen by God to lead
I've been thinking a lot recently about the heated debates going on all around the country regarding California and the proposed amendment to its state constitution which would define marriage as being only between a man and a woman in that state. This is one of the few political issues in which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has gotten very involved, because of how important the outcome of this essentially moral decision will be.
I've been surprised to see just how many people around me, who are members of the Church and who profess to believe in a living prophet who speaks with God, who disagree with and don't want to support the proposed amendment as he asks them to. It's kinda sad that they say they believe in a prophet, but as soon as he says something they disagree with, they claim that it must not be from God, because it doesn't fit in with what they think the truth is.
This has reminded me of the early days of the Church and the trials that many of the members went through that tested their faith. The prophet told them to pick up everything and move west, for example, and some chose not to follow. Some decided that this was too hard and that God wouldn't ask them to do such a difficult thing. I thought of the current Prop 8 issue in light of this. We are given our own trials and tough decisions to make and the Lord expects us to do what He asks, to sacrifice our will and accept His, regardless of the difficulty.
Refusing to follow God's chosen servants because they say something that we think may be wrong shows a lack of faith, in my opinion. We should stand strong in supporting God and the men He has chosen to lead us and not allow "the fear of persecution and the cares of the world [to cause us] to reject the word" (D&C 40:2).
I've been surprised to see just how many people around me, who are members of the Church and who profess to believe in a living prophet who speaks with God, who disagree with and don't want to support the proposed amendment as he asks them to. It's kinda sad that they say they believe in a prophet, but as soon as he says something they disagree with, they claim that it must not be from God, because it doesn't fit in with what they think the truth is.
This has reminded me of the early days of the Church and the trials that many of the members went through that tested their faith. The prophet told them to pick up everything and move west, for example, and some chose not to follow. Some decided that this was too hard and that God wouldn't ask them to do such a difficult thing. I thought of the current Prop 8 issue in light of this. We are given our own trials and tough decisions to make and the Lord expects us to do what He asks, to sacrifice our will and accept His, regardless of the difficulty.
Refusing to follow God's chosen servants because they say something that we think may be wrong shows a lack of faith, in my opinion. We should stand strong in supporting God and the men He has chosen to lead us and not allow "the fear of persecution and the cares of the world [to cause us] to reject the word" (D&C 40:2).
Friday, October 10, 2008
Gathering to Conference
Last weekend I got to go up to Salt Lake City to attend the General Conference of our church. General Conference is a conference held twice a year when every member of our church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) gets together, either in person or by satellite, and listens to leaders of the church speak. The really cool thing is that all of our leaders are called by God and that we have a prophet alive on the earth today and twelve apostles too. The prophet's name is Thomas Monson and he's a prophet, just like the prophets in the Bible, like Moses, Noah, Isaiah, etc., were prophets. And the twelve apostles are just like the twelve apostles of Christ's time. All these men were chosen by Christ and the things that they say and teach us are what Christ Himself would say and teach to us if He were here right now. It's amazing. Before I came to BYU I had never gotten to go to the conference in person (because I'm from Texas), so it's a pretty thrilling and unique experience for me to get to go now that I'm living in Utah for a little while.
While I was there listening to the word of God spoken by His chosen prophets I looked around at the sea of faces around me and had a thought. In my Doctrine and Covenants class we had recently talked about how the people back in the early days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were commanded to all gather together. Back then they had to gather together physically in the same place. The first place that they were all commanded to go wasn't Utah, but it was Ohio, and because the Lord told them to do it, they did it. In verse 32 of the 38th section of the Doctrine and Covenants it says, "Wherefore, for this cause I gave unto you the commandment that ye should go to the Ohio; and there I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high;" They were told to gather together to receive God's law and spiritual power.
Today we don't all gather together in the same geographical location anymore, but we gather in Spirit, especially for meetings like General Conference. I thought of all the people all over the country and all over the world who were watching that confernce at the same time as me, hearing those same words. It's an amazing thing to have a prophet of God alive on the earth today and it's even greater to be able to listen to him. I've listened to General Conference while I was in Texas and when I lived in Italy and it's amazing how the Lord has blessed us with technology so that everyone can hear His voice through His prophets. We all still gather together today to hear God's word. I love it.
While I was there listening to the word of God spoken by His chosen prophets I looked around at the sea of faces around me and had a thought. In my Doctrine and Covenants class we had recently talked about how the people back in the early days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were commanded to all gather together. Back then they had to gather together physically in the same place. The first place that they were all commanded to go wasn't Utah, but it was Ohio, and because the Lord told them to do it, they did it. In verse 32 of the 38th section of the Doctrine and Covenants it says, "Wherefore, for this cause I gave unto you the commandment that ye should go to the Ohio; and there I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high;" They were told to gather together to receive God's law and spiritual power.
Today we don't all gather together in the same geographical location anymore, but we gather in Spirit, especially for meetings like General Conference. I thought of all the people all over the country and all over the world who were watching that confernce at the same time as me, hearing those same words. It's an amazing thing to have a prophet of God alive on the earth today and it's even greater to be able to listen to him. I've listened to General Conference while I was in Texas and when I lived in Italy and it's amazing how the Lord has blessed us with technology so that everyone can hear His voice through His prophets. We all still gather together today to hear God's word. I love it.
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Caves
This Saturday I went hiking again, but this time up to the Mt. Timpanogos caves and they were amazing. It was pretty steep going up to the cave entrance, but it was worth it. We actually went through three different caves and while in the first one the forest ranger guy who was with us told us that we were standing inside a fault line! I thought that was probably one of the most amazing things ever. I've heard lots of people talk about being on top of fault lines, but never inside them. It was pretty amazing. He then told us that if there had been an earthquake that being in the fault line where we were was the safest place we could possibly be. If an earthquake had started at the faultline we were in it would have shaken us a little then moved outward and wouldn't have affected us very much. And if an earthquake had started at a different fault line, when the shock waves reached us they wouldn't have affected us at all because we were so deep in the mountain. So, we were in the best spot possible to receive the least amount of damage.
Learning about all that made me think of a verse I read recently in Doctrine and Covenants section 45. In verse 33 it talks about some of the calamities that will happen in the last days and says, "And there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and many desolations". I thought it was interesting that in the case of such an earthquake the safest place to be wouldn't be in a house, building, cellar or anything like that, but in a mountain. The safest place for us to be is in the place that God has created for us. And if you think of mountains as a metaphor for temples, then the best place to be to stay safe from the spiritual calamaties in the world is in the temple, or the house of the Lord. When we stay as close to Him as possible we'll be safe.
(p.s. the picture is from inside the fault!)
Monday, September 22, 2008
Mt. Timpanogos
This past Saturday I went hiking up to the top of Mt. Timpanogos here in the Provo area. It was a really cool experience for me because, being from the gulf coast of Texas, I haven't really gotten to do much hiking on mountains. I went with my writing class and only two of us made it all the way to the summit of the mountain. Everything was going great and the view was beautiful. Then, about 11,700 feet up the 11,749 ft. mountain something went wrong. Way up at that altitude the wind blows really strong and some sand or dirt or something blew into my right eye. It hurt really bad and the pain was excruciating. I then had to hike back down the mountain half blind with this intense pain in my eye. Sometimes the pain would be so bad in my right eye that both my eyes would just involuntarily slam shut causing my to stumble because I couldn't see the trail any more. This, of course, made me (and my classmate who was with me) worry about my life. I was a little afraid of falling off the mountain. While in the middle of this I remember praying so that the pain would go away. About twenty minutes later we ran into a forest ranger person who happened to have some eye drops in a first aid kit that he let me have. Then, about twenty minutes after that the pain in my right eye stopped. It was still sore from having hurt so much before, but it was more of an ache, which was much more bearable than it had been. After a couple more hours we got back down the mountain to our cabin where our other classmates were waiting for us. Then, after about an hour of being back my eye began to hurt again. I can't explain why. The experience made me think of a theme that I've seen a lot throughout my study of the Doctrine and Covenants. In Doctrine and Covenants 4:7 it says, Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen." I see this promise everywhere in the Doctrine and Covenants and I know that it's very true. I asked for the pain to stop so that I could safely get off the mountain and it did, then it came back after I had finished getting off the mountain. I was amazed by this experience. The Lord knew exactly what I needed for the pain to stop so that we could get back and helped me. He gave me what I needed after I had sincerely asked.
Friday, September 19, 2008
The first post - Doctrine and Covenants
I'm taking a class on the Doctrine and Covenants this year. I believe that the Doctrine and Covenants is a book of scripture given to the world by Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith. I believe this because I feel inside me that it's right.
I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, better known by most people as the Mormon Church, though that's just a nickname. We believe that the Doctrine and Covenants is canonized scripture along with the Bible (both New and Old Testaments) and the Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon was also given to the world through Joseph Smith, but is very different from the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Mormon is a book of scripture written by people that lived in the ancient Americas. They wrote some of their history and a lot about Jesus Christ. Just like in the Bible, when we read the Book of Mormon we can learn lessons from people who lived before us and apply them to our own lives.
The Doctrine and Covenants is a book of revelations received by Joseph Smith for the present time. It applies directly to us today.
The reason why we believe it's scripture is because we believe that Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet by God and Jesus Christ. So, it's like in Biblical times. Moses was called to be a prophet, so we accept his writings as the word of God, Isaiah was called to be a prophet, so we accept his writings to be the word of God, etc. In just the same way we accept Joseph Smith's writings as the word of God because we believe that he was a prophet.
So, because I really believe in this I'm excited for the class and learning more about it.
I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, better known by most people as the Mormon Church, though that's just a nickname. We believe that the Doctrine and Covenants is canonized scripture along with the Bible (both New and Old Testaments) and the Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon was also given to the world through Joseph Smith, but is very different from the Doctrine and Covenants. The Book of Mormon is a book of scripture written by people that lived in the ancient Americas. They wrote some of their history and a lot about Jesus Christ. Just like in the Bible, when we read the Book of Mormon we can learn lessons from people who lived before us and apply them to our own lives.
The Doctrine and Covenants is a book of revelations received by Joseph Smith for the present time. It applies directly to us today.
The reason why we believe it's scripture is because we believe that Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet by God and Jesus Christ. So, it's like in Biblical times. Moses was called to be a prophet, so we accept his writings as the word of God, Isaiah was called to be a prophet, so we accept his writings to be the word of God, etc. In just the same way we accept Joseph Smith's writings as the word of God because we believe that he was a prophet.
So, because I really believe in this I'm excited for the class and learning more about it.
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