We are taught in the scriptures that baptism is an essential ordinance to return to live in God's presence. Baptism, along with other essential ordinances, prepares us to receive exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom of God. (See John 3:5; 2 Nephi 9:23; 2 Nephi 31:5-9, 17-21.)
There are millions of people who have died without the opportunity to be baptized, and there are many who will not have the chance to be baptized in their lifetime. What happens to those who were not able to participate in this essential saving ordinance?
In LDS Temples, we perform baptisms for the dead, or baptisms by proxy for those who were not baptized by proper authority in their lifetime. We do family history to find records and names of our ancestors who need these saving ordinances. D&C 128:16-18 explains why we do baptisms for the dead: "We without them [our ancestors] cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also." But even then, there are still many who have died for whom we do not have records saved. How can the proper saving ordinances be performed for them?
The scriptures prepare us for the time when Jesus Christ will come to earth again to rule and reign for one thousand years on earth (see Articles of Faith 1:10; Revelation 20:4; D&C 88:110). During this time, "all things which have been revealed unto the children of men shall at that day be revealed; and Satan shall have power over the hearts of the children of men no more, for a long time" (2 Nephi 30:18).
The Gospel Principles manual used in Sunday School discusses the work that will be done during the Millennium. The two main works we will do are missionary work and temple work. For one thousand years, mortals and resurrected beings who lived righteously will build temples and participate in ordinances of salvation. The lesson states, "There is too much work to finish before the Millennium begins, so it will be completed during that time. Resurrected beings will help us correct the mistakes we have made in doing research concerning our dead ancestors. They will also help us find the information we need to complete our records" ("The Millennium," Gospel Principles Manual, pp. 263-67; See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954-56], 2:167, 251-52.).
Every person will have a chance to receive all the ordinances of salvation before being sent to one of the three degrees of glory (see 1 Corinthians 15:40-42; D&C 76:50-112). God will provide a fair chance for everyone to receive those ordinances, but it is up to each individual to accept or reject them. After the Millennium, when all of the work has been done, the earth will be turned into a celestial kingdom (see D&C 29:22-29).
Friday, July 25, 2014
Saturday, May 17, 2014
How do relationships lead to happiness?
I asked myself this question before opening my scriptures, and Jacob 4 contained some pretty great insights!
Jacob 4:2-3: "We can write a few words . . . which will give our children, and also our beloved brethren, a small degree of knowledge concerning us, or concerning their fathers--Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven the words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorry, neither with contempt, concerning their first parents."
This passage associates the words "rejoice," "thankful," and "joy" with learning and knowing about others' experiences. So much of what we do comes as a result of what we have learned from other people. We can "learn with joy" as we get to know others and learn from them.
Jacob 4:4, 6, 13: "For this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us. . . . Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken. . . . The Spirit speaketh truth and lieth not. . . . But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old."
The scriptures were written that we might learn from people who we would never even meet in this life. Their experiences give us hope and faith. This life is all about inspiring others to learn truth and to find joy in it. There is power that comes from having multiple witnesses--there is power in numbers.
As we form a relationship with the scriptures and those who wrote in them, we increase in knowledge, wisdom, power, hope, faith, and joy.
Jacob 4:11: "Be reconciled unto [God] through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh."
This passage gives an example of the best relationship we could ever invest in: a relationship with Christ. It is only through building a relationship with Him that we can be "reconciled unto God" and receive eternal life or a fulness of joy.
Jacob 4:14: ". . . And because they desired it God hath done it."
We get what we desire. If you have righteous desires, you will attract righteous friends. Your relationships will be built off of a solid foundation.
Jacob 4:18: "Behold, my beloved brethren, I will unfold this mystery unto you; if I do not, by any means, get shaken from my firmness in the Spirit, and stumble because of my anxiety for you."
We need a solid foundation in order to teach each other and maintain healthy relationships.
Having a relationship doesn't mean simply knowing someone. Investing in a relationship with someone means learning from them, becoming like them, and opening up to them. It means trust and vulnerability. It requires constantly bettering yourself so you can contribute more to the relationship.
Ultimate happiness comes as we invest in relationships with others, especially with Christ. As we learn from Him, become like Him, open up to Him, trust Him, and change as a result of our relationship with Him, we will understand the way all relationships should be formed. We will find true joy and lasting happiness.
Jacob 4:2-3: "We can write a few words . . . which will give our children, and also our beloved brethren, a small degree of knowledge concerning us, or concerning their fathers--Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven the words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorry, neither with contempt, concerning their first parents."
This passage associates the words "rejoice," "thankful," and "joy" with learning and knowing about others' experiences. So much of what we do comes as a result of what we have learned from other people. We can "learn with joy" as we get to know others and learn from them.
Jacob 4:4, 6, 13: "For this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us. . . . Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken. . . . The Spirit speaketh truth and lieth not. . . . But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old."
The scriptures were written that we might learn from people who we would never even meet in this life. Their experiences give us hope and faith. This life is all about inspiring others to learn truth and to find joy in it. There is power that comes from having multiple witnesses--there is power in numbers.
As we form a relationship with the scriptures and those who wrote in them, we increase in knowledge, wisdom, power, hope, faith, and joy.
Jacob 4:11: "Be reconciled unto [God] through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh."
This passage gives an example of the best relationship we could ever invest in: a relationship with Christ. It is only through building a relationship with Him that we can be "reconciled unto God" and receive eternal life or a fulness of joy.
Jacob 4:14: ". . . And because they desired it God hath done it."
We get what we desire. If you have righteous desires, you will attract righteous friends. Your relationships will be built off of a solid foundation.
Jacob 4:18: "Behold, my beloved brethren, I will unfold this mystery unto you; if I do not, by any means, get shaken from my firmness in the Spirit, and stumble because of my anxiety for you."
We need a solid foundation in order to teach each other and maintain healthy relationships.
Having a relationship doesn't mean simply knowing someone. Investing in a relationship with someone means learning from them, becoming like them, and opening up to them. It means trust and vulnerability. It requires constantly bettering yourself so you can contribute more to the relationship.
Ultimate happiness comes as we invest in relationships with others, especially with Christ. As we learn from Him, become like Him, open up to Him, trust Him, and change as a result of our relationship with Him, we will understand the way all relationships should be formed. We will find true joy and lasting happiness.
Monday, March 24, 2014
2 Nephi 9:23 - Why does God command us to have "perfect faith"?
2 Nephi 9:23 reads, "And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God."
Faith is an attribute that must be developed over time. Faith is manifest by a desire and willingness to follow God's commandments and to yield to the Holy Spirit. (See Loren C. Dunn, "Building Bridges to Faith" 1981).
Having faith in Jesus Christ leads us to change our lives for the better, and this change is called repentance. In a talk given by Richard G. Scott in the October 2000 General Conference, Elder Scott said, "Why have our Father and His Son commanded us to repent? Because they love us. . . . It is our Master and His redeeming act that make it possible for us to avoid such condemnation. It is done through faith in Jesus Christ, obedience to His commandments, and enduring in righteousness to the end" (Richard G. Scott, "The Path to Peace and Joy")
Having perfect faith does not mean that we are perfect, but that we know in whom we trust and we live our lives accordingly. We recognize our need for constant repentance, and we trust in God's plan for us. Perfect faith involves being one with God, repentant, and humble.
Prophets in the scriptures have constantly reminded us of Jesus Christ's role in our salvation: "There is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ" (Helaman 5:9). It is not possible to have perfect faith in any being besides Jesus Christ Himself. It is only through Him that we can reach salvation, and He has given us the way.
In another General Conference talk in 1997, Elder Scott said, "I witness that 'redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah . . . unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered' (2 Nephi 2:6-7). This absolute requisite of a 'broken heart and a contrite spirit' prescribes the need to be submissive, compliant, humble (that is, teachable), and willingly obedient. Finally, I witness 'how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah' (2 Nephi 2:8).
"Jesus Christ possessed merits that no other child of Heavenly Father could possibly have. . . . Our Master lived a perfect, sinless life and therefore was free from the demands of justice. He was and is perfect in every attribute, including love, compassion, patience, obedience, forgiveness, and humility. His mercy pays our debt to justice when we repent and obey Him. Even with our best efforts to obey His teachings we will still fall short, yet because of His grace we will be saved 'after all we can do' (2 Nephi 25:23)."
(Richard G. Scott, "Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer," April 1997)
I testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and by exercising perfect faith in Him we can have access to His grace and mercy, and we can someday join Him, perfected, in the Kingdom of Heaven with our Father.
Faith is an attribute that must be developed over time. Faith is manifest by a desire and willingness to follow God's commandments and to yield to the Holy Spirit. (See Loren C. Dunn, "Building Bridges to Faith" 1981).
Having faith in Jesus Christ leads us to change our lives for the better, and this change is called repentance. In a talk given by Richard G. Scott in the October 2000 General Conference, Elder Scott said, "Why have our Father and His Son commanded us to repent? Because they love us. . . . It is our Master and His redeeming act that make it possible for us to avoid such condemnation. It is done through faith in Jesus Christ, obedience to His commandments, and enduring in righteousness to the end" (Richard G. Scott, "The Path to Peace and Joy")
Having perfect faith does not mean that we are perfect, but that we know in whom we trust and we live our lives accordingly. We recognize our need for constant repentance, and we trust in God's plan for us. Perfect faith involves being one with God, repentant, and humble.
Prophets in the scriptures have constantly reminded us of Jesus Christ's role in our salvation: "There is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ" (Helaman 5:9). It is not possible to have perfect faith in any being besides Jesus Christ Himself. It is only through Him that we can reach salvation, and He has given us the way.
In another General Conference talk in 1997, Elder Scott said, "I witness that 'redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah . . . unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered' (2 Nephi 2:6-7). This absolute requisite of a 'broken heart and a contrite spirit' prescribes the need to be submissive, compliant, humble (that is, teachable), and willingly obedient. Finally, I witness 'how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah' (2 Nephi 2:8).
"Jesus Christ possessed merits that no other child of Heavenly Father could possibly have. . . . Our Master lived a perfect, sinless life and therefore was free from the demands of justice. He was and is perfect in every attribute, including love, compassion, patience, obedience, forgiveness, and humility. His mercy pays our debt to justice when we repent and obey Him. Even with our best efforts to obey His teachings we will still fall short, yet because of His grace we will be saved 'after all we can do' (2 Nephi 25:23)."
(Richard G. Scott, "Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer," April 1997)
I testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and by exercising perfect faith in Him we can have access to His grace and mercy, and we can someday join Him, perfected, in the Kingdom of Heaven with our Father.
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