Jesus
Christ
Proclaims
The
Plan of Salvation
Given
by Revelation unto John a Servant of God
Recorded
in Chapters One, Two and Three
of
the
Book
of Revelation
Joseph
W. Linton
498
East 300 South, Logan Utah 84321
435
770-1826
NOTE:
Since our mission, I have completed the book that I have been laboring on for several years. This is the first 36 pages. I will post the second third in a couple of weeks and the final third will follow.
Transferring from Word to the blog wasn't entirely successful. There are no page numbers but the end of each page is typically followed by footnotes. Also graphic inserts did not transfer.
I appreciate comments you may have.
For several years, I have felt prompted to
write my feelings on the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation and how
they relate to the fullness of the gospel in these latter days. The extended process of reading, pondering, and
praying for understanding of the Apostle John’s revelation and the correlation
with other ancient and contemporary prophets has strengthened my testimony of
Jesus Christ and expanded my knowledge in the things of God. I would that these writings may be of value
to my posterity and an overarching interest may be of the hope expressed by
Nephi, “I may persuade men to come unto … God … and be saved” (1 Nephi 6:4).
The Plan of
Salvation is “our Heavenly Father’s plan to
enable us to become like Him and receive a fullness of joy. This plan is centered on the Atonement of
Jesus Christ and includes all the commandments, ordinances, and teachings of
the gospel.”1 The prophetic words of Aaron further explain, “The
plan of [salvation] … was prepared from the foundation of the world, through
Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name” (Alma 22:13).
My initial impression in reading John’s
Revelation was the significance of the re-occurring phrase in chapters two and
three: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.”2 I interpreted that directive as listen, this is very important. As I underlined each listen phrase I found that the seven declarations, He that hath an ear, let him hear, is
preceded by an introduction from the Savior.
In the declarations, our Redeemer announces himself as “[T]he
first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;” [having] The sharp sword with two edges; [T]he
Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire and his feet … like
fine brass; [H]e that is holy, he
that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man
shutteth and shutteth, and no man openeth; [T]he Amen, the faithful and true witness, [and] the beginning of the creation of God.”3
Joseph Smith was told by God the Father, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”4
Joseph listened and obeyed even as he faced years of brutal persecuting
headwinds, culminating in his martyrdom.
Should we not listen and obey the admonitions of the Savior, our
advocate with the Father, when he announces himself to us seven times and
concludes each introduction with the admonition to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying?
1. Missionary pamphlet, “The Plan of Salvation”,
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
2. Revelation 2:7,11,17,29,3:6,13,22
3. Revelation 2:8,12,18, 3:7,14
4.
Joseph Smith -
History, p49
This elicited in me an intense feeling that
the Son of God, pronouncing himself physically and spiritually with all power
through the keys of David, is offering us the principles by which we may
partake of his grand and concluding promise, “To him that overcometh will I
grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down
with my Father in his throne” (Revelations 3:21).
During my readings of chapters two and
three of the Book of Revelation, I consulted the Bible Dictionary, “Revelation
of John.” Under the heading, SOME GUIDELINES TO
UNDERSTANDING, I was intrigued by the notation in paragraph 1: “The Revelation seems to be divided into two
parts. The first, Rev[elation] 1-3,
deals with things at the time the Revelation was given, and is addressed to
branches of the Church in seven cities of Asia.” The
Bible Dictionary further references Revelation 1:3 with the phrase, “the time
is at hand,” and concludes, “These three chapters show clearly that the Church
in that day was rapidly going into apostasy.”
From the guidelines
to understanding noted above, one might reach an assumption that the
admonitions are not pertinent to us in these latter days. For clarification, it is important to
consider the Joseph Smith Translation, Revelation 1:1-8. These inspired translations add important
insight when it addresses the first chapter of Revelation: “Blessed are they who read, and they who hear and understand the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time of the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”5 The contrast between “the time is at hand” and “the
coming of the Lord draweth nigh” signifies a clear reference to the final
days prior to the Lord’s triumphant return.
This places the first three chapters into a contemporary context; a time
when the Apostle Paul describes as “… perilous … [when people] shall be lovers
of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, … unthankful,
unholy, without natural affection, … [and] lovers of pleasure more than lovers
of God” (2 Timothy 3: 1-4).
The many issues of transgression relative to our
time are illustrated in chapters two and three of the Book of Revelation. The safety net for avoiding these perils is likewise
found in these chapters where we are instructed to hear what the spirit says unto all mankind. By doing so, we will be
blessed and spiritually fortified against the power of Satan because even now, the time is at hand.
The Book of Mormon substantiates John’s revelation
in the Book of Ether where it speaks of our day. Moroni abridged the writings of the brother
of Jared in The Book of Mormon and sealed them up to come forth in this
dispensation. Therein, Christ testifies
that he is “the light, and the life, and the truth of the world.” Christ also admonishes the latter day Gentiles
and the house of Israel to learn of great and marvelous things, hidden up from
the foundation of the world by rending the “veil of unbelief.”
5. Joseph Smith Translation, p802
Christ further counsel’s the unbelievers to
“call upon the Father in [His] 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.
And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my
servant John be unfolded in the eyes of all the people. Remember when ye see these things, ye shall
know that [the time is at hand] that
they shall be made manifest in very deed.”
Christ concludes his promise with this blessing: … “he that is found
faithful unto my name at the last day, … shall be lifted up to dwell in the
kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world. And behold it is I that hath spoken it. Amen” (Ether 4:12, 15-16, 19).
The ancient prophet Nephi did “liken all
scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi
19:23). Those who exercise faith in Christ “may become sanctified … even to the
unfolding unto them all [his] revelations” (Ether 4:7). Thus we have clarity in the importance of the
first three chapters of The Revelation of John, being likened to our day --- the day of preparation for the return of our
Savior Jesus Christ.
Having reached the conclusion that Revelation
chapters one, two, and three have an important message in a contemporary
setting, I began an earnest study to understand the admonition to hear what the
Spirit saith to us in the latter days
from the Book of Revelation, which the Prophet Joseph Smith said is “one of the
plainest books God ever caused to be written” (HC 5:342).
The principle of gaining
knowledge by revelation is the principle of salvation 6
Each of the seven epistles written by John are
unique as they address virtues or transgressions within each church. However, the blessings promised to those who
overcome their deficiencies are addressed to all of the churches and are
progressive in nature. One can conclude
that contemporary mankind is suffering from the same sins as those of the
ancient church, but all mankind may receive the promised blessings through
obedience in “[doing] the first works” (Revelation 2:5) and continuing to the
last and greatest promise; “to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me
in my throne” (Revelation 3:21).
Further, Christ declares: “And again I say,
hearken unto my voice, lest death shall overtake you; in an hour when ye think
not the summer shall be past, and the harvest ended, and your souls not
saved. Listen to him who is the advocate
with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him – Saying: Father, behold
the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased;
behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest
that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren
that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.
6.
Revelation, Bible
Dictionary (emphasis added)
Hearken, O ye people of my church, and ye
elders listen together, and hear my voice while it is called today, and harden
not your hearts; For verily I say unto you that I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end, the light and the life of the world – a light that
shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not. And at that day, when I shall come in my
glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten
virgins. For they that are wise and have
received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have
not been deceived – verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast
into the fire, but shall abide the day.
And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they
shall multiply and wax strong and their children shall grow up without sin unto
salvation. For the Lord shall be in
their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and
their lawgiver” (D&C 45:6-7, 56-59).
We are fast approaching the coming of our
Savior and are prophetically counseled to prepare ourselves for the conclusion
of the harvest of the last days, when the Lord shall say, “my vineyard is no
more corrupted, and the bad is cast away” (Jacob 5:75).
In summarizing the plan of salvation,
President Russell M. Nelson says, “The
attributes by which we shall be judged one day are all spiritual.7
These include love, virtue, integrity, compassion, and service to others.8
Your spirit, coupled with and housed in your body, is able to develop and
manifest these attributes in ways that are vital to your eternal progression.9
Spiritual
progress is attained through the steps of faith, repentance, baptism, the gift
of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, including the endowment and sealing
ordinances of the holy temple.”10
President Brigham Young inquired: “Do you read
[the scriptures] as though you stood in the place of the men who wrote
them? If you do not feel thus, it is
your privilege to do so that you may be as familiar with the spirit and meaning
of the written word of God as you are with your daily walk and conversation.”11
8.
“Remember faith,
virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness,
charity, humility, diligence.” (Doctrine and Covenants 4:6)
9.
2 Nephi 2:11-16,
21-26; Moroni 10:33-34
10.
President Russell
M. Nelson, “Thanks Be to God,” Ensign, April 2012
11.
Discourses of
Brigham Young, p128
In the introductory three chapters of the Book
of Revelation, Christ establishes his preeminence and pronounces seven
blessings on those that partake of the gospel ordinances and endure to the
end. The last chapter of the Book of
Revelation ends and reinforces the seven proclamations, and the universality of
the plan of salvation in time and geography.
“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the
churches. I am the root and the
offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of
life freely” (Revelation 22:16-17).
The significance of the first chapter of
John’s revelation re-defines the purpose of the book through modern revelation
and clarifies the broader context of who it is written for. As an introduction, it is a frontal piece to
the entire book of revelation with the last chapter being the book end and
confirming the importance of not “taking away from the words of the book of
this prophecy” (Revelation 22:19); or simply put, all twenty-two chapters are a
singular revelation and all twenty-two chapters apply to the world in total -
specifically speaking to those seeking Jesus Christ in these latter-days.
The second chapter is the promise of progressive
additive blessings, beginning with the covenant of the first principles and ordinances12 and ending with the new and
everlasting covenant of marriage (D&C 132:19). Chapter three is an
expansion on the blessings of chapter two with the final gift, for one who
overcometh, of receiving the morning star
(Revelation 2:28). That is, one receiving the infinite
atonement of Jesus Christ for one’s sins in mortality.
Over many years, the numerous and miraculous
blessings I have received are not by my merits, but by the infinite love of a
Father in Heaven who lifts my hands when they hang down in mortal weakness and
anguish. Jesus Christ stands ready to
rescue all who forsake the carnal world and partake of the principles of his plan of salvation.
I have received a greater understanding of our
Eternal Father’s glorious plan and a measure of joy through my studies of the
Book of Revelation and pray that others may likewise be blessed as they
contemplate these gifts pronounced by Jesus Christ. I know that a fullness of joy is afforded to
those who follow his plan of happiness.
I testify that our Savior lives and that he has atoned for our sins and
therein blesses us with the opportunity to repent and partake of his
magnificent and infinite atonement.
12.
Pearl of Great
Price, The Articles of Faith, 4
In God’s mercy, he doth visit us
by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us.13
His plan of happiness was initiated by our Eternal
Father when he presided over the grand council in the pre-existence. There, Jesus Christ laid the foundations of the earth and corner stone
for the plan of salvation, giving
all mankind the opportunity to receive immortality
and obtain eternal life, whereupon,
The Morning Stars Sang Together,
and
All The Sons of God Shouted for
Joy 14
13. Alma 24:14 (emphasis added)
14. Job 38:6-7 (emphasis added)
Jesus Christ
A
Testament By John the Revelator
REVELATIONS 1:1-8 JST
1 The Revelation of John, a
servant of God, which was given unto him of Jesus Christ, to show unto his servants things which must shortly
come to pass, that he sent and
signified by his angel unto his servant John,
2 Who bore record of the word of God, and of
the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
3 Blessed are they who read, and they who hear and understand the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time of the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
4 Now this is the testimony of John to the
seven servants who are over the seven
churches in Asia. Grace unto you, and
peace from him who is, and who was,
and who is to come; who hath sent forth
his angel from before his throne, to
testify unto those who are the seven servants over the seven churches.
5 Therefore, I, John, the faithful witness, bear record of the things which were
delivered me of the angel, and from Jesus Christ the first begotten of the
dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.
6 And unto him who loved us, be glory; who washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath
made us kings and priests unto God, his Father.
To him be glory and dominion, forever and ever. Amen.
7 For behold, he cometh in the clouds with ten thousands of his saints in the
kingdom, clothed with the glory of his Father.
And every eye shall see him; and they who pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because
of him. Even so, Amen.
8 For he saith, I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the ending, the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come,
the almighty.
The Revelation of John,
a servant of God, which was given unto him of Jesus Christ, to show unto his servants things which must shortly
come to pass, that he sent and
signified by his angel unto his servant John, [w]ho bore record of the word of
God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed are
they who read, and they who hear and understand
the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time of the coming of the Lord
draweth nigh. (Revelation
1:1-3)
The three
introductory verses of chapter one of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Book
of Revelations, clarifies the purpose of John’s witness to mankind:
The revelation is from Jesus Christ Given to show unto Christ’s
Servants things that must shortly come to pass
Christ sent an angel to his servant John to bear record of the
word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ and all that John saw
Those that understand and obey the words of this prophecy will
receive eternal life
The coming of the Lord
draweth nigh
John, an
Apostle of the Lord, received and wrote the Book of Revelation following the
crucifixion and resurrection of the Savior.
The Savior’s mortal mission was complete and his faithful servants were
likewise facing intense persecution which often ended in martyrdom. When John writes what he is shown, he notes
that they are things which must shortly
come to pass with an additional confirmation that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
John testifies that the revelation regards the ancient church, with a parallel and additional message that
is significantly relevant to the world today; particularly to the latter-day
saints of The Church of Jesus Christ.
In the New
Testament and the Doctrine and Covenants, “The coming of the Lord”1
is a common reference to His Second Coming.
The inspired translation correction from the time is at hand to the
coming of the Lord draweth nigh clarifies that the Book of Revelation, in
its entirety, foreshadows “the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power
and glory.”2
No one
knows when the triumphant return of the Savior will be, though we do know that
those “…who serve together in the priesthood are preparing a people for the
coming of the Lord to His Church.”3
President
Thomas S. Monson recently quoted President Ezra Taft Benson, who said more than
thirty years ago, “For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve
to make your appearance in the final days before the second coming of the Lord.
Some individuals will fall away, but the kingdom of God will remain intact to
welcome the return of its Head – even Jesus Christ. While this generation will be comparable in
wickedness to the days of Noah, when the Lord cleansed the earth by flood,
there is a major difference this time: God has saved for the final inning some
of His strongest … children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly.”4
Now this is the testimony of John to the seven
servants who are over the seven churches in Asia. Grace unto you, and peace from him who is, and who was, and who is to
come; who hath sent forth his angel from
before his throne, to testify unto those
who are the seven servants over the seven churches. Therefore,
I, John, the faithful witness, bear record of the things which were
delivered me of the angel, and from Jesus Christ the first begotten of the
dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.
And unto him
who loved us, be glory; who washed us
from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God,
his Father. To him be glory and
dominion, forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation
1:4-6)
1.
Luke 12:36-40, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16, James 5:7-8, 2
Peter 3:11-12, D&C 84:28, 88:95-102, 106:4
2.
Mark 13:26
3.
President Henry B. Eyring, “The Preparatory Priesthood,”
Ensign, November 2014
4.
President Thomas S. Monson, “Dare to Stand Alone,” Ensign,
November 2011
To an endowed
Latter-day Saint, Revelation 1:6 is a familial blessing of eternal
significance.5 Elder L. Tom
Perry taught this singularly important doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
“The entire theology of our restored gospel centers on families and on the new
and everlasting covenant of marriage.”6 This covenant of marriage endues
the wondrous blessings of being made kings
[and queens] priests [and Priestesses] unto our God (Revelations
5:10). For these promised gifts and blessings,
all glory and dominion is given forever and ever to God the Eternal
Father.
For behold, he cometh in the clouds with ten thousands of his saints in the kingdom, clothed with the glory
of his Father. And every eye shall
see him; and they who pierced him,
and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. For he
saith, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the Lord, who
is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
(Revelation 1:7-8)
The angel
testifies: at the last day, Christ will come in the clouds of glory with ten thousands of his saints who will
also be clothed with glory given of the Father.
All the disobedient upon the earth will see Him and will wail because
they will see the folly of their wickedness and will perceive the judgement
that shall come upon them. Jude, the
brother of James, and one of the brethren of the Lord, cites Enoch who also
prophesied of this seminal event, when “the Lord cometh with ten thousands of
his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and … convince … them of all their
ungodly deeds” (Jude 1:14-15).
Furthermore,
the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants is a voice of warning to all
people: “Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells
on high, and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people
from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together. For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all
men, and there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see,
neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated”
(D&C 1:1-2). “The Lord shall come to
recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man
according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man” (D&C
1:10). “For behold, and lo, the Lord is
God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth
abideth forever and ever. Amen” (D&C 1:39).
5.
D&C 22:1, 131:2
6.
Elder L. Tom Perry, “Why Marriage and Family Matter –
Everywhere in the World,” Ensign, May 2015
Jesus Christ
Charges John the Revelator
to
Write That Which He Sees
REVELATIONS 1:9-20 JST
9 I John, who also
am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience
of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God,
and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the
Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am
Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, what thou seest, write in a book,
and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto
Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto
Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
12 And I turned to
see the voice that spake with me. And
being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst
of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment
down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his
hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of
fire;
15 And his feet
like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the
sound of many waters.
16 And he had in
his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword:
and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw
him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he
laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the
last:
18 I am he that
liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, amen; and have the
keys of hell and of death.
19 Write the things
which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be
hereafter;
20 The mystery of
the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden
candlesticks. The seven stars are the servants of the seven
churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
I John, who also am your brother,
and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,
was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation
1:9)
As a fellow
brother of those in the service of Jesus Christ, John testifies he too is a
companion in the tribulation and the required patience of the Lord. John’s humble acknowledgement should give us
a sense of comfort in knowing an apostle of God doesn’t consider himself above
or more worthy than other of God’s children.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf tells those of us, who “feel small and
weak, please simply come unto Christ, who makes weak things strong, (Ether
12:27). The weakest among us, through
God’s grace, can become spiritually strong, because God ‘is no respecter of
persons’ (Acts 10:34). He is our
‘faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and
keep his commandments’” (Deuteronomy 7:9).7
Humility is
a hallmark of a servant of Christ.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a
great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the
last: and, what thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven
churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos,
and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. (Revelation 1:10-11)
John, having received these revelations on the Lord’s day, reminds us that this is a day of spiritual
introspection and … “delight, the holy [day] of the LORD, … and [we should] …
honour him, [ by] not doing … [our] own ways, nor finding [our] own pleasure,
nor speaking … [of worldly things]: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the
Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed
thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath
spoken it” (Isaiah 58:13-14).
7.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “On Being Genuine,” Ensign, April 2015
The heritage of Jacob is best described in
the Doctrine and Covenants wherein “Isaac … and Jacob did none other things
than that which they are commanded; and because they did none other things than
that which they were commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according
to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are … gods” (D&C 132:37).
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven [churches]; and
in the midst of the seven [churches] one like unto the Son of man, clothed with
a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool,
as white as snow; And his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto
fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many
waters. And he had in his right hand
seven [servants]: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his
countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as
dead. And he laid his right hand upon
me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth,
and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, amen; and have the keys of
hell and of death. Write the things
which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be
hereafter; the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand,
and the seven golden candlesticks. The
seven stars are servants of the seven
churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:12-20)
One unique, but not
uncommon scriptural characteristic in the revelation of John, is the use of
symbolism. Joseph Smith’s translation clarifies
the meaning of the seven golden candlesticks as seven churches and the seven
stars or angels as seven servants. (Revelations 1:20, 2:18).
Considering
Jewish Symbolism8, the number seven
can also add clarity and be considered to reflect a broader spectrum of
importance. The number seven is used in
part as the “covenant of holiness and sanctification” and “all association with
God.”
Therefore,
the seven servants and seven churches referenced in these epistles may
symbolically be represented as:
These things saith He that holdeth the servants of the covenant of holiness and sanctification in his
right hand, who walketh in the midst of the church
with the priesthood keys of all
things in association with God
Utilizing
this interpretation of seven, we can
see clearly the importance of the declarations made by Christ in chapters two
and three of the revelation. They are relevant to our day and warrant an in-depth
study in the context of the plan of salvation and the miracle of the tender
mercies of God, through the new and everlasting covenants, restored in these
latter-days (D&C 22:1, 131:2, 132:6-7).
Each proclamation written by John is unique
and addressed to the church in each
of the seven cities. In the
proclamations, the sinful are called to repentance and to those who overcome
their transgressions, there are promised blessings. One can conclude that contemporary mankind is
suffering from similar sins and by repentance, obedience, and enduring to the
end, may likewise be blessed with these many gifts promised by our Savior Jesus
Christ. These blessings are progressive
in nature and by “doing the first works” (Revelations 2:5) and each of the
subsequent commandments, one may receive the last and greatest promise:
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my
throne 9
8.
Jewish Symbolism, the symbolic values of numbers:
“The number seven was the
general symbol for all association with God, and was the favorite religious number
of Judaism, typifying the covenant of holiness and sanctification, and also all
that was holy and sanctifying in purpose. The candlestick had seven lamps, and
the acts of atonement and purification were accompanied by a sevenfold
sprinkling. The establishment of the Sabbath, the Sabbatical year, and the year
of jubilee was based on the number seven, as were the periods of purification
and of mourning. The number 7 is the Divine number of completion.”
Wikipedia, Maude,
Mary Fawler (1862). Scripture
manners and customs. London: Society for Promoting Christian
Knowledge. p. 600. ISBN 1-147-04502-X.
Retrieved 2010-09-28.
9.
Revelations
3:21, (emphasis added)
Jesus Christ
Proclamation One
I Give You
The First Principles and
Ordinances of My Gospel
Those Who Overcome
Shall Eat of the Tree of Life in The Paradise of God
REVELATIONS 2:1-7 JST
1
Unto the servant of the church of
Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven [servants] in his
right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden [churches];
2
I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear
them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and
are not, and hast found them liars:
3
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and
hast not fainted.
4
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first
love.
6
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also
hate.
7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that overcometh. I give to eat of the tree of life,
which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
These
things saith he that holdeth the seven servants in his right hand, who walketh
in the midst of the seven churches (Revelation 2:1)
These things are addressed to all mankind, for
“God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34).
Those of God’s children that accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ
and are faithful, have great comfort in knowing Jesus Christ, the perfect Son
and Redeemer of the World, “will not forsake” (Deuteronomy 4:31) his promise
and singular purpose of blessing mankind with the profound gift of immortality
and eternal life – for this is his “work and … glory” (Moses 1:39). Though
one may be a servant of the covenant of
holiness and sanctification in the church with the keys of all things in
association with God,1 only Jesus Christ can bring to fruition
our fondest desires of being in an eternal family. He is our Elder Brother who made the great
and last sacrifice that we, who are so wholly inadequate, may return to our
Heavenly home clothed with power and glory in the fullness of joy and “to go no
more out” (Alma 7:25, Revelation 3:12).
Christ “doeth not anything save it be for the
benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own
life that he may draw all men unto him.… he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of
the earth, buy milk and honey, without money without price” (2 Nephi 26:24-25). We are to “… look upon the Son of God
with faith, having a contrite spirit, [that we] might live, even unto that life
which is eternal” (Helaman 8:15).
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life 2
I know thy works, and thy
labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and
thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found
them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast
labored, and hast not fainted. (Revelation
2:2-3)
Jesus Christ knows the heart of the righteous
and he defines the nature of that person who shows promise in coming unto
him. This person is not faint of heart
but labors innately with patience in
doing those things which bring forth good fruit.
1.
See end note 8
page 17
2.
John 3:16
(emphasis added)
This individual cannot bear wickedness and has
discernment as guided by the light of Christ and the Holy Ghost in qualifying
those who are evil in finding them to be liars.
In contrast, those things that are of God
invite us “… to do good continually …” and everything that directs and
encourages us to be inclined “… to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of
God” (Moroni 7:13). Apostle M. Russell
Ballard tells us, “the gospel of truth and light attracts the honest in heart
and the honorable of the earth, who seek what is moral and good.”3
President Joseph Fielding Smith testified: “To the honest in heart in all
nations, … [t]he Lord loves you. He
wants you to receive the full blessings of the gospel. He is now inviting you to believe the Book of
Mormon, to accept Joseph Smith as a prophet, and to come into his earthly
kingdom and thereby become heirs of eternal life in his heavenly kingdom.”4
In the New Testament, when Christ called eager
followers unto him, he proclaims: “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). Apostle Neil O. Andersen states: “As we
follow the Savior, without question there will be challenges that confront
us. Approached with faith, these
refining experiences bring a deeper conversion of the Savior’s reality.”5
In these latter days, there is a dramatic
contrast of choice between the light of Christ and the darkness of
Lucifer. An Angel of God, in speaking to
an ancient prophet of The Book of Mormon, foretold of these times when he
prophesied that “… the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work a
great and a marvelous work among the children of men; a work which shall be
everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other – either to the convincing
of them unto peace and life eternal, or unto the deliverance of them to the
hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds unto their being
brought down into captivity, and also into destruction, both temporally and
spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil …” (1 Nephi 14:7).
3.
See end note 8
page 17
4.
John 3:16
(emphasis added)
5.
Elder M. Russell
Ballard, “That the Lost May Be Found,” May 2012
Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast
left thy first love. Remember
therefore from whence thou art fallen. (Revelation
2:4-5)
Jesus Christ counsels us to remember we have
fallen from our first love, or first estate in the pre-existence, where we
lived with our heavenly family. In this
spiritual realm, under the direction of our Eternal Father, our Savior taught
and implemented the plan of salvation.
This glorious plan of eternal life and immortality was understood and
sustained by all mankind that has lived, or shall yet live on the earth. Because we have chosen the plan of salvation
and partaken of mortality we are fallen
from God’s presence and Jesus Christ knows the trials we, who have chosen to
follow him, will face in mortality.
Because of the fall, “… our natures have become evil continually …” and
since we are carnal and subject to the flesh “… we are unworthy before [him] …”
(Ether 3:2). Therefore, Christ expresses
His being somewhat against us.
After we show a desire to be engaged in
righteousness, Christ gives us insight into the pre-existence with our Heavenly
Parents who we left to experience mortality.
Christ taught that the “… first and great commandment” is to “… love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind”
(Matthew 22:37-38). This familial
reference is to the God of Heaven that truly is our Eternal Father, who gave us
spiritual life and established the path of return to His presence.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf reminds us that “…
in [our] first estate, [or pre-existence, we] knew with absolute certainty that
God existed because [we] saw and heard Him.
[We] knew Jesus Christ, who would become the Lamb of God [and we] had
faith in Him. [We also knew that our]
destiny was not to stay in the security of our premortal home. As much as [we] loved that eternal sphere, [to
progress we] needed [and agreed to] embark on [our physical] journey. [We were destined to] depart from the arms of
[our Eternal] Father, pass through a veil of forgetfulness, receive a mortal
body, and learn and experience things that hopefully would help us grow to
become more like [our] Father in Heaven and return to His presence.”6
Because of the fall of Adam and Eve in the
Garden of Eden, “It was appointed unto man to die…, cut off from the tree of
life [or the pure love of God], and man became lost forever, yea, they became
fallen man … cut off both temporally and spiritually from the presence of the
Lord; and … subjects to follow after their own will.” By natural instinct, “[man] become carnal,
sensual, and devilish, … [and] this probationary state became a state for them
to prepare; it became a preparatory state” (Alma 42:6-7, 10).
6.
President
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Your Wonderful Journey Home,” Ensign, May 2013
We need to understand how deeply our Eternal
Father loves and beckons his children to come unto him. The principles of following Jesus Christ, through
repentance and baptism, were clearly instructed by Alma to his son Corianton. “Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come and,
partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is
not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according
to his deeds. … Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because
of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but … let the justice of God, and
his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it
bring you down to the dust in humility [and recognize this truth]; … the plan
of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of
men in this probationary state. [Therefore, repentance is necessary, however] mercy
[cannot] take effect except it should destroy the work of justice.… [T]he work
of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God. … [T]he
plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made;
therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the
plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect,
just God, and a merciful God also. … Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a
just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man” (Alma 42:27, 30,13,
15, 18).
For one who repents, mercy and the
resurrection are fruits of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Mankind is restored to the presence of God to
be judged by their works “… according to the law of justice. … Justice
exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and
thus, none but the truly penitent are saved. … And thus God bringeth about his
great and eternal purposes, which were prepared from the foundation of the
world. And thus cometh about the
salvation and the redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery”
(Alma 42:23-24, 26).
The fallen man was given the gift of a mortal body
along with the challenge and blessing of agency. “It must needs be that there was an
opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one
being sweet and the other bitter.
Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for
himself. Wherefore, man could not act
for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other” (2
Nephi 2:15-16).
Finally, the question again: “… which is the
great commandment in the law?” Which
Jesus answers: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:36-37). Joseph Smith received a similar admonition to
“… love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and all thy might, mind, and
strength” with the additional charge to serve God “… in the name of Jesus
Christ” (D&C 59:5).
A key to our progress and salvation is keeping
this great commandment in the law and
remembering that we are children of Eternal Parents,7 and by this
knowledge know how significant we are to our Father in Heaven. We have the opportunity and responsibility to
prayerfully commune with Him in the name of Jesus Christ and to humbly submit
unto Him our weaknesses, that He may make “… weak things become strong …”
(Ether 12:27).
Repent, and do the first works;
[first principles and ordinances of the gospel] or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will remove thy [church] with the [the keys of all things in association with
God] out of his place, except thou repent.
(Revelation 2:5)
We believe that the first principles and ordinances
of the Gospel are:
first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;
second, Repentance;
third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of
sins;
fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy
Ghost.8
“Man was
in the beginning with God” (D&C 93:29) and in the pre-existence we had a
perfect knowledge of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Having fallen from the kingdom of God, man
is looking “… through a glass, darkly …” (1 Corinthians 13:12) and cannot
remember the pre-existence nor covenants made there.
From Ancient and modern scripture, we know
that the fallen man was
created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and like God, we have the gift of
choice or agency, which is “the capacity, condition, or state of acting or of
exerting power.”9 By this
principle, we are tested by the principle of obedience, both agency and
obedience are essential to progression.
Another God-like attribute of man is the gift of “intelligence, or, in
other words, light and truth. Light and
truth forsake that evil one. Every
spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from
the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God. And that wicked one cometh and taketh away
light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men and because of
the tradition of their fathers” (D&C 93:36-39).
7.
Hymns of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “O My Father” Hymn 292
8.
Pearl of Great
Price, The Articles of Faith 4
9.
Merriam
Webster, Definition of Agency
Having the gifts of light, truth and
agency, we are tested by the principle of obedience, all of which is essential
to progress and return to our heavenly home.
Because we are fallen and without hope of
returning to God under our own volition, the Book of Mormon prophet, Amulek,
taught the necessity of the atonement: “… for according to the great plan of
the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must
unavoidably perish; yea, all … are fallen and are lost, and must perish except
it be through the atonement. … It is expedient that there should be a great and
last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any
manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an
infinite and eternal sacrifice.” Amulek
further testified, “… that [the] great and last sacrifice [is] the Son of God,
yea infinite and eternal. Thus He shall
bring salvation to all those who shall believe on His name; this being the
intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which [will
overpower] justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith
unto repentance. Thus mercy can satisfy
the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that
exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands
of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought
about the great and eternal plan of redemption.
Begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon
his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you” (Alma 34:9-10,14-17).
Jesus Christ taught Moses “that by reason of
the transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as
ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have
made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into
the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood,
even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin,
and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the
world to come, even immortal glory; for by the water ye keep the commandment;
by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified; therefore
it is given to abide in you; the record of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable
things of immortal glory; the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all
things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath
all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment. … This is
the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten …”
(Moses 6:59-62).
Jesus Christ’s commandment to do the first works, or first principles and ordinances of the
gospel, is to all nations. He further says that “the day cometh that
they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his
servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be
cut off from among the people; for they have strayed from mine ordinances, and
have broken mine everlasting covenant; they seek not the Lord to establish his
righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his
own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is
that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the
great, which shall fall” (D&C 1:14-16).
Apostle James E. Talmage succinctly
teaches the first principles and ordinances of the gospel in his book Jesus the
Christ: “The narrative between Nicodemus
and Christ constitutes one of our most instructive and precious scriptures
relating to the absolute necessity of unreserved compliance with the laws and
ordinances of the gospel, as the means indispensable to salvation. Faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God,
through whom alone men may gain eternal life; forsaking of sin by resolute
turning away from the gross darkness of evil to the saving light of
righteousness; the unqualified requirement of a new birth through baptism in
water, and this of necessity by the mode of immersion, since otherwise the
figure of a birth would be meaningless; and the completion of the new birth
through baptism by the Spirit – all these principles are taught… in such
simplicity and plainness as to make plausible no man’s excuse for ignorance.”10
Faith
Since my earliest days, I’ve known that “I’m a
child of God.”11 Faith in my Father
in Heaven has always been a singular and powerful comfort to me. Like many, there is within me an impression
that I came to earth with that innate conformation of spiritual belief - I also
know that my parents, teachers and leaders taught me faith through word, song,
and example throughout my youth and into adulthood. With this reinforcement, I am still growing
in the desire to have complete “… confidence in [Jesus Christ] without
reservation” (Bible Dictionary, Faith).
Faith is the first principle of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ and “faith [comes] not by signs, but signs follow those that
believe.… [S]igns come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please,
but by the will of God…. [W]ithout faith
no man pleaseth God” (D&C 63:9-11).
Alma instructs us “concerning faith –
faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things, therefore if [we] have
faith [we] hope for things which are not seen which are true.” He further encourages us to “awake and arouse
[our] faculties, even to an experiment upon [the words of Christ], and exercise
a particle of faith, yea, even if [we] can no more than desire to believe, let
this desire work in [us], even until [we] believe in a manner that [we] can
give place for a portion of [Christ’s] words.” If we nurture this particle of faith, by embracing the
Spirit of the Lord, “it will begin to swell within [our breast]; and when [we]
feel these swelling motions, [we] will begin to say within [ourselves] … the
word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to
enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me” (Alma
32:21,27,28).
10. Talmage, Jesus the Christ page 152, Jesus and
Nicodemus, St John 3:1-21
11. Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, “I Am a Child of God” Hymn 301
If we continue to nourish faith, Alma
further teaches that our “understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and [our]
mind doth begin to expand … because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is
good, because it is discernible; therefore, [we] must know that it is
good.” By planting the seed of faith and nurturing it through
continued study, prayer, and meditation, “it shall be a tree springing up unto
everlasting life. And because of [our]
diligence and [our] faith and [our] patience with the word in nourishing it …
it may take root in [us], behold, by and by [we] shall pluck the fruit thereof,
which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is
white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and [we]
shall feast upon this fruit even until [we] are filled, that [we] hunger not,
neither shall [we] thirst” (Alma 32:34-35,41-42).
The apostle and brother of our Lord, James,
instructs those of us who lack wisdom yet desire to know truth, to “… ask of
God, [who] giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be
given him. But let him ask in faith,
nothing wavering.” The glories of the
kingdom of God will be made known to those of faith; “even so faith, if it hath
not works, is dead, being alone” (James 1:5-6, 2:17).
Followers of Jesus Christ believe that “he
[will] manifest himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the
Holy Ghost according to their faith” (2 Nephi 26:13). By faith, a “mighty change” may be brought
about in one’s heart. If we are humble
and “put [our] trust in the true and living God [and are] “faithful until the
end [we will be] saved. [Jesus Christ
has] “come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the
transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall
have eternal life” (Alma 5:13, 11:40).
As many as received him, to them gave he power to become
the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name 12
Repentance
The second principle of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ is repentance. Those of us
who understand good and evil are accountable to God, and since we live among
corrupt societies, we are under condemnation and guilty of sin in one degree or
another.
12. John 1:12 (emphasis added)
We know that our “Lord cannot look
upon sin with the least degree of allowance” (Alma 45:16). Therefore, we must continually exercise
repentance as we evaluate our conduct.
This process of turning from sin is strengthened through covenants made
or renewed with our Savior and being anxiously engaged in works of goodness. A repentant life opens the door to our Savior’s
grace and enables the return to our heavenly home of spiritual birth.
Forsaking sin often requires strength beyond
our own. This holy strength comes by faith
in God, which brings about the “power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in [Christ
and repent] “and come unto [him], and be baptized in [his] name, [and by
continued faith in him, we] may be saved” (Moroni 7:33-34). “There is no other way nor means whereby man
can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come;
yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world” (Helaman 5:9).
By the “light of Christ”13 and the
power of the Holy Ghost, the gift of knowing right from wrong has always been a
part of my life. When wrong choices were
made, I learned the value and blessings of repentance. My earliest recollection of this important
lesson, was experienced in the neighborhood grocery store owned by a family
friend. To a small boy, who was raised
in a righteous home of meager circumstance, the allure of candy was beyond my
capacity to resist and when no-one was looking, I put a small wrapped piece of
candy in my pocket. Soon after leaving
the store, the pain of guilt was overwhelming.
Passing by the store owner’s house, I put the candy in his mailbox
hoping for forgiveness of the theft. It
would have been a better lesson to have faced the store owner personally, but
the lesson was sufficient to want never to repeat my youthful mistake.
I would that this experience was the only
misstep in my life, and I can relate to Nephi when he confesses: “my heart
sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.” Following his lament, he testifies: “God hath been my support … [and] hath filled
me with his love.” Nephi further
exclaims: “Awake, my soul! No longer
droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and
give place no more for the enemy of my soul” (2nd Nephi 4:17, 20-21,
28). This emotional lament for transgressions and joy
of the Saviors atonement, is of great significance and sung often by the
followers of righteousness. Learning to
choose good over evil is a process by which we progress toward the sacred goal
of eternal life.
Calling the fallen man to repentance is a
basic principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Lord makes this clear when He declared: “Hearken and hear, O ye
inhabitants of the earth. Listen, ye
elders of my church together, and hear the voice of the Lord; for he calleth
upon all men, and he commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (D&C 133:16).
13. President Boyd K. Packer, “These Things I
Know,” Ensign, May 2013
The Lord gives solace from the burden of sin
when he further proclaimed: “Yea, repent and be baptized, every one of you, for
a remission of your sins; yea, be baptized even by water, and then cometh the
baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost. Behold,
verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel” (D&C 33:11-12).
Mankind has, by nature of the fall, been given
imperfections and we give “thanks unto God that he hath made manifest… our imperfections,
that we may learn to be more wise” (Mormon 9:31) and learn to avoid the
temptations and sins “which… so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1, 2 Nephi 4:18,
Alma 7:15). Thankfully “The tender
mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their
faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance” (1 Nephi 1:20) and
“because of their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his
blood” (1 Nephi 12:10). “Wherefore,
whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a
place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to
the souls of men, which should make them sure and steadfast, always abounding
in good works, being led to glorify God” (Ether 12:14).
Through the atonement of “Christ and the power
of his resurrection, [we may] be raised unto life eternal [with God the Eternal
Father by] faith in him.… If a man [has] faith he must needs have hope; for
without faith there cannot be any hope.… He cannot have faith and hope, save he
shall be meek, and lowly of heart” (Moroni 7:41-43). “Redemption cometh in and
through the Holy Messiah, for he is full of grace and truth. He offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to
answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a
contrite spirit” (2 Nephi 2:6-7). Through Jesus Christ, “the way is prepared
from the fall of man, and salvation is free” (2 Nephi 2:4) for those who come unto him.
In the first chapter of “The Book of the
Prophet Isaiah,” the children of Israel are rebuked as apostate, rebellious and
corrupt. Despite being condemned, even
as Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord petitions the wicked to cease doing evil and make
oneself clean with this atoning promise of mercy:
Come now, and let us
reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be
as white as snow 14
Alma,
the unbelieving son of Alma, had caused much destruction in the church of God and
was called to repentance by an angel of the Lord. After two days and two nights of wading
through much tribulation and repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy
snatched him out of an everlasting burning, and Alma declared “I am born of God
[and] my soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of
iniquity.
14. Isaiah 1:18 (emphasis added)
I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold
the marvelous light of God.” (Mosiah 27:28-29). Almost two decades later, Alma the younger,
a high priest over the church, began a mission to deliver the word of God to
the people throughout all the land and asked these penetrating questions which are
pertinent today:
Brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of
God? Have ye received his image in your
countenances? Have ye experienced this
mighty change in your hearts? Do you
exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and
view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in
incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which
have been done in the mortal body? … Can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear
the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed,
for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of
the earth? … Can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean
hands? I say unto you, can you look up,
having the image of God engraven upon your countenances? 15
Baptism
Baptism by immersion is the third principle of
the gospel and was taught by example when Jesus Christ came “… from Galilee to
Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straight-way out of the water:
and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven,
saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:13,
16-17). Moreover, “… if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be
baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have
we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!” (2 Nephi 31:5). Therefore, “… by [baptism and] keeping the
commandments, [we] might be washed and cleansed from all [our] sins, and
receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained
and sealed unto this power” (D&C 76:52).
15. Alma 5:14-16, 19
Alma, believing the words of the Lamanite
prophet Abinadi, taught those who also believed in the prophetic word: “… [A]s
ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and
are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light… and are
willing to mourn with those that mourn… and comfort those that stand in need of
comfort, and to stand as witness of God at all times and in all things, and in
all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God,
and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal
life” (Mosiah 18:8-9).
Alma then asks the congregation, “[I]f this be
the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of
the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him,
that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his
Spirit more abundantly upon you?” (Mosiah 18:10).
Our Eternal Father calls upon all mankind to
“repent … and be baptized in the name of (his) Beloved Son.” And, The Beloved Son said: “He that is
baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me;
wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do” (2 Nephi
31:11-12).
Why tarriest thou?
Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of
the Lord 16
The Gift of the Holy Ghost
The Holy Ghost is
administered by the laying on of hands by one having authority. Anticipating the anxiety of the ancient
apostles regarding his leaving, Christ assured them with a promise of continued
revelation through “… the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father
will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to
your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26-27). The assurance of receiving “… power, after
the Holy Ghost is come upon you,” (Acts 1:8) is a gift promised all righteous
members of his church.
16. Acts 22:16 (emphasis added)
Parley P. Pratt, one of the early apostles of
Christ’s restored gospel, said we are “… intelligent
being[s], in the image of God,
[and] possess … every organ, attribute,
sense, sympathy, affection, of will, wisdom, love, power and gift, which is possessed
by God himself. He further defines
these attributes being “possessed by man
in his rudimental state in a subordinate sense of the word. Or, in other words, these attributes are in
embryo, and are to be gradually developed.
They resemble a bud, a germ, which gradually develops into bloom, and
then, by progress, produces the mature fruit after its own kind. The gift of the Holy [Ghost] adapts itself to all these organs or
attributes. It quickens all the
intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the
natural passions and affections, and adapts them by the gift of wisdom to their
lawful use. It inspires, develops,
cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred
feelings, and affections of our nature.
It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and
charity. It develops beauty of person,
form and features. It tends to health,
vigor, animation, and social feeling. It
develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual
man. It strengthens, invigorates, and gives
tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as
it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the
ears, and life to the whole being.”17
In my youth, one of our family activities
was going to the twenty-fourth of July parade in Salt Lake City, Utah. As a pre-teen, I was bashful and insecure in
the crowds that lined the street and always found comfort in the shelter of my
mother, father and siblings. I believe we
only went to the parade three or four times, and the last trip is indelibly
marked in my consciousness. On this occasion, I remember not being able to see
the parade because so many people were standing in front of us. My attention was brought to an open spot to
my right that was some distance from the security of my family. Uncharacteristically, I made my way to the
opening and found myself standing alone on the curb. A quiet comfort settled around me and within
seconds I had a burning, tingling sensation that enveloped my entire body. I was euphoric and stood frozen as I exalted in
the wonderous feeling. I wasn’t
conscious of the noise, crowds or floats as they passed by. Suddenly my solitude was interrupted by a
voice over the loud speaker which introduced David O. McKay and his wife Emma
Ray. The voice startled me as the fire within
me continued to burn and suddenly I realized the Prophet of God was passing just
a few feet in front me. Today, that
experience is a fundamental part of my testimony and the power I experienced as
the Holy Ghost bore witness to me of the reality of a living prophet of God.
This gift and power of the Holy Ghost is not
understood by the worldly man. It is “by
small and simple things [that] … great things [are] brought to pass; and small
means in many instances doth confound the wise.
And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal
purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth
about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:6-7).
17. Parley P. Pratt, Effect of the Holy Ghost on the
Individual, Key to Theology, 96, 97 (4th ed.) Talmage, Articles of Faith page
487, Appendix 8
The kingdom of God
is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost 18
But this thou hast, that thou
hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (Revelation 2:6)
Nicolaitans are defined in the Bible
Dictionary as “[a]n Antinomian sect in Asia Minor that claimed license for
sensual sin.” Antinomian, in the Merriam
Webster dictionary, is “one who holds that under the gospel dispensation of grace
the moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary to
salvation.” Or, “one who rejects a
socially established morality.”
Wikipedia explains it further: “In Christianity, an antinomian is one
who takes the principle of salvation by faith and divine grace to the point of
asserting that the saved are not bound to follow the moral law contained in the
ten commandments.”19 The
distinction between antinomian and other Christian views on moral law is that
antinomians believe that obedience to the law is motivated by an internal
principle flowing from belief rather than from any external compulsion.”20
He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 2:7)
We learn from the book of Moses that God’s
work and glory is “to bring to pass the immortality
and eternal life of man” (Moses
1:39). Immortality is the gift of the resurrection
promised all mankind. The greater gift of eternal life is given to those who, through their righteous
endeavors, have been purified and cleansed of all sin through the blood of the
Lamb of God and are blessed to live eternally in the presence of God, our Eternal
Father.
18. Romans 14:17 (emphasis added)
19. Wikipedia, Antinomianism,
In Christianity. Puritans and Puritanism
in Europe and America. ABC-CLIO. 2006.
P. 306. ISBN 9781576076781. Marie, André (17 September 2013). “Simian Antinomianism”. Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
20. Wikipedia, Antinomianism,
In Christianity. Como, David R. (2004). “Blown by the Spirit: Puritanism and the
Emergence of an Antinomian Underground in Pre-Civil-War England.” Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. P.
36. ISBN 9780804744430.
Isaiah, speaking Messianically of our day,
called upon all mankind, “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy
beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city (Isaiah 52:1).
In a prophetic witness of The Plan of
Salvation, Nephi exclaims, “O how great the plan of our God! The paradise of God must deliver up the spirits
of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the
spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become
incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect
knowledge like unto us in the flesh…. “Wherefore, we shall have a perfect
knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness, and the
righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their
righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness”
(2 Nephi 9:13-14).
The prophet,
Joseph Smith, and six elders received the revelation regarding eternal life, “…
there shall be a new heaven and a new earth.
For all old things shall pass away, and all things shall become new,
even the heaven and the earth, and all the fullness thereof, both men and
beasts, the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea.… [T]hen shall all the
dead awake, for their graves shall be opened, and they shall come forth – yea,
even all. And the righteous shall be gathered
on my right hand unto eternal life; and the wicked on my left hand will I be
ashamed to own before the Father” (D&C 29:23-24, 26-27).
Regarding Israel,
or “true believers in Christ”21 Isaiah said that “… since the
beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear,
neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him
that waiteth for him” (Isaiah 64:4).
In giving the parable of the sower, Christ
likewise emphasized those who desire to come unto him when he expresses: “[w]ho hath ears to hear, let him hear. And the disciples came, and said unto
him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever receiveth, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance;
but whosoever continueth not to receive,
from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and
hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. … For this people’s heart is
waxed gross, and their ears are dull
of hearing, and their eyes they have
closed; lest22 at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their
ears, and should understand with their
heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Matthew 13:9-13,
15). Christ makes it clear that many
deny themselves the wondrous blessings of the atonement and eternal life out of
fear of or apprehension of the responsibility
required in following him.
21. Israel, Bible Dictionary
22.
“For fear that” –
often used after an expression denoting fear or apprehension. Merriam-Webster Dictionary: lest
Concerning
transgressors in the church, Alma “poured out his whole soul to God [and] the
voice of the Lord came to him, saying: … “[H]e that will hear my voice shall be
my sheep; and … shall [be received] into the church, and him will I also
receive.” Christ clarifies that in his
church, … “whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever … shall believe in my name; …
him will I freely forgive. For it is I
that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is I that hath created them;
and it is I that granteth unto him that believeth unto the end a place at my
right hand. For behold, in my name are
they called; and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have a place
eternally at my right hand” (Mosiah 26:14, 21-24).
To him that overcometh I give to
eat of the tree of life [or The Love of God],23 which is in the midst of the
paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)
We are instructed to “… stand in holy places”
(D&C 101:22) and by emphasis told twice to awake and put on the strength of Zion’s “power of [the] priesthood” and
as additional emphasis to put on the
beautiful garments of Zion (Isaiah
52:1, 2 Nephi 8:24, D&C 113:7-8). We
are further told to be clothed in … “the whole armor of God, that [we] may be
able to withstand in the evil day,” (Ephesians 6:13) “ … because iniquity shall
abound [and] the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew
24:12-13). The covenant to the faithful
made by Christ gives us comfort in a world of turmoil: “ … [H]e that endureth
in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome, and shall receive an
inheritance upon the earth when the day of transfiguration shall come” (D&C
63:20).
At the conclusion of the Book of Revelations,
the Savior exclaims: “ … [B]ehold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to
give every man according as his work shall be.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments,
that they may have right to the tree of life [or love of God],23 and
may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelations 22:12-14).
Jesus Christ directed two of His ancient
prophets of the Americas to command: “… all mankind, yea men and women, all
nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God,
changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being
redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; and thus they become new
creatures” (Mosiah 27:25). “… I, Alma,…
command you in the language of him who hath commanded me, that ye observe to do
the words which I have spoken unto you.
23.
1 Nephi 11:21-22
I speak by way of command unto you that belong
to the church; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of
invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be
partakers of the fruit of the tree of life” (Alma 5:61-62).
Like many who have partaken of baptism by the
power of the Holy Priesthood, I still recall the feeling of cleanliness when I
was baptized at eight years of age. In
my senior years I joy in partaking of the sacrament and feel spiritually
refreshed with the renewed commitment to overcome weaknesses that “do so easily
beset me” (2nd Nephi 2:14), and be more deliberate to “stand in holy
places” (D&C 45:32, 101:22) in a troubled world.
In the mission field I found an often-asked
question, “What is my purpose?” is simply explained in the children’s hymn “I
will follow God’s Plan:”
My life is a gift; my life has a
plan, my life has a purpose; in heav’n it began, my choice was to come to this
lovely home on earth and seek for God’s light to direct me from birth, I will
follow God’s plan for me, Holding fast to his word and his love. I will work, and I will pray; I will al-ways
walk in his way. Then I will be happy on earth, and in my home above 24
Calling upon Adam, God said, “If [men will]
turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all [their]
transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only
Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only
name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the
children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost“ (Moses 6:52), which “acts as a cleansing agent to
purify a person and sanctify him from all sin.”25 Our Eternal Father clarifies that it is
“… by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by
the blood ye are sanctified; therefore it is given to abide in you; the record
of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory; the truth of
all things; that which quickeneth all things; which maketh alive all things;
that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy,
truth, justice, and judgment.… This is the plan of salvation unto all men,
through the blood of mine Only Begotten” (Moses 6:51-52,60-62).
This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true
God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent 26
24. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints Children’s Songbook, I Will Follow God’s Plan, 164 (emphasis added)
25. Bible Dictionary, “Holy Ghost,” page 661
For several years, I have felt prompted to
write my feelings on the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation and how
they relate to the fullness of the gospel in these latter days. The extended process of reading, pondering, and
praying for understanding of the Apostle John’s revelation and the correlation
with other ancient and contemporary prophets has strengthened my testimony of
Jesus Christ and expanded my knowledge in the things of God. I would that these writings may be of value
to my posterity and an overarching interest may be of the hope expressed by
Nephi, “I may persuade men to come unto … God … and be saved” (1 Nephi 6:4).
The Plan of
Salvation is “our Heavenly Father’s plan to
enable us to become like Him and receive a fullness of joy. This plan is centered on the Atonement of
Jesus Christ and includes all the commandments, ordinances, and teachings of
the gospel.”1 The prophetic words of Aaron further explain, “The
plan of [salvation] … was prepared from the foundation of the world, through
Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name” (Alma 22:13).
My initial impression in reading John’s
Revelation was the significance of the re-occurring phrase in chapters two and
three: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.”2 I interpreted that directive as listen, this is very important. As I underlined each listen phrase I found that the seven declarations, He that hath an ear, let him hear, is
preceded by an introduction from the Savior.
In the declarations, our Redeemer announces himself as “[T]he
first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;” [having] The sharp sword with two edges; [T]he
Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire and his feet … like
fine brass; [H]e that is holy, he
that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man
shutteth and shutteth, and no man openeth; [T]he Amen, the faithful and true witness, [and] the beginning of the creation of God.”3
Joseph Smith was told by God the Father, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”4
Joseph listened and obeyed even as he faced years of brutal persecuting
headwinds, culminating in his martyrdom.
Should we not listen and obey the admonitions of the Savior, our
advocate with the Father, when he announces himself to us seven times and
concludes each introduction with the admonition to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying?
1. Missionary pamphlet, “The Plan of Salvation”,
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
2. Revelation 2:7,11,17,29,3:6,13,22
3. Revelation 2:8,12,18, 3:7,14
4.
Joseph Smith -
History, p49
This elicited in me an intense feeling that
the Son of God, pronouncing himself physically and spiritually with all power
through the keys of David, is offering us the principles by which we may
partake of his grand and concluding promise, “To him that overcometh will I
grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down
with my Father in his throne” (Revelations 3:21).
During my readings of chapters two and
three of the Book of Revelation, I consulted the Bible Dictionary, “Revelation
of John.” Under the heading, SOME GUIDELINES TO
UNDERSTANDING, I was intrigued by the notation in paragraph 1: “The Revelation seems to be divided into two
parts. The first, Rev[elation] 1-3,
deals with things at the time the Revelation was given, and is addressed to
branches of the Church in seven cities of Asia.” The
Bible Dictionary further references Revelation 1:3 with the phrase, “the time
is at hand,” and concludes, “These three chapters show clearly that the Church
in that day was rapidly going into apostasy.”
From the guidelines
to understanding noted above, one might reach an assumption that the
admonitions are not pertinent to us in these latter days. For clarification, it is important to
consider the Joseph Smith Translation, Revelation 1:1-8. These inspired translations add important
insight when it addresses the first chapter of Revelation: “Blessed are they who read, and they who hear and understand the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time of the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”5 The contrast between “the time is at hand” and “the
coming of the Lord draweth nigh” signifies a clear reference to the final
days prior to the Lord’s triumphant return.
This places the first three chapters into a contemporary context; a time
when the Apostle Paul describes as “… perilous … [when people] shall be lovers
of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, … unthankful,
unholy, without natural affection, … [and] lovers of pleasure more than lovers
of God” (2 Timothy 3: 1-4).
The many issues of transgression relative to our
time are illustrated in chapters two and three of the Book of Revelation. The safety net for avoiding these perils is likewise
found in these chapters where we are instructed to hear what the spirit says unto all mankind. By doing so, we will be
blessed and spiritually fortified against the power of Satan because even now, the time is at hand.
The Book of Mormon substantiates John’s revelation
in the Book of Ether where it speaks of our day. Moroni abridged the writings of the brother
of Jared in The Book of Mormon and sealed them up to come forth in this
dispensation. Therein, Christ testifies
that he is “the light, and the life, and the truth of the world.” Christ also admonishes the latter day Gentiles
and the house of Israel to learn of great and marvelous things, hidden up from
the foundation of the world by rending the “veil of unbelief.”
5. Joseph Smith Translation, p802
Christ further counsel’s the unbelievers to
“call upon the Father in [his] 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.
And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my
servant John be unfolded in the eyes of all the people. Remember when ye see these things, ye shall
know that [the time is at hand] that
they shall be made manifest in very deed.”
Christ concludes his promise with this blessing: … “he that is found
faithful unto my name at the last day, … shall be lifted up to dwell in the
kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world. And behold it is I that hath spoken it. Amen” (Ether 4:12, 15-16, 19).
The ancient prophet Nephi did “liken all
scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi
19:23). Those who exercise faith in Christ “may become sanctified … even to the
unfolding unto them all [his] revelations” (Ether 4:7). Thus we have clarity in the importance of the
first three chapters of The Revelation of John, being likened to our day --- the day of preparation for the return of our
Savior Jesus Christ.
Having reached the conclusion that Revelation
chapters one, two, and three have an important message in a contemporary
setting, I began an earnest study to understand the admonition to hear what the
Spirit saith to us in the latter days
from the Book of Revelation, which the Prophet Joseph Smith said is “one of the
plainest books God ever caused to be written” (HC 5:342).
The principle of gaining
knowledge by revelation is the principle of salvation 6
Each of the seven epistles written by John are
unique as they address virtues or transgressions within each church. However, the blessings promised to those who
overcome their deficiencies are addressed to all of the churches and are
progressive in nature. One can conclude
that contemporary mankind is suffering from the same sins as those of the
ancient church, but all mankind may receive the promised blessings through
obedience in “[doing] the first works” (Revelation 2:5) and continuing to the
last and greatest promise; “to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me
in my throne” (Revelation 3:21).
Further, Christ declares: “And again I say,
hearken unto my voice, lest death shall overtake you; in an hour when ye think
not the summer shall be past, and the harvest ended, and your souls not
saved. Listen to him who is the advocate
with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him – Saying: Father, behold
the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased;
behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest
that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren
that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.
6.
Revelation, Bible
Dictionary (emphasis added)
Hearken, O ye people of my church, and ye
elders listen together, and hear my voice while it is called today, and harden
not your hearts; For verily I say unto you that I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end, the light and the life of the world – a light that
shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not. And at that day, when I shall come in my
glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten
virgins. For they that are wise and have
received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have
not been deceived – verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast
into the fire, but shall abide the day.
And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they
shall multiply and wax strong and their children shall grow up without sin unto
salvation. For the Lord shall be in
their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and
their lawgiver” (D&C 45:6-7, 56-59).
We are fast approaching the coming of our
Savior and are prophetically counseled to prepare ourselves for the conclusion
of the harvest of the last days, when the Lord shall say, “my vineyard is no
more corrupted, and the bad is cast away” (Jacob 5:75).
In summarizing the plan of salvation,
President Russell M. Nelson says, “The
attributes by which we shall be judged one day are all spiritual.7
These include love, virtue, integrity, compassion, and service to others.8
Your spirit, coupled with and housed in your body, is able to develop and
manifest these attributes in ways that are vital to your eternal progression.9
Spiritual
progress is attained through the steps of faith, repentance, baptism, the gift
of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, including the endowment and sealing
ordinances of the holy temple.”10
President Brigham Young inquired: “Do you read
[the scriptures] as though you stood in the place of the men who wrote
them? If you do not feel thus, it is
your privilege to do so that you may be as familiar with the spirit and meaning
of the written word of God as you are with your daily walk and conversation.”11
7.
“The spirit, not
the body, is the active responsible component of the soul. Without the spirit, the body is dead (see
James 2:26). It is the spirit,
therefore, that =chooses good or evil and will be held accountable for both the
positive and negative attributes it possesses at the Final Judgment (see Alma
41:3-7).”
8.
“Remember faith,
virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness,
charity, humility, diligence.” (Doctrine and Covenants 4:6)
9.
2 Nephi 2:11-16,
21-26; Moroni 10:33-34
10.
President Russell
M. Nelson, “Thanks Be to God,” Ensign, April 2012
11.
Discourses of
Brigham Young, p128
In the introductory three chapters of the Book
of Revelation, Christ establishes his preeminence and pronounces seven
blessings on those that partake of the gospel ordinances and endure to the
end. The last chapter of the Book of
Revelation ends and reinforces the seven proclamations, and the universality of
the plan of salvation in time and geography.
“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the
churches. I am the root and the
offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of
life freely” (Revelation 22:16-17).
The significance of the first chapter of
John’s revelation re-defines the purpose of the book through modern revelation
and clarifies the broader context of who it is written for. As an introduction, it is a frontal piece to
the entire book of revelation with the last chapter being the book end and
confirming the importance of not “taking away from the words of the book of
this prophecy” (Revelation 22:19); or simply put, all twenty-two chapters are a
singular revelation and all twenty-two chapters apply to the world in total -
specifically speaking to those seeking Jesus Christ in these latter-days.
The second chapter is the promise of progressive
additive blessings, beginning with the covenant of the first principles and ordinances12 and ending with the new and
everlasting covenant of marriage (D&C 132:19). Chapter three is an
expansion on the blessings of chapter two with the final gift, for one who
overcometh, of receiving the morning star
(Revelation 2:28). That is, one receiving the infinite
atonement of Jesus Christ for one’s sins in mortality.
Over many years, the numerous and miraculous
blessings I have received are not by my merits, but by the infinite love of a
Father in Heaven who lifts my hands when they hang down in mortal weakness and
anguish. Jesus Christ stands ready to
rescue all who forsake the carnal world and partake of the principles of his plan of salvation.
I have received a greater understanding of our
Eternal Father’s glorious plan and a measure of joy through my studies of the
Book of Revelation and pray that others may likewise be blessed as they
contemplate these gifts pronounced by Jesus Christ. I know that a fullness of joy is afforded to
those who follow his plan of happiness.
I testify that our Savior lives and that he has atoned for our sins and
therein blesses us with the opportunity to repent and partake of his
magnificent and infinite atonement.
12.
Pearl of Great
Price, The Articles of Faith, 4
In God’s mercy, he doth visit us
by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us.13
His plan of happiness was initiated by our Eternal
Father when he presided over the grand council in the pre-existence. There, Jesus Christ laid the foundations of the earth and corner stone
for the plan of salvation, giving
all mankind the opportunity to receive immortality
and obtain eternal life, whereupon,
The Morning Stars Sang Together,
and
All The Sons of God Shouted for
Joy 14
13. Alma 24:14 (emphasis added)
14. Job 38:6-7 (emphasis added)
Jesus Christ
A
Testament By John the Revelator
REVELATIONS 1:1-8 JST
1 The Revelation of John, a
servant of God, which was given unto him of Jesus Christ, to show unto his servants things which must shortly
come to pass, that he sent and
signified by his angel unto his servant John,
2 Who bore record of the word of God, and of
the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
3 Blessed are they who read, and they who hear and understand the words of this
prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time of the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
4 Now this is the testimony of John to the
seven servants who are over the seven
churches in Asia. Grace unto you, and
peace from him who is, and who was,
and who is to come; who hath sent forth
his angel from before his throne, to
testify unto those who are the seven servants over the seven churches.
5 Therefore, I, John, the faithful witness, bear record of the things which were
delivered me of the angel, and from Jesus Christ the first begotten of the
dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.
6 And unto him who loved us, be glory; who washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath
made us kings and priests unto God, his Father.
To him be glory and dominion, forever and ever. Amen.
7 For behold, he cometh in the clouds with ten thousands of his saints in the
kingdom, clothed with the glory of his Father.
And every eye shall see him; and they who pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because
of him. Even so, Amen.
8 For he saith, I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the ending, the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come,
the almighty.
The Revelation of John,
a servant of God, which was given unto him of Jesus Christ, to show unto his servants things which must shortly
come to pass, that he sent and
signified by his angel unto his servant John, [w]ho bore record of the word of
God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed are
they who read, and they who hear and understand
the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time of the coming of the Lord
draweth nigh. (Revelation
1:1-3)
The three
introductory verses of chapter one of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Book
of Revelations, clarifies the purpose of John’s witness to mankind:
The revelation is from Jesus Christ Given to show unto Christ’s
Servants things that must shortly come to pass
Christ sent an angel to his servant John to bear record of the
word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ and all that John saw
Those that understand and obey the words of this prophecy will
receive eternal life
The coming of the Lord
draweth nigh
John, an
Apostle of the Lord, received and wrote the Book of Revelation following the
crucifixion and resurrection of the Savior.
The Savior’s mortal mission was complete and his faithful servants were
likewise facing intense persecution which often ended in martyrdom. When John writes what he is shown, he notes
that they are things which must shortly
come to pass with an additional confirmation that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
John testifies that the revelation regards the ancient church, with a parallel and additional message that
is significantly relevant to the world today; particularly to the latter-day
saints of The Church of Jesus Christ.
In the New
Testament and the Doctrine and Covenants, “The coming of the Lord”1
is a common reference to His Second Coming.
The inspired translation correction from the time is at hand to the
coming of the Lord draweth nigh clarifies that the Book of Revelation, in
its entirety, foreshadows “the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power
and glory.”2
No one
knows when the triumphant return of the Savior will be, though we do know that
those “…who serve together in the priesthood are preparing a people for the
coming of the Lord to His Church.”3
President
Thomas S. Monson recently quoted President Ezra Taft Benson, who said more than
thirty years ago, “For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve
to make your appearance in the final days before the second coming of the Lord.
Some individuals will fall away, but the kingdom of God will remain intact to
welcome the return of its Head – even Jesus Christ. While this generation will be comparable in
wickedness to the days of Noah, when the Lord cleansed the earth by flood,
there is a major difference this time: God has saved for the final inning some
of His strongest … children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly.”4
Now this is the testimony of John to the seven
servants who are over the seven churches in Asia. Grace unto you, and peace from him who is, and who was, and who is to
come; who hath sent forth his angel from
before his throne, to testify unto those
who are the seven servants over the seven churches. Therefore,
I, John, the faithful witness, bear record of the things which were
delivered me of the angel, and from Jesus Christ the first begotten of the
dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.
And unto him
who loved us, be glory; who washed us
from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God,
his Father. To him be glory and
dominion, forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation
1:4-6)
1.
Luke 12:36-40, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16, James 5:7-8, 2
Peter 3:11-12, D&C 84:28, 88:95-102, 106:4
2.
Mark 13:26
3.
President Henry B. Eyring, “The Preparatory Priesthood,”
Ensign, November 2014
4.
President Thomas S. Monson, “Dare to Stand Alone,” Ensign,
November 2011
To an endowed
Latter-day Saint, Revelation 1:6 is a familial blessing of eternal
significance.5 Elder L. Tom
Perry taught this singularly important doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
“The entire theology of our restored gospel centers on families and on the new
and everlasting covenant of marriage.”6 This covenant of marriage endues
the wondrous blessings of being made kings
[and queens] priests [and Priestesses] unto our God (Revelations
5:10). For these promised gifts and blessings,
all glory and dominion is given forever and ever to God the Eternal
Father.
For behold, he cometh in the clouds with ten thousands of his saints in the kingdom, clothed with the glory
of his Father. And every eye shall
see him; and they who pierced him,
and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. For he
saith, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the Lord, who
is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
(Revelation 1:7-8)
The angel
testifies: at the last day, Christ will come in the clouds of glory with ten thousands of his saints who will
also be clothed with glory given of the Father.
All the disobedient upon the earth will see Him and will wail because
they will see the folly of their wickedness and will perceive the judgement
that shall come upon them. Jude, the
brother of James, and one of the brethren of the Lord, cites Enoch who also
prophesied of this seminal event, when “the Lord cometh with ten thousands of
his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and … convince … them of all their
ungodly deeds” (Jude 1:14-15).
Furthermore,
the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants is a voice of warning to all
people: “Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells
on high, and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people
from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together. For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all
men, and there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see,
neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated”
(D&C 1:1-2). “The Lord shall come to
recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man
according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man” (D&C
1:10). “For behold, and lo, the Lord is
God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth
abideth forever and ever. Amen” (D&C 1:39).
5.
D&C 22:1, 131:2
6.
Elder L. Tom Perry, “Why Marriage and Family Matter –
Everywhere in the World,” Ensign, May 2015
Jesus Christ
Charges John the Revelator
to
Write That Which He Sees
REVELATIONS 1:9-20 JST
9 I John, who also
am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience
of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God,
and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
10 I was in the
Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am
Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, what thou seest, write in a book,
and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto
Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto
Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
12 And I turned to
see the voice that spake with me. And
being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst
of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment
down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his
hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of
fire;
15 And his feet
like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the
sound of many waters.
16 And he had in
his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword:
and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw
him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he
laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the
last:
18 I am he that
liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, amen; and have the
keys of hell and of death.
19 Write the things
which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be
hereafter;
20 The mystery of
the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden
candlesticks. The seven stars are the servants of the seven
churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
I John, who also am your brother,
and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,
was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation
1:9)
As a fellow
brother of those in the service of Jesus Christ, John testifies he too is a
companion in the tribulation and the required patience of the Lord. John’s humble acknowledgement should give us
a sense of comfort in knowing an apostle of God doesn’t consider himself above
or more worthy than other of God’s children.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf tells those of us, who “feel small and
weak, please simply come unto Christ, who makes weak things strong, (Ether
12:27). The weakest among us, through
God’s grace, can become spiritually strong, because God ‘is no respecter of
persons’ (Acts 10:34). He is our
‘faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and
keep his commandments’” (Deuteronomy 7:9).7
Humility is
a hallmark of a servant of Christ.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a
great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the
last: and, what thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven
churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos,
and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. (Revelation 1:10-11)
John, having received these revelations on the Lord’s day, reminds us that this is a day of spiritual
introspection and … “delight, the holy [day] of the LORD, … and [we should] …
honour him, [ by] not doing … [our] own ways, nor finding [our] own pleasure,
nor speaking … [of worldly things]: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the
Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed
thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath
spoken it” (Isaiah 58:13-14).
7.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “On Being Genuine,” Ensign, April 2015
The heritage of Jacob is best described in
the Doctrine and Covenants wherein “Isaac … and Jacob did none other things
than that which they are commanded; and because they did none other things than
that which they were commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according
to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are … gods” (D&C 132:37).
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven [churches]; and
in the midst of the seven [churches] one like unto the Son of man, clothed with
a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool,
as white as snow; And his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto
fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many
waters. And he had in his right hand
seven [servants]: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his
countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as
dead. And he laid his right hand upon
me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth,
and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, amen; and have the keys of
hell and of death. Write the things
which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be
hereafter; the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand,
and the seven golden candlesticks. The
seven stars are servants of the seven
churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:12-20)
One unique, but not
uncommon scriptural characteristic in the revelation of John, is the use of
symbolism. Joseph Smith’s translation clarifies
the meaning of the seven golden candlesticks as seven churches and the seven
stars or angels as seven servants. (Revelations 1:20, 2:18).
Considering
Jewish Symbolism8, the number seven
can also add clarity and be considered to reflect a broader spectrum of
importance. The number seven is used in
part as the “covenant of holiness and sanctification” and “all association with
God.”
Therefore,
the seven servants and seven churches referenced in these epistles may
symbolically be represented as:
These things saith He that holdeth the servants of the covenant of holiness and sanctification in his
right hand, who walketh in the midst of the church
with the priesthood keys of all
things in association with God
Utilizing
this interpretation of seven, we can
see clearly the importance of the declarations made by Christ in chapters two
and three of the revelation. They are relevant to our day and warrant an in-depth
study in the context of the plan of salvation and the miracle of the tender
mercies of God, through the new and everlasting covenants, restored in these
latter-days (D&C 22:1, 131:2, 132:6-7).
Each proclamation written by John is unique
and addressed to the church in each
of the seven cities. In the
proclamations, the sinful are called to repentance and to those who overcome
their transgressions, there are promised blessings. One can conclude that contemporary mankind is
suffering from similar sins and by repentance, obedience, and enduring to the
end, may likewise be blessed with these many gifts promised by our Savior Jesus
Christ. These blessings are progressive
in nature and by “doing the first works” (Revelations 2:5) and each of the
subsequent commandments, one may receive the last and greatest promise:
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my
throne 9
8.
Jewish Symbolism, the symbolic values of numbers:
“The number seven was the
general symbol for all association with God, and was the favorite religious number
of Judaism, typifying the covenant of holiness and sanctification, and also all
that was holy and sanctifying in purpose. The candlestick had seven lamps, and
the acts of atonement and purification were accompanied by a sevenfold
sprinkling. The establishment of the Sabbath, the Sabbatical year, and the year
of jubilee was based on the number seven, as were the periods of purification
and of mourning. The number 7 is the Divine number of completion.”
Wikipedia, Maude,
Mary Fawler (1862). Scripture
manners and customs. London: Society for Promoting Christian
Knowledge. p. 600. ISBN 1-147-04502-X.
Retrieved 2010-09-28.
9.
Revelations
3:21, (emphasis added)
Jesus Christ
Proclamation One
I Give You
The First Principles and
Ordinances of My Gospel
Those Who Overcome
Shall Eat of the Tree of Life in The Paradise of God
REVELATIONS 2:1-7 JST
1
Unto the servant of the church of
Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven [servants] in his
right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden [churches];
2
I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear
them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and
are not, and hast found them liars:
3
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and
hast not fainted.
4
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first
love.
6
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also
hate.
7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that overcometh. I give to eat of the tree of life,
which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
These
things saith he that holdeth the seven servants in his right hand, who walketh
in the midst of the seven churches (Revelation 2:1)
These things are addressed to all mankind, for
“God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34).
Those of God’s children that accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ
and are faithful, have great comfort in knowing Jesus Christ, the perfect Son
and Redeemer of the World, “will not forsake” (Deuteronomy 4:31) his promise
and singular purpose of blessing mankind with the profound gift of immortality
and eternal life – for this is his “work and … glory” (Moses 1:39). Though
one may be a servant of the covenant of
holiness and sanctification in the church with the keys of all things in
association with God,1 only Jesus Christ can bring to fruition
our fondest desires of being in an eternal family. He is our Elder Brother who made the great
and last sacrifice that we, who are so wholly inadequate, may return to our
Heavenly home clothed with power and glory in the fullness of joy and “to go no
more out” (Alma 7:25, Revelation 3:12).
Christ “doeth not anything save it be for the
benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own
life that he may draw all men unto him.… he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of
the earth, buy milk and honey, without money without price” (2 Nephi 26:24-25). We are to “… look upon the Son of God
with faith, having a contrite spirit, [that we] might live, even unto that life
which is eternal” (Helaman 8:15).
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life 2
I know thy works, and thy
labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and
thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found
them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast
labored, and hast not fainted. (Revelation
2:2-3)
Jesus Christ knows the heart of the righteous
and he defines the nature of that person who shows promise in coming unto
him. This person is not faint of heart
but labors innately with patience in
doing those things which bring forth good fruit.
1.
See end note 8
page 17
2.
John 3:16
(emphasis added)
This individual cannot bear wickedness and has
discernment as guided by the light of Christ and the Holy Ghost in qualifying
those who are evil in finding them to be liars.
In contrast, those things that are of God
invite us “… to do good continually …” and everything that directs and
encourages us to be inclined “… to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of
God” (Moroni 7:13). Apostle M. Russell
Ballard tells us, “the gospel of truth and light attracts the honest in heart
and the honorable of the earth, who seek what is moral and good.”3
President Joseph Fielding Smith testified: “To the honest in heart in all
nations, … [t]he Lord loves you. He
wants you to receive the full blessings of the gospel. He is now inviting you to believe the Book of
Mormon, to accept Joseph Smith as a prophet, and to come into his earthly
kingdom and thereby become heirs of eternal life in his heavenly kingdom.”4
In the New Testament, when Christ called eager
followers unto him, he proclaims: “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). Apostle Neil O. Andersen states: “As we
follow the Savior, without question there will be challenges that confront
us. Approached with faith, these
refining experiences bring a deeper conversion of the Savior’s reality.”5
In these latter days, there is a dramatic
contrast of choice between the light of Christ and the darkness of
Lucifer. An Angel of God, in speaking to
an ancient prophet of The Book of Mormon, foretold of these times when he
prophesied that “… the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work a
great and a marvelous work among the children of men; a work which shall be
everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other – either to the convincing
of them unto peace and life eternal, or unto the deliverance of them to the
hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds unto their being
brought down into captivity, and also into destruction, both temporally and
spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil …” (1 Nephi 14:7).
3.
See end note 8
page 17
4.
John 3:16
(emphasis added)
5.
Elder M. Russell
Ballard, “That the Lost May Be Found,” May 2012
Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast
left thy first love. Remember
therefore from whence thou art fallen. (Revelation
2:4-5)
Jesus Christ counsels us to remember we have
fallen from our first love, or first estate in the pre-existence, where we
lived with our heavenly family. In this
spiritual realm, under the direction of our Eternal Father, our Savior taught
and implemented the plan of salvation.
This glorious plan of eternal life and immortality was understood and
sustained by all mankind that has lived, or shall yet live on the earth. Because we have chosen the plan of salvation
and partaken of mortality we are fallen
from God’s presence and Jesus Christ knows the trials we, who have chosen to
follow him, will face in mortality.
Because of the fall, “… our natures have become evil continually …” and
since we are carnal and subject to the flesh “… we are unworthy before [him] …”
(Ether 3:2). Therefore, Christ expresses
His being somewhat against us.
After we show a desire to be engaged in
righteousness, Christ gives us insight into the pre-existence with our Heavenly
Parents who we left to experience mortality.
Christ taught that the “… first and great commandment” is to “… love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind”
(Matthew 22:37-38). This familial
reference is to the God of Heaven that truly is our Eternal Father, who gave us
spiritual life and established the path of return to His presence.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf reminds us that “…
in [our] first estate, [or pre-existence, we] knew with absolute certainty that
God existed because [we] saw and heard Him.
[We] knew Jesus Christ, who would become the Lamb of God [and we] had
faith in Him. [We also knew that our]
destiny was not to stay in the security of our premortal home. As much as [we] loved that eternal sphere, [to
progress we] needed [and agreed to] embark on [our physical] journey. [We were destined to] depart from the arms of
[our Eternal] Father, pass through a veil of forgetfulness, receive a mortal
body, and learn and experience things that hopefully would help us grow to
become more like [our] Father in Heaven and return to His presence.”6
Because of the fall of Adam and Eve in the
Garden of Eden, “It was appointed unto man to die…, cut off from the tree of
life [or the pure love of God], and man became lost forever, yea, they became
fallen man … cut off both temporally and spiritually from the presence of the
Lord; and … subjects to follow after their own will.” By natural instinct, “[man] become carnal,
sensual, and devilish, … [and] this probationary state became a state for them
to prepare; it became a preparatory state” (Alma 42:6-7, 10).
6.
President
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Your Wonderful Journey Home,” Ensign, May 2013
We need to understand how deeply our Eternal
Father loves and beckons his children to come unto him. The principles of following Jesus Christ, through
repentance and baptism, were clearly instructed by Alma to his son Corianton. “Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come and,
partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is
not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according
to his deeds. … Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because
of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but … let the justice of God, and
his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it
bring you down to the dust in humility [and recognize this truth]; … the plan
of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of
men in this probationary state. [Therefore, repentance is necessary, however] mercy
[cannot] take effect except it should destroy the work of justice.… [T]he work
of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God. … [T]he
plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made;
therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the
plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect,
just God, and a merciful God also. … Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a
just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man” (Alma 42:27, 30,13,
15, 18).
For one who repents, mercy and the
resurrection are fruits of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Mankind is restored to the presence of God to
be judged by their works “… according to the law of justice. … Justice
exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and
thus, none but the truly penitent are saved. … And thus God bringeth about his
great and eternal purposes, which were prepared from the foundation of the
world. And thus cometh about the
salvation and the redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery”
(Alma 42:23-24, 26).
The fallen man was given the gift of a mortal body
along with the challenge and blessing of agency. “It must needs be that there was an
opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one
being sweet and the other bitter.
Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for
himself. Wherefore, man could not act
for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other” (2
Nephi 2:15-16).
Finally, the question again: “… which is the
great commandment in the law?” Which
Jesus answers: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:36-37). Joseph Smith received a similar admonition to
“… love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and all thy might, mind, and
strength” with the additional charge to serve God “… in the name of Jesus
Christ” (D&C 59:5).
A key to our progress and salvation is keeping
this great commandment in the law and
remembering that we are children of Eternal Parents,7 and by this
knowledge know how significant we are to our Father in Heaven. We have the opportunity and responsibility to
prayerfully commune with Him in the name of Jesus Christ and to humbly submit
unto Him our weaknesses, that He may make “… weak things become strong …”
(Ether 12:27).
Repent, and do the first works;
[first principles and ordinances of the gospel] or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will remove thy [church] with the [the keys of all things in association with
God] out of his place, except thou repent.
(Revelation 2:5)
We believe that the first principles and ordinances
of the Gospel are:
first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ;
second, Repentance;
third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of
sins;
fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy
Ghost.8
“Man was
in the beginning with God” (D&C 93:29) and in the pre-existence we had a
perfect knowledge of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Having fallen from the kingdom of God, man
is looking “… through a glass, darkly …” (1 Corinthians 13:12) and cannot
remember the pre-existence nor covenants made there.
From Ancient and modern scripture, we know
that the fallen man was
created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and like God, we have the gift of
choice or agency, which is “the capacity, condition, or state of acting or of
exerting power.”9 By this
principle, we are tested by the principle of obedience, both agency and
obedience are essential to progression.
Another God-like attribute of man is the gift of “intelligence, or, in
other words, light and truth. Light and
truth forsake that evil one. Every
spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from
the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God. And that wicked one cometh and taketh away
light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men and because of
the tradition of their fathers” (D&C 93:36-39).
7.
Hymns of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “O My Father” Hymn 292
8.
Pearl of Great
Price, The Articles of Faith 4
9.
Merriam
Webster, Definition of Agency
Having the gifts of light, truth and
agency, we are tested by the principle of obedience, all of which is essential
to progress and return to our heavenly home.
Because we are fallen and without hope of
returning to God under our own volition, the Book of Mormon prophet, Amulek,
taught the necessity of the atonement: “… for according to the great plan of
the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must
unavoidably perish; yea, all … are fallen and are lost, and must perish except
it be through the atonement. … It is expedient that there should be a great and
last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any
manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an
infinite and eternal sacrifice.” Amulek
further testified, “… that [the] great and last sacrifice [is] the Son of God,
yea infinite and eternal. Thus He shall
bring salvation to all those who shall believe on His name; this being the
intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which [will
overpower] justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith
unto repentance. Thus mercy can satisfy
the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that
exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands
of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought
about the great and eternal plan of redemption.
Begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon
his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you” (Alma 34:9-10,14-17).
Jesus Christ taught Moses “that by reason of
the transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as
ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have
made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into
the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood,
even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin,
and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the
world to come, even immortal glory; for by the water ye keep the commandment;
by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified; therefore
it is given to abide in you; the record of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable
things of immortal glory; the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all
things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath
all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment. … This is
the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten …”
(Moses 6:59-62).
Jesus Christ’s commandment to do the first works, or first principles and ordinances of the
gospel, is to all nations. He further says that “the day cometh that
they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his
servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be
cut off from among the people; for they have strayed from mine ordinances, and
have broken mine everlasting covenant; they seek not the Lord to establish his
righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his
own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is
that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the
great, which shall fall” (D&C 1:14-16).
Apostle James E. Talmage succinctly
teaches the first principles and ordinances of the gospel in his book Jesus the
Christ: “The narrative between Nicodemus
and Christ constitutes one of our most instructive and precious scriptures
relating to the absolute necessity of unreserved compliance with the laws and
ordinances of the gospel, as the means indispensable to salvation. Faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God,
through whom alone men may gain eternal life; forsaking of sin by resolute
turning away from the gross darkness of evil to the saving light of
righteousness; the unqualified requirement of a new birth through baptism in
water, and this of necessity by the mode of immersion, since otherwise the
figure of a birth would be meaningless; and the completion of the new birth
through baptism by the Spirit – all these principles are taught… in such
simplicity and plainness as to make plausible no man’s excuse for ignorance.”10
Faith
Since my earliest days, I’ve known that “I’m a
child of God.”11 Faith in my Father
in Heaven has always been a singular and powerful comfort to me. Like many, there is within me an impression
that I came to earth with that innate conformation of spiritual belief - I also
know that my parents, teachers and leaders taught me faith through word, song,
and example throughout my youth and into adulthood. With this reinforcement, I am still growing
in the desire to have complete “… confidence in [Jesus Christ] without
reservation” (Bible Dictionary, Faith).
Faith is the first principle of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ and “faith [comes] not by signs, but signs follow those that
believe.… [S]igns come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please,
but by the will of God…. [W]ithout faith
no man pleaseth God” (D&C 63:9-11).
Alma instructs us “concerning faith –
faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things, therefore if [we] have
faith [we] hope for things which are not seen which are true.” He further encourages us to “awake and arouse
[our] faculties, even to an experiment upon [the words of Christ], and exercise
a particle of faith, yea, even if [we] can no more than desire to believe, let
this desire work in [us], even until [we] believe in a manner that [we] can
give place for a portion of [Christ’s] words.” If we nurture this particle of faith, by embracing the
Spirit of the Lord, “it will begin to swell within [our breast]; and when [we]
feel these swelling motions, [we] will begin to say within [ourselves] … the
word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to
enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me” (Alma
32:21,27,28).
10. Talmage, Jesus the Christ page 152, Jesus and
Nicodemus, St John 3:1-21
11. Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, “I Am a Child of God” Hymn 301
If we continue to nourish faith, Alma
further teaches that our “understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and [our]
mind doth begin to expand … because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is
good, because it is discernible; therefore, [we] must know that it is
good.” By planting the seed of faith and nurturing it through
continued study, prayer, and meditation, “it shall be a tree springing up unto
everlasting life. And because of [our]
diligence and [our] faith and [our] patience with the word in nourishing it …
it may take root in [us], behold, by and by [we] shall pluck the fruit thereof,
which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is
white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and [we]
shall feast upon this fruit even until [we] are filled, that [we] hunger not,
neither shall [we] thirst” (Alma 32:34-35,41-42).
The apostle and brother of our Lord, James,
instructs those of us who lack wisdom yet desire to know truth, to “… ask of
God, [who] giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be
given him. But let him ask in faith,
nothing wavering.” The glories of the
kingdom of God will be made known to those of faith; “even so faith, if it hath
not works, is dead, being alone” (James 1:5-6, 2:17).
Followers of Jesus Christ believe that “he
[will] manifest himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the
Holy Ghost according to their faith” (2 Nephi 26:13). By faith, a “mighty change” may be brought
about in one’s heart. If we are humble
and “put [our] trust in the true and living God [and are] “faithful until the
end [we will be] saved. [Jesus Christ
has] “come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the
transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall
have eternal life” (Alma 5:13, 11:40).
As many as received him, to them gave he power to become
the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name 12
Repentance
The second principle of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ is repentance. Those of us
who understand good and evil are accountable to God, and since we live among
corrupt societies, we are under condemnation and guilty of sin in one degree or
another.
12. John 1:12 (emphasis added)
We know that our “Lord cannot look
upon sin with the least degree of allowance” (Alma 45:16). Therefore, we must continually exercise
repentance as we evaluate our conduct.
This process of turning from sin is strengthened through covenants made
or renewed with our Savior and being anxiously engaged in works of goodness. A repentant life opens the door to our Savior’s
grace and enables the return to our heavenly home of spiritual birth.
Forsaking sin often requires strength beyond
our own. This holy strength comes by faith
in God, which brings about the “power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in [Christ
and repent] “and come unto [him], and be baptized in [his] name, [and by
continued faith in him, we] may be saved” (Moroni 7:33-34). “There is no other way nor means whereby man
can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come;
yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world” (Helaman 5:9).
By the “light of Christ”13 and the
power of the Holy Ghost, the gift of knowing right from wrong has always been a
part of my life. When wrong choices were
made, I learned the value and blessings of repentance. My earliest recollection of this important
lesson, was experienced in the neighborhood grocery store owned by a family
friend. To a small boy, who was raised
in a righteous home of meager circumstance, the allure of candy was beyond my
capacity to resist and when no-one was looking, I put a small wrapped piece of
candy in my pocket. Soon after leaving
the store, the pain of guilt was overwhelming.
Passing by the store owner’s house, I put the candy in his mailbox
hoping for forgiveness of the theft. It
would have been a better lesson to have faced the store owner personally, but
the lesson was sufficient to want never to repeat my youthful mistake.
I would that this experience was the only
misstep in my life, and I can relate to Nephi when he confesses: “my heart
sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.” Following his lament, he testifies: “God hath been my support … [and] hath filled
me with his love.” Nephi further
exclaims: “Awake, my soul! No longer
droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and
give place no more for the enemy of my soul” (2nd Nephi 4:17, 20-21,
28). This emotional lament for transgressions and joy
of the Saviors atonement, is of great significance and sung often by the
followers of righteousness. Learning to
choose good over evil is a process by which we progress toward the sacred goal
of eternal life.
Calling the fallen man to repentance is a
basic principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Lord makes this clear when He declared: “Hearken and hear, O ye
inhabitants of the earth. Listen, ye
elders of my church together, and hear the voice of the Lord; for he calleth
upon all men, and he commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (D&C 133:16).
13. President Boyd K. Packer, “These Things I
Know,” Ensign, May 2013
The Lord gives solace from the burden of sin
when he further proclaimed: “Yea, repent and be baptized, every one of you, for
a remission of your sins; yea, be baptized even by water, and then cometh the
baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost. Behold,
verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel” (D&C 33:11-12).
Mankind has, by nature of the fall, been given
imperfections and we give “thanks unto God that he hath made manifest… our imperfections,
that we may learn to be more wise” (Mormon 9:31) and learn to avoid the
temptations and sins “which… so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1, 2 Nephi 4:18,
Alma 7:15). Thankfully “The tender
mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their
faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance” (1 Nephi 1:20) and
“because of their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his
blood” (1 Nephi 12:10). “Wherefore,
whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a
place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to
the souls of men, which should make them sure and steadfast, always abounding
in good works, being led to glorify God” (Ether 12:14).
Through the atonement of “Christ and the power
of his resurrection, [we may] be raised unto life eternal [with God the Eternal
Father by] faith in him.… If a man [has] faith he must needs have hope; for
without faith there cannot be any hope.… He cannot have faith and hope, save he
shall be meek, and lowly of heart” (Moroni 7:41-43). “Redemption cometh in and
through the Holy Messiah, for he is full of grace and truth. He offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to
answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a
contrite spirit” (2 Nephi 2:6-7). Through Jesus Christ, “the way is prepared
from the fall of man, and salvation is free” (2 Nephi 2:4) for those who come unto him.
In the first chapter of “The Book of the
Prophet Isaiah,” the children of Israel are rebuked as apostate, rebellious and
corrupt. Despite being condemned, even
as Sodom and Gomorrah, the Lord petitions the wicked to cease doing evil and make
oneself clean with this atoning promise of mercy:
Come now, and let us
reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be
as white as snow 14
Alma,
the unbelieving son of Alma, had caused much destruction in the church of God and
was called to repentance by an angel of the Lord. After two days and two nights of wading
through much tribulation and repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy
snatched him out of an everlasting burning, and Alma declared “I am born of God
[and] my soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of
iniquity.
14. Isaiah 1:18 (emphasis added)
I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold
the marvelous light of God.” (Mosiah 27:28-29). Almost two decades later, Alma the younger,
a high priest over the church, began a mission to deliver the word of God to
the people throughout all the land and asked these penetrating questions which are
pertinent today:
Brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of
God? Have ye received his image in your
countenances? Have ye experienced this
mighty change in your hearts? Do you
exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and
view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in
incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which
have been done in the mortal body? … Can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear
the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed,
for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of
the earth? … Can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean
hands? I say unto you, can you look up,
having the image of God engraven upon your countenances? 15
Baptism
Baptism by immersion is the third principle of
the gospel and was taught by example when Jesus Christ came “… from Galilee to
Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straight-way out of the water:
and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven,
saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:13,
16-17). Moreover, “… if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be
baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have
we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!” (2 Nephi 31:5). Therefore, “… by [baptism and] keeping the
commandments, [we] might be washed and cleansed from all [our] sins, and
receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained
and sealed unto this power” (D&C 76:52).
15. Alma 5:14-16, 19
Alma, believing the words of the Lamanite
prophet Abinadi, taught those who also believed in the prophetic word: “… [A]s
ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and
are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light… and are
willing to mourn with those that mourn… and comfort those that stand in need of
comfort, and to stand as witness of God at all times and in all things, and in
all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God,
and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal
life” (Mosiah 18:8-9).
Alma then asks the congregation, “[I]f this be
the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of
the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him,
that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his
Spirit more abundantly upon you?” (Mosiah 18:10).
Our Eternal Father calls upon all mankind to
“repent … and be baptized in the name of (his) Beloved Son.” And, The Beloved Son said: “He that is
baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me;
wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do” (2 Nephi
31:11-12).
Why tarriest thou?
Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of
the Lord 16
The Gift of the Holy Ghost
The Holy Ghost is
administered by the laying on of hands by one having authority. Anticipating the anxiety of the ancient
apostles regarding his leaving, Christ assured them with a promise of continued
revelation through “… the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father
will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to
your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26-27). The assurance of receiving “… power, after
the Holy Ghost is come upon you,” (Acts 1:8) is a gift promised all righteous
members of his church.
16. Acts 22:16 (emphasis added)
Parley P. Pratt, one of the early apostles of
Christ’s restored gospel, said we are “… intelligent
being[s], in the image of God,
[and] possess … every organ, attribute,
sense, sympathy, affection, of will, wisdom, love, power and gift, which is possessed
by God himself. He further defines
these attributes being “possessed by man
in his rudimental state in a subordinate sense of the word. Or, in other words, these attributes are in
embryo, and are to be gradually developed.
They resemble a bud, a germ, which gradually develops into bloom, and
then, by progress, produces the mature fruit after its own kind. The gift of the Holy [Ghost] adapts itself to all these organs or
attributes. It quickens all the
intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the
natural passions and affections, and adapts them by the gift of wisdom to their
lawful use. It inspires, develops,
cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred
feelings, and affections of our nature.
It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and
charity. It develops beauty of person,
form and features. It tends to health,
vigor, animation, and social feeling. It
develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual
man. It strengthens, invigorates, and gives
tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as
it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the
ears, and life to the whole being.”17
In my youth, one of our family activities
was going to the twenty-fourth of July parade in Salt Lake City, Utah. As a pre-teen, I was bashful and insecure in
the crowds that lined the street and always found comfort in the shelter of my
mother, father and siblings. I believe we
only went to the parade three or four times, and the last trip is indelibly
marked in my consciousness. On this occasion, I remember not being able to see
the parade because so many people were standing in front of us. My attention was brought to an open spot to
my right that was some distance from the security of my family. Uncharacteristically, I made my way to the
opening and found myself standing alone on the curb. A quiet comfort settled around me and within
seconds I had a burning, tingling sensation that enveloped my entire body. I was euphoric and stood frozen as I exalted in
the wonderous feeling. I wasn’t
conscious of the noise, crowds or floats as they passed by. Suddenly my solitude was interrupted by a
voice over the loud speaker which introduced David O. McKay and his wife Emma
Ray. The voice startled me as the fire within
me continued to burn and suddenly I realized the Prophet of God was passing just
a few feet in front me. Today, that
experience is a fundamental part of my testimony and the power I experienced as
the Holy Ghost bore witness to me of the reality of a living prophet of God.
This gift and power of the Holy Ghost is not
understood by the worldly man. It is “by
small and simple things [that] … great things [are] brought to pass; and small
means in many instances doth confound the wise.
And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal
purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth
about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:6-7).
17. Parley P. Pratt, Effect of the Holy Ghost on the
Individual, Key to Theology, 96, 97 (4th ed.) Talmage, Articles of Faith page
487, Appendix 8
The kingdom of God
is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost 18
But this thou hast, that thou
hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (Revelation 2:6)
Nicolaitans are defined in the Bible
Dictionary as “[a]n Antinomian sect in Asia Minor that claimed license for
sensual sin.” Antinomian, in the Merriam
Webster dictionary, is “one who holds that under the gospel dispensation of grace
the moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary to
salvation.” Or, “one who rejects a
socially established morality.”
Wikipedia explains it further: “In Christianity, an antinomian is one
who takes the principle of salvation by faith and divine grace to the point of
asserting that the saved are not bound to follow the moral law contained in the
ten commandments.”19 The
distinction between antinomian and other Christian views on moral law is that
antinomians believe that obedience to the law is motivated by an internal
principle flowing from belief rather than from any external compulsion.”20
He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 2:7)
We learn from the book of Moses that God’s
work and glory is “to bring to pass the immortality
and eternal life of man” (Moses
1:39). Immortality is the gift of the resurrection
promised all mankind. The greater gift of eternal life is given to those who, through their righteous
endeavors, have been purified and cleansed of all sin through the blood of the
Lamb of God and are blessed to live eternally in the presence of God, our Eternal
Father.
18. Romans 14:17 (emphasis added)
19. Wikipedia, Antinomianism,
In Christianity. Puritans and Puritanism
in Europe and America. ABC-CLIO. 2006.
P. 306. ISBN 9781576076781. Marie, André (17 September 2013). “Simian Antinomianism”. Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
20. Wikipedia, Antinomianism,
In Christianity. Como, David R. (2004). “Blown by the Spirit: Puritanism and the
Emergence of an Antinomian Underground in Pre-Civil-War England.” Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. P.
36. ISBN 9780804744430.
Isaiah, speaking Messianically of our day,
called upon all mankind, “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy
beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city (Isaiah 52:1).
In a prophetic witness of The Plan of
Salvation, Nephi exclaims, “O how great the plan of our God! The paradise of God must deliver up the spirits
of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the
spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become
incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect
knowledge like unto us in the flesh…. “Wherefore, we shall have a perfect
knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness, and the
righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their
righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness”
(2 Nephi 9:13-14).
The prophet,
Joseph Smith, and six elders received the revelation regarding eternal life, “…
there shall be a new heaven and a new earth.
For all old things shall pass away, and all things shall become new,
even the heaven and the earth, and all the fullness thereof, both men and
beasts, the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea.… [T]hen shall all the
dead awake, for their graves shall be opened, and they shall come forth – yea,
even all. And the righteous shall be gathered
on my right hand unto eternal life; and the wicked on my left hand will I be
ashamed to own before the Father” (D&C 29:23-24, 26-27).
Regarding Israel,
or “true believers in Christ”21 Isaiah said that “… since the
beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear,
neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him
that waiteth for him” (Isaiah 64:4).
In giving the parable of the sower, Christ
likewise emphasized those who desire to come unto him when he expresses: “[w]ho hath ears to hear, let him hear. And the disciples came, and said unto
him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever receiveth, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance;
but whosoever continueth not to receive,
from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and
hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. … For this people’s heart is
waxed gross, and their ears are dull
of hearing, and their eyes they have
closed; lest22 at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their
ears, and should understand with their
heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Matthew 13:9-13,
15). Christ makes it clear that many
deny themselves the wondrous blessings of the atonement and eternal life out of
fear of or apprehension of the responsibility
required in following him.
21. Israel, Bible Dictionary
22.
“For fear that” –
often used after an expression denoting fear or apprehension. Merriam-Webster Dictionary: lest
Concerning
transgressors in the church, Alma “poured out his whole soul to God [and] the
voice of the Lord came to him, saying: … “[H]e that will hear my voice shall be
my sheep; and … shall [be received] into the church, and him will I also
receive.” Christ clarifies that in his
church, … “whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever … shall believe in my name; …
him will I freely forgive. For it is I
that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is I that hath created them;
and it is I that granteth unto him that believeth unto the end a place at my
right hand. For behold, in my name are
they called; and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have a place
eternally at my right hand” (Mosiah 26:14, 21-24).
To him that overcometh I give to
eat of the tree of life [or The Love of God],23 which is in the midst of the
paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)
We are instructed to “… stand in holy places”
(D&C 101:22) and by emphasis told twice to awake and put on the strength of Zion’s “power of [the] priesthood” and
as additional emphasis to put on the
beautiful garments of Zion (Isaiah
52:1, 2 Nephi 8:24, D&C 113:7-8). We
are further told to be clothed in … “the whole armor of God, that [we] may be
able to withstand in the evil day,” (Ephesians 6:13) “ … because iniquity shall
abound [and] the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew
24:12-13). The covenant to the faithful
made by Christ gives us comfort in a world of turmoil: “ … [H]e that endureth
in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome, and shall receive an
inheritance upon the earth when the day of transfiguration shall come” (D&C
63:20).
At the conclusion of the Book of Revelations,
the Savior exclaims: “ … [B]ehold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to
give every man according as his work shall be.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments,
that they may have right to the tree of life [or love of God],23 and
may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelations 22:12-14).
Jesus Christ directed two of His ancient
prophets of the Americas to command: “… all mankind, yea men and women, all
nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God,
changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being
redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; and thus they become new
creatures” (Mosiah 27:25). “… I, Alma,…
command you in the language of him who hath commanded me, that ye observe to do
the words which I have spoken unto you.
23.
1 Nephi 11:21-22
I speak by way of command unto you that belong
to the church; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of
invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be
partakers of the fruit of the tree of life” (Alma 5:61-62).
Like many who have partaken of baptism by the
power of the Holy Priesthood, I still recall the feeling of cleanliness when I
was baptized at eight years of age. In
my senior years I joy in partaking of the sacrament and feel spiritually
refreshed with the renewed commitment to overcome weaknesses that “do so easily
beset me” (2nd Nephi 2:14), and be more deliberate to “stand in holy
places” (D&C 45:32, 101:22) in a troubled world.
In the mission field I found an often-asked
question, “What is my purpose?” is simply explained in the children’s hymn “I
will follow God’s Plan:”
My life is a gift; my life has a
plan, my life has a purpose; in heav’n it began, my choice was to come to this
lovely home on earth and seek for God’s light to direct me from birth, I will
follow God’s plan for me, Holding fast to his word and his love. I will work, and I will pray; I will al-ways
walk in his way. Then I will be happy on earth, and in my home above 24
Calling upon Adam, God said, “If [men will]
turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all [their]
transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only
Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only
name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the
children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost“ (Moses 6:52), which “acts as a cleansing agent to
purify a person and sanctify him from all sin.”25 Our Eternal Father clarifies that it is
“… by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by
the blood ye are sanctified; therefore it is given to abide in you; the record
of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory; the truth of
all things; that which quickeneth all things; which maketh alive all things;
that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy,
truth, justice, and judgment.… This is the plan of salvation unto all men,
through the blood of mine Only Begotten” (Moses 6:51-52,60-62).
This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true
God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent 26
24. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints Children’s Songbook, I Will Follow God’s Plan, 164 (emphasis added)
25. Bible Dictionary, “Holy Ghost,” page 661
