“Who Has The Most to Gain and Who Has The Most to Lose?”cji7/25/10In the eternal perspective as presenting in the Holy Scriptures we will remove from the worldly while trying to understand what the world professes to teach and to lead men/women with as to eternal life – after this mortal probation. Thus the question is stated in the eternal perspective and not just a worldly one for us to consider. The question or title comes from my years of doing analysis and trying to find the root cause of what is happening and why in the world of men/women.In these years when I’ve been doing analysis the first question which enters my mind is as follows: “Who has the most to gain or the least to lose?” This easily applies to world events – terrorism – warfare – deceit – guile – theft – and over the years there is usually been two or three suspects which come to the forefront – and lately only one or two[i]. Now as where this answer could be given as only one in the eternal perspective, that of the Adversary or Satan! For Satan has nothing to lose and everything to gain. As Satan has absolutely nothing – and never will, so what is it he can gain? Satan gains others to be even as him – miserable and without! Without salvation; without understanding (Satan did not understand in the beginning otherwise he would not have rebelled); without family or loved ones; and most importantly without ever being allowed into the presence of the Father or the Son[ii]. Thus we would find those who would follow or be worldly and deny or ignore the teachings of the Savior will become miserable here and in the hereafter. To continue the next question is as this essay is entitled, “Who has the most to gain and who has the most to lose?” If one were to study Judas Iscariot one could see the answer to this question – Judas was in the constant companionship of the Savior – right up to the time he betrayed him! Then what he went to outer darkness in committing suicide! How does this question then apply to each of us? We’ve choices here in mortality – we can choose to be obedient in all things to the given by the Savior (either by himself or his Prophets) Commandments, Laws and Statutes of the Father and the Son or we can to forfeit our agency by choosing to follow otherwise and the companionship of the world and worldly. We must understand the word ‘agency’[iii] we must clarify what exactly it is in eternal terminology. Bruce R. McConkie has written, “Agency is the ability and freedom to choose good or evil. It is an eternal principle which has existed with God from all eternity[iv].” Even in this world this is true. If one violates the laws of the land and is caught – one forfeits certain rights or privileges within that land[v]. Agency is a freedom of choice with eternal consequences for those choices. One can never have their agency taken away – however, they can give it away. Thus the declaration, “Agency is the privilege of being obedient to the Commandments, Laws or Statutes of God!” Agency and or the idea we’ve freedom of choice was what was voted on in the Pre-existence life we lived in our First Estate. There were two choices to vote for: 1) Father, I will go and thy will be done; or 2) I will go and none will be lost and the glory will be mine! For those of us in this world at this time and place we had to have voted for the first option and not the second. However, we had the choice to decide after coming here to change our point of view and decide the second choice made a better choice. Those who do this knowingly and willingly (for Satan cannot force) and therefore have chosen to acquit themselves of their earlier vote and also their agency. Earlier, we used the example of Judas Iscariot of changing his pre-mortal choice. Judas was one who had the most to gain and/or the most to lose with knowledge. We must understand Judas was not alone in turning away from the Savior – as early as the second year of the Saviors ministry many disciples were falling away as his teachings were too difficult to live in their world. Falling away is done in stages – whereas some will do it all at once – many do it by a little here and there. Questioning, murmuring, justifications, excuses or being only sometimes obedient to all they’ve covenanted to do or be or become. Another aspect of this discussion of gain or loss has been seen in the changing of the teachings – either by the Savior or his Prophets. One must remember much has been lost in the Scriptures. One needs only to read the Scriptures to see references to other writings which cannot be found – and one must remember a Prophet or Apostle only teach from the Scriptures and what they’re told to teach by the Savior or the Father through the Savior. In our day who then qualifies for the most to gain or the most to lose? We do! We’ve the choice to be fully obedient or not to what we’ve learned, read or understand within the Scriptures. For many in our world this is not even a choice as they’ve never even heard of Jesus or the Bible, Book of Mormon and other Scriptures. In addition, many have been denied under the threat of death to attempt to understand the Scriptures on their own. One finds that many of the world’s creeds have within them what will happen to those who deviate in obedience to the beliefs of their chosen religion – either by themselves or by traditions of their progenitors. In most creeds one who is not a member of their faith is doomed to everlasting damnation, etc. Some or all of men’s religions claim gifts or authority they do not have and thus have denied their followers the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Or worse have fabricated the authority which they proclaim. None of what I’m saying is new – it all can be found in the Scriptures if one takes them literally – which would seem to be the best course to follow. Why? There are two possible camps on religion in the world: 1) There is no God and therefore no religion per se’; and 2) There is a God and thus there will be His Church on this Earth. It is the second of the two, i.e. there is a God (most accept this to some degree and those who don’t shouldn’t care about those who do) and thus there will His Church on this Earth which most have a problem. Within the current world thinking that there is a God is great and acceptable. However, in the world thinking that there can only be one Church is totally unacceptable unless it is theirs and built around their creeds and scholarship. What is important is that the actions of men and women – depend on which it is to be – one Church or many churches - thus impacting their eternal agencies and progressions. One can go to the ‘burned over district[vi]’ of Upstate NY in the time frame of 1810-1820 to observe the many different churches seeking adherents – they claimed everyone should belong to a church – and it didn’t matter – yet the contentions arose between families, neighbors and friends when one joined a different sect than theirs. Much of this same contention and confusion exists today within the various groups afore mentioned in that the preaching of condemning one and exalting another continues from many pulpits. Now one must realize whenever the Lord’s Church is not found on this earth – due to the unrighteousness of men/women and the killing of the Prophets. The removal of the Melchizedek Priesthood[vii] or the higher Priesthood which has been present in all seven of the Dispensations where The Church of Jesus Christ has been present on this earth (including today) is also missing. Further, the presence of the Holy Ghost as a constant companion is also missing! Wherein when these two (the Priesthood and Holy Ghost) are missing men/women are left to their own devices, teachings, and understandings. When the Priesthood or the absence of the Holy Ghost occurs most frequently there is a return to the teachings of the schools – Platonism and Neo-Platonism since the days of the Greek Philosophers and Plato. Plato[viii], who was born shortly after or during the time of the last Prophet in the Eastern or Old World – Malachi[ix] about 420BC, took over the gap left without a Prophet in their world. Satan or the adversary never misses the chance to change, alter, reform, and beguile those who’ve rejected or dismissed the teachings of the Savior.The importance of this introduction of Neo-Platonism in the Old World (Europe/Asia/Middle East/Africa) of the early centuries after the death and resurrection of the Savior cannot be underestimated as today it is still in full force – different players but the same teachings as found in the creeds of the various religions. The teachings changed all and especially that the Scriptures are not to be taken literally! Thus today one will see almost all of the churches claiming a variety of names – have several things in common: 1) a God without a body of flesh and bones or passions; 2) no line of authority for their Priesthood to either Adam or Peter, James and John; 3) creeds which contradict the literal Scriptures; 4) Confusion, Contradiction, Contention and without answers to basic questions when asked about the Holy Bible; and 5) no current revelation or added Scriptures or teachings from the Father or the Son (as these are unneeded in our day)[x]. All of this confusion leaves many wondering which church they should join and in the end many either don’t join or go with the most popular where they currently reside. Thus, the confusion gains Satan or the adversary the most and those living today the least! As this is near the end of days or the latter-days which all of the Prophets (living and dead) have spoken of it would appear for those who’ve a choice to make or have made that they’ve the most to gain or the most to lose by their choice of which Church or churches to join. In the answer to this singular concern – ‘Is the Savior’s Church on this earth at this time?’ one had better have done their own homework and not depended upon another. As most who do believe there is a God it could be understood that they can read so that they can search the Scriptures on their own. In fact the Savior so commanded that we do this singular thing in John 5:39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.[xi]” If the Church has been restored in these the latter-days – then where is it to be found? For if it has been (and I testify with millions of others that it has) and one does not find it or seek it out then they will be found among those with the most to lose; i.e. eternal life. We’ve to remember eternal life and being saved are two separate and distinct states of being. Being saved is a gift paid in full by the Atonement of the Savior – wherein he took upon himself all of the sins of this world[xii]. By doing this the Savior removed the death which was caused by the Fall of Adam – or the Spiritual death – allowing all who’ve not committed murder (shedding of innocent blood) or denied the testimony of the Holy Ghost – to be saved in one of the three degrees of glory – from the least to the highest. When one searches the Scriptures – one will find that the criteria for other than just being saved which all men/women had to be – the things which one must do are many to gain the higher glory or glories and the highest to live once more in the continual presence of the Father and the Son – with their families forever and forever – or to have eternal life. As stated in the beginning each person on this earth in this mortal probation have agency – to choose good or evil. The Commandments, Laws and Statutes of the Father and the Son present the rules of which we are to fully abide in order to achieve the Celestial Kingdom. Then the full principles and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ provide us the way to achieve this obedience: 1) Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; 2) Repentance; 3)Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins (by one having authority); and 4) Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost (by one having authority).There is a plan – we voted to accept it in the Pre-existence – and therefore earned the right to receive a mortal body and come to this earth. The Plan of Salvation was presented to us by Heavenly Father – but we still had the choice or agency to accept or reject. One-third of the host of our Heaven rejected the Plan and followed Satan – and came to this earth without a body and can never attain one – with the exception as found in the Scriptures where evil spirits take over those they can find to inhabit – even if it means the pigs in the fields. Our decisions here will make the difference in the eternal worlds which come after this second estate on where we will be found – in the Telestial – Terrestrial – Celestial Kingdoms or in Outer Darkness. Unlike what many of the religions of the day teach the Savior has never said that all will be damned who don’t hear or accept his gospel during this mortal probation. Men/women will be judged on their acts/actions and justly awarded if they did not accept the fulness of the Gospel when having the chance to do so. While those who did not hear the Gospel in its Fulness will have the opportunity in the Millennial Period of time. Thus those who lived when the Gospel was not on this earth will hear it taught to them – or those who lived when it was on this earth but had no opportunity to hear it preached will also hear it taught in its fulness. All will hear and will either accept or reject as they would’ve if they had heard it in their lifetimes. Justice and mercy will both be met. Many of this earth will be quite content with where they end up in their third estate – after this mortal probation – for in part it will be based on what decisions they made with their own agency. However, for one who heard the Gospel in its Fulness – and then turned away – it is he or she who will understand fully of who has the most to gain or the most to lose by their choice – as they know what they could’ve inherited and what they choose to inherit. May the Lord’s Blessings be found with each of you on this Sabbath Day – may you each be found in honesty with your choices – be good – understand James 1:27 – and never quit looking and seeking further light and knowledge – the fulness of truth – in the name of Jesus Christ – amen – c/ork
[i] In the current history the two are always Islam and China – with China using Islam to gain its goals.
[ii] Only those in the Celestial Kingdom will be in the presence of both the Father and the Son – in the Terrestrial the Savior (or Son) will come to visit but not linger. In the Telestial all will be without either ever forever and ever.
[iii] The word agency has to be used in the eternal form for it to have the meaning of one having agency to act on behalf of themselves in all things. Man’s definition addresses the word agency only in legal or business terminology. Thus the usage of such combinations as Moral Agency or Free Agency cannot compute to the legal world in which we live.
[iv] Mormon Doctrine, p. 26, 13th Printing, 1966
[v] This would be the case with fair laws, fair judges and justice/mercy being served. We’ll be the first to admit this is generally not the case for some in the US today and many other nations as we see the various prophecies of the past and today coming to pass.
[vi] The burned over district was a term to identify and explain the religious fervor when one could find an ongoing revival by all of the various churches of the time in Central or Upstate New York between 1810-1820’s.
[x] This list is nowhere near complete in comparisons but only a snapshot
[xi] There are scriptures which refer to one doing this over and over again
cji
7/25/10
The most to gain
the most to lose
eternal the choices
now to be made
this Sabbath Day
seeking the light
further knowledge
wanting to know
where to turn
quite clear
John 5:39
what to do
James 1:27
where to be
Jeremiah 23
therein to find
the most to lose
the most to gain!
Copyright © 2010 – cji
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