“Lord, What Thou Have
Me to Say About the Celestial Kingdom, Eternal Life and Salvation?”
cji
2/10/13
Thus
in asking the question above, “Lord, what would thou have me to say?” (This
question has been asked by many over the history of this earth and our
mortality.) It is to discern what the Father would have me say about the
Celestial Kingdom, Eternal Life and Salvation. This question is for me to
know how to address the membership of our Ward and others who might
partake. Thus it is specifically addressed to those who’ve been baptized
into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!
This
presentation is one of the ways in which I’ve been prompted in answering
questions about the Celestial Kingdom of which Paul refers to in the three degrees
of glory after this life. Hopefully, it’ll be clearly and simply made available
for all who can read or listen to what is needful for the Celestial Kingdom,
Eternal Life, Salvation and all of the other alternatives which the world
considers 'as saved'. This talk/essay must be approached as anything
worthy of discerning truth. Each individual so tasked in this life to work out
their salvation - and not ever leave this to another.
Over
the past 180 years this question of what is needed to inherit the Celestial
Kingdom – have Eternal Life and Salvation in the fullness expressed by the Son
– has been answered many times – between the 1830’s and today. As
recently as the current Ensign it is discussed clearly by President Henry B.
Eyring. Yet most hear the answer but just don’t want to comprehend it or
simply don’t understand.
Simple
put the answer is, “One must be obedient to the covenants, commandments, laws
and statutes of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” At Baptism one is found to be in
this state of readiness if they’ve truly repented, have faith, and then receive
the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Over the years we’ve heard how many in the
Church were denied the ordinances of the Temple (or House of the Lord) – but
where this is required of those who could’ve entered it is not of those who did
not have this available to them. (See the teachings of Joseph Smith, Jr. and
Brigham Young).
Every
person ever born into mortality can be saved. Each one of the beasts of the
field, birds in the air or fishes in the oceans/lakes will be saved. But being
saved is only the beginning. Which none are barred from this except by
their own choices to do right or wrong – good or evil – live the commandments
fully or not i.e. denying the Holy Ghost (once received) and the shedding of
innocent blood. Being saved was accomplished by the Atonement of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.
However,
it must be understood all of those born on this earth regardless of gender,
culture, and race can earn the blessings of the
Celestial Kingdom! One earns this by being worthy from the sins of the
world! For those who’ve joined the Church through baptism and then
confirmed a member of the Church – took upon them the knowledge and
understanding of the required obedience to all of the commandments, laws and
statutes of our Father and Son. “If you love me, keep my
commandments!”
How
is this possible? Simple – be obedient! If one obeys only the first
two commandments completely there would be no need for additional ones – but
since most need things explained out in more detail the commandments have
continued to grow in turn.
Let’s
look at the basics!
1. Have
a current Temple Recommend
a. Over
the age of 12 (with the Bishop)
b. All
over the age of 18 should have a current Temple Recommend
1) For
those within a year in the Church – one to do Baptisms
2) For
those with more than a year in the Church a Full Recommend
2. Keep
the Ten Commandments and all other commandments, laws and statutes (willingly)
3. Sustain
those called by the Lord for stewardship over you
a. Do
your Home Teaching
b. Do
your Visiting Teaching
c. Fulfill
your callings
4. Pay
a full Tithing
5. Pay
a generous Fast Offering
The
above are the basics for entering into the Celestial Kingdom! Nothing
more or less – these are to be lived fully and willingly by each individual
member. As most know there is much involved in these five items – and
since none of us are perfect – we’ve much to grow into. However, doing
all of the five above will surely help us grow.
Justice
must be met – this was done by the atonement for those who do not deny the Holy
Ghost or shed the blood of someone who is innocent! Mercy is what has
been extended by the Savior – grace is to give us the strength to endure when
we’ve done all we can do.
Each
has much to do – the doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ – allows for no
excuses for those who should know and understand. It would be my understanding
when Brigham Young implied, (This is a paraphrasing) “Many of you might be
Mormons but few are Saints.” Where do we stand – and which side of the
aisle will be found? Without a Temple Recommend if of age would be to be a
social member only. For without a Temple Recommend there will be no
Celestial Kingdom, Eternal Life or Salvation in the presence of the Father and
the Son. For each member having a Temple Recommend (except those under
the age of 12 years old) should be their greatest possession.
There
will always be questions of those who’ve lived and been members of the Lord’s
Church but never had to have a Temple Recommend – or those who reach the age of
accountability and cannot yet have a Temple Recommend or those who live where
there is no Temple available to them.
The answer is almost universally the same – when one is Baptized into
the Lord’s Church as the Savior has organized with Prophets and Apostles and
the Priesthood of God – then to live worthy in full obedience to all of the
Commandments, Statutes and Laws – then their eternal salvation is made sure!
For the
first ten years after the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ again on
this earth there were no Temples available to all of the membership of the
Church. Indeed, Kirtland (March 27, 1836) was the first Temple built in
the latter-days and when the Saints were forced to flee Ohio there was no
Temple until 1845-46 one was partly finished in Nauvoo, IL (which was soon
burnt to the ground by mobs. It would be years longer until a Temple was
dedicated in St. George, UT 6 April 1877.
Thus one
can see even while the growth of the Church continued the opportunity for
Temple attendance and Temple Ordinances was greatly limited. Yet all of those
who were Baptized and Confirmed Members and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost
by proper Priesthood Authority and stayed worthy were and are entitled to all
of the Blessings as those born when there are now Temples in over one hundred
and twelve locations and counting. Indeed those men and women who could not
attend the Temple for various reasons due to the restrictions of the Lord
had/have lost none of the Blessings promised upon all who come unto him and
join His Church either two thousand years ago or today.
Lastly
– to conclude – we must fully learn the gift of love and loving of all persons
as found in the 2nd Great Commandment. Moroni
10:21 “And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in
the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have
not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope.”
I leave
these thoughts with you in the name of Jesus Christ – amen – c/ork
References:
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee (2000), 148
Preach My Gospel
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
Articles of Faith 1:3
See Russell M. Nelson, “Salvation and Exaltation,” Liahona and
Ensign, May 2008, 7–10.
Quotes
on Eternal Life, Celestial Marriage/Kingdom and Salvation:
“In our prayers we seek to know what God would have us do, what
we should do to find peace and happiness in this life and the next, and what
lies ahead of us. The Doctrine and Covenants is filled with answers to such
questions asked by ordinary people and by prophets in humble prayer. It can be
a precious guide to teach us how to receive answers to questions about our
temporal well-being and
eternal salvation.”
“With Nephi I declare: “Press forward with a steadfastness in
Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.
Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and
endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”
“One of the blessings of the restored Church is living prophets.
President Harold B. Lee (1899–1973) had a beautifully clear understanding of
priorities. He taught, “Much of what we do organizationally [in the Church] …
is scaffolding, as we seek to build the individual, and we must not mistake the
scaffolding for the soul.”
“Through this power, He redeems and exalts His children,
bringing “to pass the immortality and
eternal life of man.”
“God’s whole purpose—His work and His glory—is to enable each of
us to enjoy all His blessings. He has provided a perfect plan to accomplish His
purpose. We understood and accepted this plan before we came to the earth”
([2004], 48).”
“There are two purposes for life in mortality. The first is that
we might gain experiences that we could not obtain in any other way. The second
is to obtain tabernacles of flesh and bones.”
“… Everyone in the Church who is on the straight and narrow
path, who is striving and struggling and desiring to do what is right, though
[he] is far from perfect in this life; if he passes out of this life while he’s
on the straight and narrow, he’s going to go on to eternal reward in his
Father’s kingdom” (The Probationary Test of Mortality, devotional
address, Salt Lake Institute of Religion, Jan. 10, 1982, 8–9).
“Eternal life is the phrase used in scripture to define the
quality of life that our Eternal Father lives. The Lord declared, “This is my
work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man”
(Moses 1:39). Immortality is to live forever as a resurrected being. Through
the Atonement of Jesus
Christ, everyone will receive this gift. Eternal life, or exaltation,
is to live in God's presence and to continue as families (see D&C 131:1–4).
Like immortality, this gift is made possible through the Atonement of Jesus
Christ. However, to inherit eternal life requires our “obedience to the laws
and ordinances of the Gospel” (Articles of Faith 1:3).”
“Eternal life,
however, is something altogether different. Immortality is about quantity. Eternal life is about quality.
To use a metaphor, immortality is how long the dinner lasts. Eternal life is what is on the menu and who
is with us at the table.
“If immortality is God’s work, then eternal life is God’s glory. However, eternal life does not come automatically.
We must purge our hearts of evil and fill them with the desire to do good
continually. Our Heavenly Father, with love that is scarcely within our power
to comprehend, desires more than just our immortality. He desires each of us to
partake of this greatest of all gifts: eternal life.”
“We read in the scriptures, “if you keep my commandments and
endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which
gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” (D&C 14:7.)”
Mark 10:17–30; 12:41–44. A
rich young man asks what he must do to gain eternal life, and Jesus teaches
that trusting in riches can keep a person out of the kingdom of God. Jesus
praises a poor widow for casting two mites into the treasury.
Luke 12:13–21.
Through the parable of the rich fool, Jesus teaches the dangers of
covetousness. He exhorts his followers to seek heavenly, rather than earthly,
treasures.
Luke 14:15–33.
Through the parable of the great supper, Jesus teaches that those who follow
him must be willing to forsake all else.
Luke 16:1–12.
Through the parable of the unjust steward, Jesus teaches his followers to seek
spiritual wealth with the same enthusiasm as those who seek worldly wealth.
“Jesus taught that his disciples must be willing to sacrifice
anything that he asks of them (Luke 14:26–33). What
are some things early disciples were asked to sacrifice? What are some things
disciples today are asked to sacrifice? What has the Lord asked you to
sacrifice? How have you been blessed for making these sacrifices?”
Testify that to receive eternal life,
we must be willing to put away the things of the world and serve the Lord with
all our heart, might, mind, and strength. Encourage class members to be
grateful for earthly blessings but strive to view them in the proper
perspective.
“While salvation is an individual matter, exaltation is a family
matter. Only those who are married in the temple and whose marriage is sealed
by the Holy Spirit of Promise will continue as spouses after death6 and
receive the highest degree of celestial glory, or exaltation. A temple marriage
is also called a celestial marriage. Within the celestial glory are three
levels. To obtain the highest, a husband and wife must be sealed for time and
all eternity and keep their covenants made in a holy temple.”
“Eternal Life and
Salvation”
cji
2/10/13
Why for is the
Sabbath Day to be
can we answer this
simple question
are our lives filled
with the desire
seeking always to do
Father’s will
finding comfort and true
happiness
understanding the
truth of all things:
Though out the world
light brings
removing the mortal
life’s darkness
hearing and knowing
the voice still
loving and following
our eternal sire
allowing our whole
being to cession
thus eternal life and
salvation to see!
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