#Doctrine and Covenants study guide

[trberman]

February 3–9: “This Is the Spirit of Revelation” Doctrine and Covenants 6–9

Photo by Jasmin Ne on Unsplash Understanding the Spirit of Revelation: Insights from Doctrine and Covenants 6–9 for Personal Guidance and Faith The Spirit of Revelation is a remarkable gift that connects us to divine guidance, offering clarity and peace in a world full of uncertainty. Doctrine and Covenants 6–9 helps us understand how personal revelation works and outlines the steps we can take…

[mindfulldsliving]

Understanding the Restoration of the Fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Access following Resources for personal study: Come Follow Me: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 – December 30 – January 5, 2025 Doctrine and Covenants Online Be sure to download the PDF that is at the end of this article for personal study and resource for this week’s Come Follow Me What does it mean to live in a world where the heavens are open, and truth is restored? For Latter-day Saints, the…

[nerdygaymormon]

Idk if you'd know this, but has the Word of Wisdom been properly canonized in the Church or are we just... Trusting it? Not that God hasnt asked people to change their diets before, but I'm curious to know how vetted it is.

The short answer is if it is in the scriptures, then it has been canonized. Since the Word of Wisdom is in the Doctrine & Covenants, it is considered part of the LDS canon.

In the LDS Church, usually something is considered canonized if it is included in the scriptures (there's two notable exceptions, each regarding the Bible). The LDS Church currently has 4 books in its scriptural canon:

1. Authorized King James Version as the official scriptural text of the Bible (other versions of the Bible are used in non-English-speaking countries). Although there's two exceptions to this:

a) The manuscripts of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible states that "the Songs of Solomon are not inspired scripture," and therefore it is not included in LDS canon and rarely studied by members of the LDS Church. However, it is still printed in every version of the King James Bible published by the church.

b) Although the Apocrypha was part of the 1611 edition of the KJV, the LDS Church does not use the Apocrypha as part of its canon. Joseph Smith taught that while the Apocrypha was not to be relied on for doctrine, it was potentially useful when read with a spirit of discernment.

2. Book of Mormon

3. Doctrine and Covenants (D&C)

4. Pearl of Great Price (containing the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, Joseph Smith–Matthew, Joseph Smith–History, and the Articles of Faith)

The LDS Church's scriptures are printed together with several non-canonized study aids, including the maps, photographs, a Bible Dictionary, a gazetteer, summaries at the beginning of each chapter, a topical guide, an index, footnotes, cross references, and excerpts from Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible

LDS Church president Harold B. Lee taught "The only one authorized to bring forth any new doctrine is the President of the Church, who, when he does, will declare it as revelation from God, and it will be so accepted by the Council of the Twelve and sustained by the body of the Church." Here is the history of this happening in the LDS Church:

June 9, 1830: First conference of the church, The Articles and Covenants of the Church of Christ, now known as D&C 20. If the Bible and Book of Mormon were not sustained on April 6th at the first meeting of the Church, then they were by default when the Articles and Covenants were sustained. (see D&C 20:8-11)

August 17, 1835: Select revelations from Joseph Smith were unanimously accepted as scripture. These were later printed in the D&C. (this includes the Word of Wisdom)

October 10, 1880: The Pearl of Great Price was unanimously sustained as scripture. Also at that time, other revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants – which had not been accepted as scripture in 1835 because they were received after that date – were unanimously accepted as scripture.

October 6, 1890: Official Declaration 1 was accepted unanimously as scripture. It later began to be published in the Doctrine and Covenants.

April 3, 1976: Two visions (one received by Joseph Smith and the other by Joseph F. Smith) were sustained as scripture and added to the Pearl of Great Price. (The two visions were later moved to the D&C as sections 137 and 138.)

September 30, 1978: Official Declaration 2 was sustained unanimously as scripture. It immediately was added to the Doctrine and Covenants.

————————————————————

The revelation known as the Word of Wisdom was received in 1833 and first published by the Church in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants, it was viewed as scripture but wasn't seen as binding for many years. The original revelation was given “not by commandment or constraint,” but rather as a “word of wisdom.” It would take decades for it to be accepted as a requirement for Latter-day Saints

In 1834, the Kirtland high council decided that those who were taught the Word of Wisdom but didn't follow it were unworthy to hold an office in the Church. A few years later the Missouri high council made a similar decision. Records indicate there were some members who were reprimanded for not following the Word of Wisdom, and even excommunicated for a pattern of disobedience. Which is interesting since the revelation only describes blessings for keeping it and does not give punishments for not following it.

During the Nauvoo period, the Word of Wisdom was not emphasized and there seems to have been a more relaxed attitude about it.

In 1842, Hyrum Smith said that 'hot drinks' refers to coffee and tea. Ever since this has been the accepted interpretation.

After the Saints moved to Utah, in the 1851 General Conference, Church patriarch John Smith spoke on the Word of Wisdom and Brigham Young proposed all Saints formally covenant to abstain from those things prohibited in the Word of Wisdom. (This seems to be where the attitude of only those parts of the Word of Wisdom, what to avoid, are emphasized but not the parts of what we should eat). Despite this, it seems even Brigham Young didn't completely follow this instruction until 1862.

In the 1860s and 70s, there was a renewed emphasis on the Word of Wisdom, but it was not required as a test of membership.

In 1883, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve commit to more fully live the Word of Wisdom, and others are encouraged to follow their example. By 1900, the majority of general and local leaders were following it.

In 1902, leaders were being instructed to refuse temple recommends to flagrant violators of the Word of Wisdom, though to still be lenient with others.

In 1905, it was taught that following the Word of Wisdom is a requirement to hold leadership positions.

In 1906, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve began using water instead of wine in their sacrament meetings.

By 1915, living the Word of Wisdom was required for young or middle-aged men to be ordained to the priesthood or be given a temple recommend.

In 1921, adherence to the Word of Wisdom was required to be admitted to the temple.

————————————————————

For me, personally, I'm fine with the Word of Wisdom. Dietary rules are common in religion. Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, and Hinduism also have dietary codes.

In a way, such codes can feel like a parent who is concerned about what you're eating for lunch, it's a way of showing concern for us. However, I think there are two main purposes to such codes.

One is to implement health rules about what to eat, including sanitary measures, and how to ethically/morally approach eating meat (or forbidding meat) because it requires the death of another living creature.

The other purpose of these codes is they are a way to distinguish us as a group, to separate us from other people amongst whom we live. If we're at a company meeting where food is served, Mormons may notice who else has chosen not to have coffee or tea and wonder if they're also members of the LDS church, while non-members are unaware of this shibboleth.

To go along with these codes as cultural markers, I have observed that when someone is separating themselves from the LDS church, often one of the first things they'll do is have their first beer or cup of coffee. It’s s way of breaking that identity marker.

It is interesting that the Word of Wisdom includes prohibitions against alcohol when the consumption of wine is widely reported in the Bible. It highlights that there isn't consistency among these different religious dietary codes.

I think of Peter's vision in the New Testament where he is commanded to eat animals which were prohibited under Jewish law. God declares that all these animals are clean, meaning they are okay to eat. And the apostle Paul taught that non-Jewish converts were not required to eat kosher, however it would be helpful if they'd abstain from eating unkosher foods around their Jewish fellows so as not to offend them.

These two stories inform my opinion about the Word of Wisdom. I am LDS and follow our traditions against coffee, tea, tobacco, and alcohol, however I don't view breaking these norms as a sin. The revelation specifically says this is not a commandment, so it seems to me to be more of a cultural marker. One reason I choose to not drink coffee is it would concern or offend my fellow LDS friends, some because they think of it as a sin and others because they see it as me separating myself from this community

[rucbarthatbowtiesarecooldw]

September 30, 2023 Saturday Morning Session

How Wondrous and Great

How Firm a Foundation

Conducting: President Eyring

Elder David A Bednar

The Stalwart souls who travelled with the last wagons

They of the last wagon pressed forward

Captain Moroni – if more were like him the devil would never have power Alma 48:17

Walk in the path of your duty and press forward

Samuel the Lamanite: most walk clearly

Quiet members who often go unrecognized with their sustaining influence

Reverence the sanctity and importance of Life in God’s plan

Heavenly Father loves those who minister to children with love and unending kindness

Sister Amy A. Wright 1st Counselor Primary

Parable of the ten virgins Matt 25:1-13

Spiritual preparedness and discipleship

Cancer – “everything is going to be okay

At one point it will be too late to put more oil in your lamps – every drop matters now – but remember that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we will all be ok.

That is the greatest power on earth

Here is your reminder that the Atonement of Jesus Christ covers so many more things than just repentance or helping with forgiveness – it is also there to help us gather strength when filled with pain or sorrow, help us know that we are not alone even in the darkness of our mental health.

Gather and focus light

God with infinite knowledge, love, and glory

We cannot share our oil but we can share His light

We need more holy and revelatory experiences

He is the reason why there is never an end to our story

Eternal Life is Eternal Joy

Look to Jesus Christ and Live – like the story about the people of moses looking to the snake on a staff

I Feel My Savior’s Love

Elder Robert M. Daines, 70

Face blindness from being shot

How do you suffer from spiritual faceblindness?

Do you see Heavenly Fathers love and mercy, or a thicket of rules and thorns?

Spiritual faceblindness = seeing the rules but not recognizing God’s love

Can you sometimes only lipsync and not sing the song of redeeming love?

Does this activity/lesson help people see Jesus?

Also are we being inclusive in how we are presenting the activity/lesson?

Pray and study to see who He is and what He loves

God is completely devoted to His children in every age and nation

They are not rules to earn His love – He already loves you perfectly!

We worship our Father and not a formula

Covenants are the shape of God’s embrace

Elder Carlos A. Godoy, Presidency of the 70

Got in the wrong taxi

Heavenly Father does not do coincidences.

Omar ended up returning, being baptized and baptizing his wife and children, and then were able to be sealed a year later

Felt it was about time to go back to church for the sake of their children

Anything broken can be mended with Jesus Christ

The decision of one will impact whole generations

Not just from someone choosing to leave – also because of what caused them to leave

We should always be asking where will this lead?

Decisions, impact on self and future generations etc.

Shouldn’t we be more valiant and less lukewarm

High on the Mountain Top

D Todd Christofferson

What is the purpose of this gathering?

Protection of the covenant people

A defense and refuge from the storm

He holds the keys to administer in all authority

Keeping a proper and faithful record

Eternal families by the sealing powe

Baptisms and sealings for the dead

Add strength to your chain

Ian S. Ardern 70

Love your neighbor, refugees?

“lets all talk about Africa” – ahhh Uganda

Give to humanitarian efforts – Partners in Health (Green brothers approved donation website)

Compassion is an attribute of Christ, it demonstrates love to others and knows no boundaries

God will guide you in compassionate acts of discipleship

True compassion is more than merely flinging a coin to a beggar, it comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs reconstructuring- MLK

Compassion does not require us to know them, it only requires us to love them.

Faith in Every Footstep

President Dallin H. Oaks

Fullness of the Doctrine of Jesus Christ

Heavenly Father loves all His children so much, that He wants us all to live in a kingdom of glory forever.

In our Fathers house is many mansions

Your divine potential has everything to do with God’s love for you, and nothing to do with which glory you might possibly obtain later in life – this is something to be between you and God

You will be where you are comfortable

Do not just go through the motions and make “deposits”  - less of a checklist

He will force no one into a sealing relationship against his or her own will

TW - Plan of Salvation, Family Proclamation

Come Listen to a Prophets Voice

[biblegumchewontheword]

Books of the Bible

Here is a detailed list of the 66 books of the Bible, divided by the Old and New Testaments, along with their divisions and categories:

**Old Testament:**

**Pentateuch (5 books):**

1. Genesis

2. Exodus

3. Leviticus

4. Numbers

5. Deuteronomy

**Historical Books (12 books):**

6. Joshua

7. Judges

8. Ruth

9. 1 Samuel

10. 2 Samuel

11. 1 Kings

12. 2 Kings

13. 1 Chronicles

14. 2 Chronicles

15. Ezra

16. Nehemiah

17. Esther

**Poetry/Wisdom Books (5 books):**

18. Job

19. Psalms

20. Proverbs

21. Ecclesiastes

22. Song of Solomon

**Major Prophets (5 books):**

23. Isaiah

24. Jeremiah

25. Lamentations

26. Ezekiel

27. Daniel

**Minor Prophets (12 books):**

28. Hosea

29. Joel

30. Amos

31. Obadiah

32. Jonah

33. Micah

34. Nahum

35. Habakkuk

36. Zephaniah

37. Haggai

38. Zechariah

39. Malachi

**New Testament:**

**Gospels (4 books):**

40. Matthew

41. Mark

42. Luke

43. John

**History (1 book):**

44. Acts

**Pauline Epistles (13 books):**

45. Romans

46. 1 Corinthians

47. 2 Corinthians

48. Galatians

49. Ephesians

50. Philippians

51. Colossians

52. 1 Thessalonians

53. 2 Thessalonians

54. 1 Timothy

55. 2 Timothy

56. Titus

57. Philemon

**General Epistles (8 books):**

58. Hebrews

59. James

60. 1 Peter

61. 2 Peter

62. 1 John

63. 2 John

64. 3 John

65. Jude

**Apocalyptic (1 book):**

66. Revelation

This list represents the traditional order and grouping of the books of the Bible in most Christian denominations.

These are the 66 books that make up the Bible.

Title: The Significance of Each Book of the Bible

Introduction:

The Bible is a collection of 66 books that together form the inspired Word of God. Each book has its own unique message, themes, and significance that contribute to the overall story of God's redemption and love for humanity. Let's explore the importance of each book of the Bible.

Lesson Points:

1. The Old Testament:

- Genesis: The book of beginnings, detailing creation, the fall, and the establishment of God's covenant with His people.

- Exodus: The story of the Israelites' liberation from Egypt and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai.

- Psalms: A collection of songs and prayers that express a range of human emotions and provide a guide for worship.

- Proverbs: Wisdom literature that offers practical advice for living a righteous and wise life.

- Isaiah: Prophecies about the coming Messiah and God's plan of salvation.

2. The New Testament:

- Matthew: Emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the establishment of the kingdom of God.

- Acts: Chronicles the early spread of the Gospel and the growth of the early church.

- Romans: Explains the doctrine of justification by faith and the implications of salvation through Christ.

- Corinthians: Addresses issues within the church and provides practical guidance for Christian living.

- Revelation: Offers apocalyptic visions of the end times, the victory of Christ, and the establishment of the new heaven and earth.

3. Themes and Messages:

- Each book of the Bible contributes to the overarching themes of God's love, redemption, forgiveness, and salvation for all humanity.

- Together, these books provide a complete narrative of God's work in the world and His plan for His people.

Application:

- Take time to explore and study each book of the Bible, seeking to understand its unique message and significance.

- Reflect on how the themes and stories in the Bible can impact your own life and faith journey.

- Consider how the teachings and examples in the Bible can shape your beliefs and actions as a follower of Christ.

Conclusion:

The books of the Bible are not just separate entities but are interconnected parts of the larger story of God's redemption and love for humanity. Each book has its own importance and contributes to the overall message of God's plan for salvation. May we approach the study of the Bible with reverence and openness to the wisdom and guidance it offers for our lives.

[lds365]

Visitor’s Guide to Church History Sites in Ohio. Great supplement to your #ComeFollowMe study this year.

Learn about #Kirtland Temple, historic town of Kirtland, Newel K. Whitney Store, Joseph & Emma home, etc.

[taylor14firefly]

Some Reflections on Separatism and Power

by Marilyn Frye

In The Politics of Reality: essays in feminist theory (1983, Crossing Press) (originally written and published 1977/1978)

"In my life, and within feminism as I understand it, separatism is not a theory or a doctrine, nor a demand for certain specific behaviors on the part of feminists, though it is undeniably connected with lesbianism. Feminism seems to me to be kaleidoscopic–something whose shapes, structures and patterns alter with every turn of feminist creativity; and one element which is present through all the changes is an element of separation. This element has different roles and relations in different turns of the glass–it assumes different meanings, is variously conspicuous, variously determined or determining, depending on how the pieces fall and who is the beholder. The theme of separation, in its multitude variations, is there in everything from divorce to exclusive lesbian separatist communities, from shelters for battered women to witch covens, from women’s studies programs to women’s bars, from expansion of daycare to abortion on demand. The presence of this theme is vigorously obscured, trivialized, mystified and outright denied by many feminist apologists, who seem to find it embarrassing, while it is embraced, explored, expanded and ramified by most of the more inspiring theorists and activists. The theme of separation is noticeably absent or heavily qualified in most of the things I take to be personal solutions and band-aid projects, like legalization of prostitution, liberal marriage contracts, improvement of the treatment of rape victims and affirmative action. It is clear to me, in my own case at least, that the contrariety of assimilation and separation is one of the main things that guides or determines assessments of various theories, actions and practices as reformist or radical, as going to the root of the thing or being relatively superficial. So my topical question comes to this: What is it about separation, in any or all of its many forms and degrees, that makes it so basic and so sinister, so exciting and so repellent? Feminist separation is, of course, separation of various sorts or modes from men and from institutions, relationships, roles and activities which are male-defined, male-dominated and operating for the benefit of males and the maintenance of male privilege–this separation being initiated or maintained, at will, by women. (Masculist separatism is the partial segregation of women from men and male domains at the will of men. This difference is crucial.)"

[isaiahbie]

The Restoration Plea

The idea that we should allow Scripture to be our only guide—to look at the beliefs and practices of the earliest Christians, as revealed to us in the New Testament, and hold them as normative for what we teach and do—is not some novelty that only arose among churches of Christ. It has been a deeply held conviction for a number of different groups.

The Waldenses, the Lollards, and the Hussites all looked to the example of the New Testament church. They sought to place Scripture in the hands of the common people, and called for a simple piety based on the New Testament in the Middle Ages. The Reformed branch of the Protestant Reformation, in particular, rejected human traditions and stressed Scripture, influencing the Puritans. And the Anabaptists looked to the ethics of the early church and sought to live them out in their communities.

All of this should encourage us in that our view of biblical authority and of following in the example of the early church is not historically unusual but is a common impulse for professing Christians.

More importantly, the grounds for this shared desire are found in Scripture itself.

Whenever a doctrine of God gets “lost,” for lack of a better term, there is a strong thread in Scripture that God’s people need to restore it. The Jews in Nehemiah’s day dropped everything to build huts when they found they had been keeping the Feast of Tabernacles wrong for centuries (Nehemiah 8). King David was appalled when his man, Uzzah, was killed transporting the Ark of the Covenant—till he studied and found they were moving it improperly, and so he restored the correct practice (1 Chronicles 15). King Josiah was distraught when the lost Book of the Law was recovered, immediately ordering that the Passover be kept properly for the first time in generations (2 Chronicles 34-35).

We must not let anyone discourage us from the Restoration Plea. It has the weight of Christian history behind it and the support of Scripture.

[burnt-kloverfield]

In my family's scripture study, we finished up the Doctrine & Covenants and read the two Official Declarations at the end, but reading OD 1, something really really hit me and my soul and hasn't let me stop thinking about it. There are reasons given in that section about why polygamy was discontinued, which ultimately boiled down to "we are protecting our people for the greater good." It never says that polygamy is wrong, should never be practiced, or was shameful. The prophets and apostles said that if the people continued this practice, much more harm would come from the world on us than the good we could do from continuing this practice. And I could not let that go. I'm looking around the church, what's going on today, in the culture, and among the people, and how everything is being conducted. That sentiment, that if we are different we will be harmed by the world really stuck. And that suddenly clicked with the entire undercurrent of the leadership of the church conduct themselves and guide the church.

I'm trying to get the words out, but I keep remembering this article, and it says it so well.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/01/the-most-american-religion/617263/

[mindfulldsliving]

Unveiling Modern Theophany: Joseph Smith's First Vision and Ancient Biblical Encounters

The First Vision, by Del Parson Joseph Smith’s First Vision stands as a pivotal moment in the history of the Church, comparable to significant prophetic encounters found in ancient scriptures. How does this modern theophany deepen our understanding of personal revelation and divine communication? In this post, I’ll explore the layers of Joseph’s experience within the context of biblical events,…

[nerdygaymormon]

Alma 3:6-9

I've heard this verse used as proof that mormonism is racist. Do you have an argument against it?

These verses in the Book of Mormon say people were cursed by God with a dark skin for being wicked. For most of its history, members of the LDS Church understood this passage as God cursed these people & their descendants with darker skin.

In 2020, Church spokeswoman Irene Caso said of the mark of dark skin, "The nature and appearance of this mark are not fully understood. … Later, as both the Nephites and Lamanites each went through periods of wickedness and righteousness, the mark became irrelevant as an indicator of the Lamanites’ standing before God.”

The 2020 Come, Follow Me study guide was updated to say “the curse of the Lamanites [one of the groups] was that they were ‘cut off from [the Lord’s] presence … because of their iniquity.’ … When Lamanites later embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ, ‘the curse of God did no more follow them.’”

In Sunday School classes, I've heard it taught that this group of Lamanites met and joined with other inhabitants who occupied the land. These inhabitants had darker-colored skin. By intermarrying, their offspring naturally had more melanin as a result of genetics, not a curse. Other times I've heard it said that this is symbolic, light=goodness and dark=wickedness. Their skin didn't actually change color but their countenance darkened.

I think it's terrible it was ever taught that darker skin is a curse from God. I think it's problematic this language still exists in the book and wish it would be changed.

The title page of the Book of Mormon says “And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God…” It's an interesting way to introduce the book. If it's determined there are errors, can they be corrected?

Unfortunately, this view that dark skin means cursed fit with the narrative common in America at that time, that Africans were cursed with black skin because they're descendants from the Biblical figure Cain, and they were also cursed to be servants as descendants of the Biblical character Ham. This is clearly a case of twisting the Bible to justify their racism and the enslaving of Africans.

By the end of the Book of Mormon, the labels Nephite & Lamanite lose their association with color of skin as the two groups have intermixed. Instead, it's behavior which determines who are the good guys and who are the bad guys.

In addition to what it teaches about faith in Christ, the overarching lesson of the Book of Mormon is that wealth inequality & pride are the real dangers that doom civilizations and those who resort to violence and fail to care for the needy will dwindle in unbelief. The book ends by showing us the Nephites dwindling to nothing.

Cal Burke, a friend of mine, summarizes the Book of Mormon as "a story about a large group of violently racist misogynists who thought they were better than everyone else, & wound up getting annihilated *explicitly because* they would not stop being violently racist misogynists. That's it, that's the plot."

The Doctrine & Covenants confirms that the Nephites are not the heroes but rather are a cautionary tale. D&C 38:39 contains this warning to the church: "beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old." This warning to the early Latter-day Saints meant if they didn't change they would face complete destruction

Even if we go with the earlier interpretation that the Nephites saw the Lamanites having darker skin as a curse from God and that having lighter skin is superior and shows the Nephites are better, we are warned to not be like the Nephites.

In December 2021, the General Handbook of the church was updated to say church members “strive to be persons of goodwill toward all, rejecting prejudice of any kind. This includes prejudice based on race, ethnicity, nationality, tribe, gender, age, disability, socioeconomic status, religious belief or nonbelief, and sexual orientation.”

Unfortunately, the church has a history of being prejudiced. It is trying to do better. I appreciate the steps it has taken and look forward to more steps to remove prejudice from the church.

[rucbarthatbowtiesarecooldw]

Sunday Afternoon Session

Conducting: Henry B. Eyring

In Hymns of Praise

I Love to See the Temple

Dallin H. Oaks

Loving God and neighbors are first bc they invite us to grow spiritually and imitate God’s love for us.

All the children of God – with exceptions too limited to be considered here (sons of perdition) – will end up in one of God’s kingdoms

Covenants made in the Temples of God are key

Bc they guide us towards achieving

HF loves all His children and has provided a place for all His children

Cannot abide the law of the kingdom, cannot abide the glory.

The kingdom of glory we receive in the final glory depends on what laws we choose to abide by during life

This is why we go to the place we will be most comfortable

All of His children are our brothers and sisters regardless of their beliefs

All will receive salvation

Family proclamation founded on unchangeable doctrine

Press forward having a love of God and of ALL men

Adeyinka A. Ojediran

Jesus Christ is the center of all ordinances and covenants

1 the HG can teach us, remind us of the Savior’s teachings, and abide with us forever

2 Taking the sacrament worthily is a testimony to God

The spirit helps us navigate through mortality

Jorg Klebingat

Agency is God’s precious gift to His children

God won’t force us to do good, and the devil won’t force us to do evil

It is our strength that is being tested. Not God’s

Crowds cannot make right what God has declared to be wrong

Why call you me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?

There are moral absolutes bc there is sin

We do not need to apologize for our beliefs, nor back down what we know to be true.

Mark L. Pace

Spiritual foundations must be constantly reinforced

Your experiences with the scriptures must be your own – just listening to others testimony is not enough

Do as God commands through what the Prophet says

What are some outward signs of the inward faith and commitment you have?

Constant focused study of the scriptures

Talking mostly about come follow me study

We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet

Ulisses Soares

When we live in faith we become more resilient

Do not become complacent in your faith

The Savior has established the way for us to avoid apathetic discipleship

Our ability to feel the saviors influence and love will be intensified in our lives

Immerse ourselves with faith and real intent in the Savior’s teachings

The Lord is aware of you despite any distance away from the covenant path

God has promised blessings for His children

Receive all things with thankfulness

Randy D. Funk

All are welcome to receive these blessings

Agency not simply the right to choose, but the opportunity to choose the right

1 be redeemed of God

2 be numbered with those of the 1stresurrection

3 receive the blessing of eternal life

4 the Lord will pour out His spirit among you

Have you chosen to have faith in Jesus Christ?

Especially when temptation, opposition, or adversity comes

The blessings of Jesus Christ are immeasurable because they are eternal

The Iron Rod

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Offerings are measured differently than how we usually measure something

By the effect it had on the person not the effect it has on the treasury.

Either way it must be our heartfelt all

Balance is not dividing our time evenly among competing interests

It takes time, practice, patience. It even takes falling down a time or two.

Focus on your destination

Staying balanced is all about moving forward

The airplane gains no altitude just sitting on the runway. Has to use forward momentum to overcome the pull of gravity and drag

The Savior is the motivating power behind all that we do…. He is the way, the truth, and the light.

HF knows you have need of all these things �� seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you

Requires letting some things go and other things grow

Sacrifice and consecration are different things

Sacrifices are things we give up for something better, and are sacred and honored by the Lord

When we consecrate something we don’t just leave it on the alter, we put it to use. We use it in the service of God

Keep His commandments, love and serve His children

Though small, it was her all

Russell M. Nelson

We can control how we spend our time each day

“The shadow by my finger cast Divides the future from the past: Before it, sleeps the unborn hour, In darkness, and beyond thy power. Behind its unreturning line, The vanished hour, no longer thine: One hour alone is in thy hands,- The NOW on which the shadow stands.”

Increase positive spiritual momentum

Wellington New Zealand

Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

Barcelona, Spain

Birmingham, United Kingdom

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Our Blessed Hope Part 2: The Pre-tribulationist Position

In part one of this series of posts, I tried to briefly explain from Daniel 9:27 and some of the descriptors of Revelation 6 that during the seven year Tribulation period, God is doing two unique purposes, restoring national Israel and judging the wicked world system. In this post, I will try to demonstrate the arguments for the rapture taking place before this period.

Christians who believe in a pretribulational rapture find great hope in this definition of the Tribulation because the Church is not identified as a recipient of this phase in God’s plan. The Church already has redemption in Christ and therefore is not guilty of rejecting him. The Church was not even in existence when these prophecies of the Tribulation were first given and is not mentioned directly in the book of Revelation; we were a mystery (Eph 3:6), and as such we received different promises which give us hope in looking toward Christ and his coming, rather than fear and dread. Careful study of Scripture shows us that only when these promises are fulfilled will God’s time of judgment begin.

Different Prophetic Programs

Those who believe that Christ will return to collect his Church before the Tribulation recognize that, in these and other discourses in Scripture regarding the Tribulation, the Church, the body of believers God is assembling in this age, is nowhere directly mentioned. Instead, the promises are made to Israel who God consistently sees as being distinct from the Church. Certainly, God could fulfill his purposes for both groups at the same time, but as Benware notes, certain texts demonstrate that this is not God’s intention. Paul writes in Romans 11:25–27,

Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.  And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

The majority of the Jewish people have hardened hearts toward the gospel. They were broken off from God’s grace so that Gentiles could be grafted in and receive his blessings (v 17). Only when God has completed his purposes for the Gentiles will he begin the work of saving Israel and fulfilling his covenant to them as he promised in Daniel 9:27.

Imminence of Christ’s Return

This promise in Romans 11 is only one of several verses in the New Testament that seem to indicate that the fulfillment of the Church Age is the next item on God’s prophetic timetable. This doctrine, known as the doctrine of imminence, is defined by one author as the teaching that “as of this present moment, [the rapture] could happen at any time because based on what God has revealed to us about His Word up to this point, we currently don't see any prophesied event in Scripture that absolutely must happen first.”[1] Repeatedly, believers are commanded in Scripture to wait and watch, not for a sign or a treaty or a political leader, but for the Lord’s return. For example, Paul encourages the Church in Philippi with the hope of the rapture, stating in Philippians 3:20–21, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Paul included himself in this exhortation to wait for the Lord to transform our bodies, demonstrating that he expected to experience this miraculous event in his own lifetime.[2]

This is seen again in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 when Paul proclaims “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” Paul speaks as if he believes that he would still be alive when Christ returns for his church, as if Christ could catch us up to meet him in the air at any time. Furthermore, Paul commands the Thessalonians to encourage each other with these words (v 18). If the judgments of the Tribulation must occur before the rapture, this doctrine is hardly a word of encouragement since Revelation informs us that the majority of believers will be persecuted and martyred (Rev 6:9–11; 7:9–14). If any of these events did need to occur before the appearing of Christ, certainly would have informed the Church of this so we could watch for it and know when Christ was about to return. Instead we are told only to wait for the blessed hope of Christ’s glorious appearing (Titus 2:12).[3]

Waiting for the Bridegroom

One other place we see this concept of imminence in a rather unique way is a statement from Jesus himself in John 14:2– 3, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” Contrary to the posttribulationist claim that Christ will catch us up only to bring us back down to earth again where he will set up his earthly reign, Jesus here explains that the place he is preparing for us is in heaven with the Father, so in order to experience the blessings of that place, Christ must return and take his Church there to be with him.

Beyond this, certain commentators have noticed a connection between Jesus’ words here and a running theme in Scripture that describes his relationship to his Church, namely that we are called “the bride of Christ” (2 Cor 11:2). This is a worthy comparison, especially in light of the Jewish wedding traditions during the time of Christ. In those days, a Jewish man would travel from his father’s house to that of his potential bride’s and offer a significant dowry to marry her. Upon the acceptance of the man’s offer, the two of them would become legally betrothed but separated for a time as the groom returned to his father’s house to build a home in which he and the bride would live. When the father decided everything had been adequately prepared, he would send the son back to the bride, heralded by a trumpet blast to announce his arrival, at which point the groom would take the bride back to their new home where they would enter their wedding chamber for seven days. After the seven days, there would be a great feast to celebrate their union.[4]

In the same way, Christ came from the Father’s home in heaven and dwelt among us on earth (John 1:2,14), paid the price for his bride by shedding his blood for us (Rev 5:9), united us with him through that sacrifice (Eph 2:13), is currently building a place for us in his Father’s house (John 14:2–3), will return for his bride with the sound of a trumpet (1 Cor 15:52), and after a period of seven years will celebrate the wedding feast in which all the faithful left on the earth will be invited (Rev 19:9). Of special interest is the fact that only the son’s father could decide the right time to fetch the bride, just as only God the Father knows the hour in which He will send the Son of Man (Matt 24:26). The role of the bride is not to look for a sign or look forward to some other event, but to wait eagerly and expectantly for her groom’s arrival. In the same way, we should not be setting our eyes on a date, or a sign, or political movement, but setting all our hope in the day Christ comes for His Church.[5]

Sources

[1] Greg Lauer, “The Ins and Outs of Imminence,” accessed October 6, 2020, http://alittlestrength.com/articles/2020/2006-imminence.htm.

[2] Benware, Understanding End Times Prophecy, 228

[3] Ibid.

[4] Todd Hampson, The Non-Prophet’s Guide to the Book of Revelation, (Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2019), 49–51.

[5] Ibid.

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Visitor’s Guide to Church History Sites in Vermont: Joseph Smith Birthplace. Great supplement to your #ComeFollowMe study this year

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Home Verse Of The Day Joshua 3:8

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"You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, 'When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'"

Joshua 3:8(NASB)

Picture courtesy of Wikimedia

Verse Thoughts

Joshua and Caleb were the only two who escaped Egyptian slavery and passed through the Red Sea... who would finally cross the River Jordan, into the promised land. 40 years had passed, since that eventful day, when the lambs were slain in Egypt, the angel of death passed over, and the people were redeemed. Moses had reminded a new generation of Israelites, of the covenant God made with His people, and their duty towards the Lord. Finally, just before his death, Moses passed the baton of leadership to Joshua, just as God had commanded.

"Be strong, and of a good courage", Joshua was told, by the Lord "be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest." The 40-year-long wilderness trek had come to an end, and Joshua had prepared the people for the task ahead. They were ready to enter the Land of Canaan and claim the territory promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, many years before. They had to trust all that God had told them - "the Lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest."

A new generation of Israelites had arrived at the edge of the Jordan, where they encamped for 3 days. God reminded Joshua that every place, where the sole of his foot would tread, would be given into the hands of His people - just as He promised Moses.  Joshua was then given some very specific instructions for the priests, who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant on their shoulders. "When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you are to tell them to stand still in the Jordan."  The priests were also to believe, that the Lord thy God was with, whithersoever they went.

Just as the Red Sea barred the Israelites' flight from Egypt, so the fast-flowing waters of the Jordan River were impassable, without a mighty miracle of God. The Bible tells us that this was the harvest season, which meant that the river was swollen, and the waters overflowed the banks. God had brought His people to the brink of the Jordan, at a time when it was impossible for them to cross. This was to be a test of faith. This was a demonstration of God's power. This was to be a time for them to grow in their faith. The people were also to believe, "the Lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest."

From the birth of the nation of Israel, and throughout the dispensation of Law, the Lord wanted to teach His people to trust Him, and obey His Word. He wanted His chosen nation to obey His covenant and believe all He had said. He wanted them to trust in Him with all their heart and not rely on their own understanding, ingenuity, or human wisdom. He wanted them to know, "the Lord their God was with thee, whithersoever they went."

No matter what difficulties they faced; no matter what giants barred their way; no matter what problems loomed over them; no matter what circumstances they had to face... God was teaching His people to trust Him implicitly, and depend on Him entirely so that their faith in Him would grow and flourish, as they witnessed God dealing with difficulties, giants, problems, and the many, onerous circumstances they faced.

God was teaching His people to walk by faith and not by sight. The raging waters would have swept the people to certain death, but God wanted Israel to trust that He would prevent the overflowing waters from overtaking them.  For 40 years they had learned that the Lord was with them in the fire and in the cloud, and now their faith was to be tested once again. Now they were to believe, "the Lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest," - even though the Jordan.

During their wilderness journey, they learned that the Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God, and so the Lord told Joshua to command the priests, who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant, to step into the raging waters, and stand still in the midst of the Jordan,  with the Ark on their shoulders, while the entire multitude crossed on dry land. God proved His faithfulness to His people on that day, for they all crossed on dry land.

The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and like Israel, we are also to walk by faith and not by sight. Like Israel we are to live by faith and to trust the Lord with all our heart, no matter what difficulties we may have to face, no matter what giants bar our way, no matter what problems loom above us, no matter what circumstances overtake us... we are to step out in faith and remember that "the Lord our God is with us, whithersoever we goest."

Too often we want God to act so we can believe in His deliverance, but God wants us to demonstrate faith before He acts, in order to increase our faith - so that we may grow in the faith. We often say 'Deliver me, and I will trust You, Lord', but our Father replies, 'Trust Me, My child, and I will deliver you', for He has promised, to be with us, wherever we go.

Many times the Lord used Israel, as an example to the Church, of faith in action, as well as faltering faith. Through Israel, we learn of the danger of doubting God's Word and falling away. Some of the things Israel did are warnings to the Church not to fall into the same snare, while others are godly examples, for us to emulate.  May we remember the encouraging words given to Joshua, the priests, and the people of Israel that, "the Lord our God is with us, whithersoever we go."

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, that You that You are the same yesterday, today and forever. Thank You for the many lessons we can learn from Israel, when they crossed the River Jordan into the promised land. Thank You that you have promised to be with me wherever I go. Thank You that no matter what difficulties or dangers I have to face, You will be with me, to lead, to guide, to protect, and to comfort. Help me to trust You in all things and not allow life's circumstances to cause me to doubt Your precious promises - which are all 'YES' and 'AMEN' in Christ Jesus my Lord, AMEN.

Picture courtesy of Wikimedia

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Celestial Chemistry

Written by Benny Millar

Homeward Bound

My patriarchal blessing quotes a scripture that I love, “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.” (Doctrine & Covenants 82:10)  I prefer looking at verses 8-10 together for a more complete perspective on this wonderful verse in modern scripture:

And again, I say unto you, I give unto you a new commandment, that you may know my will concerning you; or, in other words, I give unto you directions how you may act before me, that it may turn to you for your salvation.  I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

I’ve been thinking about this in relation to our walk on the covenant path and it made me realize how much our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to stay “bound” to us!   We individually might say, “I, Benny, am bound to the Lord when I make and keep sacred covenants in His temple; and when I do what He says, I may claim His promises.” 

I am developing a new analogy that I call “Celestial Chemistry.” It conceptually focuses on the idea of hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, and covalent bonds in relation to faith, obedience, and priesthood covenants. I would love to share it with you. Please understand that I am not promoting these ideas as doctrine, but simply laying out my personal thoughts that emerged as I pondered and studied the doctrine of making and keeping priesthood covenants.

Hydrogen Bonding and Water

Water is the classic example of hydrogen bonding.  On the basic atomic level, there exists partial positive charges and partial negative charges which hold two hydrogens to one oxygen.  This creates an attractive polarity within each H2O molecule and an even more unique bonding association with many other H2O molecules nearby.  Water is composed of a molecular neighborhood wherein each hydrogen atom is actually bonded to two separate oxygen atoms though more strongly to one. The bonding in liquid water is such that the closest neighboring H2O molecules form a tetrahedron which is 90% electrostatic and 10% covalent.  

Perhaps this is pushing the spiritual chemistry analogy too far, but the tetrahedral bonding formation of liquid water could represent the baptismal covenant.  This covenant is like a bond requiring five separate contributing parts:

The individual making the covenant 

God the Father

Jesus Christ

The Holy Ghost

Authority of the Priesthood

Hence, there are five bonded parts in one tetrahedral structure. I find it interesting that five parts (or five words) is a common theme in our covenant relationship with deity.  When children of God desire to live through covenant obedience they must demonstrate a willingness to follow God’s directions which will show them how to “…act before [Him], that it may turn to [them] for [their] salvation.”  Nephi personified this willingness when he said, “I will go and do.”   Living by this five word mantra qualifies an individual to become connected to heaven and prepares her/him for making and keeping sacred priesthood covenants.  

Another five word symbol of advanced covenant relationships can be found when we think about the inscription on every temple built in the latter-days, “Holiness to the Lord, The House of the Lord.”  One day after a temple recommend interview with a member of our stake presidency, my sweet wife asked the counselor a question.  She asked him what he understood to be the meaning of the phrase, “Holiness to the Lord.”  His answer was profound.  He told her a story of a famous national news reporter who interviewed a prominent member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Boston, Massachusetts.  The two men sat on a bench not far from the Boston temple and the interviewer asked if he could ever go inside the temple himself. “Of course,” the brother explained, “if you qualify by meeting the standards of holiness to the Lord.” Then he reverently shared with the journalist all the temple recommend interview questions.  The reporter was astounded and replied, “You mean to tell me that every member of your church who is granted entrance into that temple answered every one of those questions?  I don’t think I could honestly answer any of them myself.  That is remarkable!”  Holiness to the Lord is a personal preparation to enter His temples.  “The House of the Lord,” (another five word mantra) stands as the designated place for Heavenly Father’s family to enter into the higher covenants of salvation.  Inside the temple, the pattern of fives is repeated in special and perhaps subtle ways that cannot be shared in this essay. Look for them on your own as you worship in The House of The Lord. Now back to some chemistry.

If hydrogen bonding in water were too strong, life could not be sustained at lower temperatures and if the bonding were too weak then life could not be sustained at higher temperatures. There exists a “Goldilocks Principle” of not too strong and not too weak which keeps water and life sustained over a wide range of temperatures.  If the bonds in liquid water break, they quickly reform as long as the tetrahedral molecules remain close and actively engaged.  This is like enduring repentance and faithful service which is life sustaining and reminds me of the two great commandments.  As we strive to love God with all of our heart, soul and mind, and strive to love our neighbor as ourself, we are able to retain a remission of our sins and maintain the unique spiritual hydrogen water bonds of our baptismal covenant.

Water is “sticky” because of the easy and abundant hydrogen bonds throughout the liquid structure which creates surface tension.  This is how a skin forms on the surface for insects to walk upon, how humans can easily drink water through a straw, and how plants can draw up a column of water through roots and channels against gravity!  Perhaps we need to appreciate the “stickiness” of our baptismal covenant, too.  Baptism is the ordinance of immersion in water being surrounded completely by hydrogen bonded water molecules and represent the first step on the covenant path.  The hydrogen bonding interactions serve as a spiritual analogy of how this baptismal covenant guides our actions and strengthens our influence on those we minister to. We must interact with others in sticky, up close, and personal ways: mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all places, repenting quickly and interacting through love continuously.  This spiritual bonding stays connected and true through a wide range of trials and situations sustaining spiritual life as we know it.

Remember in water, each hydrogen atom is bonded to two separate oxygen atoms one more strongly than the other.  So it is with our baptismal covenant; the bond with God is stronger than the bonds with our neighbors, but both are crucial to maintain the spiritual life giving properties of the water covenant.

In simple chemistry terms, there is a hierarchy of bond strength: hydrogen bond < ionic bond < covalent bond. This progression lends itself to further understanding in my spiritual chemistry analogy and has obvious covenant path symbolism.

Ionic Bonding and Salt

Salt (sodium chloride) is the classic example of ionic bonding.  The transfer of electrons between two atoms is called electrovalence.  Atoms that gain electrons become positive cations and atoms that give up electrons become negative anions creating electrostatic attractions between the two. This attraction leads to the formation of an ionic bond that is stronger than a hydrogen bond but weaker than a covalent bond.  Ionic compounds like salt form crystalline structures that can break neatly and can be dissolved in water dissociating ions into solution. 

Take sodium chloride for example. When this ionic compound dissociates in water, such as in food preparation, a small amount of salt will savor a large amount of the solution. In Matthew 5:13 the Savior said to his faithful followers, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted?”

Like the special properties of ionic bonds, various types of relationship bonds can be formed between neighbors, class and quorum members, ward families, missionaries and investigators.  Perhaps a spiritual ionic bond is established through righteous priesthood service and when faithful disciples bear humble testimony to others.  Subsequently, righteous spiritual electrons are transferred to another individual flavoring their experience and promoting the formation of a medium strength bond between the two persons — an empathetic give and take relationship of savory spiritual influence.

“Ye are the salt of the earth.” This responsibility pertains to all faithful disciples of Christ who have been baptized and confirmed—men, women, youth, and children. It also has direct implications for priesthood holders and holds them accountable to savor the earth by sharing their “ionic” personal influence with everyone they meet by virtue of the priesthood, and in the name of Jesus Christ.

Although these bonding interactions certainly strengthen relationships, congregations and communities, they are not strong enough to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers.  Spouses, nuclear families and extended families across the generations must be bonded more strongly than this, even welded and sealed for time and all eternity.

Covalent Bonding and the Temple

Temple covenants are like celestial covalent bonds sharing electron orbitals (power in the priesthood) across both sides of the veil. They are the strongest chemical bonds and the strongest spiritual bonds, especially when linked or welded together in a generational chain.

Perfection, sanctification, pure conversion cannot happen on our own merits of obedience, but they require the grace of God to cure and finish the process. The bond must be two ways and must invoke heavenly, divine, celestial powers overlapping with our own righteous offering in order to manifest the powers of godliness now and through the eternities. Christ is symbolically represented by the temple, specifically the veil of the temple (see Hebrews 10:20). So I propose that the following phrases are mostly synonymous: “in the name of Jesus Christ” and “through the veil.” Consider covenant making and keeping as the method of forming a celestial covalent bond between God and His children through the power of Christ’s priesthood and the gift of His grace. 

I will now emphasize a play on words which is not gender specific and should be extrapolated in its entirety to women and men.  The electrons traveling around both atoms form a shared orbital which makes the strongest covalent bond between the two atoms.  Think of this as two “Adams” one seeking holiness and the other a divine “Man of Holiness;” one on each side of the veil with the electron orbital passing “through the veil.” This power transfer through the veil happens by virtue of, and in the name of Jesus Christ. Thus, the power of godliness is made manifest “through the veil” in this fashion thus binding the mortal covenant keeper to her/his God. This is the power that must rest upon us now and forever. It is the manner in which Christ not only reveals us to His Father but binds us to Him, saving us and perfecting us in the process. “We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.” (The Third Article of Faith) Please notice another five word mantra here, “through the atonement of Christ.”

In chemistry the strongest single covalent bond occurs between carbon and fluorine C-F making CF4 (carbon tetrafluoride) a very stable covalently bonded molecule. How interesting that C could stand for “covenant” and F could stand for “faith.” Molecules that bind multiple carbons in a chain with multiple fluorides are especially strong and in theory almost unbreakable.  A cross-generational family or a Zion community covalently-bonded through consecrated keeping of sacred temple covenants can and should be virtually unbreakable.

For weeks, I have been pondering the meaning of the Savior’s words found in Matthew 11:28-30:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

His yoke represents the sum of all the covenants that we make in His name. Hence, we take upon us His yoke when we make our personal covenants and each Sunday we renew that yoke as we worthily partake of His sacrament. When we learn of Him, we actually learn about Him, learn from Him, and through faithful covenant relationships learn to be like Him. 

Rest is an interesting word.  It has etymological origins to re-stand or re-turn. His rest, the rest that He gives us and the rest that we hope to enter into one day, represents the “promise" of entering into the kingdom of God to receive eternal life and exaltation. Entering into His rest is synonymous with standing again in the presence of the Lord. 

Rest can also be a verb.  In this way “rest” refers to power placed upon mankind such as the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, Priesthood Power, and in some instances Priesthood Keys. You can’t spell Restoration without “rest.” The eternal purpose of restoration in the plan of salvation is to bring Heavenly Father’s sons and daughters back into His “rest.” This is why the Priesthood keys and sealing power had to be restored to the earth. It is no wonder that Moroni quoted Malachi’s prophecy to Joseph Smith on each of his four first visitations to the boy prophet. 

Being “bound” is a two way eternal “covalent” connection that depends upon us loving God enough to obey His commandments or follow His directions.  This includes making and keeping temple covenants. The power of the Priesthood and the Holy Spirit of Promise bring celestial power into a common orbital that surrounds the covenant (covalently) bound mortal and her/his immortal Father in the strongest known bond.  This covenant bond cannot be broken except by disobedience on the mortal side of the veil. Thus, as righteous keeping of the covenant is maintained, the covalent celestial bond permeates across the veil for time and all eternity. 

Bound is synonymous with other words like: seal, turn, weld, plant, graft, and remember.  Whenever you see such words in the scriptures, I encourage you to think about covenants.  When we do what Heavenly Father says, this represents making and keeping our covenants and enduring to the end so that the celestial covalent bond will endure forever as well. 

Being perfected is the process of complete conversion accompanied by sanctification. It happens in conjunction with a righteous combination of love, obedience, faith, repentance, covenant making and keeping, and a constant nourishment through the grace of Jesus Christ. The process must be in line with the keys of His priesthood authority which eventually “unlock the gate of heaven and let us in.” (There is a Green Hill Far Away, Hymn 194) 

Pointing Our Souls to Christ

When we are resolved to see that everything points us to Christ, we will also see that all good things point us to His holy house.  All directions, instructions, and commandments work for us to our salvation as we learn of Him, and through His grace transform our eyes, our hearts, our souls asymptotically ever to be like Him, “…then when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as he is...” (Doctrine & Covenants 130:1, Moroni 7:48)  The process of considering the scriptures in context of how they pertain to our temple covenants, will make our eyes to see more clearly, our hearts to feel more strongly, and our minds to understand more completely. Take Matthew 7:7-8 for one powerful illustration of this method.  The Savior said:

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

We must individually desire further light and knowledge, and we must recognize our lack of wisdom then eagerly go to the true source to find it.  True asking is to converse with God in the name of His Son.  True seeking is being willing to wait for a divine message in return which surely will come through true messengers of the Father (this could be missionaries, ministering sisters or brothers, Church officers, family members, or from the Holy Ghost himself).  We must seek to hear when He speaks for the Lord declared, “…whether by my own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” (Doctrine & Covenants 1:38)  When we have ears to hear Him, and we strive to faithfully obey His voice, then at a certain place that will be shown to us, we shall have the opportunity to knock and it shall be opened unto us to let us enter into His rest. 

If we are to be homeward bound on our journey through mortality, we must faithfully walk the Lord’s covenant path. The bonds we make with our neighbors, our families, and with our God, will enrich our lives, enhance our joy, and bring us to our celestial home “through the veil” or “in the name of Jesus Christ,” to re-stand in the presence of the Lord, and to claim the promises associated with our covenants.