Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Lesson 10: Plan of Salvation
Pre-Existence
“Premortality is not a relaxing doctrine. For each of us, there are choices to be made, incessant and difficult chores to be done, ironies and adversities to be experienced, time to be well spent, talents and gifts to be well employed. Just because we ere chosen “there and then,” surely does not mean we can be indifferent ‘here and now.’ Whether foreordination for men, or foredesignation for women, those called and prepared must prove ‘chosen, and faithful.’ (see Rev. 17:14; D&C 121:34-36)” Neal A. Maxwell Premortality, a Glorious Reality
Proverbs 8:22-30 With God from the beginning
Eccl. 12:7 “Spirit shall return”
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed thee, I knew thee”
Acts 17:29 “we are the offspring of God”
Ephesians 1:4 “
Hel. 14:17 Man brought back into God’s presence.
D&C 38:1 Before the world was made
D&C 93:29 Man with God in the beginning
D&C 138:53,55,56 First lessons in the beginning
War/Council in Heaven
Job 38: 7 “the Sons of God shouted for joy”
Luke 10:18 Satan fell from heaven
Jude 1:6 “angels kept not their first estate”
Revelations 12:7 war in heaven
2 Nephi 2:17 angel fall from heaven
D&C 29:36 Satan rebelled
D&C 76:25 angel rebelled
Moses 4:3 Satan rebelled against me
Abraham 3:22 intelligences organized
Abraham 4:26 Gods took counsel among themselves (5:2)
Isaiah 14:13 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning”
2 Tim 1:9 “before the world began”
D&C 93:29, 33 “elements are eternal”
“Everything in our life happens as though we entered upon it with a load of obligations contracted in a previous existence…obligations whose sanction is not of this present life, [which] seem to belong to a different world, founded on kindness, scruples, sacrifice, a world entirely different from this one, a world whence we emerge to be born on this earth, before returning thither.” (Marcel Proust, in Gabriel Marcel, Homo Viator, New York: Harper and Row, 1963, p. 8)
Why is this doctrine important? “One dimensional man with only a one-dimensional view of the world will surely focus upon the cares of the world, yielding to the things of the moment.” Neal A. Maxwell Premortality, a Glorious Reality
Veil
Eccl 1:11 “No remembrance of former things”
Isaiah 25:7 “Vail spread over all nations”
1 Corinthians 13:12 “see through glass darkly”
Ether 3:19 Could not be kept within the veil
Ether 12:19 Many could not be kept within the veil
D&C 67:10 “Veil shall be rent”
“We define the veil as the border between mortality and eternity; it is also a film of forgetting which covers the memories of earlier experiences. This forgetfulness will be lifted one day, and on that day we will see forever—rather than ‘through a glass darkly’…Without the veil, we would lose that precious insulation, thus interfering with our mortal probation and maturation. Without the veil, our brief mortal walk in a darkening world would lose its meaning—for one would scarcely carry the flashlight of faith at noonday and in the presence of the Light of the World!” Neal A. Maxwell Patience
Mortality/ Fall of Man
“No one adequately and properly knows why he needs Christ until he understands and accepts the doctrine of the Fall and its effect upon all mankind.” Ezra Taft Benson
Gen 1:26 “Let us make man in our own image”
Isaiah 43:7 “I have created him for my glory”
Gen. 2:17 “though shalt surely die”
Job 19:26 “worms destroy this body”
1 Corinthians 15:22 “in Adam all die…”
Philippians 2:12 “Work out your own salvation with dear and trembling”
2 Nephi 2: 21 “state of probation”
2 Nephi 9:6 “death hath passed upon all men”
Alma 42:4 “there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God.”
Mormon 9:28 “Be wise in the days of your probation”
Moses 1:39 “Bring to pass immortality of man”
Abraham 3:26 “those who keep 2nd estate shall have glory”
Fall of Man
Luke 5:8 Peter “I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
Romans 3:10 “There is none righteous”
Romans 3: 23 “all have sinned”
1 Corinthians 2:14 : Natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.
1 Timothy 1:15 Paul “Chief” among sinners
2 Nephi 2:11 “Opposition in all things”
2 Nephi 4:17-19 Nephi a “wretched man”
2 Nephi 9:27 Awful is the state of those that waste their probation.
Mosiah 3:19 “Natural Man is an enemy to God”
Mosiah 16:3 “all mankind carnal”
Ether 3:2 Jared “unworthy” before the Lord.
D&C 29:41 Adam became spiritually dead
“Do not suppose that we shall ever in the flesh be free from temptations to sin. Some suppose that they can in the flesh be sanctified body and spirit and become so pure that they will never again feel the effects of the power of the adversary of truth. Were it possible for a person to attain to this degree of perfection in the flesh, he could not die neither remain in a world where sin predominates…I think we should more or less feel the effects of sin so long as we live, and finally have to pass the ordeals of death.” (Brigham Young, JoD 10:173)
Atonement of Jesus Christ
1 John 5:4-5 Atonement overcomes the death of the Fall.
D&C 38:7-9 Atonement overcomes the death of the Fall.
Moses 6:53 Lord forgives Adam & Eve for transgression
3 Nephi 27: 16, 19-21 “who repenteth” will be held “guiltless”
Hebrews 12:1-2 “Jesus is author and finisher of our faith”
Galatians 5:4 Not justified by own works (only through Christ) See also Galations 2:16 and 2 Nephi 2:5-8
Galatians 3:10-13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law.”
I John 4:19 He loved us first
D&C 20:29-30 “justification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true.”
Matt. 11:28-30 “For my Yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
2 Nephi 2:6-7 “Redemption comes through the Holy Messiah”
2 Nephi 9:19 Jesus delivers saints from hell.
Jacob 6:5, 10 His arm is extended to us.
2 Nephi 9:7 It is an infinite atonement (Alma 34:12, 2 Nephi 25:16, Alma 34:10, 14, D&C 10:19-10)
Scriptural Rendering of Actual Atonement
Matthew 26-28
Mark 14-16
Luke 22-24
John 18-21
D&C 88:106 “It is finished”
Necessity of the Atonement
Luke 17:10 (see also Mosiah 2:21) We’re unprofitable servants
Matt 9:12 They that are sick need a physician.
D&C 3:20 “rely upon the merits of Christ”
Centrality of the doctrine of grace
Asking which is more necessary between grace and works is like asking "like asking which blade in a pair of scissors is most necessary." –C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity, 129
2 Nephi 10:24 “only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved”
2 Nephi 25:23 “we know that it is by grace that we are saved”
Ether 12:27 “my grace is sufficient”
1 Nephi 17:41 (Numb. 21:4-9,
1 King 5 The story of Naaman the leper
1 Samuel 25 Story of Nabal, David, and Abigail
Our Part
Articles of Faith 4
Psalms 51:10-12 “Create in me a clean heart”
2 Nephi 2:7 “He offereth himself…unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit.”
D&C 20:77 (Sacrament prayer)
D&C 46:9 “him that seeketh to do so”
D&C 64:34 “Lord requireth the willing heart and mind
D&C 10:4 “Don’t run faster than you have strength.”
Romans 6:15 “Shall we sin?...God forbid.”
D&C 50:7-8 “Hypocrites shall be detected”
3 Nephi 27:16 Repenting, baptized members who endure to the end will be “guiltless” (2 Nephi 31:5)
How can we know?
Eph 1:14, 2 Cor 1:22, 5:5 The spirit is given as “earnest money” as confirmation of abiding in Jesus.
D&C 20:77 “Always have his spirit to be with you”
D&C 123:17 “utmost assurance to see the salvation of God” (D&C 106:8, Eph 3:12)
Enos 5-6 “I…knew that God could not lie…my guilt was swept away”
D&C 45:4-5 What will Christ say to His people at the Last Day?
How far does the Atonement reach?
D&C 29:46, 137:10 Atonement covers children who die before the age of accountability
D&C 29: 50 Atonement covers mentally challenged.
Hebrews 2:17 “he is able to succor them that are tempted.”(see Heb 4:15, D&C 20:22)
D&C 88:6, Eph 4:8-10 Christ comprehends all things.
“We all occupy diversified stations in the world, and the
Latter-Days
Large War Before Second Coming
Revelation 16:15 Nations assemble shortly before the Second Coming at Armageddon. (see Zechariah 12:11)
Second Coming
“Certainly there is no point in speculating concerning the day and hour” –President Hinckley
Acts 1:9-11 Christ will come in “like manner” as he left.
D&C 68:10-11: Heavenly Father will help is understand the signs of the Second Coming
Isaiah 63:1-2/ D&C 133: 46-48: The Savior clothed in Red
Joseph Smith’s most oft quoted signs of the second coming:
a. Sun shall be darkened
b. Moon shall not give her light
c. Stars shall fall from heaven
Other signs
d. Malachi 4:5:5-6: Coming of Elijah (see D&C 110)
e. JSM 31/Jer. 16:16: Missionary Work
f. Article of Faith 10/ Jer. 16:14-15: Gathering of the ten tribes
g. JSM 29: Natural Calamaties (see Ezk. 38: 19-20)
h. JSM 23/D&C 87/D&C 130:12-13: Wars and rumors of wars. (One great war: Ezk 38:16)
i. Daniel 7: Christ to appear at Adam-Ondi-Ahman
j. Revelations 11:1-11 Two prophets slain at
Millennium
Isaiah 2:4: No war
Isaiah 35:2/ Ezekiel 34:23 Lord shall personally reign
Revelations 20:4 1000 years long
2 Nephi 30:18/ D&C 121:28 The Lord to reveal “all things”.
Satan loosed
D&C 88:110-114
Last war
Revelations 20:7-9
D&C 88:111-116
What Happens After We Die?
Spirit
Luke 23:43 Thieves to me “that day” with Jesus in paradise.
2 Nephi 9:13 “Paradise of God must deliver up the spirits”
4 Nephi 14 “all gone to paradise of God”
Spirit Prison
Psalms 142:7 “Bring my soul out of prison”
Isaiah 24:22 Prisoners to be visited after many days.
1 Peter 3:19/4:6 Christ visited spirits in prison
Resurrection and the Atonement
John 10:17-18 Christ has power over death
Matt 27:52 “the graves were opened”
Job 14: 14 “If a man die, shall he live again?”
Job 19:16 “In my flesh I shall see God”
Isaiah 25:8 “Swallow up death in victory”
Luke 24:39 “spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have”
Romans 6:5 “We shall be in the likeness of his resurrection”
Phillip 3:21 “change our vile body…like unto his”
1 Thes 4:16 “the dead in Christ shall rise first”
2 Nephi 9:12 “the spirits and the bodies of men shall be restored”
Mosiah 16:8 “the grave has no victory”
D&C 29:26 “then shall all the dead awake”
First Resurrection
Rev 20:6 “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection”
Mosiah 15:21, 18:8,9 Qualifications for Participation in First Resurrection
- All those who have believed the words of the prophets
- Those who believe the commandments of God
- Those who keep the commandments of God
- Those who are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people
- Those who are willing to bear one another’s burdens
- Those that are willing to mourn with those that mourn
- Those comfort those that stand in need of comfort
- Those that stand as witnesses of God
If you do these things “ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection that ye may have eternal life” (Mosiah 18:9)
Mosiah 15:26 “These are they that have no part in the first resurrection:”
- Those who rebel against the Lord
- Those who die in their sins
- Those who have willfully rebelled against God
Final Judgment
Outer Darkness
Matt 8:12 “cast into outer darkness” (see also Matt 22:13. 25:30, Alma 40:13, D&C 101:91, 133:73)
Telestial
John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are many mansions”
1 Cor 15:41 “as the stars”
Mosiah 15:26 “no part in first resurrection”
D&C 76:81-80 Telestial glory and attributes of those that go their
Terrestrial
1 Cor. 15:40 glory of the terrestrial
D&C 88:23, 38 “cannot abide terrestrial glory”
D&C 76:71-80 Terrestrial glory
Celestial
1 Cor 15:40 Celestial
2 Cor. 12:2 “caught up in the third heaven”
D&C 76:50-70 Celestial Glory
See also D&C 88:22, 93:22, 101:65, 131:1, 132:19
Conclusion: Our Divine Destiny
“The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if Children then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if it so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:16-17)
- “As man now is, God once was; As God now is, man may be” –Lorenzo Snow (President Snow often referred to this couplet as having been revealed to him by inspiration during the Nauvoo period of the church. See, for example, Deseret Weekly, 3 November 1894, 610)
- “Do we cast blame on him [God] because we were not made gods from the beginning, but were at first created merely as men, and then later as gods? Although God has adopted this course out of his pure benevolence, that no one may charge him with discrimination or stinginess, he declares, ‘I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are sons of the Most High.’ . . . For it was necessary at first that nature be exhibited, then after that what was mortal would be conquered and swallowed up in immortality.” - Irenaeus, bishop of
- "Yea, I say, the Word of God became a man so that you might learn from a man how to become a god." - Clement of
- In the beginning men "were made like God, free from suffering and death," and that they are thus "deemed worthy of becoming gods and of having power to become sons of the highest." - Justin Martyr (about a.d. 100-165 Dialogue with Trypho, 124)
- "The Word was made flesh in order that we might be enabled to be made gods. . . . Just as the Lord, putting on the body, became a man, so also we men are both deified through his flesh, and henceforth inherit everlasting life… He became man that we might be made divine." (Athanasius, Against the Aryans, 1.39, 3.34., On the Incarnation, 54.)
- "But he himself that justifies also deifies, for by justifying he makes sons of God. 'For he has given them power to become the sons of God' [John 1:12]. If then we have been made sons of god, we have also been made gods." Augustine of Hippo a.d. 354-430, On the Psalms, 50.2.)
- "It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship…" The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses, rev. ed. (New York: Macmillan, Collier Books, 1980), 18.
- “The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were "gods" and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him-for we can prevent Him, if we choose-He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said.” Lewis, Mere Christianity, 174–75.
