As we have gone along in our Pathways classroom this semester we have had the opportunity to look for attributes of Jesus Christ and then try to make them a part of us. Earlier in the year I was seeking "knowledge" and wanted to be able to have the words to say that the Lord would have me speak at the time he want me to speak. Like during a Fast and Testimony meeting, or Sunday school class or and Elders Quorum meeting and or any other situation that may have come up.
Well this week we have had the opportunity to continue with the ones we had chosen or to search the scriptures and to try and develop a different attribute. I have searched and decided to work on "good"
If we read Alma 21 we see a lot about Good, Goodness or happiness. If it is the true desires of my heart, at the resurrection I will keep this and any other attribute I may have developed. Good or bad. I am hoping by trying to develop the "goodness" attribute into my heart I will become what God and Jesus would have me become. Below is the whole chapter from the Book of Mormon.
I also want to point out that the scriptures also state if the desires of my heart are evil that when resurrected that will be the desire of my heart. This is why I want to work on developing this attribute. What do you all think of this chapter? Do you think my understanding of this chapter is correct? Am I applying it to my life the way it was intended to be? Respond to this post and let me know. Please remember to be respectful to all those who comment, Including myself.
Well this week we have had the opportunity to continue with the ones we had chosen or to search the scriptures and to try and develop a different attribute. I have searched and decided to work on "good"
If we read Alma 21 we see a lot about Good, Goodness or happiness. If it is the true desires of my heart, at the resurrection I will keep this and any other attribute I may have developed. Good or bad. I am hoping by trying to develop the "goodness" attribute into my heart I will become what God and Jesus would have me become. Below is the whole chapter from the Book of Mormon.
I also want to point out that the scriptures also state if the desires of my heart are evil that when resurrected that will be the desire of my heart. This is why I want to work on developing this attribute. What do you all think of this chapter? Do you think my understanding of this chapter is correct? Am I applying it to my life the way it was intended to be? Respond to this post and let me know. Please remember to be respectful to all those who comment, Including myself.
The Book of Alma
the Son of Alma
Chapter 41
Header: In the Resurrection men come forth to a state of endless happiness or endless misery—Wickedness never was happiness—Carnal men are without God in the world—Every person receives again in the Restoration the characteristics and attributes acquired in mortality. About 74 B.C.
the Son of Alma
Chapter 41
Header: In the Resurrection men come forth to a state of endless happiness or endless misery—Wickedness never was happiness—Carnal men are without God in the world—Every person receives again in the Restoration the characteristics and attributes acquired in mortality. About 74 B.C.
1 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the restoration of which has been spoken; for behold, some have wrested the scriptures, and have gone far astray because of this thing. And I perceive that thy mind has been worried also concerning this thing. But behold, I will explain it unto thee.
2 I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order. Behold, it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and that every part of the body should be restored to itself.
3 And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.
4 And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other—
5 The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.
6 And so it is on the other hand. If he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness.
7 These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil.
8 Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved.
9 And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offense against your God upon those points of doctrine, which ye have hitherto risked to commit sin.
10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.
11 And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are withoutGod in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.
12 And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature?
13 O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful.
14 Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.
15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.
2 I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order. Behold, it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and that every part of the body should be restored to itself.
3 And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.
4 And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other—
5 The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.
6 And so it is on the other hand. If he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness.
7 These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil.
8 Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved.
9 And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offense against your God upon those points of doctrine, which ye have hitherto risked to commit sin.
10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.
11 And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are withoutGod in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.
12 And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature?
13 O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful.
14 Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.
15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.
* All scriptures are copied and pasted from the lds.org website.
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ReplyDeleteHello Kevin,
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your blog! After I read it, I was on the church's web page. I noticed and article that I thought my add to the doctrine you discussed in your blog, so I read it. It is called, "Focus Your Life on Light" and sure, enough, your thoughts and this article go hand in hand.
In the article, Elder Lawrence teaches that, going through life, we must accumulate celestial light in our countenance. We are resurrected with whatever light we have gained.
From Elder Lawrence article, "When it comes time for each of us to be resurrected, how will the Lord determine whether we receive a telestial body, a terrestrial body, or a celestial body? The answer is easier than you may think. If we have accumulated enough celestial light in our spirits, we will be resurrected with celestial bodies. If we have accumulated only enough light to qualify for terrestrial or telestial bodies, that is the glory we will receive in the Resurrection."
This concepts applies to your thoughts about our desires. I am sure that those who accumulate celestial light have righteous desires and those who have chosen darkness will have desires that dark.
As you seek after the attribute "good," your light will grow and develop. How exciting for you! You may want to take a minute to read the article; it is a good one who has righteous desires, as you do!
~Suzie Wilde
Suzue,
DeleteThis was put into words I could understand more clearly than before. Thank you for your thoughts and reference to the talk by Elder Lawrence. small correction on the title of the talk from the March 2016 Liahona. it is titled, "The Light of the Perfect Day" By Elder Larry R. Lawrence Of the Seventy.
Thank you for reading and then replying to the blog.