IMPORTANCE OF GOSPEL KNOWLEDGE PART 2

Gospel Knowledge.

Gospel knowledge deals with the clear understanding of the truth about God, Our Eternal Father and His eternal laws which govern us, His children on earth, which if we obey we will gain salvation in His presence.

Gospel knowledge also deals with all truth that comes from Him.

Knowledge is an attribute of Deity and He possesses it in the fullness. 

We, His spirit children, have that spark of Deity within us also.

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith p.354.

The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with himself, so that they might have one glory upon another, and all that knowledge, power, glory, and intelligence, which is requisite in order to save them in the world of spirits.

Acts 15: 18

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

An understanding that God knows all things is necessary for man to exercise faith in Him so as to obtain salvation in His kingdom.

Doctrine and Covenants 38: 1-2

1 Thus saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, the Great I Am, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the same which looked upon the wide expanse of eternity, and all the seraphic hosts of heaven, before the world was made;

2 The same which knoweth all things, for all things are present before mine eyes.

Not only does God the Father know all things, but as stated above by the Lord Jesus Christ, so does He, the Son.  The Holy Ghost also known as the Comforter, the third member of the Godhead does also:

Doctrine and Covenants 35: 19

19 Wherefore, watch over him that his faith fail not, and it shall be given by the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, that knoweth all things.

We are the sons and daughters of God, the weaker intelligences mentioned above by the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Knowledge – The Differences.

All the knowledge that is available is not equal in worth to us.  Much of it does not move us towards exaltation.

Learning the arts and sciences like history, mathematics, medicine, and chemistry are good things to learn and are very useful here on earth and will be used in eternity, but in and of itself, does not move us towards our salvation. 

First, we have to obtain salvation and be judged or allowed to progress onward after this life, and then we will use the other things we have learned here.

Learning them may help us to be open to the receiving of the saving truths or being able to understand those truths more. 

The Lord tells us to seek learning out of the best books, by study and also by faith.

There are many that think, after learning much of the worldly knowledge that they do not need God. 

They think that they know better and do not pay attention to God or His Spirit.

It is the knowledge of God that brings salvation.

The Prophet Jacob explains:

2 Nephi 9: 28-29, 42

28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.

29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.

42 And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.

Daniel 12: 4 (Partial quote.)

4 …”many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased”.

He is talking about the last days that there will be so much knowledge available that many will not be able to find the knowledge that matters for their eternal benefit.

The Latter Day Saints are expected to concentrate in the knowledge of the truth and this kind of knowledge is a result of righteousness and comes by revelation from the Holy Ghost who is a revealer of saving knowledge. (See John 7: 17)

The Prophet Joseph Smith also instructed us on this:

Doctrine and Covenants 130: 18-19

18 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.

19 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.

In conclusion, keep learning all that you can, but concentrate on the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel that He has restored to the earth.

For further information go to www.lds.org

Comments are welcome.

IMMORTALITY AND ETERNAL LIFE

Part of the Plan of Salvation for God’s Children.

We all lived in the Spirit World.  At a certain point in our existence as spirits, we were sent to earth to gain a physical body for our spirits.

To progress in the eternities, a physical body is necessary and desired, counter to what some religions say. 

It was so important that Jesus Christ came back and resurrected His body before going to God the Father.

Immortality, what is it?

Adam and Eve and All forms of life were created in immortality.  Death had not come to the world until after the fall. 

When Adam and Eve fell, they became the first mortal flesh on the earth and the consequent death that came from this status of existence passed on to All forms of life.

Original immortality was designed to only be temporary up until the Fall. 

This immortality stopped when mortality started.

The Final Immortality is to live forever in the resurrected state with body and spirit inseparably connected, never to die again. 

Body and Spirit in mortality constitute the Soul of man. 

When they are separated at death, the body is alone and the spirit is alone.  The soul, at that point, does not exist. 

In the resurrection when the body and spirit come together permanently, the immortal soul is constituted again and will remain forever as a soul.

The Lord stated Himself in:

Moses 1: 39

39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

God is going to make all of His children immortal unconditionally. 

This will make it possible for all of His children to stand before Him in their physical bodies at the Judgment Bar. 

Eternal life is not given to man, eternal life must be earned.

Those who believe His Gospel and Obey the Gospel Plan go on to Eternal Life, the Greatest of all the Gifts of God.

Doctrine and Covenants 14: 7

7 And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

Immortality is not just for man.  Every living thing will come forth in the resurrection with immortality.  So, don't be cruel to your animals!  :)

The Earth itself will be quickened and come forth as an Immortal Celestial Globe. 

So, what is Eternal Life?

Eternal Life and Exaltation.

As it is used in the scriptures, Eternal life is the name given to the kind of life that God the Father lives. 

The word Eternal is one of the formal names of Deity and has been chosen by God Himself as the particular name which identifies the kind of life that He lives.

He being God, the life He lives is God’s life and His name being Eternal, so, the kind of life He lives is eternal life.

Eternal life does not only mean the duration of a future life, immortality took care of that, but only those who will obey the fullness of the Gospel Law will inherit Eternal Life.

Doctrine and Covenants 29: 43-44

43 And thus did I, the Lord God, appoint unto man the days of his probation—that by his natural death he might be raised in immortality unto eternal life, even as many as would believe;

(The days of our Probation is this Earth Life Testing Period we are in now.)

44 And they that believe not unto eternal damnation; for they cannot be redeemed from their spiritual fall, because they repent not.

Eternal Life is the quality of life that God the Father enjoys.

Thus, those who follow and obey the Gospel become the sons of God and joint heirs with Christ and members of the Church of the Firstborn.

To obtain Eternal Life and Exaltation, it is required to be married for Time and for All Eternity, which is only performed in the Temples of God. 

Those who tried and cannot find a spouse while here on earth will have the chance later IF they are obeying the fullness of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

They will overcome all things and have the power and receive the fullness of the father.

Seek after Eternal Life. 

To read the details of the resurrection of the bodies and spirits, read all of this chapter:

2 NEPHI 9

For more information go to www.lds.org

Comments are welcome.