12:48; 3 Ne. I was an extremely devout Mormon (giant multigenerational Mormon family, two-year mission, church university, married young in the Mormon temple, the whole package) and medical school has contributed to my stepping away from church. The Purpose of Earth Life Introduction Earth life, though brief, is crucial to us in our quest for eternal life. from the four quarters of the earth. (D&C 76:2838, 4348; D&C 88:24. This is our eternal purpose: to create a celestial marriage and an eternal family. Doug Stewart, an institute teacher from Apple Valley, California, learned that truth for himself. God has said that His purpose is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" ( Moses 1:39 ). I honestly believe that Heavenly Father is always there, that we can handle anything with his help.. All nations of the earth would be blessed by his seed. Sweet, National Estimates of Cohabitation, Demography 26, no.4 [November 1989]: 61525.) Human Life Outside Paradise Until the Deluge. In Mormonism then, temples and the covenants and ordinances accomplished therein, are essential, necessary, and the central focus of God's plan for saving people and preparing them to achieve their eternal goal of exaltation (aka eternal life). In God's eternal plan, there is an eternal companion for every one of you, if you are faithful. It was simply a scenario that impressed itself on my consciousness gently but firmly. As we were discussing the possibilities ahead of us, into our group walked our Father and our Elder Brother. And that peace comes when our lives are so in harmony with the Lords that the Holy Spirit can heal our broken hearts and make us whole. LDS leaders have defined this teaching as the ability for Mormon couples who have achieved celestial exaltation to procreate throughout eternity. You may wonder if God has an identity and purpose like this for you. We Are Within the Purpose of a Loving Creator. Why is there so much sorrow? Nephi emphasized that after we have entered this strait and narrow path, we must endure to the end in faith: After ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? (D&C 131:14; D&C 132:424.) You are husbands and wives, mothers and fathers in God's eternal plan. 3:2; D&C 132:2021.) God's "Eternal Purpose" in His Anointed One Is Formed. A few of Fathers children would prove to be so rebellious that they could not receive a kingdom of glory and will go to a place prepared for them. Thirty-six years ago in Maryland her husband, Joseph, was paralyzed from the chest down in an auto accident. I vaguely remembered what seemed like a dream and making a choice, but things were still so foggy. You are who you are because of who He is. Perfection is of two kindsfinite or mortal, and infinite or eternal. Im not afraid of it anymore. The first was about my identity. The current cadre might be interested to know that my eight-year-old daughter discovered the answer not too long ago. If we will just be true and faithful to every covenant, to every principle of truth that he has given us, then after the resurrection we would come back into his presence and we would be just like he is. At first I saw it as a sacrifice, but its the best thing I ever did, other than finding our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ., The greatest thing the Savior has done for him, Charles says, is to bring a meaning into his life that is inextricably bound to happiness. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 255. Each of us carries around with us an image of who we are and who we want to be. In 1978 Kim Clark became a member of the faculty at the Harvard Business School, and in 1995 he became dean of the school. We knew before we were born that we were coming to the earth for bodies and experience and that we would have joys and sorrows, ease and pain, comforts and hardships, health and sickness, successes and disappointments, and we knew also that after a period of life we would die. She traveled with her husband to Utah, spending the winter of 1846-1847 at Winter Quarters. A great many Latter-day Saints can bear witness to the joy that comes from receiving and obeying God's laws and ordinances. Our true, eternal identity begins with our heritage as spirit sons and daughters of heavenly parents. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. They had no beginning, and can have no end." ( Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. Eternal life is the ability to progress and increase forever. Isnt it marvelous that the doctrines of the Restoration are so clear that even children understand them? I felt as though the Lord said, Its his time to come home; its your time to get to know you. We need to get to know the Lord, and I think we know him better when we know ourselves. The gospel teaches us that we are the spirit children of heavenly parents. Mortal life is a probationary period, the time for us to prepare to meet God (see Alma 12:24; 42:4, 10; 34:32). 3:2226; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. Just as water flowing in a riverbed is stopped by a dam, so the adversary's . The Lord declared, "This is my work and my gloryto bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" ( Moses 1:39 ). To be happy.. What is our role when a general emergency arises? 2:1116; D&C 93:2831), mortality would be a testing period during which we could learn how well we would use our agency when away from our Fathers presence (D&C 98:1215; Abr. All of us are but a few years removed from the Eternal Presence, from him whose children we are and in whose house we dwelt. His plan is truly glorious and powerful. That is why you and I cannot be satisfied with saying merely I like that or want that. That is why in our childhood and our youth and our young adulthood we must stretch and grow and remember and prepare for the later life when limitations will terminate so that we can go on and on and on (SpencerW. Kimball, the Matter of Marriage [address delivered at University of Utah Institute of Religion, 22Oct. 1976],2). Moroni summarized his father's intent by saying that he hoped the record would help its writers to "rid our garments of the blood of our brethren" (Mormon 9:37) and that these brethren would be restored to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and that God, the Father, would "remember the covenant which he hath made with the house of Israel" (Mormon 9:37). This is the greatest gift that can be conferred on intelligent beings, to live forever and never be destroyed.". But the bishop asked him to keep searching. The one who receives this body will not experience life as fully as the others. President Clark was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and raised in Spokane, Washington. One of them is a South African named Charles Naismith. But it was not to be, she says. Four years ago, he and his wife came in contact with LDS missionaries. I have reflected on our Father's plan often in the last few months, and I have thought much and prayed much about you. Bereft of such light, even the most astute intellects struggle in darkness. Now that I know what death is, I know what life isa time to do the best I can do and to be the best I can be. Kim B. Clark became the 15th president of Brigham Young University-Idaho in August 2005. Those who rejected this good news, on earth or in the spirit world, could not enjoy all the opportunities they would have enjoyed otherwise. When combined, the spirit and the body compose the soul of man (see D&C 88:15; Genesis 2:7). When we receive these ordinances and keep the covenants that accompany them, we prepare ourselves to inherit eternal life. [13] We cannot become God without embracing God's diverse embodiments and esthetics. Elder Russel M. Nelson, an Apostle, taught us that : Life does not begin with birth, nor does it end with death. Deeply passionate about Truth, Sharon loves serving as a full-time volunteer research associate with Mormonism Research Ministry. Introduction Our gender was established before we were born into mortality and is an essential characteristic of our eternal identity. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. She looked me in the eye and with love and firmness said to me: "You remember who you are." One of the primary reasons we came to earth was to gain a physical bodya temple in which our spirits could dwell and through which we could control the coarser elements of the universe called matter. One day a young woman he had been dating asked him, "How do you deal with pornography?" Let's consider each one in turn. The Lord declared, This is my work and my gloryto bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39). 1974, 103; or Ensign, May 1974,73). If we maintain faith in God, our trials in life will work together for our good and our eternal glory (see D&C 90:24; 58:24; 121:78; 122:59; Romans 8:28). Luke met with the bishop. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life (2Nephi 31:1920). It has everything to do with inner peace. The measure of our creation, through Gods grace, is godliness (see Ephesians 4:1213). "The Purpose of Life," Ensign, Apr. He has prepared for you a divine plan that confers upon you an eternal identity and purpose that truly qualify as supernal. But that doesnt mean we have no hope for happiness in mortality. Ye were also in the beginning with the Father, the Savior tells us; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth. (D&C 93:23.) Though subject to temptation and the weakness of the natural man, God's faithful sons and daughters choose to become holy men and women through the power of the Atonement and the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ. As members of the Church, we are often reminded to maintain an "eternal perspective," and are taught so many beautiful lessons about families being together forever. We can, if we are not careful, feel the pressures of time and see things in a distorted way. The Lords answer was patiently soft: My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high. (D&C 121:12, 78.). He knows your past, and He knows your future. 1983, 5; or Ensign, May 1983, 6). Abraham's posterity would be numerous, entitled to an eternal increase, and also entitled to bear the priesthood. It consists in living a godfearing life of devotion to the truth, of walking in complete submission to the will of the Lord, and of putting first in ones life the things of the kingdom of God (BruceR. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine,567). He was a remarkable man of many achievements. (Rev. Latter-day Saints also believe that Christ established a church during His mortal ministry, but over time its line of priestly authority, as well as certain important teachings, were lost. 1912, p.417; also see Jeremiah 1:5). The bishop encouraged him, but Luke continued to struggle. Only as we overcome shall we become perfect and move toward godhood. Adam and Eve in the Garden, by Stanley Galli, Detail from Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, by Heinrich Hofmann. . Grant, 2004, Teachings of Presidents: George Albert Smith, 2012, Teachings of Presidents: Joseph Fielding Smith Manual, 2014, Teachings of Presidents: Harold B. Lee, 2002, Teachings of Presidents: Spencer W. Kimball, 2007, S&I Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual, Children's Songbook, English, Pocket-Size Edition, Come, Follow Me: Knowing the Purpose of Life. This follows from our understanding of the purposes of God the Eternal Father and concerns our destiny as His children. Others are caused by the sins and weaknesses of our fellow beings. To learn. You were prepared in the pre-mortal realm to be a trusted servant of the Lord and a mother or father in an eternal family in the earth's latter days. It is in our days that "the remnants of the house of Israel, should . To ensure that these ordinances would be effectual both in time and in eternity, God chose and authorized noble and great men to oversee the performance of these ordinances and lead his righteous children on earth. Death is Not the End of Our Existence. The Conditions of the Baptismal Covenant : 1) Keep the commandments 2) Always remember Christ (serve Christ to the end) 3) Take upon us his name The Promises of the Baptismal Covenant : 1) Constant companionship of the Holy Ghost 2) Remission of our sins through the Atonement of Christ 3) We are spiritual reborn, or spiritually begotten. Some believe that death is the end, or the final destination. You have to choose to be sealed in the holy temple, and you have to choose to keep those sacred covenants. Since the expression of agency is fundamental to our progress (2 Ne. The Lord has scattered the children of Abraham "upon all the face of the earth among all nations,"9and He has promised that "all the people who are of the house of Israel, will I gather in . These characteristics, in turn, strengthen the marriage (The Eternal Family, 115). Seen with the perspective of eternity, a temporal setback can be an opportunity to develop soul power of eternal significance. You are all the seed of Abraham, for example, but with the Lord's help you become uniquely qualified to carry out the very specific work of salvation He will give you to do. (D&C 88:114; see 2 Ne. Life is a battle and a sojourn in a strange land, and the fame that comes after is oblivion.1 Contrast that with the Prophet Joseph Smiths simple declaration: Happiness is the object and design of our existence.2. Immediately my mind was drawn back to days long, long ago when a high school friend of mine and I drove the twisting, turning back roads between Spokane and Coeur d'Alene Lake. You truly are a unique, special instrument in His hands. The bishop thought he looked like a new person. To this end, he formed spirit bodies so that we could learn the lessons of our first estate and prepare to learn the lessons of our second estatemortality. It may be some time before you meet that person, but your beloved companion is a real person who will one day be sealed to you forever. Joyfully. 1993, 22. First and foremost, we are spiritual beings. Purpose quote results found: 31. "As we study the scriptures, we will develop trust and hope to move forward in our lives," Elder Soares said. We came to this earth that we might have a body and present it pure before God in the celestial kingdom. The Bible speaks of a war in heaven, and says that God created the earth through The Word (Christ), but very little else is available in the . For many years the prophets have warned us about the terrible consequences that follow the use of pornography: marriages and families destroyed, loved ones wounded, the soul chained by addiction, the power of the priesthood lost, and spiritual death. One apparent impact of the womens movement has been the feelings of discontent it has created among young women who have chosen the role of wife and mother. Why are we here on earth? 2) Seed of Abraham: we are heirs to the promises of Abraham, true followers of Christ, His trusted servants with His name upon us. The time to do this is now, in mortality. It is always a privilege and a blessing to speak to you.When I was a little boy, my mother sent me off to school with words I will never forget. The Mountain Meadows Massacre was caused in part by events relating to the Utah War (May 1857 - July 1858), an armed confrontation in Utah Territory between the United States Army and Mormon Settlers.In the summer of 1857, however, Mormons experienced a wave of war hysteria, expecting an all-out invasion of apocalyptic significance. Since God's eternal purpose is to make known His manifold wisdom through the church, we must pray and not lose heart in our trials. The key to happiness here and eternal joy hereafter is the atonement of Jesus Christ. We'd like to tell you tha (D&C 121:2632; Abr. The 192nd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, returns with a Saturday . He did not come to leave you out of His blessings. 1992, p. 5. This view loses sight of the eternal perspective that God elected women to the noble role of mother and that exaltation is eternal fatherhood and eternal motherhood. Im just getting a glimpse of what life is all about, he says. We were just spirits, and the spirit does not have flesh and bones. (D&C 124:3841; D&C 131:14; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. Identity and Purpose in God's Eternal Plan Biography President Kim B. Clark President of BYU-Idaho Kim B. Clark became the 15th president of Brigham Young University-Idaho in August 2005. "A soft answer . We need to understand we cannot do the Lords work in the worlds way (But for a Small Moment, 45354). Among this group would be some who had received the covenant of eternal marriage and had that marriage sealed by the Holy Spirit; these souls would continue their marriage relationship in eternity. He knows everything about your experiences in the pre-mortal realm, in your mortal life thus far, and in what lies ahead of you in mortality and in the eternities. Here is the answer: All Human Beingsmale and femaleare created in the image of God. We can live our life with purposethe purpose to gain eternal life and be counted as a disciple of Jesus Christ. His grace frees me to be happy.4, Through the principles and ordinances of the gospel, the Atonement leaves us all free to learn from sorrow, to grow from experienceand to find joy in the process. With that identity and purpose firmly in your heart and mind, you will see yourself and your life the way the Lord does. . Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 25556). Over time the Lord healed Luke and he escaped completely from the trap of addiction. Faith, after all, involves perspectives that stretch both waysbeyond today by remembering of the past, and by extrapolating our faith into the future. It is our responsibility and our opportunity to be at peace in our minds and in our hearts, and to know that he is God, that this is his work, and that he will not permit it to fail (in Conference Report, Apr. 12:9; 3 Ne. I said to Sue, "Don't you think it would be really fun to have a little red sports car like that?" I lived in his shadow, ministering to his daily needs. That parentage defines our eternal potential. God is our Father.9 What could be more natural than for him to want his children to become as he is and enjoy all that he enjoys? And it came, washing over me in waves of joy. I have challengeslots and lots and lots of challenges. These aspects of identity help other people locate us in their experience and establish connections and relationships with us. I want to talk to you today about your identity and your purpose in God's eternal plan. See Stephen Robinson, Believing Christ, Ensign, Apr. That divine origin gives to God's sons and daughters a divine nature and destiny. You may enjoy music, athletics, or be mechanically inclined, and someday you may work in a trade or a profession or in the arts. BYU-Idaho values suggestions and ideas that can improve the university. God infuses your personality and the special gifts and talents He has given you into your eternal identity. Each of these dimensions of identity carries with it eternal purpose. But that understanding of his identity and his purpose gave him a powerful bulwark against the wiles of the devil. SUBSCRIBE to the Youth Channel of. I want you to go home and find that doctrine. Identity also influences how we see ourselves, and it affects our feelings of connection and community and the duties and obligations we embrace. People complicate it. The Primary Purpose of LDS Temples A Mormon Apostle Explains the "Component Parts" of God About Sharon Lindbloom Sharon surrendered her life to the Lord Jesus Christ in 1979. Luke foolishly ignored the teachings of the prophets and got involved with pornography. The children will feel the Savior's love for them. The prophet Nephi taught: The gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. At the heart of every challenge in life is a seed of joy. By that I mean it sticks up in the middle of an ongoing story and would not . ), Sometimes the weaknesses the Lord uses to strengthen us are in ourselves. Prior to our birth, we dwelled as spirit children . What principle or doctrine are you missing? Another thing, how great was his wisdom, his understanding, how wonderful was his power and his inspiration. TestimonyIf you seek to understand and live up to your eternal identity, it will grow in your mind and in your heart. The devil has no body, and herein is his punishment. Father seemed to be waiting for something. A third part, however, found the prospect of failing to return to Gods presence so alarming that, led by the brilliant but self-centered Lucifer, they rebelled against their Father and his plan; war erupted, and LuciferSatanwas cast out of heaven with his followers. This eternal perspective affects their choices and priorities. IdentityThe effects of identity on what we do and how we relate to others are important and powerful. That is who you really are. No grass grew under his wheels., But through her selfless service, Shauna says, she grew closer to the Lord and saw more clearly his hand in our lives. "There is a divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal [us] his, that [we] may be brought to heaven, that [we] may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. 1, pp. Other times, they are in others. We were driving together, and I saw ahead a little red sports car with the top down. In the Father's plan, His spirit children are born into a mortal family with lineage and ancestors, receive a physical body, learn of the gospel of Jesus Christ, act with faith in Christ through the trials of mortal life to repent of their sins, and receive the ordinances and covenants of baptism and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. 34647. Finite perfection may be gained by the righteous saints in this life. Immortality is a free gift to all people, whether they are righteous or wicked. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 365; Alma 13:3; D&C 84:1722, 3538; D&C 107:131; D&C 128:89; D&C 132:514, 28, 4546; D&C 138:5355; Abr. He himself has declared that his work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39. Does that mean he sees mortality as unimportant, as something of a waiting period? Proverbs is a most peculiar book of our Bible. The Immortal Possessor of the "Eternal Purpose". Job Description. Closely associated with the LDS doctrine of temple marriage is the doctrine of eternal increase. Time is of this world; it is not of eternity. "When we give thanks in all things, we see hardships and adversities in the context of the purpose of life. He said: "Luke, what is it about the gospel that you don't understand? When you face decisions or are tempted to do something that is wrong, when you face adversity and challenges, or when you are blessed with prosperity, the Holy Spirit will remind you who you are and will help you see your true identity and purpose with an eternal perspective. Eternal Marriage - LDS Wedding Planner Marriage, For All Eternity Elder Jeffrey R Holland Photo Courtesy of Stacey Kay Photography "I don't know how to speak about heaven in the traditional, lovely, paradisiac beauty that we speak of heaven; I wouldn't know how to speak of heaven without my wife or my children. [77] 3:2728.) 3:2425). (Abr. One day we were reading 2 Nephi when we came across Lehis words in chapter 2, verse 25: Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. [2 Ne. True happiness comes from the personal, spiritual growth that rises out of the fires of mortal experience. Like immortality, this gift is made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The dimensions of eternal identity we have discussed apply to all of God's faithful sons and daughters. They will see His light and His power because His love, His light, and His power are in their parents. A physical body is essential to our obtaining a fulness of joy (see D&C 93:33; 138:17). A friend once expressed his gratitude for the Atonement: The Lords atonement leaves me free to do whatever he needs me to do. . Now, whenever I lose my patience with her (she can be quite stubborn and demanding at times), that scene comes quietly to mind. This is what Luke said: "Bishop, I found the doctrine. A true understanding of the issue will help us to reinforce our hope of eternal life and be ready when Jesus returns. So many people I encounter have problems. I dont believe in that word. Many of those who believe in some sort of afterlife are unaware that there was also a premortal life before we existed on earth. While he lived, Shauna says, caring for him was a total commitment. He is the father of our spirits and we are his children. Then from among us stepped the brightest and most beautiful. It is only by obedience to the laws of God that men can rise above the petty weaknesses of mortality (JosephF. Smith, Gospel Doctrine,211). ), Of course, such joy is not to be achieved in the few short years we have in mortality. Of course, for all but a divine being, it cant be done. We were placed here on earth to progress toward our destiny of eternal life. Art thou greater than he? (D&C 122:78. Luke faced a ruthless and relentless adversary, and he needed the redeeming and strengthening power of Christ to be completely free of the trap he was in. He realized that Satan had been trying to steal his identity and get him to think that the guy who used pornography was the real Luke. It is not like a checklist that you work through. Within a few minutes of her birth, we learned that our Jenny had Down syndrome. Without question, I learned the joy of love and sacrifice., When Joseph and Shauna faced their final challenge togetherthe prospect of his imminent deathShauna pled in prayer for Josephs life, offering to take care of him no matter what his condition. According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons), the Law of Eternal Progression is the teaching that men move from being spirit children of God in the pre-existence to gaining physical bodies here on earth, and finally after death, people enter into one of the three levels of heaven : Telestial, Terrestrial, and Celest. All persons on earth are literally brothers and sisters in the family of God. 25557. The purpose of mortality is unknown to many of God's children on earth. Bishop, it was almost as if I saw them watching me, hoping I would win this battle. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave (Smith, Teachings,348). One can assume that the longer the view a woman and man have regarding the marital relationship, the greater the probability of success. They are often the means by which faith, hope, and charity become integral parts of our character. What did we do wrong? I knew straight away that I had to stop. And he did, but not without help. A trap to be avoided is the tendency we haverather humanly, rather understandablyto get ourselves caught in peering through the prism of the present and then distorting our perspective about things. They are often made to feel that there are more exciting and self-fulfilling roles for women than housework, diaper changing, and children calling for mother. He told her about what had happened to him since his mission and confessed to her that he needed help. See D&C 88:6768; see also D&C 84:33, 4447. He is pleased when he can obtain the tabernacle of man, and when cast out by the Savior he asked to go into the herd of swine, showing that he would prefer a swines body to having none. The great purpose of every priesthood holder, therefore, is to assist in the work of helping people rise to eternal life. 12:39; D&C 29:3637; D&C 76:2527; Moses 4:12; Abr. Our progress in the eternities began when God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could be exalted with himself. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 12:17; D&C 76:2829.) Earth life, though brief, is crucial to us in our quest for eternal life. The body is sacred and should be properly valued (see Exodus 20:13; Genesis 1:2627; 9:6; D&C 42:1819). : 32-34 She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and lived with Joseph Smith and his family for a time in Nauvoo, Illinois. Indeed, without a body, we could not enjoy a fulness of joy. I couldnt have quit drinking without help from the Holy Ghost, he says. At the time, he had what he calls a drinking problem., Charles recalls that when the missionaries asked if he could stop drinking, I said yes. God's eternal purpose is to make known His manifold wisdom through the church (3:9-11). There was silence. But we saw him in his glory and it was made known to us that by keeping his commandments and observing every covenant that would be given to us on this earth, we could come back again into his presence, receiving our bodies in the resurrection from the deadour spirits and bodies being united again, inseparably, never again to be divided. It is not our prerogative to counsel him. 1:23; Abr. Marriage and the family unit are the central part of the plan of progression and exaltation. Eternal life is a gift of God available to God's children through the Atonement of Christ. Impressions about Identity and Purpose We have discussed identity and purpose in God's eternal plan. President Clark earned bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees in economics from Harvard University. The path to happiness, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God., In obedience there is joy and peace unspotted, unalloyed; and as God has designed our happiness He never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment which will not end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become the recipients of his law and ordinances.5, A great many Latter-day Saints can bear witness to the joy that comes from receiving and obeying Gods laws and ordinances. When Man Was with God in Paradise. She has learned to read well enough by now that she can almost keep up with her twelve-year-old brother when we read the scriptures together. July 10, 2015. )Now, you may not have a Sue sitting next to you all the time; but you do have the Holy Ghost, and you can have a sure witness of your eternal identity and purpose. For this. Men do not suddenly become righteous any more than a tiny acorn suddenly becomes an oak. They would receive immortal celestial bodies like those enjoyed by our Father and the resurrected Savior. Look into the mirror with the eye of faith and see in the mirror not only your face but also the face of the Lord Jesus Christ standing beside you with power and glory and never-ending, perfect love. Coming to earth is part of God's plan for us to gain a physical body and learn to choose between good and evil. She encouraged him to see the bishop and told him that if he did she would support him. And then Jenny is hugging me, and my world is back rotating the way it should. (See TimB. Heaton and KristenL. Goodman, Religion and Family Formation, Review of Religious Research 26, no.4 [June 1985]: 34359; JohnO.G. Billy, NancyS. Landale, and StevenD. McLaughlin, The Effect of Marital Status at First Birth on Marital Dissolution Among Adolescent Mothers, Demography 23, no.3 [August 1986]: 32949; LarryL. Bumpass and JamesA. Grant, chapter3, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: HeberJ. Strength is forged in adversity. You may feel that being a holy and trusted servant or being sealed to a beloved companion and having children may be out of your reach. All of us are separated by a thin veil only from the friends and fellow laborers with whom we served on the Lords errand before our eternal spirits took up their abodes in tabernacles of clay (BruceR. McConkie, in Conference Report, Apr. Immortality is to live forever as a resurrected being. 9:1516; D&C 76:33, 4448.). That powerful idea is a potent antidepressant. First, Paul sets forth God's eternal purpose (3:9-11) and then he gives two practical applications (3:12-13). ), This plan was prepared and presented in that premortal council. I so testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 348. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. As Paul taught, they become identified with Christ--they take on themselves His name, become His true followers and trusted servants. The plan was that our Fathers Firstborn (D&C 93:21) would face the challenges of mortality as the divine son of a mortal mother and our immortal Father (1 Ne. God is a Member of the Godhead There are three separate beings that make up the Godhead: God (our Heavenly Father), Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost . It will be a great while after you have passed through the veil, taught the Prophet, before you will have learned [all the principles of exaltation]. I will then close with some thoughts on the way your eternal identity and purpose may give you perspective, strength, guidance, and hope as you face the critical decisions you must make and the actions you must take in your lives right now, even this very day. "Eternal life, which from an eternal perspective is 'the greatest of all the gifts of God' ( D&C 14:7 ), is reserved for those who believe and obey" ( New Witness for the Articles of Faith, 358). It can strengthen each of us to make righteous choices and to seek the best that is within us" ( "Powerful Ideas," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 25). , How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs [committed against] thy people?. What is the appropriate way to address Church members? From July to September 1857, Mormon leaders prepared . They become His. Vanessa is in second grade this year. When you look in the mirror, you may not see what I have described today. The experience changed Dougs perspective on lifeand on death. Too often our problems or chal-lenges are self-inflicted, the result. 3:2226; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. This is our eternal purpose: to become holy men and women in Christ. While awaiting the resurrection, those who had entered into and kept the Saviors covenants in mortality would live in a spirit paradise (Alma 40:1114), pursuing further lessons and teaching the Fathers plan of salvation to those who had not yet received it (D&C 138:2937, 57). 1) Children of God: we are spirit sons and daughters of God, born into mortal families with a divine nature and destiny. Now I think I would, if I were the Lord, because it purges out the meanness and corruption that stick around the Saints, like flies around molasses (John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom,333). That is the plan. All things center in and around the family unit in the eternal perspective. They "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ"2and endure to the end, which includes making and keeping the sacred covenants of the temple. There is not a soul in this room, not one, that has not seen him. You accepted the plan and participated in the great War in Heaven. shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.8. 5:48; Heb. Her reaction had nothing to do with the car, but everything to do with my heart. No matter the gender identity, color of skin, physical embodiment or anatomical differences which exist, we are an expression of the image of God when our intelligences are co-eternal with God. One evening the bishop was meeting with Luke when he received an impression to ask Luke a question. (Alma 34:918.) "Satan does not have a body, and his eternal progress has been halted. The light he has given us provides solace at death, endurance in trials, and faith to work through the vagaries of life. When a man and a woman enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage in the holy temple, the sealing power of God creates the bonds of a celestial marriage and the basis for an eternal family. Modern-Language Editions of the Book of Mormon Discouraged, The Purpose of Life, Ensign, Apr. our Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and our wonderful, worthy, and qualified family members . Where there had been pain and discouragement, the bishop saw light and hope. come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer. We are tested in mortality to show whether or not we will keep Gods commandments and overcome sin and opposition (see Abraham 3:2526; D&C 98:1415; 136:31; 124:55; Revelation 3:21). Why does the world reckon years from the birth of Jesus Christ? 1. As I prayed, a stream of thoughts came into my mind: Your children are preparing to come to earth; you are their father, and you need to be worthy to take their mother to the holy temple and create their eternal family. The truth is, happiness is not synonymous with pleasure or even freedom from pain. 31:1021; Mosiah 5:25; D&C 66:2.) After serving as a missionary for the Church in Germany, he married his wife, Sue, in 1971. God provided the opportunity for us to obtain a physical body in mortality. Those who expect life to be carefree do not understand that joy is the brother and child of tribulation. great council where the plan of salvation had been presented and the Savior offered himself as a sacrifice to assure our eternal . If Esau saw his birthright as pertaining only to this life, he surely did not have an eternal perspective! God is Our Heavenly Father Before we were born on earth we lived with Heavenly Father as spirits. At one time we were in the presence of our Eternal Father. The purpose of life is joy through self-realization of our full nature as a child of God." Lowell L. Bennion, Introduction to the Gospel, pg 209 "When all is said and done, there is one purpose for this Church, and that is to assist our Father in Heaven in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of His sons and daughters. My mother's words carried two messages for me. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. See also: Genesis 12:3, Genesis 22:1891Nephi 22:3; see also Deuteronomy 28:64101 Nephi 19:16111 Nephi 10:1412This account is based on a true story but names and certain aspects of the situation have been changed.13Isaiah 35:4. Through sheer grit and determination and with the support of his bishop, Luke served a mission. Did that scene really take place? We are incredibly blessed in our day to have received from God himself answers to these questions. Will we live after this life? These truths give us a unique perspective and different values to guide our decisions from those who doubt the existence of God and believe that life is the result of random processes (in Conference Report, Oct. 1993, 9697; or Ensign, Nov. 1993, 72). Doctrines That Make a Difference. They will grow up in an eternal family founded on the teachings of Christ. Check out our eternal purpose selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. He spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair. At one of the lowest ebbs in the Prophets life, Joseph cried, O God, where art thou? Eternal Life Overview Eternal life is the phrase used in scripture to define the quality of life that our Eternal Father lives. And because we wanted to be like him, we are here. Through the redeeming and strengthening power of the Atonement of Christ, we may overcome the natural man, grow in knowledge and understanding, serve and obey, experience joy and happiness, and become more and more like the Savior. 3:26; see D&C 138:56.) Luke turned more powerfully and completely to the Savior. Here we receive bodies of flesh and bones and are tested in all things. I will speak first about identity and then about purpose. (D&C 88:1424.) 34647, 367.) He is also the father of our bodies. Moreover, the hearts of the children raised in such a family will turn to their fathers and mothers. (Job 38:47.) There was an emptiness in our hearts, an aching need for some kind of assurance that Someone was in control. 330, I Lived in Heaven, Childrens Songbook,4, Families Can Be Together Forever, Childrens Songbook, 188, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square App Icon, Teachings of Presidents of the Church : Joseph Smith, Teachings of Presidents: Brigham Young, 1998-99, Teachings of Presidents: Lorenzo Snow, 2013, Teachings of Presidents: Joseph F. Smith, 2000-01, Teachings of Presidents: Heber J. As important as these dimensions of identity are, however, they are not who we really are. Mortal life allows us to learn by trial and error; and when we make the inevitable mistakes, the principles and ordinances of the gospel help us to bring our lives into harmony with truth. For Latter-day Saints, death is merely the doorway that leads into the next life. Advancement to perfection can nevertheless be rapid if one resolutely strides toward the goal (SpencerW. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness,210). God is weaving his tapestry according to his own grand design. (D&C 76:56, 50112; D&C 88:2124. This will present some difficult challenges for all of you. If you are tempted to walk down a wrong path, you, too, will hear that sweet angel voice say to you: "That is not who you are!" It must needs be, Lehi taught, that there is an opposition in all things. Without that opposition, neither righteousness nor joy is possible.3, Some of the trials we face in life we impose on ourselves. Did we live before? . All flesh is in his hands. However, in mortality you have to choose your eternal identity. Wednesday night I was praying for help. Faith is developed in a setting where we cannot see what lies ahead (in Conference Report, Oct. 1985, 78; or Ensign, Nov. 1985, 63). The Son of Man hath descended below them all. I want to share with you some impressions I have had about you and your eternal identity and purpose. At the Final Judgment, Satan and the other spirits who fought against God and his righteous children will be cast away into their own place with no power to trouble the Saints anymore. His plan is truly glorious and powerful. It carries with it an overarching purpose: to become like our Heavenly Father and the Savior Jesus Christ and to qualify for exaltation and eternal life with Them. and in thy seed . 27:19; D&C 67:13; D&C 76:6970), we faced a dilemma: How could we learn the lessons of our second estate without sinning? It will help you see the powerful connection between your identity and the Savior Jesus Christ. Eternal life is the phrase used in scripture to define the quality of life that our Eternal Father lives. You have to become your eternal identity. It is very important that we not assume the perspectives of mortality in making the decisions that bear on eternity! Pornography became like a drug he took to satisfy his appetites and relieve his pain. Those who learn obedience and gain self-mastery will return to live with God the Eternal Father. You will see others, especially your children and your eternal companion, the way the Lord sees them. The tests of mortality often take the form of persecution, tribulation, calamity, personal adversity, and loneliness (see 2Timothy 3:12; 1Peter 1:7; Romans 5:35; D&C 101:24; 121:1). Then into my mind came a short conversation: One of you, I imagined our Father saying, will receive a body and mind with capacities different from the others. . But I have them for a purpose. You have to act with faith in Jesus Christ to become holy men and women with your whole soul. The Eternal Search for Wisdom: Reflections on Proverbs 1:20-33. Scriptures First, the scriptures. You are sent to school, for that matter, to begin as a human infant and grow to unbelievable proportions in wisdom, judgment, knowledge, and power. As they draw farther from worldliness they feel closer to our Father in Heaven and more able to be guided by his Spirit. There are certain challenges involved in possessing a body, of course, and it takes some experience to learn how to bring our bodies into harmony with our spirits. Sharon and her husband live in Minnesota. Impressions about Identity and PurposeWe have discussed identity and purpose in God's eternal plan. In that moment he made a decision to be honest with her. That image has a powerful influence on our attitudes and our actions. We had just finished participating in that great council where the plan of salvation had been presented and the Savior offered himself as a sacrifice to assure our eternal lives. Whenever men gain the Lords eternal perspective of whence they came, why they are here, and what lies ahead in the eternal realms of living and being, they are able better to govern the deeds done in the flesh. But these, too, are part of the path to perfect joy. Our Eternal Life Learn More Our life on earth has purpose. The Spirit of Elijah will be in that family. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Before we were born, we lived with God, the Father of our spirits. She looked at me in shock and said, "That is not who you are!" (To the Elect Women of the Kingdom of God, Nauvoo Illinois Relief Society Dedication, 30June 1978. And since only perfect beings can dwell in the perfect glory of Gods presence (3 Ne. We would have the same kind of bodiesbodies that would shine like the sun (Joseph Fielding Smith, Take Heed to Yourselves! One Sunday afternoon Luke walked into the bishop's office smiling. He said this set of scriptures teaches repeatedly that people make bad decisions and that God is always there with His arms wide open to receive those who will repent after making bad decisions. Those seeking to be obedient to God will not be tried or tested beyond their ability to bear it (see 1Corinthians 10:13; Alma 13:2830; 38:5). Think, for example, of the impact of Lehi's family and their records as well as the many branches like them whose records are yet to come forth. A husband and wife who make and keep the covenant of celestial marriage are prepared to bring children into the world in accordance with God's eternal plan. . An unanticipated problem was encountered, check back soon and try again Chapter 13: Faith, a Power That Centers in Christ, Chapter 18: Spiritual Rebirth: True Conversion, Chapter 20: The Sacrament, a Memorial Ordinance, Chapter 21: The Foreordination of Covenant Israel and Their Responsibilities, Chapter 23: The Restoration of the Gospel in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, Chapter 24: The Scattering and the Gathering of Israel, Chapter 25: Priesthood: What It Is, How It Works, Chapter 26: The Oath and Covenant of Priesthood, Chapter 30: Death and the Postmortal Spirit World, Chapter 32: The Resurrection and the Judgment, Chapter 33: Kingdoms of Glory and Perdition, Chapter 35: The Fall of Babylon and the Establishment of Zion, Chapter 37: The Millennium and the Glorification of the Earth, Chapter 10: The Purpose of Earth Life, Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual (2000), 2729, 10: Purpose of Earth Life, Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual, 2729. Are we investing, first and foremost, in the things that are eternal in nature? Luke followed through on the assignment for a few weeks without any success. Doug has diabetes, and one time it nearly killed him. But if we look upon life as an eternal thing stretching far into the premortal past and on into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings may be put in proper perspective (Faith Precedes the Miracle, 97). He became far more aware of the subtle ways Satan tried to lure him into the path of pornography. ), At the Lords second coming to earth, those who had proved themselves capable of living celestial law would be the first to be resurrected. This identification reflects the special place of Abraham in the plan of salvation. As a spirit son or daughter of God, you learned all about the Father's plan and its implications for you in the pre-mortal realm. . He had not yet assigned any of us this mission, and I feared that it might fall to me. And every one of you has children that will bless your life. Most of Heavenly Fathers children met the proposal with a shout of joy. The restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ launched this great latter-day work. Grant, chapter5, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith, chapter7, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter3, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: HaroldB. Lee, chapter1, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: HaroldB. Lee, chapter24, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: SpencerW. Kimball, chapter1, Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual, lesson2, Hope, Music with a Message, episode14, Mapping Your WayPart1, For the Youth, episode24, Does the Journey Seem Long? Hymns, no. Tracing the Human Line of Descent of the "Seed". In the words of King Benjamin, we seek to: . We taste the bitter fruits of life in order that we may grow and learn to prize the good (see Moses 6:55; D&C 29:39; 2Nephi 2:12, 11). 2 Samuel 7:1-14a. True followers of Christ are called the seed or the children of Abraham. When we think of identity, we usually think about things like personal and family background, activities, interests, talents, occupations, and roles in organizations we belong to. If we looked at mortality as the whole of existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and short life would be calamity. The ordinances of the priesthood place the powers of godliness within our reach (see D&C 84:1923). I have reflected on our Father's plan often in the last few months, and I have thought much and prayed much about you. 34648; 1 Jn. Perhaps we were not so much concerned whether we should die of disease, of accident, or of senility. It contained several promises, including: Abraham is linked to all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 158-159 "You will see the time when you will have millions of children around you. This is our eternal purpose: to do the Lord's work as His trusted servants. They will be guided, protected, and nurtured by a mother and a father who bring the blessings, power, and authority of the holy priesthood into their home and family. . Check out our lds purpose selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is looking for Project Management interns to help our IT department to work with teams of engineers, product managers, developers . During our mortal lives we make choices. It is exaltation, which means living with God forever in eternal families. As important as such activities and occupations can be, they do not define who we are. If we live in such a way that the considerations of eternity press upon us, we will make better decisions.. You do not remember it, I do not remember it, but nevertheless there was a time before we ever came into this world when we dwelt in his presence. Why do we suffer pain and heartbreak? These three questions have crossed the minds of many people all over the world. Before our mortal birth we had a pre-existent, spiritual personality, as the sons and daughters of the Eternal Father (statement of the First Presidency, Improvement Era, Mar. I bear witness of Jesus Christ, of His love and mercy and grace. Though I am weak, the Lord is strong; as I repent, he can help me overcome my imperfections. In the temple we receive our ultimate blessings, as the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.5. I gained a more submissive attitude than I would have otherwise. Thats part of the joy we experience in this life., At the close of his life and in an address that brought to a crescendo all he had been teaching the Saints, Joseph Smith declared: [God] was once a man like us; yea, God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did., Here, then, is eternal lifeto know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory.8, No concept thrilled me more thoroughly when I discovered the gospel as a teenager than the idea that I could become like God; it gave direction to my life at a time when I needed an identity and a reason to stay active in the Church. Mortality, and the Atonement, provide us with the opportunity to do so. 4:1415; D&C 45:34) and then voluntarily pay the infinitely painful penalty for our sins. . She wanted me to remember that I had important work to do here on earth, and I needed to prepare to do it. The Bible says that at the end of time almost the entire world will be deceived and will be led captive by the devil and end up worshipping evil spirits because of their lack of understanding about death. The body should be a temple in which the Spirit of God may dwell (see 1Corinthians 3:1617; 6:1920; D&C 93:35). Their attitudes and desires cause them to view their experiences in terms of eternity. . Message Our Eternal Purpose Prayer Christ you are the Head of the Body, your Church. (John 10:1518; 1 Cor. Repentance is not a punishment and can be defined as any change in action, attitude, or belief that points us to Jesus Christ. The Lord then listed tribulations the Prophet could face (and indeed, during his lifetime, did face), ending with words that undoubtedly sustained him through the terrible days ahead: Above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. From April 2007 through April 2014, he served as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this blessing I was given a choice to live or die. vhf dipole antenna calculator. I am going to share with you the experience of a young man I will call Luke whose eternal identity and purpose helped him overcome one of the most difficult and pernicious challenges we face.12 I speak of the deadly threat of pornography. The bishop helped Luke see that sheer grit was not a permanent solution. Keeping our destination or the purpose of our life in mind influences our decisions. It was one of the hardest things he had ever done. I dont know. 308, 309, 331, 362.) You can change your preferences at any time by returning to this site or visit our how to upload resume on indeed. Immortality is to live forever as a resurrected being. Our experience here is a test, a trial of our faith in Jesus Christ "to see if [we] will do all things whatsoever the Lord [our] God shall command [us]"6amidst the temptations, trials, and challenges of mortal life. And that was a challenge, because he was very active. Guide to the Scriptures, Eternal Life, Index to the Triple Combination, Eternal Life, Life After Death, ComeUntoChrist.org, Come, Follow Me: Knowing the Purpose of Life, New Era, February 2014, May 1319: Matthew 1920; Mark10; Luke18, Come, Follow MeFor Individuals and Families: New Testament 2019, Beyond the Veil: Life in the Eternities, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, chapter18, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, chapter13, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, chapter40, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, chapter5, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: JosephF. Smith, chapter15, The Great Plan of Life and Salvation, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: JosephF. Smith, chapter17, Walking in the Path That Leads to Life Eternal, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: HeberJ. 146, If You Could Hie to Kolob, Hymns, no. We are sons [and daughters] of God and the seed of Abraham.1. Here we receive bodies of flesh and bones and are tested in all things. Member Education LDS doctrine declares that marriage is essential to God's eternal plan, the First Presidency has warned that disintegration of families will bring dire consequences,79 and presidents Spen- cer W. Kimball (1973-1985) and Gordon B. Hinckley (1995- 2008) have counseled that selection of an eternal companion is the most . Eleven years ago, my wife and I were blessed with a new daughter. 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