April GC - Pres. Faust

President Faust quoted Dr. Sidney Simon, a recognized authority on values realization, of his definition of forgiveness as it applies to human relationships -

"Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds. It is rediscovering the strengths we always had and relocating our limitless capacity to understand and accept other people and ourselves."

President Faust commented on that definition saying -

...Most of us need time to work through pain and loss. We can find all manner of reasons for postponing forgiveness. One of these reasons is waiting for the wrongdoers to repent before we forgive them. Yet such a delay causes us to forfeit the peace and happiness that could be ours. The folly of rehashing long-past hurts does not bring happiness.

Some hold grudges for a lifetime, unaware that courageously forgiving those who have wronged us is wholesome and therapeutic..."

The Lord said -

"I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 64:10)

Presiden Faust quoted two articles in the Deseret News -

"...If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for those who have caused us hurt and injury, we will rise to a higher level of self-esteem and well-being. Some recent studies show that people who are taught to forgive become "less angry, more hopeful, less depressed, less anxious and less stressed," which leads to greater physical well-being. Another of these studies concludes "that forgiveness . . . is a liberating gift [that] people can give to themselves."


"Forgiveness is a source of power. But it does not relieve us of consequences." When tragedy strikes, we should not respond by seeking personal revenge but rather let justice take its course and then let go...."

Finally, true forgiveness should be centered around the Savior -

"...It is not easy to let go and empty our hearts of festering resentment. The Savior has offered to all of us a precious peace through His Atonement, but this can come only as we are willing to cast out negative feelings of anger, spite, or revenge. For all of us who forgive "those who trespass against us," even those who have committed serious crimes, the Atonement brings a measure of peace and comfort.

Let us remember that we need to forgive to be forgiven."

April GC - Elder Hale, Pres. Faust

In general priesthood meeting, Elder Hales talked of preparing for the "Decade of Decision" explaining that -

"...These decisions include receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood, going to the temple, serving a mission, getting an education, selecting an occupation, and choosing a companion and being sealed for time and for all eternity in the holy temple. There is a time and season for all of our decisions. Make sure you make decisions in the proper time and season. All of these life-altering decisions will be made in a very busy, relatively short period during your 20s..."

To the young people he stressed -

"...In the decade ahead, your time for preparation will be limited. As you are Aaronic Priesthood bearers, it is important that you prepare now. You must develop your own preconditioned responses for the important decisions you will make in the next decade of your life. You must know what to do and when to do it when each decision presents itself. Remember that making no decision at all could be just as deadly as making the wrong decision. Many of the decisions you make or don't make will have eternal consequences..."

Alma admonished his son -

"O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God." (Book of Mormon Alma 37:35)

What is wisdom? -

"...behold here is wisdom—let him obtain whatsoever he can obtain in righteousness, for the good of the saints." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 57:12)

"And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness." (Book of Mormon Alma 38:9)

Elder Hales taught -

"Now is the time to become a disciple of Jesus Christ..."

"Now is the time to organize and prepare ourselves to have the Holy Ghost as our constant companion..."

"Now is the time to decide who your friends are and to become worthy of a righteous eternal companion..."

"Now is the time to prepare for your mission..."

"Now is the time to obey..."

"Now is the time to use our time properly..."

"Now is the time to safeguard your birthright..." Dont' be as "unstable as water".

"...Now is the time to prepare for training, education, and an occupation..."

In President Faust's final priesthood meeting address he spoke this preparation -

"...We live in an age of specialization. When I was a boy, many people had Model T Fords. Compared to modern cars, they were relatively simple mechanically. Many people were able to fix their own cars by grinding the valves, changing the rings on the pistons, putting in new brake bands, and using a generous supply of baling wire. Nowadays automobiles are so sophisticated that the average person knows very little about how to repair them. The mechanics of today use a computer to diagnose engine problems. I mention this example to encourage you young men to get training and education in order to keep up. Technical education is very important, and the same thing is true in fields of higher education. Any kind of skill requires specialized learning.

I do not care what vocation you choose to follow in life so long as it is honorable. How you provide for your family is your decision. Acquiring a skill is a good way to pay the bills, but there really ought to be something more in terms of personal involvement. Do not become so preoccupied with the material things of life that you lose the essence of your humanity. You may recall Dickens's character Jacob Marley, who lamented his obsession with work when he exclaimed: "Business? . . . Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business."12 Each of us ought to play some role in strengthening society, especially in doing the work of God.

I have learned that for those of us who hold the priesthood, the best formula for success is "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."13 Success will not come immediately because it requires preparation and hard work. There really are no shortcuts to success.

Each of us is a unique creation of our Heavenly Father. No two of us are completely alike. No one else has exactly the same gifts and talents that we have been given. We should increase those talents and gifts and use them to leverage our uniqueness. For example, when I was growing up, there was a fine young man in our neighborhood who was not a scholar but made beautiful furniture with his hands. He and I were drafted into the military the same day. He could not learn to make his bed so it would pass inspection, but he could make pieces of wood into exquisite art. As President Howard W. Hunter said: "Some persons have the idea that talent, creativity, moral stability, or greatness are not in the realm of youth, but are reserved to those who are older. This is not so."14

You young men have a future with great promise. You are the beneficiaries of knowledge the world has never known before. This knowledge will allow you to contribute to the future of modern business, industry, agriculture, and the professions. You may be among those who will defend a way of life on the battlefields. You will be among those who spread the principles of the gospel in the world and help the Church grow..."

As youth leaders we need to help them prepare now for the coming Decade of Decision.

Revelations 22

At the conclusion of His great revelation to John, the Savior said -

"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life..." (New Testament Revelation 22:14)

And not only the right to the tree, but -

"...To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." (New Testament Revelation 2:7)

In a dream, Lehi -

"...beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 8:10)

Fruit that was -

"...desirable above all other fruit." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 8:12)

Nephi also saw -

"...an awful gulf, which separated the wicked from the tree of life..." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 15:28)

"...that the justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous; and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and hath no end." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 15:30)

Much like that which was -

"...placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." (Old Testament Genesis 3:24)

Such flaming sword was the justice of God for as Amulek answered Zeezrom -

"...I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins." (Book of Mormon Alma 11:37)

"Now, we see that the man had become as God, knowing good and evil; and lest he should put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live forever, the Lord God placed cherubim and the flaming sword, that he should not partake of the fruit—4 And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God." (Book of Mormon Alma 42:3 - 4)

There is only one way to the Tree of Life and His fruit of mercy and that is through the path of repentence and obedience for Nephi also -

"...beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 11:25)

Which the meaning of the iron rod -

"...was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 15:24)

The was the word of God that John witnessed -

"...man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron..." (New Testament Revelation 12:5)

Which explains the description of the Savior that -

"...out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (New Testament Revelation 19:15 - 16)

In other words, He will rule by His words -

"Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.
34 Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;
35 Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire—" (Book of Mormon Alma 5:33 - 35)

Revelations 14

Of his revelation, John wrote during the sixth seal -

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (New Testament Revelation 14:6 - 7)

What was this "everlasting gospel"? In modern day revelation we learn that -

"Behold, this is wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel not, for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 27:5)

Ezekiel talked of two sticks when the Lord instructed him -

"Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand." (Old Testament Ezekiel 37:16 - 17)

Both sticks testifying that Jesus is the Christ. As a result of the keys of the record Ephraim held by this angel, the Prophet Joseph Smith -

"...has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 135:3)

We not only learn by modern revelation that the angel John saw may have not only been Moroni, but others -

"And also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days;
7 And also John the son of Zacharias, which Zacharias he (Elias) visited and gave promise that he should have a son, and his name should be John, and he should be filled with the spirit of Elias;
8 Which John I have sent unto you, my servants, Joseph Smith, Jun., and Oliver Cowdery, to ordain you unto the first priesthood which you have received, that you might be called and ordained even as Aaron;
9 And also Elijah, unto whom I have committed the keys of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, that the whole earth may not be smitten with a curse;
10 And also with Joseph and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, your fathers, by whom the promises remain;
11 And also with Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days;
12 And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them;
13 Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth;
14 And also with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 27:6 - 14)

Of these, Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught -

“Now, as to the actual work of restoration—what angel performed this mighty deed, this work which involves the salvation of all men on earth in these latter-days? Who restored the everlasting gospel? Was it one angel or many?

It is traditional (and true!) to reply: ‘Moroni, son of Mormon, the now resurrected Nephite prophet, who holds the keys of “the stick of Ephraim”, the one through whose ministry the Book of Mormon was again brought to light.’ The reasoning that the Book of Mormon contains ‘the fulness of the everlasting gospel’; that therein is God’s message of salvation for all of the earth’s inhabitants; and that this gospel message is now being taken by the Lord’s witnesses to one nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people after another. . . .

. . . But other angels were yet to come—Moses, Elias, Elijah, Gabriel, Raphael, and ‘divers angels. . . . all declaring their dispensation, their rights, their keys, their honors, their majesty and glory, and the power of their priesthood; giving line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little, and there a little.’

Thus the angel Moroni brought the message, that is, the word; but other angels brought the keys and priesthood, the power. And in the final analysis the fulness of the everlasting gospel consists of all of the truths and powers needed to enable men to gain a fulness of salvation in the celestial heaven.” (McConkie, DNTC, 3:528–30.)

So much is revealed in just a few verses.

Revelations 11

John records in his great revelation -

"AND there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not..." (New Testament Revelation 11:1 - 2)

I was struck in that the Lord said that it was only them that worshipped within the temple that should be measured, not those that were without. These are they -

"...which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." (New Testament Revelation 7:14 - 15)

These are they unto which is given -

"...a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (New Testament Revelation 2:17)

I have speculated that the white stone is the temple. All of this make sense that those without the temple would not be measured as the Lord revealed -

"...he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law... And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:6 - 7)

Without the sealing power demonstrated in the temple all works, ordinances, covenants, etc. are in a sense "wasted" unless this work is "measured" in the temple for it has been revealed -

"I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord...If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 2:1 - 3)

Revelations 7

By revelation, we learn from the question -

"...What are we to understand by the seven seals with which it was sealed?
A[nswer]. We are to understand that the first seal contains the things of the first thousand years, and the second also of the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 77:7)

After the sixth seal was opened which is in the millenium we live, John saw -

"...four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree." (New Testament Revelation 7:1)

"...to whom is given power over the four parts of the earth, to save life and to destroy..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 77:8)

John then sees -

"...another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." (New Testament Revelation 7:2 - 3)

From Moroni, another ministering angel it was revealed -

"BEHOLD, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
2 And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
3 If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 2:1 - 3)

It was Elijah that returned in modern day with the keys and power of sealing spoken of by John. John then witnesses -

"...I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel." (New Testament Revelation 7:4)

These being -

"...high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 77:11)

But it doesn't seem limited to these high priests for John wrote -

"...I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands..." (New Testament Revelation 7:9)

Who were these individuals -

"...These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (New Testament Revelation 7:14)

No question in my mind these individuals were also sealed. It is these that -

"...serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any hat.
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (New Testament Revelation 7:15 - 17)

These great blessings are reserved for those that serve regularly in His temple. It is of these -

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (New Testament Revelation 3:21)

I think this verse provides a great incite on the throne of God as He says - "I will grant to sit with "in" my throne.

Revelations 1

While John -

"...was in the isle that is called Patmos..." (New Testament Revelation 1:9)

He records -

"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last..." (New Testament Revelation 1:10 - 11)

As he turned to see the voice that spake to him -

"...I saw seven golden candlesticks;
13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters." (New Testament Revelation 1:12 - 15)

And John then noticed -

"...he had in his right hand seven stars..." (New Testament Revelation 1:16)

The Lord then tells John -

"The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand...are the angels of the seven churches..." (New Testament Revelation 1:20)

In modern revelation, the Prophet Joseph translated the angels were -

"JST Rev. 1:20 ... servants of the seven churches ..." (New Testament:Revelation 1:20)

The Lord goes on to instruct John -

"...What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea." (New Testament Revelation 1:11)

Particularly the stars or priesthood leaders or servants to the branches. I was impressed as it was symbolically revealed that leaders are in the right hand of God. What a wonderful thought. We read of several instances where individuals -

"were instruments in the hands of God..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:36)

The Lord has promised -

"Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 112:10)

What greater comfort can this provide as one is called to lead a group of saints.

3 John & Jude

There are some who hold the priesthood with aspirations for leadership, personal honor, and gain, of which John wrote -

"...who loveth to have the preeminence among them..." (New Testament 3 John 1:9)

Preiminence being -

- the quality or state of being outstanding, important, supreme.

John suggests that we should not affiliate or agree with or in other words -

"...receiveth us not..." (New Testament 3 John 1:9)

Aspiration, if any, should be to serve God. Jude seemed concerned of the same thing as he warned -

"For there are certain men crept in unawares..." (New Testament Jude 1:4)

Even though he talks of those that teach false doctrine he also talks of those that run -

"...greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core." (New Testament Jude 1:11)

Both Balaam and Core (Korah) used their position, Balaam with his gift of prophecy and Core in his desire to hold the priesthood , all was pursued for personal gain. We see this as their -

"...mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage." (New Testament Jude 1:16)

The Prophet Joseph Smith commented in his day -

"It would be gratifying to my mind to see the Saints in Kirtland flourish, but think the time is not yet come; and I assure you it never will until a different order of things be established and a different spirit manifested. . . .

It is in consequence of aspiring men that Kirtland has been forsaken. How frequently has your humble servant been envied in his office by such characters, who endeavored to raise themselves to power at his expense, and seeing it impossible to do so, resorted to foul slander and abuse, and other means to effect his overthrow. Such characters have ever been the first to cry out against the Presidency, and publish their faults and foibles to the four winds of heaven.” (Smith, HC, 4:166.)

When we exercise our priesthood for personal gain and honor, it changes from to the priesthood of Satan or priestcraft. Of such, Nephi said -

"...that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:29)

We must remember that -

"...when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 121:37)

1 John

John taught the saints -

"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (New Testament 1 John 1:3 - 7)

John talks of the importance of fellowship with God first, then he follows that as we do, we have fellowship one with another. It seems to follow the great commandments -

"...thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." (New Testament Luke 10:27)

In our society today, it is politically correct to love your neighbor, but it is of greater importance to love God first. President Ezra Taft Benson said -

“The world largely ignores the first and great commandment—to love God—but talks a lot about loving their brother. They worship at the altar of man. Would Nephi have slain Laban if he had put the love of neighbor above the love of God? Would Abraham have taken Isaac up for a sacrifice if he had put the second commandment first?

The attitude of the world is reflected in a phrase of falsehood that reads, ‘Presume not God to scan, the proper study of mankind is man.’ But only those who know and love God can best love and serve his children, for only God fully understands his children and knows what is best for their welfare. Therefore, one needs to be in tune with God to best help his children. That’s why the Church, under the inspiration of the Lord, encourages its members to first look to themselves, then their family, then the Church and if need be to other voluntary agencies to help solve the problems of poverty, unemployment, hunger, sickness, and distress. Those who are not moved by that same inspiration turn instead to government. Such man-made course of action does little good compared to the Lord’s approach and often results in doing great harm to our Father’s children, even though the intentions may seem to have been noble.

Therefore, if you desire to help your fellowmen the most, then you must put the first commandment first.

When we fail to put the love of God first, we are easily deceived by crafty men who profess a great love of humanity, while advocating programs that are not of the Lord.” (Ezra Taft Benson in CR, Oct. 1967, p. 35.)

We see this as John teaches -

"...he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." (New Testament 1 John 2:2 - 3)

For -

"..whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." (New Testament 1 John 2:5 - 6)

And of those that say -

"...I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (New Testament 1 John 2:4)

Therefore -

"...abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." (New Testament 1 John 2:28 - 29)

So we must first love God and then we must love our fellowman for -

"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" (New Testament 1 John 4:20)

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another....If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us." (New Testament 1 John 4:10 - 12)

Because -

"Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit."
(New Testament 1 John 4:13)

2 Peter 2:3-7

Peter taught that through God's -

"...divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness..." (New Testament 2 Peter 1:3)

that we -

"...might be partakers of the divine nature..." (New Testament 2 Peter 1:4)

Partake is the word that seemed to impress me. Partake by definition means -

• to take part in
• to possess or share a certain nature or attribute

Partake suggests the burden is not the individual to take part or to possess. Peter taught what we must do to partake. We must give -

"...all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." (New Testament 2 Peter 1:5 - 7)

"...if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (New Testament 2 Peter 1:8)

Knowledge only comes by revelation which is the "divine power" through which God gives us all things pertaining to life and godliness. Brigham Young explains -

“When through the Gospel, the Spirit in man has so subdued the flesh that he can live without wilful transgression, the Spirit of God unites with his spirit, they become congenial companions, and the mind and will of the Creator is thus transmitted to the creature.” (JD, 9:288.)

The Spirit of God is the divine power or grace. The divine nature is as we come to understand the mind and will of the Lord. President David O. McKay also taught -

“[Peter] wrote on one occasion: ‘. . . that we might be partakers of the divine nature.’ . . . He realized what it means to be in touch with the spiritual, to rise above the temporal, the sensual, and partake of the divine Spirit of God. . . that is the purpose of making us more capable of responding to the Spirit and subduing the sensual. . . .That is why we like to have every young man and every young woman utilize his or her time intelligently, usefully, to bring the soul in harmony with the spirit, that we all might be partakers of God’s Spirit, partakers of his divine nature. . . . (CR, Oct. 1961, p. 90.)

2 Peter 2

In addition to the people of his day, Peter seems to be also addressing us today saying -

"...there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." (New Testament 2 Peter 2:1)

And sadly -

"...many shall follow their pernicious ways..." (New Testament 2 Peter 2:2)

These false teachers will -

"...through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you..." (New Testament 2 Peter 2:3)

"And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you..." (New Testament 2 Peter 2:13)

These teachers of heresies -

"Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness..." (New Testament 2 Peter 2:14 - 15)

"For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error." (New Testament 2 Peter 2:18)

Is this not evident today in our media and worldly philosophy. But what is of greatest significance -

"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." (New Testament 2 Peter 2:19 - 22)

It must be understood that -

"...the wages of sin is death..." (New Testament Romans 6:23)

Not liberty and agency. Remember, remember -

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:27)

2 Peter 1

More than once, the Savior talked of the elect. Paul talked that there were those that were elect in a pre-mortal existence saying -

"For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand..." (New Testament Romans 9:11)

Election by definition means -

"chosen for office or position but not yet installed" including "chosen for salvation through divine mercy" but not as yet granted all dependent upon certain requirements or obligations as Israel is the "elect" of God for -

"For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect..." (Old Testament Isaiah 45:4)

But elect does not necessarily mean all will be granted but only upon keeping the laws and ordinances of the gospel as Peter explains -

"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied." (New Testament 1 Peter 1:2)

In our pre-mortal existence there were many "elect" to accomplish missions in this mortal life for it was revealed to Abraham -

"Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;
23 And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born." (Pearl of Great Price Abraham 3:22 - 23)

In this life as we make oaths and covenants, we, in a sense become the "elect" for eternal blessings if we keep those covenants. That is why Peter pleaded -

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall..." (New Testament 2 Peter 1:10)

What are these things we must do? Peter describes this revealing process as we strive to receive these eternal blessings saying -

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." (New Testament 2 Peter 1:4 - 7)

Peter then describes the consequences of this process -

"...if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." (New Testament 2 Peter 1:8 - 9)

That is why he testifies -

"Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance..." (New Testament 2 Peter 1:12 - 13)

All with the goal that our "calling and election" will at some time be sure.