Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

D&C 76

As the Lord provides, what I would suggest to be definitions, descriptions, titles or terminology of those that receive exalation, there are a few that I want to touch on where -

"...These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn.
68 These are they whose names are written in heaven...  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:67 - 68)

Being that there are an "innumerable company", it appears that there are not a few that will qualify for this greatest gift of God.  Much like John the Revelator wrote of -

"...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)

This great company being -

"These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:69)

Obviously, none are perfect in life but through the atonement of Jesus Christ they would be made perfect.  But not only becoming perfect but -

"...they shall overcome all things."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:60)

I note the promise of "shall".   In my mind, being made perfect and overcoming all things will not be instantaneous but an ongoing process.  The Prophet Joseph Smith taught -

“When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. 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.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 348.)

But even so, the promise is that we shall overcome all things.  And having overcome all things -

"...they are gods, even the sons of God—
59 Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ's, and Christ is God's." (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:58 - 59)