Moses 2

 The Lord revealed to Moses that - 

"...I, God, said: Let there be light; and there was light.

4 And I, God, saw the light; and that light was good. And I, God, divided the light from the darkness.

5 And I, God, called the light Day; and the darkness, I called Night; and this I did by the word of my power, and it was done as I spake; and the evening and the morning were the first day."  (Moses 2:3–5)

And then He revealed - 

"...I, God, said: Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven, to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years;

15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth; and it was so.

16 And I, God, made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night, and the greater light was the sun, and the lesser light was the moon; and the stars also were made even according to my word.

17 And I, God, set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

18 And the sun to rule over the day, and the moon to rule over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness; and I, God, saw that all things which I had made were good;

19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day."  (Moses 2:14–19)

Obviously, the light spoken of on the first day is different from the light spoken of on the fourth day.

I believe the light spoken of first is the medium of the Light of Christ that provides life, righteousness, goodness, and truth.

Moses 1

 Because of Moses's obedience and rejection of the temptations of Satan, he received additional light and knowledge as the Lord (by the power of the Holy Ghost) revealed as - 

"...Moses cast his eyes and beheld the earth, yea, even all of it; and there was not a particle of it which he did not behold, discerning it by the Spirit of God.

28 And he beheld also the inhabitants thereof, and there was not a soul which he beheld not; and he discerned them by the Spirit of God; and their numbers were great, even numberless as the sand upon the sea shore.

29 And he beheld many lands; and each land was called earth, and there were inhabitants on the face thereof."  (Moses 1:27–29)

And not only that but also - 

"...For mine own purpose have I made these things. Here is wisdom and it remaineth in me.

32 And by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth.

33 And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten."  (Moses 1:31–33)

Even revealing - 

"...The heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man; but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine.

38 And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words.

39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."  (Moses 1:37–39)

Moses 1

 As Moses relates his experience with Satan, we learn by revelation that - 

"...now of this thing Moses bore record; but because of wickedness it is not had among the children of men."  (Moses 1:23)

I find it interesting that even amongst the house of Israel, that this doctrine was removed.

Moses 1

 As Moses, being one that had held great power and authority in Egypt - 

"...beheld the world upon which he was created; and Moses beheld the world and the ends thereof, and all the children of men which are, and which were created; of the same he greatly marveled and wondered." Moses 1:8)

And as a result of this vision - 

"...that it was for the space of many hours before Moses did again receive his natural strength like unto man; and he said unto himself: Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed."  (Moses 1:10)

Obviously, Moses was humbled.  Sometimes in our lives we begin to experience some pride in our opportunities and accomplishments.  It is important that we step back and consider that in the eternal perspective of things, we are presently "nothing".

Moses - 1

 As I have noted previously, the Lord revealed that an angel or heavenly messenger - 

"...be the spirit of a just man made perfect he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear—"  (Doctrine and Covenants 129:6)

Apparently, a spirit can only reveal himself in his glory.

We learn that as Moses was caught up to an exceeding high mountain - 

"...he saw God face to face, and he talked with him, and the glory of God was upon Moses; therefore Moses could endure his presence."  (Moses 1:2)

Obviously, the Savior or Jehovah was still a spirit only.  Thus, He would appear in His glory.  For this to take place, the requirement then would be for Moses to be "transfigured" to endure His presence.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught - 

“Transfiguration is a special change in appearance and nature which is wrought upon a person or thing by the power of God. This divine transformation is from a lower to a higher state; it results in a more exalted, impressive, and glorious condition.… “By the power of the Holy Ghost many prophets have been transfigured so as to stand in the presence of God and view the visions of eternity” (Mormon Doctrine, page 803).

This explains why Peter, James, and John were able to witness the heavenly visits on the Mount.

Elder Ron A. Rasband - The Things of My Soul

 As Elder Rasband spoke on "the things of my soul", he first mentioned, in what seemed to me as a common thread throughout general conference - 

"First, love God the Father and Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Jesus decreed the first great commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

President Nelson declared his devotion to God, our Eternal Father, and to His Son, Jesus Christ, when he was called to lead the Lord’s Church, saying, “I know Them, love Them, and pledge to serve Them—and you—with every remaining breath of my life.”8

So first, love the Father and the Son."

Official Declaration 2

 Having served a mission during the time that blacks could not hold the priesthood, I reference the  preface comments to this declaration - 

"...During Joseph Smith’s lifetime, a few black male members of the Church were ordained to the priesthood. Early in its history, Church leaders stopped conferring the priesthood on black males of African descent. Church records offer no clear insights into the origins of this practice. Church leaders believed that a revelation from God was needed to alter this practice and prayerfully sought guidance."  (Doctrine and Covenants, OD 2, Heading)

Thus the declaration came by revelation.

I specifically note that there is a difference between doctrine and policy.

Official Declaration 1

 I note President Wilford Woodruff words - 

"The Lord showed me by vision and revelation exactly what would take place if we did not stop this practice..."  (Doctrine and Covenants, OD 1, 15)

"...I saw exactly what would come to pass if there was not something done. I have had this spirit upon me for a long time. "  (Doctrine and Covenants, OD 1, 16)

This is why we have a Prophet!

D&C 138

In vision, President Joseph F. Smith beheld - 

"...that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.

58 The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God,

59 And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation."  (Doctrine and Covenants 138:57–59)

I note that the condition of redemption of the dead include, repentance, obedience to ordinances (which include covenants), having paid the penalty of transgressions (I don't know what that means), are washed clean, are rewarded according to their works.

D&C 138

 As the righteous spirits waited in great excitement for the visit of the Great Redeemer being- 

"All these had departed the mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection, through the grace of God the Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ."  (Doctrine and Covenants 138:14)

Of many of these - 

"...he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead.

31 And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel.

32 Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets."  (Doctrine and Covenants 138:30–32)

I specifically note "or in transgression" where  - 

"These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands,

34 And all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."  (Doctrine and Covenants 138:33–34)

With all the unfair "cards" that have dealt on earth, the Lord is still gracious to all repentance and works.

D&C 137

 In the end, all will be fair as the Lord declares - 

"For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts."   (Doctrine and Covenants 137:9)

D&C 136

 Being in hard times, I am humbled and impressed with the faithfulness of the early saints as they followed the counsel of the Lord - 

"Let each company, with their captains and presidents, decide how many can go next spring; then choose out a sufficient number of able-bodied and expert men, to take teams, seeds, and farming utensils, to go as pioneers to prepare for putting in spring crops.

8 Let each company bear an equal proportion, according to the dividend of their property, in taking the poor, the widows, the fatherless, and the families of those who have gone into the army, that the cries of the widow and the fatherless come not up into the ears of the Lord against this people.

9 Let each company prepare houses, and fields for raising grain, for those who are to remain behind this season; and this is the will of the Lord concerning his people."  (Doctrine and Covenants 136:7–9)

Even though they would never reap the immediate benefits, many that followed would.  Follow the Prophet.

D&C 135

John Taylor related that - 

"...The same morning, after Hyrum had made ready to go—shall it be said to the slaughter? yes, for so it was—he read the following paragraph, near the close of the twelfth chapter of Ether, in the Book of Mormon, and turned down the leaf upon it:

5 And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness, thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father. And now I … bid farewell unto the Gentiles; yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood..."   (Doctrine and Covenants 135:4–5)

He then declared -

"...The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force."  (Doctrine and Covenants 135:4–5)

D&C 134

As The Church establishes its standard for governments and laws, it states - 

"We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life."  (Doctrine and Covenants 134:2)

Elder David A. Bednar - With the Power of God in Great Glory

Elder Bednar teaches that entering ordinances and making eternal covenants empowers one with the power of God in great glory quoting Nephi - 

"Nephi “beheld the church of the Lamb of God [in the latter days], and its numbers were few, … the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions … were small.”

He also “beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, … and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.”"

He concluded with - 

"Covenant promises and blessings are possibly only because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He invites us to look to Him, come unto Him, learn of Him, and bind ourselves to Him through the covenants and ordinances of His restored gospel. I testify and promise that honoring covenants arms us with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.

D&C 133

 The Lord reveals the responsibility of the lineage of Ephraim with Israel in the last days, saying - 

"And there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim.

33 And they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy.

34 Behold, this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows."  (Doctrine and Covenants 133:32–34)

My own patriarchal blessing suggests the same thing.

D&C 133

 The Lord seems to summarize his modern warnings with - 

"Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon.

15 But verily, thus saith the Lord, let not your flight be in haste, but let all things be prepared before you; and he that goeth, let him not look back lest sudden destruction shall come upon him."  (Doctrine and Covenants 133:14–15)

What seemed to be personal to me were the words, "let him not look back".  In other words, don't ponder the past with thoughts of what might have been.

D&C 132

 As the Lord addresses the doctrine of plural marriage, He explains - 

"God commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to wife. And why did she do it? Because this was the law; and from Hagar sprang many people. This, therefore, was fulfilling, among other things, the promises.

35 Was Abraham, therefore, under condemnation? Verily I say unto you, Nay; for I, the Lord, commanded it.

36 Abraham was commanded to offer his son Isaac; nevertheless, it was written: Thou shalt not kill. Abraham, however, did not refuse, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness."  (Doctrine and Covenants 132:34–36)

As He continues through this section, it becomes clear that the issue is not necessarily plural marriage, but obedience because "I, the Lord, commanded it"!

It is all about obedience to the word of the Lord at His timing.

D&C 132

As the Lord teaches the conditions of The New and Everlasting Covenant, He reveals the sin that is unforgiveable saying - 

"The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be forgiven in the world nor out of the world, is in that ye commit murder wherein ye shed innocent blood, and assent unto my death, after ye have received my new and everlasting covenant, saith the Lord God; and he that abideth not this law can in nowise enter into my glory, but shall be damned, saith the Lord."  (Doctrine and Covenants 132:27)

In reference to "commit murder", He explains that He is referring to "innocent blood" or "assent unto my death".

Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote - 

“The innocent blood is that of Christ; and those who commit blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which is the unpardonable sin (Matt. 12:31–32), thereby ‘crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.’ (Heb. 6:6.) They are, in other words, people who would have crucified Christ, having the while a perfect knowledge that he was the Son of God” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:345).