D&C 78

 The Lord introduces an "order" under the "law of consecration" that it was to be -

 "...independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 78:14)

In my mind, not controlled by earthly governmental laws or corporations.

It falls under the law of consecration which is for - 

"...the salvation of man, and to the glory of your Father who is in heaven;

5 That you may be equal in the bonds of heavenly things, yea, and earthly things also, for the obtaining of heavenly things.

6 For if ye are not equal in earthly things ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things;

7 For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you."  (Doctrine and Covenants 78:4–7)

Where His equality is defined as -

"...equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs."  (Doctrine and Covenants 51:3)

D&C 77

 Concerning the seventh seal, the Prophet Joseph Smith was asked - 

"Q. What are we to understand by the sounding of the trumpets, mentioned in the 8th chapter of Revelation?

A. We are to understand that as God made the world in six days, and on the seventh day he finished his work, and sanctified it, and also formed man out of the dust of the earth, even so, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years will the Lord God sanctify the earth, and complete the salvation of man, and judge all things, and shall redeem all things, except that which he hath not put into his power, when he shall have sealed all things, unto the end of all things; and the sounding of the trumpets of the seven angels are the preparing and finishing of his work, in the beginning of the seventh thousand years—the preparing of the way before the time of his coming."  (Doctrine and Covenants 77:12)

And - 

"Q. When are the things to be accomplished, which are written in the 9th chapter of Revelation?

A. They are to be accomplished after the opening of the seventh seal, before the coming of Christ."  Doctrine and Covenants 77:13)

We have recently heard many warnings recently that we are to prepare for the second coming of the Savior.  Many temples are being built.  I personally feel that He is finishing His work in preparation for His coming.  Which would suggest in my mind, the 7th seal has been opened.

D&C 76

 With all the marvelous revelations revealed in the 76th Section, I find it interesting that in conclusion - 

"But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom which he showed unto us, which surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion;

115 Which he commanded us we should not write while we were yet in the Spirit, and are not lawful for man to utter;

116 Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him;

117 To whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 76:114–117)

Obviously, there is even more knowledge that can still be obtained.

Elder David A. Bednar - The Times of the Restitution of All Things

 Elder Bednar gave a masterful summary of "The Times of Restitution of All Things"/  I would not it justice unless I quoted his entire talk.  But one small quote seemed to sink into my heart - 

"One year after the organization of the Church, the Lord instructed Joseph Smith that the keys of the kingdom of God had again been “committed unto man on the earth” and the “gospel [of Jesus Christ would] roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands.”

He quoted - 

"The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth."  (Doctrine and Covenants 65:2)

D&C 76

As it was revealed, the criteria to qualify for the terrestial  world, I believe they are all inclusive, not individual, which means to means that all conditions apply.  I believe the most significant is - 

"These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God." (Doctrine and Covenants 76:79)

D&C 76

 In revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, they recorded - 

"...we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—"   (Doctrine and Covenants 76:50)

They heard - 

"They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—

52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power..."  Doctrine and Covenants 76:51–52)

Again, essential ordinances and covenants with associated tokens are one of the conditions required to enter the Celestial Kingdom.

Elder D. todd Christofferson - Worship

 As I strive for the "power of godliness", I just want to include this comment from Elder Christofferson, as he describes that striving to emulate deity is worshipping.

"Ultimately, how we live may be the best, most genuine form of worship. Showing our devotion means emulating the Father and the Son—cultivating Their attributes and character in ourselves. If, as the saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then we might say with respect to Deity, emulation is the sincerest form of veneration. This suggests an active, sustained effort on our part to seek holiness. But becoming more Christlike is also the natural outcome of our acts of worship. Elder Kearon’s phrase cited earlier about worshipping “in a way that transforms us” is significant. True worship is transformative.

This is the beauty of the covenant path—the path of worship, love, and loyalty to God. We enter that path by baptism, pledging to take upon us the name of Christ and to keep His commandments. We receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, the messenger of the Savior’s grace that redeems and cleanses us from sin as we repent. We could even say that in repenting we are worshipping Him.

There follow additional priesthood ordinances and covenants made in the house of the Lord that further sanctify us. The ceremonies and ordinances of the temple constitute an elevated form of worship.'

Particularly - 

"President Russell M. Nelson has emphasized that “every man and every woman who participates in priesthood ordinances and who makes and keeps covenants with God has direct access to the power of God.” This is not only a power we draw upon to serve and to bless. It is also the divine power that works in us to refine and purify us. As we walk the covenant path, the sanctifying “power of godliness is manifest” in us."

D&C 76

 Of the sons of Perdition, the Lord revealed that Satan - 

"...was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.

27 And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning!

28 And while we were yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us that we should write the vision; for we beheld Satan, that old serpent, even the devil, who rebelled against God, and sought to take the kingdom of our God and his Christ—

29 Wherefore, he maketh war with the saints of God, and encompasseth them round about."  (Doctrine and Covenants 76:26–29)  

In my mind, that "war" was about agency and choosing to follow Jesus Christ...much like similar things in politics today...all about power and control.

D&C 76

 The Prophet Joseph Smith declared - 

"For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God."  (Doctrine and Covenants 76:23–24)

There is a great deal of truth in this declaration.  In my mind, "begotten sons and daughters" unto God would suggest to me that there are many on other worlds that obtain exaltation by obedience to the laws and ordinances (plan of salvation) into God's presence.

D&C 75

 It is interesting that as we receive new callings that certain scriptures tend to stand out more.    As Luke Johnson and William McLellin are called to serve in the south countries, the Lord counsels that they should continue - 

"Calling on the name of the Lord for the Comforter, which shall teach them all things that are expedient for them—

11 Praying always that they faint not; and inasmuch as they do this, I will be with them even unto the end."  (Doctrine and Covenants 75:10–11)

Gary E. Stevenson - And We Talk of Christ

Elder Stevenson instructed - 

"We are followers of Jesus Christ, and we seek to both receive and share His light. Implicit in the name of the Church is our theology of “Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” Through ancient and living prophets, our Heavenly Father has commanded us to “hear Him!” and to “come unto Christ.” “We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, [and] we prophesy of Christ.”

We teach that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and during His earthly ministry, Jesus taught His gospel and established His Church.

We testify that at the end of His life, Jesus atoned for our sins when He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, was crucified on the cross, and then was resurrected.

We rejoice that because of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice, we can be forgiven and cleansed of our sins as we repent. This brings us peace and hope while making it possible for us to return to God’s presence and receive a fulness of joy.

We prophesy that because of Jesus’s Resurrection, death is not the end but an important step forward. “We will all be resurrected after we die. This means that each person’s spirit and body will be reunited and live forever.”"

"Recent First Presidency encouragement to look “forward to Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ—the most glorious of all messages to mankind” highlights the magnitude of this season. While there appears to be a growing trend among various Christian theologians to view the Resurrection in figurative and symbolic terms, we affirm our doctrine that “the Resurrection means that all who have ever lived will be resurrected, and the Resurrection is literal.” “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Jesus Christ broke the bands of death for every living soul.

We truly stand all amazed at the grace Jesus offers us. We embrace His words that “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

C. S. Lewis stated that “to preach Christianity meant [to the Apostles] primarily to preach the Resurrection. … The Resurrection is the central theme in every Christian sermon reported in the Acts. The Resurrection, and its consequences, were the ‘gospel’ or good news which the Christians brought.”

I proclaim that “there is a resurrection, … the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.”"

D&C 72

 For those who desired to move to and live in "Zion", the Lord instructs - 

"Thus it cometh out of the church, for according to the law every man that cometh up to Zion must lay all things before the bishop in Zion.

16 And now, verily I say unto you, that as every elder in this part of the vineyard must give an account of his stewardship unto the bishop in this part of the vineyard—

17 A certificate from the judge or bishop in this part of the vineyard, unto the bishop in Zion, rendereth every man acceptable, and answereth all things, for an inheritance, and to be received as a wise steward and as a faithful laborer..."  (Doctrine and Covenants 72:15–17)

The "law" was that the person was willing to consecrate their property to the poor and the needy.  In my mind again - 

"...every man equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs."  (Doctrine and Covenants 51:3)

...or the law of the Celestial kingdom

D&C 70

 To a Church committee, the Lord instructs the members of what they should do with the compensation for the sale of the Book of Commandments, saying - 

"Wherefore, a commandment I give unto them, that they shall not give these things unto the church, neither unto the world;

7 Nevertheless, inasmuch as they receive more than is needful for their necessities and their wants, it shall be given into my storehouse;

8 And the benefits shall be consecrated unto the inhabitants of Zion, and unto their generations, inasmuch as they become heirs according to the laws of the kingdom."  (Doctrine and Covenants 70:6–8)

Again, the Lord is teaching His celestial doctrine - 

"...every man equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs.  (Doctrine and Covenants 51:3)

Dieter F. Uctdorf - “By This All Will Know That You Are My Disciples”

Concerning love and unity, Elder Uctdorf taught - 

"...it’s important to remember that when most people experience the Church of Jesus Christ for the first time, they aren’t thinking about priesthood authority or ordinances or the gathering of Israel. What they’re likely to notice, above all else, is how they feel when they’re with us and how we treat each other.

“Love one another,” Jesus said. “By this all will know that you are My disciples.” Very often, a person’s first testimony of Jesus Christ comes when he or she feels love among disciples of Jesus Christ."

"///while we hold ourselves to the Lord’s high standards, let’s also be patient with one another. We are each a work in progress, and we all rely on the Savior for any progress we make. That’s true for us as individuals, and it’s true for the kingdom of God on earth.

The Lord invites us not just to join His kingdom but also to be anxiously engaged in building it. God envisions a people who are “of one heart and one mind.” And to be of one heart, we must seek pure hearts, and that requires a mighty change of heart.

But that doesn’t mean changing my heart to align with yours. Nor does it mean changing your heart to align with mine. It means that we all change our hearts to align with the Savior."

"...in the Savior’s Church, we gather all of God’s children who are willing to be gathered and who seek the truth. It is not our physical appearance, our political views, our culture, or our ethnicity that brings us together. It is not our common background that unites us. It is our common objective, our love for God and love for our neighbor, our commitment to Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. We are “one in Christ.”

The unity we seek is not to have everyone stand in the same place; it is to have everyone face in the same direction—toward Jesus Christ. We are one not because of where we’ve been but where we are striving to go, not because of who we are but who we seek to become.

That is what Christ’s true Church is all about."

D&C 67

 I found it instructive this morning as I read -

"Ye endeavored to believe that ye should receive the blessing which was offered unto you; but behold, verily I say unto you there were fears in your hearts, and verily this is the reason that ye did not receive."  (Doctrine and Covenants 67:3)

In my mind, these saints desired a blessing (which the Lord did not tell us what is was), and because they "feared in their hearts" they did not receive it.  How many of us have been given callings and prayed sincerely for help, but our heart was full of fear?