A few months ago, while we were attending the Dondo branch, I was asked to speak about the final judgement.
Lehi taught: "Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved. And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which
is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that
of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement—"
(2 Ne. 2:9-10) (see also 3 Ne. 26:5)
"What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am" (3 Ne. 27:27).
"Therefore, I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (3 Ne. 12:48).
Moroni
writes: "Do ye suppose that ye shall dwell with him under
a consciousness of your guilt? Do ye suppose that ye could be happy to
dwell with that holy Being, when your souls are racked with a
consciousness of guilt that ye have ever abused his laws?
Behold, I say unto you that ye
would be more miserable to dwell with a holy and just God, under a
consciousness of your filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with
the damned souls in hell. For behold, when ye shall be brought to see your nakedness before God, and also the glory of God, and the holiness of Jesus Christ, it will kindle a flame of unquenchable fire upon you.
O then ye unbelieving, turn ye unto the Lord; cry mightily unto the Father in the name of Jesus, that perhaps ye may be found spotless, pure, fair, and white, having been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, at that great and last day" (Mor. 9:3-6).
In the end we can either repent and become like Christ, or we will have to suffer like Christ.
"For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I" (D & C 19:16-17).
The solution is for us day by day to become more like Christ.
President Harold B. Lee said: "In
order for good to blossom it must be cultivated and exercised by
constant practice, and to be truly righteous there is required a daily pruning of the evil growth of our characters by a daily repentance from sin" (
Decisions for Successful Living, 94, 98–99.)
Elder
Bruce R. McConkie said: "To be sanctified is to become clean, pure, and
spotless; to be free from the blood and sins of the world; to become a
new creature of the Holy Ghost, one whose body has been renewed by the
rebirth of the Spirit. Sanctification is a state of saintliness, a state
attained only by conformity to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
The plan of salvation is the system and means provided whereby men may
sanctify their souls and thereby become worthy of a celestial
inheritance" (Mormon Doctrine, page 675).
Photos of the week.....
My
new best friend, James. He is the head of Customs at the South Africa
border. At the border of Mozambique we were missing an important paper
to permit us to return, but James saved the day!! On Saturday, July
26th we spent almost five (5) hours trying to return to Mozambique....
Mom with Sister Ann Hobson and Sister Sandy Tidwell who is from our same (Edgemont) Stake.
Sister Hobson just before she won at checkers.
The above photos were Inside this nice building:
Mom negotiating for some clementines!
Last night outside our apartment, I met this furry friend. It's hard to tell from this photo, but this large spider is very flat.
I love you!
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