I have been thinking a lot lately about agency and judgement day and planned on writing a blog about the things I was feeling but I realized I already wrote 2 on the subject so I will write just a little bit more and add my other blogs to this one.
What got me thinking about this was different accounts I've heard lately of LDS people saying that the commandments are too strict and the church needs to change it's rules. Scriptures say the way is strait (meaning narrow, notice the difference in the spelling, strait and straight) and narrow, so yes narrow and narrow. Matthew 7:14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
The commandments are from God Himself not from the leaders of the Church. Those who can stay on the strait and narrow path receive eternal life (return to the presence of God). Those who can't abide the laws and ordinances set forth by God and His Son Jesus Christ will receive less than this and less happiness in the next life.
It is up to us what we want to do and be. The commandments were not set forth to be a burden or hardship for us. They are to make us happy and healthy and to bring us eternal happiness and joy more so then we can comprehend and when we keep them we receive great blessings here in this life. The commandments become blessings in our lives and no longer seem like commandments but a way to a happy life. 2 Nephi 25:25 "For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments." Mosiah 2:41 "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."
This is dated July 16th 2009
I have been thinking about agency lately, not only pertaining to things on earth, but that ultimately our final destination is about choice. Many scriptures tell us that we are free to choose. Free to choose life and happiness or darkness and misery. If we desire things of the telestial world then that is where we will want to be. If we choose things of the celestial world then that is what we will strive for.
These are some of my favorite scriptures about this subject. 2 Nephi 2:27-29 "Wherefore men are free according to the flesh;.... 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. "
"And now my sons, I would that ye should look to that great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;
And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.
And then 2 Nephi 10:23-25 "Therefore cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves-to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life."
"wherefore my beloved brotheren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not the will of the devil and the flesh ; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved."
"Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen.
Alma chapters 12 and 13 are really good as well.
If we can overcome our own desires, through faith on Jesus Christ and repentance, and desire the things of the spirit then we will receive eternal life and happiness. May we all be able to overcome the flesh and desire all that is good and of God, that we may live with Him again. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
This one is dated February 3rd 2010.
Last July I posted an entry called Agency. Today, while reading to my children I found some great scriptures that talk about how ultimately we choose for ourselves our final destination and though God is our judge, he uses our choices and desires to pronounce our judgment upon us and if mercy has place for us because of repentance He will use it but if our choices and desires take away mercy because of no repentance than His true justice is what we will find and deserve and it will be just.
The scriptures are Alma 41:3-7 "And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the DESIRES of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.
And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame- mortality to immortality, corruption to incorruption-raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on the one hand, the other on the other-
The one raised to happiness according to his DESIRES of happiness, or good according to his DESIRES of good; and the other to evil according to his DESIRES of evil; for as he has DESIRED to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.
And so it is on the one hand. If he hath repented of his sins, and DESIRED righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness.
These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; FOR BEHOLD, THEY ARE THEIR OWN JUDGES, whether to do good or do evil."
Then verse 8 because I like it: "Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever WILL may walk therein and be saved."
