Joy

Where does Joy come from?

Here is a scripture that references Jesus Christ.

11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.
12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.
13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!
14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people. (D&C 18:11-14)

He tells us how great is His joy in the soul that repenteth! When a soul repents it gives Him joy. Than he tells us in verse 14, go cry repentance unto this people. Telling us look, these people give me joy, now go bring them unto me. Now do we get that same joy when we bring one unto Christ?

And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me! (D&C 18:16)

So here we learn we receive this same joy that Christ enjoys by bringing one soul unto Him. Than he continues how great shall it be if you bring many souls unto Him? So the more souls that come unto Christ brings greater joy not only for Christ but for the person that helps in that same work.

Adam made the following statement regarding joy.

Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God. (Moses 5:10)

In this life Adam shall have joy. Consequently this joy he also connects with in this life I shall see God. Are they similar events? What is this joy? Where does it come from?

We learn the body and spirit inseparably connected receive a fullness of joy.

33 For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy; 

34 And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy. (D&C 93:33-34)

The savior explained a little more around these verses,

10 And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one; (3 Nephi 28:10)

 We learn that adam fell that men might have joy.

25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. (2 Nephi 2:25)

From previous scriptures we learn joy comes from bringing souls unto Christ. Christ has joy in the souls that repents. So if he has been given a fullness of joy is he referring to those whom he has joy in? Is that why they will be just like Christ and the Father? Like Christ, because Christ will be their Father in whom they will have joy? And like the Father because they have joy in those they have brought unto Christ? Thus they have joy in those they brought unto Christ, and joy in Christ? If true is this some kind of family or association?

I am just asking a few questions, not that I have come to any conclusions on this matter. But I find these are indeed interesting thoughts to consider.

So,

Repentance brings joy.

Repentance is coming to the Savior, notice D&C 18:11.

Repentance does not mean, "stop your evil ways!"   It means, come to the Lord, partake of the fruit of the tree of life, it brings joy to your soul.

That is why preaching repentance brings joy...  It is not a message of condemnation, it is a message of life. 

And isn’t the plan of salvation entirely about preserving the Family of God?

The following scripture is about Ammon as mentioned in verse 16 “Ammon was going forth into the land, that he and his brethren met Alma” and they had “a joyful meeting”.

Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness.  (Alma 27:18)

Here it shows how we can receive joy but only if we are truly penitent and a humble seeker of happiness. No wonder it takes repentance to receive Joy. Now can we really have joy in this world?

Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full. (D&C 101:36)

Why is it that in this world our joy is not full? Why is it that in Christ our joy is full? Can our joy be full in this world if it’s in Christ only? Why is it Adam said “in this life I shall have joy” (Moses 5:10) and the Lord said “in this world your joy is not full” but “in me your joy is full”?

It seems to me that from these scriptures that joy does not come from the world. It does not come merely by believing in Christ. It comes from coming unto Christ, by partaking of the tree of life, and by as Adam said, “in the flesh I shall see God”. And we will have joy in the souls that we bring unto Christ (D&C 18:16). Just like we will have joy in Christ (D&C 101:36) just like Christ will have joy in the souls that come unto Him (D&C 18:11).

Final Two Questions:

1)      Can we experience the blessings of eternal life, a fullness of joy, the same fullness of the celestial glory, while in this life?

2)What is it about the Family of God that brings joy and our need to associate with it to receive that joy? (Referring again to this phrase “in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God”)

Repentance

Focus on Serving others not your sins.

“For the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God– I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.” (Mosiah 4: 26.)

Repentance is not just focusing on our sins and desiring to overcome something. We must turn to Christ and face Him. Focus on him and we will be able to overcome all things. Focus on our habbits, sins, or anything not of God and we will fall off course.

Someone related this story to me the other day which i will share. When you are driving a car you begin to turn around a corner. As you turn around the corner the car looses traction and starts to spin off course from where you are trying to get to. You can do two things, focus on where you are turning or look towards where the car is moving into which is a giant tree. If you focus on the tree, the chances are you will naturally go where the tree is and hit it. If you focus on where you are trying to turn to instead of the tree, the chances of you correcting the car and putting it back on course increases.

Lets get refreshed on what Joseph Smith said about repentance.

Repentance: Is a thing that cannot be trifled with every day. Daily transgression & daily repentance is not that which is pleasing in the sight of God (here)

 All of us will fail. All of us will make mistakes. No man is perfect except Christ alone. We are all fallen, no matter how hard we try we still fall short of the glory of God. Think of God looking at us from the tallest building in the world while we are all on the ground. We are all so far fallen from Him that there is nothing we can do on our own. Yet he loves us enough to elevate us and call us his friends if we will keep his commandments. (John 15:13-15)

What does he ask of us?

A broken heart and contrite spirit. That is all we can really offer anyways. There is nothing we have that is worth anything to Him except WHO WE ARE. That is worth everything to him, enough for him to suffer a grievous death.

STOP focusing on what you are doing wrong, and focus on pointing to Him. In due time the Lord will change your body, heart, mind, and your very being to become like Him. Naturally you will be able to be like Him as you progress. Obeying him will change you and make your "yoke" easy to carry. Your burden light. Do you believe this promise? Do you REALLY believe this promise? Than go put your faith to action and test the waters. Find out what the Lord wants you to do NOW. Don't try to do everything at once. Pick only ONE thing and improve on that. As the spirit increases in your life the burdens will be lifted and you will begin to recognize his voice. Don't try to lift them yourself. It won't ever work. Rely upon Him to do it for you, give everything over to him and he will show you the way. You will be moved upon by the light of christ or holy ghost to determine what to work on.

What Lack I yet?

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (1 Corinthians 11:28)

A story the Lord shares with us is a story of a man who comes to Christ to determine what he needs to do to receive eternal life. The Lord gives a list of things to do and the man replies asking a specific question, what lack I yet?

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 

The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? (Matthew 19:16,20)

I have found this to be one of the greates soul searching questions I have asked the Lord. And he did answer me. Just make sure you are ready for an answer because it may just shake you to the core, cause you to quake in your "nothingness" before the lord, or feel utterly hopeless. However, if you keep your faith in Him, he will use this opportunity to teach you an important lesson about you. I always strive to keep these thoughts in my prayer, what lack I yet? That perhaps I may one day be like Him.

What happens when on fully turns to the Lord?

16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory,even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:16,18)

So here we will learn that when we have fully turned to the Lord, the veil will be taken away, and we will be changed into his image from glory to glory. We will learn that we really are already like him for another word for glass is a mirror. We will see Him in US, not because its Him but because we are also like Him having been sanctified through his blood and washed from the blood and sins of this generation (Alma 13).

The last thing I wish to bring up is we must do the works of Jesus Christ. Do you care more about the welfare of others than yourself? Comfort those that need comfort? Mourn with those that mourn? Serve those the Lord puts in your path? To suffer ridicule unjustly? Scorn? Persecution? To love even your enemies? To love yourself? Family? To have such love, grace, and justice that you can provide everything necessary for an abusive offspring (now or in the eternities) everything necessary for them to grow? To relieve the burdens of the poor and needy? Clothe the naked? What about the widow? Do you heal the sick or believe you can? As we experiment upon His word, this desire to do these things will increase until we become like Him.

The list goes on.

We ought to be willing to repent of and confess all of our own sins and keep nothing back. The story of Zeezrom, were his sins harrowed up in his mind until it became exceedingly sore due to his iniquity,shows how he was able to have all that guilt swept away and healed through the atonement of Jesus Christ by believing all the words of a true testimony of God (Alma 15:3-9)

Enos who prayed earnestly in regards to the welfare of his soul also had his guilt swept away. His example is one we can follow when we lack wisdom (James 1:5), when we are hallowed up in our sins and need relief and many other lessons.

3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart. 

4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens. 

5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed. 

6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away. 

7 And I said: Lord, how is it done? 

8 And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole. 

9 Now, it came to pass that when I had heard these words I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them. (Enos 1:3-9)

The Doctrine of Christ

The Lord tells us the following about the doctrine of Christ.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine [After expounding it], and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. 

And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.
3 Nephi11:39-40

If any man declares more or less than what He has established he cometh of evil and is not built upon the Rock. This is a striking declaration from the Savior. It shows the strict line one must walk to return to his presence. It shows the great burden it places upon each of us to not only know the doctrine for ourselves but make sure we follow this admonition seriously and carefully. We may not be perfect but if we ever want to be Zion we must learn how to do precisely what Christ asks us to do and become precisely like Him.

The Doctrine and Covenants gives us another view of this doctrine.

And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them. 

Therefore, I will unfold unto them this great mystery; 

For, behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts; 

 Yea, if they will come, they may, and partake of the waters of life freely. 

Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.

Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.
D&C10:63-68

He is unfolding a mystery here! We should take heed. There were many contentions so he taught this to do away with them. Christ's Gospel is a gospel where we accept each other even with differing personal beliefs, but we will have the core understanding of the Doctrine of Christ and all will be obeying the will of the Lord

Again the Lord tells us, those who repents and cometh unto Him, IS His Church. Know ye not the kingdom of God is within you? This is a warning the Savior gives to His disiples about the last days as well.

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.  

Luke 17:21

Many will say lo here, or lo there in the last days. Joseph Smith spoke about his experience in Joseph Smith History Verse 5. Perhaps this will be another post.

Each of us are to be built upon His rock, His doctrine, and if we do that we shall not fall. Not another man, not another servant, prophet, priest, or king, But Jesus Christ Only. For He is the keeper of the Gate and he employeth no servant there (2 Nephi 9:41)

So what is the Doctrine of Christ?

The Doctrine is outlined in 2 Nephi 31:17-21; 32:1-7. 

...for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. 

 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive. (Ch 31, vs 17-18)

Repentance, Baptism by Water, baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost is the gospel along with faith. One enters the path by receiving the Holy Ghost (Baptism by fire and the holy ghost).Verse 21 tells us this is the doctrine of Christ, verse 20 tells us to pressforward, feasting upon the words of Christ (which we will hear His words through the Holy Ghost) and endure to the end. 

So what does it mean to endure to the End? Also why is the name "the end" also given to Jesus Christ? Is it pointing us to Him, or "endure to Christ" that we may have eternal life? Chapter 32 touches on this a little more.

And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way. But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts? (vs 1)

So how did we enter in by the Way? Verse 17 from chapter 31 told us. Repentance, Baptism, and the remission of sins by fire and the holy ghost (baptism by fire and the holy ghost). Now that we are on the way what should we do? He really did see our day didn't he? I have asked this question many times.

Verse 2, "angels speak by the power of the holy ghost", and in verse 3 Nephi states "I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." So here we feast upon His words so that we can receive revelation, or the spirit of prophecy, through the Holy ghost to be guided in all things. (vs 5) 

Now he ends talking about the doctrine of Christ in verses 6-7.

Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do. 

And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be.

These verses should be taken literally. I would like to suggest that verse 6 refers to YOU. That no more doctrine (more or less) will be given until he shall manifest (appear) unto you in the flesh. Verse 7 tell us why more is not given. Unbelief, wickedness, ignorance, stiffneckedness, will not search knowledge, nor understand it. This is the purpose of the Holy Ghost. To bring us to the Son, Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ brings us to the Father. We receive the Holy Ghost by listening to the Light of Christ.

This is the doctrine of Christ. Here is what Joseph Smith expounded on these same principles. Here I will simply Quote what Joseph Smith has already written. I hope I have laid out the basic doctrine of Christ. Of course each principle expands in many directions but it all ties back into Faith, repentance, baptism by water, baptism by fire and the holy ghost, and receiving Christ as the Second Comforter.

Willard Richards 2 Pocket Companion Other important items of doctrines from Joseph given in Commerce Ills On the Doctrines of Faith

Faith: comes by hearing the word of God 3 through the testimony of the Servants of God, that Testimony is always attended by the Spirit of prophecy & Revelation
.

Repentance: Is a thing that cannot be trifled with every day. Daily transgression & daily repentance is not that which is pleasing in the sight of God

Baptism: Is a holy ordinance preparatory to the reception of the Holy Ghost. It is the channel & Key by which the Holy Ghost will be administered The gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands cannot be received through the medium of any other principle. than the principle of Righteousness, for if the proposals are not complied with it is of no use but withdraws.

The doctrine of the Resurrection of the Dead & Eternal Judgment are necessary to preach among the first principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Doctrine of Election [Calling and Election] ...

Second Comforter ...

Widtsoe, John A.; Whitney, Orson F.; Roberts, B. H.; Smith, Joseph Fielding; Smith, Joseph; Ehat, Andrew; Smith, Lucy Mack; Cannon, George Q.; Taylor, John (2012-02-25). Words of Joseph Smith - Deluxe Study Edition including the LDS Standar Works, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith, History of the Church, History of Joseph by His Mother, and More (Kindle Locations 245-289).Packard Technologies. Kindle Edition.

Also found here: (Some things were omitted from the original quote that one can read at this link as they do relate)

I have only attempted to outline the basics of the Doctrine of Christ and the need for us to understand it. I will like to add also what Joseph Smith said elsewhere.

“Oh! I beseech you to forward, go forward and make your calling and your election sure and if any man preach any other gospel with that which I have preached, he shall be cursed.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg 366-367)

This is consistent with Galatians 1:8-9 . The main thing I wanted to bring up here is that Calling and election and the Second Comforter are a part of the core gospel of Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ is the fullness of the gospel. The gospel leads us to the fullness, Jesus Christ. These things must be sought after and anything “less or more” than this they shall “be cursed”. Have I expounded less or more? Most likely J. But the scriptures are there already so I will leave it at this to expound themselves further.