Atonement: Know Good From Evil

Being Easter with a day that should remind us of the Lords atoning sacrifice in Gethsemane instead of all the other distractions around us I thought I would share a few thoughts I've been pondering on.

Know Good From Evil

Wherefore, he[God] gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good (Alma 12:31)

-Adam Trangresses commandments that WERE TEMPORAL
-Now in a place to Become as the Gods
-Because The Gods know good from evil
-In a state to act
-Choose evil or good

We are here so we can be placed in a place, being endowed with agency, to choose good or evil. By our experiences we also learn good FROM evil. This is the place that all Gods are, they know Good from Evil. And they learned how to be Gods the same way as all Gods have before us, from one small degree to another until they arrived to the station of they now dwell in. (See King Follet Discourse).

Here are a few more about good and evil.

And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever. Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. (2 Nephi 2:5-6) 

"...search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil;" (Moroni 7:9)

"...ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. " (Moses 4:11)

We are here to learn good from evil. The gods know Good and evil having before the foundation of the world choosen good.

Shedding of Blood
Christ shed his own blood to redeem us. It caused him to bleed from every poor. It made God the greatest of all to tremble and to "shrink". He redeemed us all from death, but to be redeemed from sin we must be baptized and repent else it will be as if no redemption was made. Our suffering will be sore, which caused God the greatest of all to shrink back in pain.

15 Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest Ismite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.
16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I

How long will this suffering last? How long will it take for each of us to repent? The Lord has "worlds without end" to finish his work.

What role does the Shedding of Blood play into our redemption?

The D&C talks about how the consitution was redeemed and it was "redeemed by the shedding of blood" (D&C 101:80). The constitution was redeemed by the shedding of blood. It almost gives us a new interpretation of what it means to "redeem" something. In this case its redeeming a Temporal element the constitution. It was only brought about through the shedding of blood. The book of Mormon also teaches us that when a wicked king governs the only way to remove them is through the shedding of blood. When blood was shed it was sprinkled upon each of the tabernacles (Hebrews 9:21). Our physical bodies are called tabernacles of flesh or clay, thus signifying the redemption of each of us. (Moroni 9:6, Lectures on Faith) Hebrews  reads,

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.(Hebrews 9:22-23)

These sacrifices are based off a pattern in heaven. Redemption comes through shedding of blood, pointing to the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Finished His Work

Add this thought to the Lord "finishing his work". It seems the number 3 follows an event that has "finished its work". The Lord finished atonement and stayed three days in death.

So that when he had finished his work at Melek he departed thence, and traveled three days’ journey on the north of the land of Melek; and he came to a city which was called Ammonihah. " (Alma 8:6)

Telestial beings:

D&C 84 gives us some interesting scriptures that I have been pondering.

" 85 These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work."

If would seem, than Telestial beings are not a part of the Lords work, yet they benefit from the Lord by being redeemed from death or hell allowing them to be resurrected again. These are not those who are redeemed from their sins who's garments are washed from the blood and sins of this Generation.

Perdition:

"43 ...Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition"
"38 Yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath."

Repent 
These scriptures give us a bigger picture of the suffering that will be required of us if we refuse to repent. The "sufferings of his wrath" is not something that the Lord does. He simply exists. All the Lord is doing is exist. His wrath comes from Him withdrawing his presence from us. And we are left to ourselves to suffer from our own torment, for we will be our greatest condemners. We will also judge ourselves. For that same judgement we give out will be returned unto us. To repent brings us to overcome the fall, which fall casted us OUT of the presence of God, and allows us to come into the presence of God thus overcoming the fall of Adam or death.

I bring those three scriptures up because it shows how something is redeemed. It also shows what and Who will be redeemed/saved. And what is Gods work? His work is to bring to pass the "immortality and eternal life of man". (Moses 1:39 ) 

Gods Work

It appears that the Sons work does not involve that of the Telestial beings only in so much that he saves them from hell but not sin. He presents his work, having worked it out, to the Father. Whos work encompasses that of the Telestial. The Telestial are ressurected when Christ Has FINISHED HIS WORK. And who does his work involve?

"My Father worked out His kingdom with fear and trembling, and I must do the same; and when I get my kingdom, I shall present it to My Father, so that He may obtain kingdom upon kingdom, and it will exalt Him in glory. He will then take a higher exaltation, and I will take His place, and thereby become exalted myself. So that Jesus treads in the tracks of His Father, and inherits what God did before; and God is thus glorified and exalted in the salvation and exaltation of all His children." - King Follet Discourse.

Who is His kingdom? (See D&C 84) If we take kingdom as a familia structure (See the Orson Hyde Diagram) than what if he really does one great desire of His heart which is about his own family. What if he came into the world to redeem his own? Those who were given to Him "out of the world" before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4) Also "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."

Sealing Power Of Elijah & Gods Family

What if this is what Joseph was bringing out with the sealing power of Elijah. Zion is about Christs family here on earth. It is about sealing His family together. His entire work is about bringing to pass the salvation of His family. Through Him the world benfeits and learns "good from evil" and are "added upon". Those who redeemed have learned good and evil having choosen good being in a place to act freely. The rest refuse to repent and return again unto God.

This is the spirit of Elijah, that we redeem our dead, and connect ourselves with our fathers which are in heaven, and seal up our dead to come forth in the first resurrection; and here we want the power of Elijah to seal those who dwell on earth to those who dwell in heaven.
History of the Church, 6:252.

The doctrine or sealing power of Elijah is as follows: If you have power to seal on earth and in heaven, then we should be wise. The first thing you do, go and seal on earth your sons and daughters unto yourself, and yourself unto your fathers in eternal glory.
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith (1976), 340.

The spirit, power, and calling of Elijah is, that ye have power to hold the key of the revelation, ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments of the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood and of the kingdom of God on the earth; and to receive, obtain, and perform all the ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God, even unto the turning of the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the hearts of the children unto the fathers, even those who are in heaven.
History of the Church, 6:251; spelling modernized.

This is not about an earthly family that care more about money, fame, and fortune but about bring Gods family together, which will be Zion. It would have been "redeemed even now" (D&C 105:2) if some group would repent. Instead we "must needs be chastened until [we] learn obedience, if it must needs be, by the things which [we] suffer. (ibid. vs 6)

Re-baptism - Lords Return & Final Invitation

Someone showed this video. It truly brings up part of our awful situation as Gentiles and our lusts and want of things over the ways of the Lord. The Lord has also warned about what will soon befall the Gentiles.

And behold, the time cometh that he curseth your riches, that they become slippery, that ye cannot hold them; and in the days of your poverty ye cannot retain them. 

And in the days of your poverty ye shall cry unto the Lord; and in vain shall ye cry, for your desolation is already come upon you, and your destruction is made sure; and then shall ye weep and howl in that day, saith the Lord of Hosts. And then shall ye lament, and say: 

O that I had repented, and had not killed the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out. Yea, in that day ye shall say: O that we had remembered the Lord our God in the day that he gave us our riches, and then they would not have become slippery that we should lose them; for behold, our riches are gone from us." (Helamen 13:31-33)

Our riches will soon become slippery. The world will not always be as they are now. Those days are upon us and are only withheld for the possibility that some few will repent and enter the rest of the Lord accepting his invitation in this day by entering into a covenant by Baptism. This invitation includes those who have been baptized in the past to receive re-baptism as did Nephi having been re-baptized before the coming of Christ in 3 Nephi, I believe it is chapter 7, received it again when the Gospel was renewed by the Lords appearance following 3 Nephi 11. We see in the next few chapters that the people were baptized again, some of which were among those who were first baptized, by those with authority, in 3 Nephi 7.

All things are fulfilled in Him. 

46 Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled.
47 Old things are done away, and all things have becomenew. (3 Nephi 12)

This is true anytime a Dispensation begins to unfold anew. Old things are done away, now because they were not first valid, but because the Lord has renewed again the Gospel and begun something new, another degree, a further restoration upon the foundation that was given before. Which the Lord promised would eventually happen. He called this the "second time" or the final culmination of the "marvelous work and a wonder", a "strange" act.

Things are renewed again in our day. Old things are being done away and the command to be born again has been asked of us by the Lord. See here where the invitation was given. Zion was delayed but now He is commencing and finishing his work.

Therefore, in consequence of the transgressions of my people, it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion— (D&C 105:9)

Joseph explained why a new dispensation is given,

“It is in the order of heavenly things that God should always send a new dispensation into the world when men have apostatized from the truth and lost the priesthood.”3

I think the words below summarizes our own plight in this day. It can be read in its entirety but I have taken a few points from it.

Signs of the Lords Return Given to This Generation:
http://denversnuffer.com/2015/12/come-unto-christ/

"Covenants can be broken. By changing the ordinances covenants are broken. (Isa. 24:5.) No organization exists with an intact covenant, but there are messengers the Lord has chosen and sent, preaching and offering the Lord’s covenant through baptism. Salvation is not related to joining an institution, but it is dependent on repentance and receiving baptism at the hands of those He has sent. There is a website where baptism can be requested by one with authority. Baptism can be received even if one chooses to worship with Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterians, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslins, or Mormons. Faith in Christ and covenant with Him does not require anyone to be part of an organization run by men. It requires repentance and faith in Christ. 

I am sent as another witness to testify He will return. Signs have been, and are being given both in the heavens and on earth. Today there are “false Christs, and false prophets,” who are doing their work “that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (JS-Matt. 1:22.) The elect are only protected “according to the covenant.” (JS-Matt. 1:20, 22.) He has authorized baptism as His own covenant to preserve all who receive it. I have seen His return and I know this newly offered baptism will be respected at His return by those who will return with Him. Baptism is offered as a covenant between you and the Lord. There are no institutional demands made upon you as a result of receiving the ordinance. It is an invitation to renew your relationship with Christ and take an act of faith to show Him you keep Him in your heart."

I will end with this portion,

"All the latter-day events that will mark the time for His return will happen in a single generation. (D&C 45:30; JS-M 1:34.) Therefore, when that generation begins to witness the signs of His coming, they should prepare so the return of the Master does not find them abusing others. (Matt. 24:44-51; JS-Matt. 1:49-55.)...He is aligning events to complete His work, and the signs of His return are being given to this generation. The time will soon come when it will not be possible to receive this invitation any longer. Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance." 

A new moon signifies a new beginning each time it appears. A new day represents us awakening from a deep sleep.  Will it represent a newness of life for you? Will we accept the invitation or remain uninterested in the things of God? 

Alma 32 says to experiment upon the word that it may grow in you. I invite all to experiment upon what is currently taking place as Gods strange act. It comes without observation because it's hardly seen by man but it is something internal only to be seen and understood by the Spirit of the Lord. Men are once again entering the presence of God. 

Hasten The Work That We May See it

Isaiah, which the Lord out of his own mouth commanded us to search into warned,

"18 Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood, And sin as if with cart ropes; 19 Who say, "Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it; And let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near And come to pass, that we may know it!" 20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:19)

Swearing

Swear words are nothing more than our childish reaction to them as a culture.

Old Testament: Remant of Jacob & Syria

Even as the days of noah shall be our day, the old testament prophecies shall be seen again in our day.

Micah 5:38 The remnant of Jacob Will be among the nations, Among many peoples Like a lion among the beasts of the forest, Like a young lion among flocks of sheep, Which, if he passes through, Tramples down and tears, And there is none to rescue.

3 Ne. 16: 15 (14-15) 15 But if they will not turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, I will suffer them, yea, I will suffer my people, O house of Israel, that they shall go through among them, and shall tread them down, and they shall be as salt that hath lost its savor, which is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of my people, O house of Israel. 

3 Ne. 21: 12 (11-21) 12 And my people who are a remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

The Lord has shown us what will befall us and included the prophecies of the old testament inside the Book of Mormon. These scriptures show that if the Gentiles will not repent they would be destroyed off the face of the earth by the remnant of Jacob and call upon God in that day but have none to deliver them.

Syria

In the early days it was taught,

“No nation can claim the name Syrian. A chaotic mixture of all tribes and tongues remnants of migrations from north and south, they disturb one another in the possession of this glorious land where our fathers for so many centuries emptied the cup of joy and woe, where every clod is drenched with the blood of our heroes when their bodies were buried under the ruins of Jerusalem.” Times and Seasons, Nauvoo, Illinois, June 1, 1841.

Ironically it is this same group that has been being placed across all nations as if this newly placed "remnant" will be among the Gentiles as a lion among the beasts of the forest and tread them into pieces.

The days of great tribulation are upon us because the Gentiles refuse to repent. Unless they repent they will be destroyed off the face of the earth. Which work the Lord has already commenced to bring to pass.

Non Violent Means

There are always dual meanings in the scriptures,

Gentiles which are “torn in pieces and trodden under foot” (3rd Nephi 16:8 & 15) by the Remnant of Jacob will be accomplished by non-violent means – by the “proclamation of truth by someone sent by HIM, rejected by those claiming they are God’s chosen, saved people, and the Lord will bring the entire Gentile Idol down to ashes, then it will be trodden under foot.”

The wicked will destroy the wicked. As the Lord foretells us "it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed." (Mormon 4:5) As the spirit of God ceases to strive with men, they will be filled with greater wickedness's until all things are in commotion (and things are already pretty bad now). The Book of Mormon truly foretells what befall an earlier civilization where there were none left to deliver. Its prophecies are a warning to us today on how to survive what is coming.

Entering The Presence of the Lord: Teachers

Never cease striving until you have seen God face to face. (Joseph Smith Papers, Documents, Minutes and Blessings, 21 February 1835)

Joseph taught what the Lords servants teach the children of men.

"Abraham blessed his posterity: He wanted to bring them into the presence of God.They looked for a city, &c.--Moses sought to bring the children of Israel into the presence of God, through the power of the Priesthood, but he could not.[see D&c 84:23-25] In the first ages of the world they tried to establish the same thing--& there were Elias's [page 10] raised up who tried to restore these very glories but did not obtain them. But (Enoch did for himself & those that were with Him, but not for the world. J.T.)
...
Men at the present time testify of Heaven & of hell,& have never seen either--& I will say that no man knows these things without this. "(TPJS , See also TJS Chapter 18)

True messengers sent by God always teach others that they may also enter into the rest of the Lord while in the flesh. This is what the Book of Mormon entire message is meant to covey, helping us become like Him that we may enter into His presence and become Sons of God by being born again of both spirit and body.

This is the purpose of the doctrine of Christ.

This is what Moses did,

" 23 Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;
24 But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his angerwas kindled against them, swore that they should notenter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.
25 Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also;" (D&C 84:23-25)

This is what happens when a group of people cannot enter into the presence of God due to unbelief and wickedness. The Lord takes away the fulness of the priesthood or as Joseph stated regarding the priesthood being taken away during Moses time, "That portion which brought Moses to speak with God face to face was taken away; but that which brought the ministry of angels remained. All the prophets had the Melchizedek Priesthood and were ordained by God himself." TPJS, pp. 180-81".

This is what the scriptures call being endowed from upon High. Being endowed means receiving a gift or blessing from 'God Himself". Upon high is the heavens or the presence of God which the scriptures call the 'mysterries of Godliness". For without this greater priesthood no man can see God and live therefore an ordination or receipt of this greater priesthood is first required by God through the veil. (D&C 84:22) 

Elders Endowed From Upon High

Zion was put of (failed to be established in Josephs day) because they failed to become worthy of these blessings by sanctifying themselves, repeating what has happened before as in the day of moses which the Lord purposefully put into D&C 84 a section about the redemption of Zion, and receiving their Endowments from upon High. Zion will not come until a group finally is willing, interested, and seeks after these things because he will not Give us anything we do not first desire and ask for. Only by asking and seeking will it be opened unto us.

"9 Therefore, in consequence of the transgressions of my people, it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion—
11 And this cannot be brought to pass until mine elders are endowed with power from on high.
13 Therefore it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season, for the redemption of Zion."(D&C 105)

Those after the Holy Order of God are simply teachers using the only method given them, persuasion without compulsion or control. The Book of Mormon states what they do,

6 And thus being called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest (Alma 13:6)

The reason they "also" teach others to enter the presence of God is first because they have FIRST obtained that promise. Than they seek to declare that word by preparing OTHERS to enter the presence (rest) of God also.

Doctrine of Christ

"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." (2 Nephi 32:6-7)

Zion
All the holy prophets, as Joseph stated, sought for the same thing to bring the saints into the presence of God. The city of Enoch succeeded therefore they were preserved through the flood and brought up to an innumerable company of angels. Christ second coming will be as the first, some group will rise up and enter the presence of God and invite Him, having become Sons of Daughters to Him, here. He will not come unless he is first invited by His family. To invite him we need to first become His sons and daughters. He will perform His work openly yet the world will hardly take notice just like his first Coming the world largely ignored it.

Do we desire to obtain what all the prophets before us has tried to do?  Do we desire to do what the entire message of the Book of Mormon tries to prepare us to do? For blessed are the pure in heart they shall see God.

A Day To Prepare to Meet God
The Book of Mormon warns us about this life,

30 And now, my brethren, I would that, after ye have received so many witnesses, seeing that the holy scriptures testify of these things, ye come forth and bring fruit unto repentance. 

[You cannot repent unless you have an accurate knowledge of what you are repenting of therefore we are first required to seek or search the scriptures. The D&C defines repentance as gaining further light and knowledge or light and truth (intelligence), because you must have knowledge of the gospel in order to live it correctly. (D&C 130:18) Apostasy comes from forgetting what God has already revealed even when people continue on believing they are doing His will.]

31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.
32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

 [Right here, right now. Not the next life. You prepare to meet him now. Now is the day to perform your labors and seek after these things. You don't prepare to meet him in some other life after death but you prepare here and now.]

33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possessyour bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. (Alma 34)

This is because if you have not obtained the blessings that are freely given to all here and now and are promised in the scriptures, than you cannot say in THAT day that you will be worthy of these same blessings. You cannot say you can fully sanctify yourself in that day to enter the presence of God because the day of this life was given to prepare for eternity. You cannot say you will return without an absolute knowledge of these things for yourself as stated in D&C 88:15 and 2 Peter (Calling and Election).

The Book of Mormon In Hebrew

“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” (History of the Church,4:461.)

All truth should be measured against this book. It can draw us nearer to God by than any book or Men living today.

http://www.amazon.com/Book-Mormon-Hebrew-Joseph-Smith/dp/1512065250/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449274339&sr=8-1&keywords=hebrew+book+of+mormon

"If any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, set him down as an imposter." (Joseph Smith, Times & Seasons, April 1, 1844)

We remain under condemnation until we believe what it's teaches, accept it,  and abide by it's teachings even when it contradicts what men teach

D&c 84: 54 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received
55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.
56 And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.
57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written.

How can we remember it when we don't teach or believe what it even says?