Friday, May 8, 2015

Thou Mayest Choose

This week I have been studying what is known as " Adam's Fall ". My eyes have seemed to open to this one message that I am continually presented with in my scripture study.

First, I saw the Lord separate or sift the light from the dark, as this material that was already existent, likely had chosen what it was ; Therefore, light or dark was separated with like material.

Second, He laid out laws that could or could not be followed, as He created all things spiritually and reared them to maturity in His mansions.

 I read, and pondered upon Revelations 12 ; before man would come to earth, the great war in Heaven took place. In this war, His children decided whom they would follow- The adversary, or Jesus Christ?

Lastly, I am witnessing his pattern of sifting, separating, and providing the option of which way, and after what order that His children desire to become, as I began to study the events in the Garden of Eden. 

This message of AGENCY is being presented in GENESIS once again...........

In Genesis 2 as I ponder upon the Garden of Eden and the fact that there are two trees to choose from; and yet even that tree of knowledge of good and evil was placed " in the midst of the garden", or in other words,  in plain site ; we see again how agency choices form a vital part of what we are here on the earth to learn, experience and finally to do: We are here to choose what we want!

A great analogy of agency can be seen in even the most basic element named : Carbon 

There are many different elements on the periodic table. Carbon is an unstable element as it attaches to other elements very easy. It is as if this element is in a like state as we are, as His children on earth. This state where we are choosing what we want to be when the Lord follows His pattern of sifting out and providing agency yet again; but for the final time, as we will be placed into His organizations in the eternities.

 Although Carbon can combine with many other elements to make so many useful elements, even one such as Carbon dioxide; 

Carbon, as it can make a " Covelant Bond ", can be changed into a diamond; a useful, precious and desirable substance..but it had to make a covenant first!

"Diamonds are essentially just pressurized carbon atoms. When carbon atoms are exposed to extreme pressure and high temperatures, they stick together in an organized fashion to form crystals. One carbon atom covalently bonds to four others during this process, and the longer the carbon stays under extreme pressure and heat, the more carbon atoms will lock together in this rigid formation, and the bigger the diamond will be."

http://www.businessinsider.com/human-ashes-into-diamonds-by-algordanza-2013-11#ixzz3ZaWZf519 )

Moses 3:17 as the Lord states to Adam in the Garden of Eden:

" Nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee, but remember that I forbid it for in the day thou eatest thereof  thou shalt surely die." 

What the Lord in essence was saying, " If Adam wished to remain in the garden, then he was not to eat the fruit, but if he desired to eat if and partake of death he was at liberty to do so. So really it was not a transgression of a divine commandment. Adam made a wise decision, and the only decision that he could make." ( Answers to Gospel Questions Vol.4 pg.81 )

"Heavenly Father and the Savior are our perfect examples of what we can and must do. They never force righteousness because righteousness must be chosen. They make righteousness discernible to us, and They let us see that its fruits are delicious. Every person born into the world receives the Light of Christ, which helps us see and feel what is right and what is wrong. God has sent mortal servants who can, by the Holy Ghost, help us recognize what He would have us do and what He forbids. God makes it attractive to choose the right by letting us feel the effects of our choices. If we choose the right, we will find happiness—in time. If we choose evil, there comes sorrow and regret—in time. Those effects are sure. Yet they are often delayed for a purpose. If the blessings were immediate, choosing the right would not build faith. And since sorrow is also sometimes greatly delayed, it takes faith to feel the need to seek forgiveness for sin early rather than after we feel its sorrowful and painful effects."
- Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, May 2014

" The final judgment it will not be the unrepentant sinner begging Jesus, “Let me stay.” No, he will probably be saying, “Get me out of here!” Knowing Christ’s character, I believe that if anyone is going to be begging on that occasion, it would probably be Jesus begging the unrepentant sinner, “Please, choose to stay. Please, use my Atonement—not just to be cleansed but to be changed so that you want to stay.” ( His Grace is Sufficient - Brad Wilcox)
 I consider my own life experiences and the numerous occasions that the Lord has reached out to me to come to Him. He must in some ways struggle with the fact that He must give us agency as He loves us and wants us to choose to be with Him? However, in His presented patterns, we can see that it is clear that He presents agency as the only way that we can come to know if we do in fact want to live by His order and His ways, or not? 
Agency, in fact- is so important to His plan that in actuality, even when our Savior Jesus Christ comes back to the earth there will still be those whom do not want to be members of His true church.....
“Since all who are living at least a terrestrial law—the law of honesty, uprightness, and integrity—will be able to abide the day of our Lord’s coming, there will be nonmembers of the Church on the earth during the millennium. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 86-87; vol. 3 pp. 63-64).  Honest and upright people who have been deceived by the false religions and false philosophies of the world will not have their free agency abridged.  They will continue to believe their false doctrines until they voluntarily elect to receive gospel light."
Mormon Doctrine, pp 498-499 (Elder Bruce R. McConkie)
I hope that I can help others use their agency to become closer to Him. I hope that I can work to become an individual whom is worthy to live with Him in the next life, as I have made covenants with Him in the temple. I feel the bond that I have made with Him and the pressures of life that He has provided me with, are allowing me the chance to experience what I need to, in order to come unto Him.

 Just like Carbon is an unstable element, yet can become a most precious diamond; I pray and desire to choose to become the best that I can be, by keeping my covenants with Him.

"The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can go home but that—miraculously—we can feel at home there. If Christ did not require faith and repentance, then there would be no desire to change. Think of your friends and family members who have chosen to live without faith and without repentance. They don’t want to change. They are not trying to abandon sin and become comfortable with God. Rather, they are trying to abandon God and become comfortable with sin. " ( Brad Wilcox- His Grace is Sufficient )
D&C 88
  He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;
 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.
 As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;
 As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;
 10 And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand.
 11 And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;
 12 Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—
 13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.
 14 Now, verily I say unto you, that through the redemption which is made for you is brought to pass the resurrection from the dead.
 15 And the spirit and the body are the soul of man.
 16 And the resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul.
 17 And the redemption of the soul is through him that quickeneth all things, in whose bosom it is decreed that the poor and the meek of the earth shall inherit it.
 18 Therefore, it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory;
 19 For after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father;
 20 That bodies who are of the celestial kingdom may possess it forever and ever; for, for this intent was it made and created, and for this intent are they sanctified.
 21 And they who are not sanctified through the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom.
 22 For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.
 23 And he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory.
 24 And he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory.
 25 And again, verily I say unto you, the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law—
 26 Wherefore, it shall be sanctified; yea, notwithstanding it shall die, it shall be quickened again, and shall abide the power by which it is quickened, and the righteous shall inherit it.
 27 For notwithstanding they die, they also shall rise again, a spiritual body.
 28 They who are of a celestial spirit shall receive the same body which was a natural body; even ye shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are quickened.
 29 Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
 30 And they who are quickened by a portion of the terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
 31 And also they who are quickened by a portion of the telestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
 32 And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.
 33 For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.
 34 And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same.
 35 That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment. Therefore, they must remain filthy still.
 36 All kingdoms have a law given;
 37 And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom.
 38 And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions.
 39 All beings who abide not in those conditions are not justified.
 40 For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.
 41 He comprehendeth all things, and all things are before him, and all things are round about him; and he is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things; and all things are by him, and of him, even God, forever and ever.

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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