Sunday Thoughts

The following Sunday Thoughts are generated through my preparations to teach Gospel Doctine class. The focus of study this year is the Book of Mormon, A Second Witness of Christ. I have made every attempt to support the doctrinal statements made through the scriptures and through a search of the reference library found on www.lds.org. The primary purpose of these mini-sermons is for the benefit of my immediate family that I might fulfil my responsibility to teach correct principles and the doctrines of salvation to my children.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Salvation Through Grace

Latter-day Saints take a distinct doctrinal position on salvation through grace. The teachings of Nephi in the Book of Mormon make this position more clear..."know that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do", (2 Ne 25:23). All latter-days Saints should clearly understand this doctrine for this knowledge is essential for salvation.

There are two aspects of salvation through grace. Both are things we cannot do for oursleves. The first is salvation over death and the grave (resurrection) and the second is salvation over spiritual death, which is seperation from God's presence (Eternal life).

Salvation over physical death and the grave is an unconditional gift to all mankind through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ because of his infinite atonement (1 Cor. 15: 20-22; 2 Ne 9:4, 13). Christ was the first fruits of them that slept. He had power over his own death and had the ability to ressurect himself. He extends this opportunity to all who have lived on the earth.

Salvation over spiritual death, the second death or seperation from God's presence is a conditional gift. The law of justice demands that no unclean thing may enter in the Kingdom of Heaven. Since all have sinned and come short of that expectation, the demands of justice must. Under the plan of salvation, these demands are met by the Savior, Jesus Christ, through an infinite atonement. All the Savior requires for man to obtain salvation over spiritual death is to engage in a sanctification process; accepting the invitation to come unto him so he can mend us.

This process starts with exercising faith in the savior and his atonement accompanied by a broken heart and a contrite spirit (2 Ne 2:6-10). A broken heart means humble, repentent and receptive to the will of God. A contrite spirit means the ability to feel regret and sorrow for one's sins and offenses. Getting one's spirit into this frame of heart and mind enables the penetent man to repent of sins and offenses and to seek forgiveness.

The repentent man then becomes a member of the Lord's Kingdom through the outward ordinance of baptism of water, establishing a covenent between the man and the Lord that requires the man to obey the Lord's commandments going forward. Following baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed by the laying on of hands. This is the baptism of fire which cleanses the inner man and enables the remission of sins. The Holy Ghost plays a most significant role in the sanctification process both as a constant guiding companion and as a purger of the natural man or refiner of the soul.

After the baptism of water and fire, the new member of the kingdom will inevitably sin again. This was understood in the counsels of heaven and was addressed in the plan of salvation. The repetence process which started before baptism must be continued by showing forth a broken heart and a contrite spirit. The Lord extends forgiveness and the member renews his baptismal covenants through partaking of the sacramental bread and water. The Lord's spirit, the Holy Ghost, can now be with him again.

This cycle must be followed regularly to be considered on the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life. This is the practical definition of righteousness; to be pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ (2 Ne 31:20). If the man was called upon to leave this mortal existence, and was steadfast in this improvement process (enduring to the end), he would be considered in good stead with the Lord and a candidate for eternal life (2 Ne 31:15).

To ensure that the will of the man remains continuously focused on the santification process, the man must put on the whole armor of God to protect himself from the fiery darts, or temptations of the advisary (Eph 6; D&C 27:15-18). The whole armor of includes obeying the commandments (breastplate of righteousness), having his loins gird about with truth (an understanding of the proper use of the procreation within the bounds the Lord has set), helmet of salvation (safeguarding the knowledge of the plan of salvation and our place within it), feet shod with the gospel of preparation (righteous habits), shield of faith (to reject sorely enticing temptations), and the sword of the spirit; the offensive gift to confound the enemies of truth (See also Aaronic Priesthood Manual 2, Lesson 48: "Maintaining Righteous Standards", pg 187).

When the man is engaging in this process of santification, he is then doing all he can do. The Holy Ghost will then remit or release his sins through the power of the atonement as he repents and will replace his carnal nature with the divine nature of Christ. Through this power, the Holy Ghost becomes a purger of sinful desires, unrighteous appetities and natural tendencies and a purifier of the soul of the man. Through the grace of Christ, the man's nature is changed to reflect the divine nature of Christ and he begins to take on righteous desires, a yearning to be like Christ and an aborance of sin. His countenance becomes Christ-like - the result of the refining fire of the spirit. This change is accomplished through the grace of Christ through the Gift of the Holy Ghost (2 Ne 31:17; Mosiah 5:1-6; 3 Ne 27:20; Moses 6:64-68; "Clean Hands and a Pure Heart", Ensign November 2007).