1) A few of the intelligences in the spirit world distinguished themselves by having exceeding faith in Jesus Christ...Those who did this are/were called to the Holy Order. Because you are in this room you are one of those so called.
2) The work of the redemption is not just one of the things going on in this universe it is the thing.
3) The work of redemption takes precedence over all other work all other work is subordinate to it.
4) Each of us were called to our own work (Our piece in the redemption of man kind puzzle)
5)We need to better understand our own responsibilities that we might fulfill them
6) We are accountable for those things expected of us just as the apostles and prophets Ended Last week wit ha statement from President Spencer Kimball who said "Remember, in the world before we came here, faithful women were given certain assignments while faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood tasks. While we do not remember the particulars, this does not alter the glorious reality of what we once agreed to. You are accountable for those things which long ago were expected of you just as those we sustain as prophets and apostles!" Ensign November 1979
7) We learned that we are here to be saviors of men
D&C 103:9-10
9 For they were set to be a light unto the world, and to be the saviors of men;
10 And inasmuch as they are not the saviors of men, they are as salt that has lost its savor, and is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.
And that we become saviors of men by completeing the three-fold mission of the church?
Fellowmen missionary work;
Posterity Teach correct principles,example;
Ancestors Work for the dead
In his vision of the spirit world D&C 138, what did President Smith learn about the leaders of the church in this dispensation?
Read D&C 138:53-57
The Prophet Joseph Smith, and my father, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and other choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work,
54 Including the building of the temples [Specific work/calling] and the performance of ordinances therein for the redemption of the dead, were also in the spirit world.
55 I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God.
56 Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.
57 I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.
READ Abraham 3:22-23
Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;
23 And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born.
What does this teach us about the doctrine of foreordination?
Explain how do free-agency and foreordination work together...I am confused?
In light of that statement can we know what we are foreordained to do here on earth?
What are you doing to find out?
What can you do to find out? These kind cometh out only by fasting and prayer...
Will the lord really tell you, do you think that he really wants you to know?
Could we assume that if we are not born into a good family we were not diligent in the premortal world?
Carlfred Broderick teaches in the Ensign that
Read #6 "God actively intervenes in some destructive lineages, assigning a valiant spirit to break the chain of destructiveness in such families. Although these children may suffer innocently as victims of violence, neglect, and exploitation, through the grace of God some find the strength to "metabolize" the poison within themselves, refusing to pass it on to future generations. Before them were generations of destructive pain, after them the line flows clear and pure. Their children and children's children will call them blessed.
In Suffering innocently that others might not suffer, such persons, in some degree, become as "saviors on Mount Zion"
Could we assume that if we have challenging children in our homes were we or they disobedient in the premortal world?
President Spencer W. Kimball quoted these lines:
Read #7 It is said that the very hairs are numbered; is it not to teach us that nothing , not the smallest things imaginable, happen to us by chance? But the smallest things we can conceive of are declared to be under the divine direction, need we, or can we, be more plainly taught that the greatest things of life, such as the manner of our comming into the world, our parents, the time, and other circumstances of our birth and condition, are all according to the eternal purposes, direction, and appointment of divine Providence?
How likely then is it that we entered into covenants with those who would be our ancestors as well as those who would be our posterity?
Why does it go both ways?
We became extensions of God during our mortal probation.
This principle is one of the foundational principles of admission into the House of Israel. One cannot be saved without the other...
READ D&C 128:18
"I might have rendered a plainer translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it stands. It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children, upon some subject or other--and behold what is that subject? It is the baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also; for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time. And not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times."
With respect to a discussion of the fathers and children, lets take a look at what Moroni said to Joseph Smith while he was quoting Malachi
Joseph Smith History 1:38-39
"38 And again, he quoted the fifth verse thus: Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
39 He also quoted the next verse differently: And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming. shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers "
What was the promise made to the fathers?
It is nothing more or less than the Abrahamic Covenant which is the premortal covenant of godhood, that the time would come that the lord would provide a way for the dead to be redeemed, named after Abraham because he would be one of the fathers of that lineage.
What is the Abrahamic Covenant?
READ Bible Dictionary Abraham conevant of Abraham first received the covenant of salvation (which is baptism)
Then he had conferred the higher priesthood, and he entered into the covenant of exaltation (which is celestial marriage)
With the assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase.
Finally he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity
Included in the divine promises to Abraham were the assurances that :
(1) Christ would come through his lineage
(2) Abraham's posterity would receive certain lands as an eternal inheritance
To fulfill the covenant God made with Abraham - having particular reference to the fact that the literal seed of his body would be entitled to all of the blessings of the gospel (Abr. 2: 10-11) - a number of specific and particular things must take place in the last days. The gospel must be restored, the priesthood must be conferred again upon man, the keys of the sealing power must be given again to mortals, Israel must be gathered, and the Holy Ghost must be poured out upon the gentiles. All this has already taken place or is in process of fulfillment.
On a personal level we need to look at all of our personal relationships and ask What are my covenants with respect to the redemption of these people and how can I fulfill them? What do I need to do now?
What difference does it make to us when we understand about postmortal world?
READ D&C 138:42-43
42 And Isaiah, who declared by prophecy that the Redeemer was anointed to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that were bound, were also there.
43 Moreover, Ezekiel, who was shown in vision the great valley of dry bones, which were to be clothed upon with flesh, to come forth again in the resurrection of the dead, living souls;
READ Isiah 61:1
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
READ Ezekiel 37:1-14
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
11 Then he said unto me, son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
What teachings of Isiah and Ezekiel did President smith emphasize as he recorded his vision?
D&C 138:42-43, Isiah 61:1, Ezekiel 37:1-14
READ Malachi 4:5-6
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
READ D&C 138:47-48
47 The Prophet Elijah was to plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to their fathers.
48 Foreshadowing the great work to be done in the temples of the Lord in the dispensation of the fulness of times, for the redemption of the dead, and the sealing of the children to their parents, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse and utterly wasted at his coming.
so Elijah's role then in the work of the redemption of the dead was what? D&C 138:47-48, Malachi 4:5-6, JS-History 1:38-39
What is the status of those who receive the gospel in the spirit world? D&C 138:32
Are those who had a change to accept the gospel in this life and rejected it entitled to the same blessings as those who did not even have a chance?
READ D&C 137:7-9
7 Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God;
8 Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom.
9 For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.
READ D&C 76:72-74 Behold, these are they who died without law;
73 And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh;
74 Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it.
75 These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.
76 These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fulness.
77 These are they who receive of the presence of the son, but not of the fulness of the Father.
78 Wherefore, they are bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun.
How is the absence of the spirit from the body a bondage?
READ D&C 138:15-19,50
15 I beheld that they were filled with joy and gladness, and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand.
16 They were assembled awaiting the advent of the son of God into the spirit world, to declare their redemption from the bands of death.
17 Their sleeping dust was to be restored unto its perfect frame bone to his bone, and the sinews and the flesh upon them, the spirit and the body to be united never again to be divided, that they might receive a fulness of joy.
18 While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful;
19 And there he preached to them the everlasting gospel, the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind from the fall, and from individual sins on conditions of repentance.
READ D&C 93:33-34
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.