GOSPEL TEACHINGS: Part Two. Exaltation Through Christ and His Church

?In the first new member discussion, Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation, we learned that eternal life comes by seeking to know God and his will. As we do so, we will be found reading the scriptures, attending our church meetings, praying, fasting, and serving those around us. This is the pathway to God and the pathway to joy, not just in this life, but in the life to come.

As we come to know Christ, we will learn more about his greatest gift: exaltation. To receive exaltation, we need to be free from sin. All will live again, regardless of good or evil choices made in this life. That is a gift given freely from Christ to all of God’s children. Christ also offers freedom from the wages of sin, as we seek Him and to obey Him. As we seek Him and the gift of exaltation, we will receive a fulness of joy through passing through the waters of baptism and eventually the temple.

Look at the many conflicts raging around us. Many would desire an end to war and a beginning to peace. Christ teaches how. The only true way to real joy is through Him and living His gospel. That is His promise for those who follow Him.

So in essence, to be happy we must live after the manner of happiness. God has given us the gift to choose. Because of that, no-one else can be blamed for our unhappiness. Evil may occur, but the Lord promises that for all those who turn to him, he will turn all things to their good. So let us make the effort to live righteously. The promised blessings are many, too many to delineate here. But when we work out our salvation with fear and trembling (as Philippians 2:12 states), the Lord will bless us. And all things we pass through will turn to our good. It’s his promise.

Thus, let us use our moral agency to purify our thoughts, actions, appetites, and desires. The second new member discussion suggests the following:

1. “We do not commit sin willfully unless we have thought it before. On the other hand, pure thoughts and desires are an important part of faith, which is manifest in our works.

2. “God knows our thoughts and desires. He not only knows what we do, but how we feel about it: whether we obey willingly or grudgingly. He judges us for our thoughts as well as our acts.” (p. 10)

Thus, the first step toward exaltation after our baptism is to purify our hearts. Purifying our hearts then will help us to obey the commandments with good intentions. Thus, we will be found paying our tithing, keeping the Word of Wisdom, living a chaste life (both in thought and deed), etc. It’s much like the law of the harvest. Plant a corn seed to get a corn plant. Plant wheat to obtain wheat. Therefore, plant clean thoughts, get clean actions. Our countenance will grow brighter and brighter before God, and reason proves that the blessings will follow.

For example, imagine the impact on your family and friends. Although we alone are responsible for our choices, we are also responsible to set good examples. Our daily choices do impact other people. Our families can be together forever. Therefore, as we purify our individual life by following Christ, think of the eternal blessings you are giving your family members, especially if you have children.

In fact, the scriptures are replete with commandments for parents. In 3 Nephi 18:15, 21 we read that we must pray in our families that our spouses and our children be blessed. We read in Deuteronomy 6:5-7 to love the Lord and to diligently teach our children. Ephesians 6:4 tells us to guide our children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Proverbs 22:6, 2 Nephi 4:5, and D&C 93:40 continue along the same lines. There are many more scriptures about teaching the children of Christ. We would do well to heed that counsel.

President Harold B. Lee said, “Remember that the most important of the Lord’s work that you will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own home.” (Strengthening the Home pamphlet, p. 7) President Spencer W. Kimball echoed this thought when he stated: “Family life is the best method for achieving happiness in this world, and it is a clear patter . . . [of] what is to be in the next world.” (“Privileges and Responsibilities of Sisters,” Ensign, Nov. 1978, p. 103)

One of the best ways to strengthen your family is through the Monday evening program suggested by the church. The program is called “Family Home Evening.” What a fun time together, as the family plays games, schedules the coming week, and has a lesson to focus on or strengthen a particular gospel topic.

No two families approach FHE in the same way. Some families are quite formal in their approach to FHE. They sing a song, have a prayer, give a lesson, play a game, sing a closing song, say the prayer and blessing on the refreshments, then eat the snack. They do this without fail every week! Other families are more informal. The approach does not matter. What does matter is that the evening is approached as an oasis in an otherwise weary world. And we don't need to do it perfectly. Just as a toddler takes a long time before being steady on their feet, it takes us a while to incorporate new helpful habits into our daily living. The important part is to begin.

And remember, FHE is NOT the time to “rag” on family members because they are not helping with the chores sufficiently, or are not getting good grades, etc. The Family Home Evening event is suggested as a time for family renewing of relationships, for bonding, for strengthening one another, for nothing other than a brief moment of pure love for every member of the family. Of course children will quarrel, but give a hug to every quarreler, or ask the children to sing a zany song. Anything to avoid turning the evening into unhappy memories.

When we lovingly approach not just FHE in such a way, but other daily events, we will strengthen the family and provide many happy memories in Christ for each family member. More importantly, when the world is crashing down around any family member, they will know exactly to whom they can turn – their family.

Just as the prophet Lehi gathered his family around him to teach them and to bless them, so can we. And in so doing, we will be sharing in just one more step toward exaltation through Christ and His church. May you find many, many blessings in so doing.

Warmly,

C.S. Bezas