If you could hold on to just one memory from your life forever, what would that be?

On a periodic basis I receive questions from my family they would like me to answer as I compile my memoirs. This one came to me the other day from eldest daughter Dianne. Here's my response:

You want me to single out a single favorite memory from my whole life? Well, I find that request nearly impossible to fulfill. Why? Because at this stage my memories are flooding my brain almost continually. I look back with great fondness on all the events of my life. I tend to remember all the good things that happened, and I have been blessed with a memory that auto-erases all the bad ones. Call it selective memory if you wish, but that’s reality.

Life is such a blessing to me and to all of us. Mortality is a gift from our loving Father in Heaven. We yearned for it in the pre-existence, and we were in that vast throng of eager spirits who couldn’t wait to be born. I suspect we all knew we would have to wait a little longer than most, since we were selected to come here in the last dispensation.

We were told we were among the “noble and great ones” (see Abraham 3:21-23) who would be tasked with being valiant in preparation for the Lord’s triumphant return in the glorious Second Coming. If you’ve been asleep lately, you may have missed President Russell M. Nelson speaking directly to you as he urges and invites us to prepare for that day. He has done that in EVERY talk he has given since becoming the President of the Church. And he has spearheaded the building of temples worldwide to hasten our preparations spiritually.

I often refer to the writings of Elder Neal A. Maxwell for his perspectives on gospel topics, who offers this in relation to our first and second estates:

“Premortality is not a relaxing doctrine. For each of us, there are choices to be made, incessant and difficult chores to be done, ironies and adversities to be experienced, time to be well spent, talents and gifts to be well employed. Just because we were chosen ‘there and then,’ surely does not mean we can be indifferent ‘here and now.’ …

“In fact, adequacy in the first estate may merely have ensured a stern, second estate with more duties and no immunities! Additional tutoring and suffering appears to be the pattern for the Lord’s most apt pupils. (See Mosiah 3:19; 1 Peter 4:19.) Our existence, therefore, is a continuum matched by God’s stretching curriculum. …

“Agreeing to enter this second estate, therefore, was like agreeing in advance to anesthetic — the anesthetic of forgetfulness. Doctors do not deanesthetize a patient, in the midst of what was previously authorized, to ask him, again, if it should be continued. We agreed to come here and to undergo certain experiences under certain conditions” (“Premortality, a Glorious Reality,” Ensign, Nov. 1985, 17).

William Wordsworth (1770-1850), famous poet, wrote:

Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting;
The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star,
  Hath had elsewhere its setting
  And cometh from afar;
  Not in entire forgetfulness,
  And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
  From God, who is our home.

(Ode on Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood).

All those memories of our pre-existence were wiped from our memory at birth into this world. We can’t remember them for now, only so that we will learn in our tests of mortality to choose and to serve God. There must be an atmosphere of “entire forgetfulness” to prove our fidelity to God and to ourselves. Moral agency reigns supreme in this world, or the freedom to choose for ourselves without compulsion of any kind.

That said, however, reading and embracing the scriptures over the years has taught me there are brief glimpses through the veil into those pre-mortal realms. I have had persistent impressions, enough to convince me of my origins and the promises made and kept before I was born. I suspect it is the same of all of us if we will admit it to ourselves. So maybe we could say “partial forgetfulness” to open the door to understanding our divine nature.

Okay, good preamble, but you haven’t really answered the question posed to you. What’s that ONE memory you would hold with you forever? Put in those terms it’s really a simple choice for me.

It’s that very first date with Patsy Hewlett I would like to preserve in my mind forever. She was so pure, so radiant, and so filled with hope for the future. Her testimony of her Savior shone in her countenance, and that beauty radiated from her every moment of her life with me for as long as I can remember. Her whole soul, it seems to me, was reflected in her eyes. I felt as though I had always known her. I defined beauty in knowing who she was up close and personal. I reflect on that reality now every moment we are apart temporarily. I cling to that memory and that knowledge we will be together FOREVER.

On a social media platform the other day the question was posed to the community, “Are you happy being alone?” It was prescient, and hit me at one of those moments when I could accurately describe myself as ANYTHING but happy. So I answered with a declaration of my understanding of eternal marriage and my testimony of being together eternally with my companion of a lifetime. Many sent responses to me directly, thanking me for my candor. I will probably never change the world with my digital profile, but maybe I could reach one soul out there in cyberspace, and that would be worth my effort.

Only a few moments before I had noted an entry from a woman who purportedly had sexual intercourse with 1000 men in a 24-four period, and she was boasting of her achievement with her “after” picture. (I had to double-check for accuracy). She claimed to have had 24 abortions in her lifetime, and wasn’t the least bit concerned about her behavior. Instead, she claimed “happiness” had been achieved in her life. Another poster challenged, “Is she happy?” This is the world in which we find ourselves today. Do not be deceived, my dear ones.

Patsy and Melanie

This is the face of pure happiness, and it is a woman fully possessed in her knowledge of her divine purpose. You could substitute any of her children in that snapshot and it would have been the same. Oh, that face!!

This world today in its present state is where we reside physically, however it is NOT our spiritual destination eternally. That ultimate goal for each of us is where Patsy and all our progenitors are beckoning us to come. We live in their spiritual presence, and they are nearby to assist us in whatever extremity we may find ourselves. I feel routinely comforted by that knowledge and testify of their investment in our success.

Resurrection Morning

The Savior has prepared the way ahead for us, and we may trust Him in all we do. His plan is eternal in its nature, even though it appears sometimes to be unachievable. I give you my assurance as one who steps closer to eternity every day now, that it IS possible to live the plan of salvation fully and completely. We walk by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I can feel it reverberating in my aging bones.

Any memories beyond that very first and most endearing one of Patsy for me are merely more frosting on my many-layered chocolate cake of life. I love you all.

Today Begins Holy Week

Temple with Angels

I spent some time this week in the temple, as is my customary pattern these days. I read in 3 Nephi 11:1-17, while I was waiting for the session to begin:

And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land Bountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place.

And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death.

And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.

And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.

And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.

And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:

Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name — hear ye him.

And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.

And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:

Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.

And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:

Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:

Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him. (Emphasis mine.)

The words “GREAT multitude” jumped off the page at me. A multitude of eye witnesses of the resurrected Savior Jesus Christ!! The Book of Mormon is the unimpeachable and true record of the reality of Christ’s resurrection. It’s why we refer to it as “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.”

Today is known as “Palm Sunday,” commemorating Christ’s triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem when palm fronds were strewn before Him as He rode on the back of a donkey into the city.

Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

His true believers were hailing Him as the Son of God, but it would also mark the beginning of the end of His mortal life.

My brief study in the temple this week also prompted me to turn to 2 Nephi 10, where the reasons for His coming to Jerusalem are spelled out:

Jacob explains that the Jews will crucify their God — They will be scattered until they begin to believe in Him - America will be a land of liberty where no king will rule - Reconcile yourselves to God and gain salvation through His grace. About 559–545 B.C.

And now I, Jacob, speak unto you again, my beloved brethren, concerning this righteous branch of which I have spoken.

For behold, the promises which we have obtained are promises unto us according to the flesh; wherefore, as it has been shown unto me that many of our children shall perish in the flesh because of unbelief, nevertheless, God will be merciful unto many; and our children shall be restored, that they may come to that which will give them the true knowledge of their Redeemer.

Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ. . . should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him - for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God.

For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other nations they would repent, and know that he be their God.

But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified.

Wherefore, because of their iniquities, destructions, famines, pestilences, and bloodshed shall come upon them; and they who shall not be destroyed shall be scattered among all nations.

But behold, thus saith the Lord God: When the day cometh that they shall believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with their fathers that they shall be restored in the flesh, upon the earth, unto the lands of their inheritance.

And it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in from their long dispersion, from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth; and the nations of the Gentiles shall be great in the eyes of me, saith God, in carrying them forth to the lands of their inheritance. (2 Nephi 10:1-8, emphasis mine).

He came to Jerusalem among the Jews because “there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God.” Their degree of wickedness had reached its zenith and found expression, sadly, in the crucifixion of our Lord. The events leading up to His betrayal by Judas Iscariot and subsequent crucifixion are well-documented in the New Testament. It’s only in the Book of Mormon, however, that we learn the answer to the “why” question.

I will encourage each of you to spend some time in your family circles this week, the Holy Week, reviewing the events that culminated in the happy conclusion of resurrection morning. I have loved seeing this portrait prominently featured in the temple film:

Mary Greets Christ in the Garden

She was the first of many witnesses, including the multitude in the New World, to see the Savior in His resurrected body. All of us who embrace the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon are likewise witnesses of that reality. The promises we will someday stand in His glorified presence and share eternal with the Father and the Son are astounding and comforting beyond my ability to describe them.

As one continues reading in 2 Nephi 9-10, the glorious and eternal promises that are held out for the Jews who crucified Him are perhaps the ultimate expression of forgiveness that we have in Holy Writ. As I grow older in my mortal probation there is little left on earth that stimulates me more than the HOPE of eternal life with Patsy and all my progenitors who have preceded me. It is a door through which I will someday pass, and I am filled with eager anticipation of its fulfillment even as I continue to revel in my joy among my family here in the flesh. Truly, I can say I am living in the best of times in my life.

Never doubt that you are loved and cherished by your Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ. They have made ample provision for each of us despite our weaknesses and imperfections in the generous plan of salvation that includes the possibility of repentance and forgiveness.

My memories of what Patsy did to emphasize her testimony of the Savior’s resurrection on Easter morning are always fresh in my mind. The glorious Easter feast she always provided with her lace tablecloths, crystal goblets, best chinaware and sterling silverware, were emblematic of her belief that her best was never good enough in exchange for what her Savior had done for her and for each of us. It was her way to say “Thank You,” and so it must be for each of us. 

When we do our best to emulate the goodness of God as we act in service and love for our fellowmen, we are demonstrating our love for Him and our Father in Heaven in the best way we know how.

I love you too. I love the newness of Spring. I have seen the sandhill cranes, the mallard ducks, the rock chucks and pot guts, even the deer, and the snow is nearly all gone this week. The river is rising, the sky today is a radiant azure blue overhead, and the temperatures are almost balmy.

What a glorious time in which we live! And it’s Holy Week too!

What Have You Learned About The Plan of Salvation?

I preface what follows with my assertion that what we know about The Plan of Salvation has come to mortal men by the revelations of God the Father and His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to living prophets through all generations of time tracing their lineage back to Adam and Eve. Throughout the scriptures, and embodied in the teachings of modern prophets, we are invited to participate fully in all that has been revealed for our salvation. In it all, we are promised our agency and freedom to choose.

I’ll start with Moses 1:39:

“For behold, this is my work and my glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”

God our Eternal Father’s eternal PURPOSE, His very reason for being is to exalt ALL His children. That means His intention is for all of us to return to live with Him, and He stated:

“I am the Beginning and the End, the Almighty God; by mine Only Begotten I created these things; yea, in the beginning I created the heaven, and the earth upon which thou standest.” (Moses 2:1). 

The Light of the World

That Plan of Salvation was authored by Him, implemented by His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost bears witness to each of us it is true. Alma teaches us in one chapter of his writings that “there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God.” (Alma 42:4). That time is our mortal estate, or the time in which we are living today. 

In the same chapter he refers to The Plan of Salvation as “the great plan of happiness” (verse 8); “the plan of redemption” (verse 11); “the plan of mercy” (verse 15); “the plan of happiness” (verse 16); and “the great plan of mercy” (verse 31). 

The temple endowment outlines the work of creation in detail. We learn there was a premortal council in heaven. We often hear people teach there were two plans presented in that council, but there was only ONE plan - the Father's plan. The contention arose over who the Father would send to implement the plan through the atonement.

“And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them.” (Abraham 3:25). 

In that council, Lucifer, one of God’s pre-eminent sons, rebelled because his offer to save all mankind was rejected:

“Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency  of man, which I the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;

“And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice.” (Moses 4:3-4).

Adam and Eve were chosen to be the first inhabitants of this earth, and were introduced into the Garden of Eden as spirits. They were not mortal yet. Satan beguiled Eve and she partook of the fruit of the forbidden tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and then she convinced Adam to also partake. 

“And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth.

“And they have brought forth children; yea, even the family of all the earth.” (2 Nephi 2:19-20).

Why did they partake of the forbidden fruit? Because Eve sensed they would never be able to make babies without mortal bodies, and they could not become mortal without that step being completed. 

So they repented of partaking of the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil by exercising their agency, something Heavenly Father had promised them they would always have. 

“And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.” (2 Nephi 2:22).

In other words, Adam and Eve had to fall. Death had to be introduced into the equation. The fall of Adam and Eve was a necessary next step in the plan. 

Death without a knowledge of the Plan of Salvation is often difficult for people to understand. Even for us in the Church with all the knowledge we possess, the separation from loved ones is painful and often excruciating, but it is also an integral part of the process we go through to inherit eternal life with our Father.

The period between birth and death is the period in which we now live. We are exercising our moral agency to choose between that which is good and that which is not so good, even evil. Those cumulative choices of a lifetime are what determine our joy or our misery. 

I was attending an endowment session last Thursday in the Provo City Center Temple. I was struck by how many people greeted me with a smile from the moment I got out of my car in the parking lot and walked through the doors. Everyone was smiling at me with a greeting - total strangers - and it persisted all through the endowment into the celestial room, the locker room and out the door back to my car. 

These were happy people who had exercised their agency their whole lives, and it had produced these results. There wasn’t a grumpy, angry or belligerent soul among them all. Their countenances told me everything about them. These ranged from young people to aged ones. Universally, they were happy souls. Their mortal probation was filled with the joy reflected in their faces. THAT was what God meant by “proving them herewith to see if they will do” all those good things He always hoped we would do.

Of course, none of us does everything perfectly, so provisions were made for a Savior when we yield to Satan’s enticing offerings, as we all do. We were offered the marvelous gift of repentance. 

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

“And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they shall have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

“Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

“And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit.” (2 Nephi 2:25-28).

When we choose eternal life, we finish life in mortality with a smile on our faces. "Men are that they might have joy." We are not anxious about what our eternal destiny might be, nor fearful of a harsh judgment from which there is no escape eternally. Rather, as we repent - daily as necessary - we may embrace joy and hope. We may live our lives in anticipation of a joyful reunion with our family members who have preceded us, died and gone into the spirit world ahead of us. 

If we are in the path of discipleship when death comes, we will not fall off the covenant path after death. We will inherit eternal life, because that is what our Father in Heaven promised to us.  I know that is true.

In mortality, and as we attend the temple endowment sessions, we are reminded of the five laws we covenant to live: 1) The law of obedience, truly the first law of heaven; 2) the law of sacrifice, which means we are willing to sacrifice our fallen desires and the temptations to do evil; 3) the law of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which means we accept the Savior as our Redeemer through repentance, and it can be summarized in the 4th Article of Faith; 4) the law of chastity, which means that we will have no sexual relations with anyone other than our legally and lawfully wedded spouse according to God’s law; and 5) the law of consecration, which means that we consecrate (give freely) all that we possess - our time, talents and all we possess or ever will possess - to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the building up of the kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion. 

We voluntarily take upon ourselves those sacred covenants (or promises) to God based upon our agency in all things. We MUST choose for ourselves. Sometimes it seems hard to choose because Satan is very good at what he does. He’s been at this game of deception for a long time, and he is forever angry that he has been denied a physical body. He is rebellious, belligerent and unrepentant. He wasn’t doing God’s will in the pre-existence, and he certainly isn’t going to change his stripes now.

I read and see reports of all the upheaval in the world today, and I am reminded again and again that we live in this fallen world as part of the Plan of Salvation. Satan has many minions on earth today who are doing his bidding. They tend to garner all the headlines and the cable news interviews. 

But as I witness the smiling faces I see in the temples, I am confident there are many of God’s children in the Church who are choosing well because they have overcome Satan’s temptations. They are happy, productive, and filled with light. They are binding Satan by their righteousness. I am content the Church is on the right path. The prophets are inspired to show us the way to eternal life. They help us avoid spiritual death:

“Wherefore, I, the Lord God, caused that he [Adam] should be cast out from the Garden of Eden, from my presence, because of his transgression, wherein he became spiritually dead, which is the first death, even that same death, which is spiritual, which shall be pronounced upon the wicked when I shall say: Depart, ye cursed.

“But, behold, I say unto you that I, the Lord God, gave unto Adam and unto his seed, that they should not die as to the temporal death, until I, the Lord God, should send forth angels to declare unto them repentance and redemption, through faith on the name of mine Only Begotten Son.” (D&C 29:41-42).

Those angels have never ceased to minister to us since Adam and Eve were cast out. Consider this testimony from Mormon’s writings as captured by Moroni:

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?

“For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens. 

“And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men…

“Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face of thereof to be saved?

“Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief and all is vain.” (Moroni 7:27-29; 36-37).

We, as children of the covenant in our family, are witnesses of miracles, and we KNOW angels minister among us. We cannot deny these things. We have all known of these truths. We all have personal experiences, and we have shared in our stories generously with each other. We are living our mortal probation seeking to do God’s will and to do His divine work among our brothers and sisters in and out of the Church without hesitation. I testify that you are truly among those of whom Mormon wrote, “…them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.” (See Moroni 7:30).

And then we die the temporal death in mortality. Our mortal body goes into the grave, and our spirit goes into the spirit world. We become those very angels like our departed loved ones. Alma gives us the revelation he received from an angel on this topic:

“Now concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection - Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

“And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.” (Alma 40:11-12).

Those who were wicked are cast into “outer darkness” - also known as a “spirit prison” or "hell" - in a state of misery, being led captive by the will of the devil. This is a temporary habitation in the spirit world for those who were disobedient in mortality. In this sense, hell has an end. The spirits there will be taught the gospel, and sometime following their repentance they will be resurrected to a degree of glory of which they are worthy. Both the righteous and the wicked, we are told, “remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.” (See Alma 40:14). What is clear to me is that the spirits in paradise minister and teach those in spirit prison. There is missionary work going on there.

When the time of resurrection approaches for each of us, I always found this sermon from President Spencer W. Kimball to be very instructive (see April General Conference, 1977, p. 69):

“Any doctrine or ordinance as fundamental to man’s eternal salvation as the resurrection of the dead is of necessity regulated and performed by the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood. It is also part of the resurrection of the family. So far as the celestial kingdom is concerned, the resurrection is a family event. We would at first naturally suppose that Jesus would resurrect himself, but perhaps he did not. Jesus did not baptize himself. The clear rendering of Acts 2:22-24, 32; 3:12; 5:30 (as cited above) represents Peter saying on three separate occasions that God raised up Jesus from the dead. If we read those passages literally and combine that concept with the teachings of President Young and Elder Snow, that only a resurrected being can perform a resurrection, we may gain an insight into the resurrection process as a patriarchal family order in which a righteous resurrected father would resurrect his son, and so forth.” 

He also offered this stunning insight in his sermon: “We are in possession of all the ordinances that can be administered in the flesh; but there are other ordinances and administrations that must be administered beyond this world. I know you would like to ask what they are. I will mention one. We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinance and the keys of resurrection.”

It would seem there is sufficient time in the spirit world for progress, repentance and improvement prior to the final judgment. We learn there are three degrees of glory - telestial, terrestrial and celestial. (See D&C 76). Within the celestial glory there are three degrees. The Lord has chosen to reveal very little about the two lesser degrees, and focuses our attention almost exclusively on the celestial glory. He expects us to set our sights higher. I urge you to study that section of the Doctrine and Covenants for the details. Of the spirit world, we learn the following:

“There is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works.” (Alma 40:21).    

I treasure this teaching from the Prophet Joseph:

“The great designs of God in relation to the salvation of the human family, are very little understood by the professedly wise and intelligent generation in which we live. Various and conflicting are the opinions of men concerning the plan of salvation, the [requirements] of the Almighty, the necessary preparations for heaven, the state and condition of departed spirits, and the happiness or misery that is consequent upon the practice of righteousness and iniquity according to their several notions of virtue and vice… .

“… While one portion of the human race is judging and condemning the other without mercy, the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard; He views them as His offspring, and without any of those contracted feelings that influence the children of men, causes ‘His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.’ [Matthew 5:45.] He holds the reins of judgment in His hands; He is a wise Lawgiver, and will judge all men, not according to the narrow, contracted notions of men, but, ‘according to the deeds done in the body whether they be good or evil,’ or whether these deeds were done in England, America, Spain, Turkey, or India. He will judge them, ‘not according to what they have not, but according to what they have’; those who have lived without law, will be judged without law, and those who have a law, will be judged by that law. We need not doubt the wisdom and intelligence of the Great Jehovah; He will award judgment or mercy to all nations according to their several deserts, their means of obtaining intelligence, the laws by which they are governed, the facilities afforded them of obtaining correct information, and His inscrutable designs in relation to the human family; and when the designs of God shall be made manifest, and the curtain of futurity be withdrawn, we shall all of us eventually have to confess that the Judge of all the earth has done right [see Genesis 18:25].”  (TPJS, pp. 217-218). 

This is the reason we do baptisms for the dead. We are incapable of ascertaining the desires of the hearts of men. Only God can judge completely and accurately. We can assist them here by performing all the vicarious ordinances for them in the temples, while they progress, repent and improve upon their desires there. How merciful that God extends our time and offers salvation in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom for as long as possible! Consider further this statement:

“Our heavenly Father is more liberal in His views, and boundless in His mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive; and, at the same time, is more terrible to the workers of iniquity, more awful in the executions of His punishments, and more ready to detect every false way, than we are apt to suppose Him to be. He will be inquired of by His children. He says, ‘Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find;’ but, if you will take that which is not your own, or which I have not given you, you shall be rewarded according to your deeds; but no good thing will I withhold from them who walk uprightly before me, and do my will in all things - who will listen to my voice and to the voice of my servant whom I have sent; for I delight in those who seek diligently to know my precepts, and abide by the law of my kingdom; for all things shall be made known unto them in mine own due time, and in the end they shall have joy. (Aug. 27, 1842).” (TPJS, p. 257). 

All our hopes and dreams in righteousness will be realized if we stay on the covenant path. I promise each of you a fulfillment of all you desire. I assure you of my love and the love of our Heavenly Father. Our Savior is Jesus Christ, who eagerly encourages us to “Come Follow Me.” He promises the realization of all those blessings, withholding nothing.

I am always struck with the sheer magnitude of the promised blessings in the temple ordinances. We can indeed become kings and priests, queens and priestesses in the new and everlasting covenant of marriage, and we can perpetuate our posterity through all generations of time and throughout all eternity by embracing the glorious Plan of Salvation as I’ve briefly outlined it today. I feel it now as much as I have always known it before. 

“And again, verily, I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed upon them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them - Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths - then shall it be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.

“Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.” (D&C 132:19-20).

I cannot conceive, nor can I even begin to write, such comprehensive and breathtaking language! This is the promise I am seeking to obtain through my faithfulness. It’s what I have learned in part about the Plan of Salvation, and what I wholeheartedly embrace as a son of God.

(On Sunday, I began teaching the temple preparation course to the graduating seniors in our ward - the bishop tells me there are sixteen whom he has invited to attend. The first of seven lessons involves the introduction to The Plan of Salvation, hence my brain dump in this post.)