3/3/2018 - Section 88:17-31

March 3, 2018

Section 88:17-31

Obedience Brings Blessings, Obedience (our obedience) on Earth Prepares Us, Progression is a Journey, Plan of Salvation, Draw Near Unto Him,

Whatever our level of obedience on earth, it is our preparation for where we will live when we return to Heavenly Father. When speaking of the earth, v 19 says: “For after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father.” This gives me comfort during those times I feel I can never live up to all the things we are asked to do. But I believe I sometimes misunderstand the timeline. When a kindergarten teacher welcomes her new class, she would never think of expecting them to perform college level work. But she does teach them how to act in school, how to behave toward one another. She teaches the basics with love and patience. And 12 years later, there are those who are ready for college and those who are not. But the hope is that they all find the happiness that fits their abilities and desires. The Lord tells us that his goal for us is perfection—just as we told our children that our goal for them was college. No one expected them to start college the year after kindergarten!

Our sanctification is not an instantaneous, one time experience. It comes from our seeking Christ’s help--helping us to become better through  accessing the amazing gift of the power of his atonement. Our progression toward perfection is our entering into elementary school, then middle school, then high school, then college. But all along the way we have instant help any time we want it and ask for it. Perfection is a long journey, and with our current vision, it is our ultimate goal. It is the goal we work toward as we get a little smarter, a little more skilled, and yes, a little more excited every day of our schooling. If we fail a test one day we are not doomed to fail the entire class-- we just dig in and work harder to understand the lessons we at first failed to understand.

In v 31 he is speaking of our ultimate ‘graduation’ from earth. At that time he promises that our spirits will be reunited with our bodies, and then we will be “quickened” by the glory of the kingdom in which we will be our most comfortable. The Lord tells us in his scriptures that the Celestial Kingdom is where we can live with Him forever, and where we can obtain the greatest freedom possible. That’s what I have set as my goal. Heavenly Father would never prompt me to work to be somewhere where I would not feel comfortable. If I KNOW that he lives, if I FEEL him listening and answering my prayers here, if I have no doubt that the Atonement is real because I have received the help that Christ promised from it…then why do I worry. I am happiest here when I am obedient to God’s laws. My plan—and my work—is to continue to be obedient and to enjoy my step by step growth as I work to return to my Father. The plan is plain. I trusted in God’s plan by coming down to earth. It only makes sense that I should continue to trust. His end goal is the goal I want.