Questions of the Soul: Part 3 (Knowledge & Wisdom)

Sorry that I've been MIA lately, busy week. In response to the last blog about  whether or not we were before, and will continue to be the same people that we are in this life after it; I was asked another question that someone had. I was asked how we gain the knowledge that we need to do what is needed in this life to return to our Father in Heavens presence, and what we do to correct our mistakes that we make along the path.

To respond to this I would like to contrast two things: knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is defined simply as the following:
knowledge - being acquainted with facts, truths or principles, by study or investigation.

So what is the knowledge that is needed to understand those things that are required to return to the presence of God? Well it begins pretty simply actually. The first thing that we need to know is that God does exist. We need to know that He is our Father in Heaven, and that He has laid out a plan for us to return to His presence. This plan is called the Plan of Salvation.

We learn through the Plan of Salvation that our condition of returning to the presence of our Father in Heaven is dependent on our faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon teaches us: "that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent."- Mosiah 3:17

So our knowledge of how to live to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father is obtained through study of the Savior's life. We learn what to do by reading the scriptures, (i.e. Holy Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price) and reading about what Jesus Christ taught. Some examples that come to mind are the"10 commandments", the "Sermon on the Mount", the "be-attitudes", and His example of serving others and loving all with an unconditional charity.

So now we that we've addressed where, and what the knowledge is that we are looking for, the next part of the equation in returning to God's presence is the application of that knowledge. That is where the word "wisdom" comes into play.

wisdom - knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; or simply put, the application of knowledge.

The Book of Mormon teaches:" 32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors." - Alma 34:32

What are those labors? Well everything that we think, desire, and  do in this life is associated with the labors that we perform by which we will be judged. "3 And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good." - Alma 41:3 

As taught in this scripture in the Book of Mormon, we learn that our desires and our works, or labors, in life will play the determining factor in our judgement.

We know that we are not perfect and that we will not make all the right decisions in life. We know that there are times when we may desire those things that are not righteous before the Lord. Our Father in Heaven knows this as well. In fact, He knows it better then we do. Because He knows of our imperfections He made it possible for us to be able to erase from our lives those thoughts, desires, and actions that are not righteous. As we apply our knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and act in wisdom by repenting of our sins through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be found worthy to be judged as "good". 

How do we apply that knowledge into wisdom through repentance? Following are the steps of repentance:

1. Acknowledge that we have sinned against the laws of God.
2. Fell true "Godly Sorrow" for the sins that we have committed, and the pain that we caused the Savior by committing such sins. ("10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation..." - 2 Corinthians 7:10)
3. Pray and seek sincere forgiveness of our sins from our Heavenly Father. (" 8 But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven." - Moroni 6:8)
4. Seek forgiveness from all others that we have sinned against, and strive to make restitution for those things.
5. Forsake the sin, committing ourselves to never return to it. (" 10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsakethem, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them." - Mosiah 4:10")
6. Remember that because the Lord has forgiven us, we are also required to forgive ourselves.

I know that at times it is not easy for us to use our knowledge wisely. We each have to deal with the daily conflict of temptation and trail in life. I also know however that through our Savior's atoning sacrifice we can find "...peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come." - D&C 59:23

  

Questions of the Soul: Part 2

I am pleased to be able to answer a question that was posed by a friend on facebook. The question that was asked is, "Before we came to the earth, were we the same as we are now?, and will we be the same person when we leave this mortal place?" - Ashley Green.

So Ashley here it goes. In the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament of the Bible we read:

"5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. "- (Jeremiah 1:5)

From this we can come to understand many things.  One, we come to learn that before being created in our physical bodies, God knew us. God knew Jeremiah, then why not us? We also notice that God tells Jeremiah that he "sanctified [him], and ordained [him] a prophet unto the nations." Jeremiah, like other prophets of God, was chosen before this life to be for-ordained with the potential and opportunity in life to be a prophet of God. This for-ordination is not be confused with the idea of pre-determination. God does not make our paths unchangeable. He lovingly gives us or agency, or free will, to choose for ourselves whether or not we will live up to that for-ordination through our righteousness. Because Jeremiah was a righteous and steadfast son of God before this life, he chose to remain on that path in his mortal life.

So if we know that we have had our personalities since before this life, why would we not be the same person in this life, and in the life to come. The Book of Mormon answers these questions profoundly and simply. In the Book of Alma we read the following:

" 34 ...that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world." -(Alma 34:34)

We have the same spirit that we did from the beginning. That same spirit will always be the defining sense of our personality. We are children of an Eternal Father. Why would then not understand that our spirits are also eternal in nature. 

We read again in the Book of Mormon a simple gospel truth that holds much significance on this topic. In reference to the great "Plan of Happiness", which is the plan that our Father in Heaven has for His children that informs us of our existence before this life, our purpose in this life, and our existence in the life to come, a Book of Mormon prophet named Alma tells us about the role repentance serves in our life to come:

" 16 Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul."

There is something more then just that need for repentance that I want you to notice. Alma teaches us that our "soul[s]" are eternal in nature. What does eternal mean? Well eternal is defined as being without beginning or end. If our "soul" is without beginning or end, then we have no reason to think otherwise then the fact that we are the same children today, and will be tomorrow, that our Father created spiritually. This does not mean that we can't change our actions. We have been granted the power of choice. We can decide, just as we decided to come to this life, what we will do with it while we are here. 

I hope that this answers your question. If there is anything else that I can help with, either on this topic, or another. I would hope that anyone reading this would leave a comment on the page to let me know. 

Now I hope that my witness of this truth is helpful. However, to be on the safe side, I would like to include another witness as shown in this short video segment.

Questions of the Soul: Part 1

As of right now I have not had any questions posted, so I am going to start with one that is as general, and as important as they come. Is there a God? Let's answer this using the Book of Mormon.

There is a passage of scripture in the Book of Mormon, where this very topic is presented to a missionary teaching the people of  Nephi in their capitol city of Zarahemla. The missionary's name is Alma. He was talking with a man named Korihor. Korihor had been going around teaching the people that there was no God, no Christ to come, no Atonement for mankind's' sins, and no life after this one. In response to Korihor's teaching of false doctrines, Alma poses a question to him.

" 37 And then Alma said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?" - (Alma 30:37)

Alma asks the same question that we have to a man who was preaching against the Lord. What happens next in the scriptures helps Korihor come to know the truth, and the reality of the existence of God.

" 38 And he answered, Nay.

39 Now Alma said unto him: Will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come.

40 And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only.

41 But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou that these things are true?

42 Behold, I know that thou believest, but thou art possessed with a lying spirit, and ye have put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in you...

43 And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.

44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

45 ...And yet will ye deny against all these witnesses? And he said: Yea, I will deny, except ye shall show me a sign.

46 And now it came to pass that Alma said unto him: Behold, I am grieved because of the hardness of your heart, yea, that ye will still resist the spirit of the truth, that thy soul may be destroyed.

47 ...therefore if thou shalt deny again, behold God shall smite thee, that thou shalt become dumb, that thou shalt never open thy mouth any more, that thou shalt not deceive this people any more.

48 Now Korihor said unto him: I do not deny the existence of a God, but I do not believe that there is a God; and I say also, that ye do not know that there is a God; and except ye show me a sign, I will not believe.

49 Now Alma said unto him: This will I give unto thee for a sign, that thou shalt be struck dumb, according to my words; and I say, that in the name of God, ye shall be struck dumb, that ye shall no more have utterance.

50 Now when Alma had said these words, Korihor was struck dumb, that he could not have utterance, according to the words of Alma." - ( Alma 30:38-50)

Now today I hope that many of us do not need a sign just as Korihor demanded. I believe that as we earnestly seek in our hearts for the truth , then the testimony of one who knows of God's existence, just as Alma knew, and the confirming feeling of the Spirit within us, should be enough for us to know this for ourselves. Korihor's refusal to acknowledge the truth of God's existence eventually cost him his life. We later read in this same passage of scripture about Korihor's desperate attempt to be relieved of his "sign". He wrote is script to the people about how he knew that God existed, but that he had been deceived by the devil. His pleads to have his voice restored to him were not heard by the Lord. He eventually was killed by some of the people in a neighboring city who believed as he once did. 

I know that there is a God. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father. He knows personally, and cares for each one of His children. I know this because I have read of His works in the Book of Mormon. I have prayed to know if these things are true. My prayers have been answered time and time again by that very God whom I know to be real. I hope that all of us can come to a knowledge of the truth and the divinity of God for ourselves. That is my prayer. In the Name of Jesus Christ, amen.