Let's Force Everyone To Do The Right Thing!

I read a recent (May 21, 2020) Facebook post by a friend from my 1969-70 mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that

purportedly was written by Hollywood’s Ron Howard. After reading through Howard’s points on his personal style of liberalism, I found myself feeling that maybe I’m somewhat of a closet-liberal myself. I believe in helping the needy and unfortunate, too. I also agreed on several other points – kind of. But then I realized what was missing in his manifesto: God’s plan for His children.

There was a War in Heaven over how our earth experience was going to play out. There were two proposals fought over (probably a battle of words): Satan’s plan vs. Christ’s and God’s plan. Satan’s would force all people to obey God’s laws and thus make sure everyone would return to God. On the other hand, Christ’s plan would allow all of God’s children to retain their Free Agency to choose to obey God’s laws or disobey them. And, yes, there would be consequences, but all tied into Christ’s Atonement. If we are forced to follow God’s laws, then we learn nothing. If we learn to obey Gods laws by choice, then we will become more and more like our Father in Heaven and ultimately receive all that he has in store for us – which is Eternal Life, the kind of life that He lives.

Those who do things because they are forced to do so, though they might be good things, learn nothing and will not gain the attributes needed to become more like our Father in Heaven.

If you don’t believe in God, nothing I say will mean much of anything to you. But here are two absolute truths:  there is one true God; and all people who have lived, are living or will live on this earth approved of Christ and God’s plan of Free Agency, Atonement and redemption in that final vote in Heaven.

With this in mind, let’s see which side of the Plan of Salvation these following points fall under. I’ll make my comments, which will be shown in bold lavender type.

May 21 at 6:44 PM

This pretty much sums up my beliefs of what being a liberal is. Leave it to Ron Howard to put it so succinctly.

Please read this, especially if your first inclination is not to read it.

Ron Howard
January 24 at 5:41 AM
I'm a liberal, but that doesn't mean what a lot of you apparently think it does. Let's break it down, shall we? Because quite frankly, I'm getting a little tired of being told what I believe and what I stand for. Spoiler alert: not every liberal is the same, though the majority of liberals I know think along roughly these same lines:

1. I believe a country should take care of its weakest members. A country cannot call itself civilized when its children, disabled, sick, and elderly are neglected. PERIOD.

But how do we go about taking care of them? (Well, we are civilized but not a utopian society. It’s obvious that children, the disabled, sick and elderly should be cared for. But opinions on how to do that differ. I oppose passing law after law after law or endless tax rules to bureaucratically try to be the caretaker of all! In addition. I think doing so reeks of Satan’s plan – forcing people to do what they should do themselves. Wouldn’t Christ want us to willingly lift up those in need? If we do this through our own choice, then we will learn compassion and all other attributes needed to become more like God – who has given us everything and was not forced to do so.)

2. I believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Somehow that's interpreted as "I believe Obamacare is the end-all, be-all." This is not the case. I'm fully aware that the ACA has problems, that a national healthcare system would require everyone to chip in, and that it's impossible to create one that is devoid of flaws, but I have yet to hear an argument against it that makes "let people die because they can't afford healthcare" a better alternative. I believe healthcare should be far cheaper than it is, and that everyone should have access to it. And no, I'm not opposed to paying higher taxes in the name of making that happen. (Healthcare is not an inherent right but a benefit of a developed society. The price of healthcare obviously should be cheaper, but, again, man is given free agency – and many choose to make money off the suffering of others. If we, as citizens of this Republic, are forced to pay for the cost of healthcare for all, then we have again followed Satan’s plan to take away our free agency to willingly help others. Thus, we fail to learn to give of ourselves and fail to gain the attributes needed for our life in the eternities. The world is ripe for the Second Coming because of our wickedness, including not caring for the needy. In the eternities, the needy will no longer be in need but will inherit their blessings from our Heavenly Father.)

3. I believe education should be affordable. It doesn't necessarily have to be free (though it works in other countries so I'm mystified as to why it can't work in the US), but at the end of the day, there is no excuse for students graduating college saddled with five- or six-figure debt. (We need affordable education – even in elementary through high school. And parents should have the freedom of choice on where they enroll their children. As for college, the idea that taxpayers should be forced to pay the debts of graduates falls under Satan’s plan – taking away freedom of choice from taxpayers, who would be required to pay for those debts,  and students, who should experience the consequences of their college choices. And whatever happened to trade school training – even at the high school level? Too often students go to high-cost colleges for degrees that end up as useless pieces of paper. Plus, many fall for the anti-America indoctrination they encounter. Yes, it’s true that the cost of college education is way out of whack, again because of man’s greed – choosing to worship money and its power.)

4. I don't believe your money should be taken from you and given to people who don't want to work. I have literally never encountered anyone who believes this. Ever. I just have a massive moral problem with a society where a handful of people can possess the majority of the wealth while there are people literally starving to death, freezing to death, or dying because they can't afford to go to the doctor. Fair wages, lower housing costs, universal healthcare, affordable education, and the wealthy actually paying their share would go a long way toward alleviating this. Somehow believing that makes me a communist. (This just reeks of Satan’s plan! The wealthy are not evil inherently, but if they choose to not help others as Christ would have them do, then they their souls will be cankered and they will fail to progress toward what the Lord would have them become. Americans have long suffered the abuse of greedy capitalists, Wall Street brokers, corrupt government leaders who have twisted the laws and business practices to benefit themselves and their allies. They have chosen their path, and the people suffer for it. The level of corruption and debauchery in America and throughout the world are signs of the Last Days. Soon the mighty will stand before the great and dreadful bar of judgement. And all will know then that each is responsible for his or her actions, and it won’t matter whether we were rich, middle class or poor in this life. If we will strive to learn from our experiences and try to do better each time we fall, then we will inherit His blessings. Let us praise the rich who truly reach out and help others as much as they can. I think Jon Huntsman was a good example of doing that. Actually, if we don’t believe in the afterlife or God’s plan, then most everything can seem senseless and unfair.)   

5. I don't throw around "I'm willing to pay higher taxes" lightly. If I'm suggesting something that involves paying more, well, it's because I'm fine with paying my share as long as it's actually going to something besides lining corporate pockets or bombing other countries while Americans die without healthcare. (I agree on most of that, but for most Americans, paying more taxes isn’t really an option. So, maybe for those who have extra millions in the bank, I encourage them pay more to help others, even donate more to the IRS or find private non-profit groups who actually do help the poor. Or maybe round up all your rich friends and have them pool their extra money and pay the healthcare costs of as many poor as you can – or better yet, help the poor and needy get training or jobs to improve their lot so they can take care of themselves. Do these things voluntarily, and you’ll reap the eternal blessings of learning to give freely.)

6. I believe companies should be required to pay their employees a decent, livable wage. Somehow this is always interpreted as me wanting burger flippers to be able to afford a penthouse apartment and a Mercedes. What it actually means is that no one should have to work three full-time jobs just to keep their head above water. Restaurant servers should not have to rely on tips, multibillion-dollar companies should not have employees on food stamps, workers shouldn't have to work themselves into the ground just to barely make ends meet, and minimum wage should be enough for someone to work 40 hours and live. (This is a dilemma! If we raise the minimum wage, then many small businesses or franchises may not be able to afford to stay open – or they may have to automate or cut staff. Yes, God wants all businesspeople to be fair to their employees, but they have the choice to be fair or be greedy. They will receive their reward. If we force companies to be fair, then we are giving in to Satan’s plan, which is to force all people to be good – damning the Eternal Plan of Progression! Does forcing your children to make the right choices work? Does it help your kids in the long term? God’s perspective is the eternities – what will prepare his children for his kingdom and his lifestyle.)  

7. I am not anti-Christian. I have no desire to stop Christians from being Christians, to close churches, to ban the Bible, to forbid prayer in school, etc. (BTW, prayer in school is NOT illegal; *compulsory* prayer in school is - and should be - illegal). All I ask is that Christians recognize *my* right to live according to *my* beliefs. When I get pissed off that a politician is trying to legislate Scripture into law, I'm not "offended by Christianity" -- I'm offended that you're trying to force me to live by your religion's rules. You know how you get really upset at the thought of Muslims imposing Sharia law on you? That's how I feel about Christians trying to impose biblical law on me. Be a Christian. Do your thing. Just don't force it on me or mine. (A lot of truth in this. We shouldn’t force anyone to adhere to Christianity. However, America was created by Christians. The Constitution was inspired by God. And we have been historically a Christian nation. I think much of the Christian legislation being proposed is to counter the anti-Christian policies enacted by the misguided or non-believers. One issue that immediately comes to mind is abortion. If we don’t believe in God and that he oversees his heirs here on earth, then we have no reason to oppose abortion, since we obviously believe that man is no more than an animal that can discard its own. If there is no eternity, there is no consequence. But there is a God, and people are meant to become more like him. Too many now consider humans as no more than a highly intelligent animal. But that really is an insult to animals: Of all God’s creations, only humans have agency to choose to disobey God’s plan. Animals do as they were created to do. And some are here to torment man!) 

8. I don't believe LGBT people should have more rights than you. I just believe they should have the *same* rights as you. (Well, this is a messy situation! When LGBT people cried to have “equal rights” and they eventually got them, they soon felt empowered to then promote their lifestyle and even use methods to indoctrinate and recruit others, even children, to their way of life. As Christ would do, we need to love all of God’s children, but not accept their sins. If we are forced to accept the sin and that it really isn’t a sin, then we are being forced to go contrary to our beliefs in God and his vision for his children.)

9. I don't believe illegal immigrants should come to America and have the world at their feet, especially since THIS ISN'T WHAT THEY DO (spoiler: undocumented immigrants are ineligible for all those programs they're supposed to be abusing, and if they're "stealing" your job it's because your employer is hiring illegally). I believe there are far more humane ways to handle undocumented immigration than our current practices (i.e., detaining children, splitting up families, ending DACA, etc). (Excuse me, but they are not just undocumented immigrants, they are people illegally forcing their way into our country because they want a better life. Nowadays, people from countries are encouraged by many to come to America and receive benefits as good or even better than what our own citizens receive. Being illegally in the states is supposed to make them ineligible for benefits – that is, unless governments give them the benefits anyway, which is happening in many states. Illegals have contributed heavily to our welfare rolls and the criminal system. So, let’s build the wall and then let those who enter legally contribute to the prosperity of the nation as one people, not divided. Yes, many business owners use illegals to pad their pockets, but again, they have the right to choose right from wrong – but they don’t have the power to escape the eternal consequences. As to another aspect on illegal immigration, I believe the Democrat Party is using them in their battle for power.)

10. I don't believe the government should regulate everything, but since greed is such a driving force in our country, we NEED regulations to prevent cut corners, environmental destruction, tainted food/water, unsafe materials in consumable goods or medical equipment, etc. It's not that I want the government's hands in everything -- I just don't trust people trying to make money to ensure that their products/practices/etc. are actually SAFE. Is the government devoid of shadiness? Of course not. But with those regulations in place, consumers have recourse if they're harmed and companies are liable for medical bills, environmental cleanup, etc. Just kind of seems like common sense when the alternative to government regulation is letting companies bring their bottom line into the equation. (The problem with regulations is that there are too many of them! Too restrictive! Too Draconian. Yes, we need some common-sense ones, but Satan would regulate every aspect of a person’s life. Bureaucrats, legislators, and other government officials who fall into the trap of over regulating become a part of Satan’s plan to force people to be good. Find the crime and punish, but don’t manufacture crimes and then punish the innocent.)

11. I believe our current administration is fascist. Not because I dislike them or because I can’t get over an election, but because I've spent too many years reading and learning about the Third Reich to miss the similarities. Not because any administration I dislike must be Nazis, but because things are actually mirroring authoritarian and fascist regimes of the past. (Wow! Weird that you would compare Trump and his team to Nazis. I don’t see any evidence of this. In fact, I believe he’s the one who is fighting to reduce government’s power over the people. On the other hand, the Democrats want more taxes, more programs to throw at all the nation’s problems. But the problems were created under previous administrations – mostly Democratic administrations. On another point, you mention your reading prowess. Wow! That makes you an expert! Well, I have lived long enough to remember the days of Opie and the common-sense lessons from that show. I’ve been around more than 70 years, and I fail to see the Nazi comparison, and my father was a WWII veteran. But maybe you were actually talking about what the Democrats are trying to pull. But that is your opinion and mine. Enough said!)

12. I believe the systemic racism and misogyny in our society is much worse than many people think, and desperately needs to be addressed. Which means those with privilege -- white, straight, male, economic, etc. -- need to start listening, even if you don't like what you're hearing, so we can start dismantling everything that's causing people to be marginalized. (I’m sorry, but I see a much different picture! And what is with that adjective – systematic! That is just hyperbole!  Over the past few decades, I have seen an amazing number of blacks enjoying the fruits of their labors – in all walks of life. Yes, we had big problems in the past, but the problems are not near as bad as they were. There are, however, a couple of factors that are still holding back many: the welfare laws and the disintegration of two-parent families in black communities. Obama was the hope of all, including me, that he would be a blessing to blacks and wipe out racism. But we found instead that Obama was accentuating the problem. He used blacks as a tool in his fight to “remake” America, which included trying to make whites and conservatives the villains of America. As Biden said recently, “You ain’t black if you vote for (a white, conservative) Trump!” Personally, I was extremely disappointed in Obama’s outright efforts to divide the country and remake it into what he and other leftists envision. His efforts were scary! But now Trump is in the Oval Office, and Obama’s plan is being thwarted – despite the Mainstream Media and Democrat Party intrigue. As to the subject of women in America: Huge strides have been made. Still, the media and the left use skewed statistics to claim that women of today are being paid less than men for the same level of work. And haven't you noticed the number of women in Trump’s administration? Oh, probably not, because they’re too conservative and thus they don’t count as feminists. Yes, Trump may have a lot of moral baggage, but he has been amazing in accomplishing much of what I personally hoped he would do. Talk about marginalizing people – the left is doing that to the white, straight males of America. What a joke! Remember, God loves all his children! No limit on which ones. And he wants us to love one another. And all his children have the freedom of choice – we love all, or we are racist. To be more like our Father in Heaven, we need to choose wisely and love all our neighbors.)

13. I am not interested in coming after your blessed guns, nor is anyone serving in government. What I am interested in is the enforcement of present laws and enacting new, common sense gun regulations. Got another opinion? Put it on your page, not mine. (Another hot adjective: blessed! Then you use the phrase: common-sense laws! Wow! Why don’t we talk about Biden’s No Gun Zones that have put targets on the backs of millions! This law takes away the rights of Americans to bear arms and allows crazies to stalk those same zones because they know the people are like ducks in a barrel. On the other hand, we find that many crimes have been thwarted or at least put to an end by those legally carrying. Would God want men to defend themselves and their families? Look to the example of the Nephites. Today, we have the right to bear arms because of the Bill of Rights. Does God want men to kill each other? No! But it is God who will hold the aggressor accountable.   

14. I believe in so-called political correctness. I prefer to think it’s social politeness. If I call you Chuck and you say you prefer to be called Charles I’ll call you Charles. It’s the polite thing to do. Not because everyone is a delicate snowflake, but because as Maya Angelou put it, when we know better, we do better. When someone tells you that a term or phrase is more accurate/less hurtful than the one you're using, you now know better. So why not do better? How does it hurt you to NOT hurt another person? (What you say here is politically correct! But taking it to the extreme can be an attack on our freedom of speech! Yes, be polite and kind in our conversations, but we should not freak out and be offended by every word that someone might say. Should I say anti-abortion, pro-life, pro-choice or pro-abortion? Who made up these rules? Who will be the final judge?)    

15. I believe in funding sustainable energy, including offering education to people currently working in coal or oil so they can change jobs. There are too many sustainable options available for us to continue with coal and oil. Sorry, billionaires. Maybe try investing in something else. (Cool, you’re using the politically correct term for those windmills, solar panels, etc. But I’m not sold on their effectiveness nor on their independence from regular power sources – like the energy needed to create wind turbines and solar panels, which seem to need replacing more than is practical and also kill countless birds. Yes, we need to limit emissions, and our country has done a remarkable job in doing so. That’s not saying we can’t mobilize efforts to clean up and prevent pollution. But how about going after the countries that are creating the vast amount of pollution these days in the air and in the seas. Communist China is the leader in both air pollution and plastics pollution in our oceans.)

16. I believe that women should not be treated as a separate class of human. They should be paid the same as men who do the same work, should have the same rights as men and should be free from abuse. Why on earth shouldn’t they be? (That’s a no-brainer! A separate class of human? That’s weird. Are you saying that women are just women until they become feminists? I hope you’re not saying that! One might say that women are the best part of God’s creation. That’s why we revere them! We shouldn’t want them to be our equal, because they are already superior to us in so many ways. As my wise grandson emphasized: "One of the divine purposes of gender is that the union of a male and female can ultimately help complete and perfect each other. That without the other, neither is complete. So while each may have distinct characteristics, each should be complimentary to the other and not above the other.)

I think that about covers it. Bottom line is that I'm a liberal because I think we should take care of each other. (Yes, that is true! But it needs to be voluntary – and not coerced!) That doesn't mean you should work 80 hours a week so your lazy neighbor can get all your money. It just means I don't believe there is any scenario in which preventable suffering is an acceptable outcome as long as money is saved. (Remember, we live in a telestial world where people suffer, face horrible disabilities, heartache and much more. Yet, all people are free to choose to help others in need (the right) or just think of themselves (evil). That is why there is so much evil in the world – too many people just thinking of themselves. But the Lord will not force us back to him! He is trying to teach us what we need to learn to be a part of His Celestial Kingdom. Well, that is what was on my brain as I went through all these points from supposedly Ron Howard. I’m no expert, obviously, in expressing myself. And I’m still fighting to do as my Father in Heaven would have me do. I praise him for his plan, which includes the amazing principle of repentance. Without that, we would be lost forever}

Atonement and Plan of Salvation

   Nancy and I were asked to speak in our Webb City Sacrament meeting on Sept. 14, 2014. 
As I prepared the talk, I kept wanting to focus on some issues that I've encountered from others recently.
Here's the talk (Click on gray lettering for link to original material; art added for blog post.):

     In April 1999, Elder M. RUSSELL BALLARD of the Quorum of the

Elder M. RUSSELL BALLARD, 1999

Twelve, said: “Too many of our young men and women are succumbing to the pressures imposed by a world saturated with evil messages and immoral behavior. Lucifer is waging a vicious war for the souls of young and old alike, and the casualty count is climbing. The standards of the world have shifted like the sands of a windblown desert.

"Like the sands of a windblown desert"

That which was once unheard of or unacceptable is now commonplace.

(And, remember, he said this 15 years ago!)

   “The world’s perspective has been so dramatically altered that those who choose to adhere to traditional standards of morality are viewed as strange, almost as though they must justify their desire to keep the commandments of God.

   “But one thing is certain: the commandments have not changed. Let there be no mistake about that. Right is still right. Wrong is still wrong, no matter how cleverly cloaked in respectability or political correctness.”

The world today wants it all, and right now but doesn’t concern itself with the idea of consequences.

Don’t burden me with all the rules that burdened my parents. Preach to me of the easy way to heaven – if there be a heaven!

In 2 Nephi Chapter 28, it states: “And there shall also be many which shall

say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God — He will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God."

How many will be saved? 10,000? 100,000? If we believe what most churches teach today, then all that profess a belief in Christ will be saved. Most all churches lead to Heaven – and all roads lead to Rome!

There was a time when we had to make a choice between having every one of God’s children being saved and potentially losing more than one-third of them.

Lucifer and his followers wanted salvation to come automatically to all who passed through mortality, without regard to individual preference, agency, or voluntary dedication.

In the Book of Moses, Chapter 4: it says: “Satan … is the same which was

Great Council in Heaven where
Lucifer and Christ
presented opposing views.

from the beginning, and he came before me, saying: Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.

2 “But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done [I vote for your plan, the eternal plan, the one that teaches us to become Eternal parents, and then the Beloved Son said] … and the glory be thine forever.”

Then warfare ensued: Brothers and sisters fighting against brothers and sisters.

In Revelation, Chapter 12: “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels... And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."

How many suffered the consequence of their rebellion?

1/3 of the host of Heaven!

But we who are here today fought on the right side – we chose to support God and His Plan of Salvation, and we chose to support Christ’s role as our Savior!

Freedom of choice even in pre-earth life.

We have and always will have that Freedom of Choice!

And Freedom of Choice is crucial to learning how to become like our Father in Heaven – and learning how to be Eternal parents!

As part of the Atonement, Christ’s resurrection gave all mankind the gift of resurrection, but many Christians get confused about the second part of the Atonement, how Christ makes it possible to conquer Spiritual Death, which is our separation, physically and spiritually, from God.

In Alma Chapter 5, verse 21, it says: “…there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.” [from their sins, not in their sins]

In April 2004, Elder BRUCE C. HAFEN of the First Quorum of the

Elder Bruce C. Hafen, 2004

Seventy, said: “…We are God’s spirit “offspring,” sent to earth “innocent” of Adam’s transgression. Yet our Father’s plan subjects us to temptation and misery in this fallen world as the price to comprehend authentic joy. Without tasting the bitter, we actually cannot understand the sweet. We require mortality’s discipline and refinement as the “next step in [our] development” toward becoming like our Father. But growth means growing pains. It also means learning from our mistakes in a continual process made possible by the Savior’s grace, which He extends both during and “after all we can do.”

“… His plan is developmental — line upon line, step by step, grace for grace.

“So if you have problems in your life, don’t assume there is something wrong with you. Struggling with those problems is at the very core of life’s purpose. As we draw close to God, He will show us our weaknesses and through them make us wiser, stronger. If you’re seeing more of your weaknesses, that just might mean you’re moving nearer to God, not farther away.

“One early Australian convert said: 'My past life [was] a wilderness of weeds, with hardly a flower strewed among them. [But] now the weeds have vanished, and flowers spring up in their place.'

“We grow in two ways—removing negative weeds and cultivating

Yank weeds out by their
roots, repenting fully.

positive flowers. The Savior’s grace blesses both parts—if we do our part. First and repeatedly we must uproot the weeds of sin and bad choices. It isn’t enough just to mow the weeds. Yank them out by the roots, repenting fully to satisfy the conditions of mercy. But being forgiven is only part of our growth. We are not just paying a debt. Our purpose is to become celestial beings. So once we’ve cleared our heartland, we must continually plant, weed, and nourish the seeds of divine qualities....

“We need grace both to overcome sinful weeds and to grow divine flowers. We can do neither one fully by ourselves. But grace is not cheap. It is very expensive, even very dear. How much does this grace cost? Is it enough simply to believe in Christ? The man who found the pearl of great price gave “all that he had” for it. If we desire “all that [the] Father hath,” God asks all that we have. To qualify for such exquisite treasure, in whatever way is ours, we must give the way Christ gave — every drop He had!

“How exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.” 

“…This earth is not our home. We are away at school, trying to master

We're away at school, trying to master
lessons of the great plan of happiness.

the lessons of “the great plan of happiness” so we can return home and know what it means to be there. Over and over the Lord tells us why the plan is worth our sacrifice — and His.

   “Christ’s Atonement is at the very core of this plan. Without His dear, dear sacrifice, there would be no way home, no way to be together, no way to be like Him. He gave us all He had. Therefore, “how great is his joy,” when even one of us “gets it” — when we look up from the weed patch and turn our face to the Son.

“Only the restored gospel has the fullness of these truths! Yet the adversary is engaged in one of history’s greatest cover-ups, trying to persuade people that this Church knows least — when in fact it knows most — about how our relationship with Christ makes true Christians of us.

But … “some people want to keep one hand on the wall of the temple

One hand on the wall of the temple ...

while touching the world’s “unclean things” with the other hand. We must put both hands on the temple and hold on for dear life.

“The rich young man had given almost everything. When the Savior told him he must sell all his possessions – that wasn’t just a story about riches. We can have eternal life if we want it, but only if there is nothing else we want more….”

In Alma, Chapter 22, Aaron teaches King Lamoni’s father (who was the

King Lamoni's father greets
Ammon and Lamoni.

king of all the Lamanites) about the Creation, the Fall of Adam, and the plan of redemption through Christ. And the king and all his household were converted.

In that conversion story, the King prayed to God: “O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day.”

We must give away all that draws our attention away from our Eternal goals.

In Luke Chapter 9, Verse 23, it says: “…If any man will come after me, let

A man came to Jesus and asked,
“What must I do to inherit eternal life?

him deny himself [of his worldly desires], and take up his cross daily [not just once, or occasionally, but daily], and follow me.”

We must hold on to the rod – the word of God. We must focus our attention on our eternal goals and keep climbing – despite our setbacks!

We must pitch our tent facing the temple!

Is our tent pitched facing
temple -- facing God?

In Mosiah Chapter 2, Verse 6, it says: And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them.”

Understanding the Atonement and making the atonement part of our lives is walking the straight and narrow path that leads back to God’s presence.

Lehi's Dream of Tree of Life
and path leading to the tree.

In 2 Nephi, Chapter 31, it says: “And then are ye in this strait and narrow is the path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.

 “And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay….

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

[which is Exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom -- the life that God lives.]

The path is not broad! And there is only one path!

So how does Christ, our savior and mediator, save us from the law of justice?

Elder BOYD K. PACKER of the Quorum of the Twelve, said in April

Elder Boyd K. Packer, 1977

1977, “… The Prophet Alma declared: “Justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.” (Alma 42:22.)

“Let me tell you a story—a parable.

There once was a man who wanted something very much. It seemed more important than anything else in his life. In order for him to have his desire, he incurred a great debt.

“He had been warned about going into that much debt, and particularly about his creditor. But it seemed so important for him to do what he wanted to do and to have what he wanted right now. He was sure he could pay for it later.

“So he signed a contract. He would pay it off some time along the way. He didn’t worry too much about it, for the due date seemed such a long time away. He had what he wanted now, and that was what seemed important.

“The creditor was always somewhere in the back of his mind, and he made token payments now and again, thinking somehow that the day of reckoning really would never come.

Can Mercy rob Justice?

“But as it always does, the day came, and the contract fell due. The debt had not been fully paid. His creditor appeared and demanded payment in full.

“Only then did he realize that his creditor not only had the power to repossess all that he owned, but the power to cast him into prison as well.

“I cannot pay you, for I have not the power to do so,” he confessed.

“Then,” said the creditor, “we will exercise the contract, take your possessions, and you shall go to prison. You agreed to that. It was your choice. You signed the contract, and now it must be enforced.”

“Can you not extend the time or forgive the debt?” the debtor begged. “Arrange some way for me to keep what I have and not go to prison. Surely you believe in mercy? Will you not show mercy?”

“The creditor replied, “Mercy is always so one-sided. It would serve only you. If I show mercy to you, it will leave me unpaid. It is justice I demand. Do you believe in justice?”

“I believed in justice when I signed the contract,” the debtor said. “It was on my side then, for I thought it would protect me. I did not need mercy then, nor think I should need it ever. Justice, I thought, would serve both of us equally as well.”

As Jesus saved Peter from drowning,
He, as the Great Mediator, can be
our Savior and save us from our
sins ..., if we repent and follow him.

“It is justice that demands that you pay the contract or suffer the penalty,” the creditor replied. “That is the law. You have agreed to it and that is the way it must be. Mercy cannot rob justice.” [You must face the consequences of your actions!]

“There they were: One meting out justice, the other pleading for mercy. Neither could prevail except at the expense of the other.

“If you do not forgive the debt there will be no mercy,” the debtor pleaded.

“If I do, there will be no justice,” was the reply.

“Both laws, it seemed, could not be served. They are two eternal ideals that appear to contradict one another. Is there no way for justice to be fully served, and mercy also?

“There is a way! The law of justice can be fully satisfied and mercy can be fully extended — but it takes someone else. And so it happened this time.

“The debtor had a friend. He came to help. He knew the debtor well. He knew him to be shortsighted. He thought him foolish to have gotten himself into such a predicament. Nevertheless, he wanted to help because he loved him. He stepped between them, faced the creditor, and made this offer.

“I will pay the debt if you will free the debtor from his contract so that he may keep his possessions and not go to prison.”

“As the creditor was pondering the offer, the mediator added, “You demanded justice. Though he cannot pay you, I will do so. You will have been justly dealt with and can ask no more. It would not be just.”

“And so the creditor agreed.

“The mediator turned then to the debtor. “If I pay your debt, will you accept me as your creditor?”

“Oh yes, yes,” cried the debtor. “You save me from prison and show mercy to me.”

“Then,” said the benefactor, “you will pay the debt to me, and I will set the terms. It will not be easy, but it will be possible. I will provide a way. You need not go to prison.”

“And so it was that the creditor was paid in full. He had been justly dealt with. No contract had been broken. The debtor, in turn, had been extended mercy. Both laws stood fulfilled. Because there was a mediator, justice had claimed its full share, and mercy was fully satisfied.

“Each of us lives on a kind of spiritual credit. One day the account will be closed, a settlement demanded. However casually we may view it now, when that day comes and the foreclosure is imminent, we will look around in restless agony for someone, anyone, to help us.

“And, by eternal law, mercy cannot be extended save there be one who is both willing and able to assume our debt and pay the price and arrange the terms for our redemption.

Jesus took upon Himself all the sins of the world in the Garden
of Gethsemane from the beginning to the end. And for those
who repent of their sins, the Atonement also opens the way
to continued growth and progression through the eternities. 

“Unless there is a mediator, unless we have a friend, the full weight of justice untempered, unsympathetic, must, positively must fall on us. The full recompense for every transgression, however minor or however deep, will be exacted from us to the uttermost farthing.

“But know this: Truth, glorious truth, proclaims there is such a Mediator.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

(1 Tim. 2:5.)

“Through Him, mercy can be fully extended to each of us without offending the eternal law of justice.

“… There is a Redeemer, a Mediator, who stands both willing and able to appease the demands of justice and extend mercy to those who are penitent, for “He offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law,

A broken heart and
a contrite spirit.

unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.” (2 Nephi 2:7.)

“Already He has accomplished the redemption of all mankind from mortal death; resurrection is extended to all without condition.

“He also makes possible redemption from the second death, which is the spiritual death, which is separation from the presence of our Heavenly Father. This redemption can come only to those who are clean, for no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God.

“Eliza R. Snow, with deep spiritual inspiration, wrote these words:

How great the wisdom and the love

That filled the courts on high

And sent the Savior from above

To suffer, bleed, and die!

His precious blood He freely spilt;

His life He freely gave,

A sinless sacrifice for guilt,

A dying world to save.

How great, how glorious, how complete,

Redemption’s grand design,

Where justice, love, and mercy meet

In harmony divine!”

This is His plan! There is only one plan and only one path. In the Plan of Salvation, all roads don’t lead to Rome.

In Mormon.org, Josh posted this:  “…I am a Mormon because it makes me

Josh in Mormon.org says there is only
one road that leads to living with God.

a better person. Not only that but I know it is a true church. I know that because I know God provided a path to navigate this life. It's the same path we all must take. Unlike the saying "all roads lead to Rome" only one road leads to living with God. I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (The Mormons) is that Road. There are many philosophies and churches out there, but I know God has only given us one. Many have parts of it or a watered down version, but the Path to eternal life with our God is through the full complete restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am a Mormon because in the year 1820 a boy asked a question, and the results of the question have blessed the entire world. The Gospel with all of the doctrine and principles necessary for salvation is here. You can know for yourself and experience God in your life! Read The Book of Mormon and ask God if this is all true and I promise, if you ask Him with a sincere heart and using real intent YOU will receive an answer. I am a Mormon because God answered MY prayer.

“…The Plan of Happiness has blessed my life so much. It completes the puzzle it paints a vivid picture to what the true meaning of life is. I know where everything came from. I know why I am here, and I know where and what happens after Death. The knowledge here is so priceless. I have so much peace in my life because of it. I can't imagine the fear and confusion I would feel if I didn't know about the Plan of Happiness/Salvation.

“…I live my faith by trying my best to be like Jesus. I wake up pray and go about my day trying to be my best self. I fall short in my imperfections but that’s what life all about, daily progression. I try to just live what I learn. That’s the bottom line. I go to church weekly and strive to read the Scriptures daily. That combined with Prayer and wholesome family activities have helped me be who I am today.”

If all are given the free gift of resurrection, why isn’t everyone also given Exaltation or Eternal Life, or the Life that God has? Why was Lucifer’s plan of compulsion rejected in Heaven?

A universe of order

Because God lives by the Eternal laws, too; His house is a house of order – not a house of chaos!

Only those who are striving to follow Jesus’ example – those who are climbing the mountain – will eventually in the hereafter become like Him and receive all that He has, which is Eternal life, Eternal Family and Eternal posterity.

Eternal families, eternal parents

But becoming eternal parents is restricted to those who are worthy because only they will know how to property teach their eternal children – by word and example – the eternal truths.

Phrased in the negative: Those who don’t keep this estate are not worthy to gain the next estate because they would not be able to properly teach the Eternal truths to their spiritual children by word and example.

We don’t give kids the keys to our new car when they haven’t learned how to drive or who have shown they don’t follow the laws of the highway.

In April 2004, Elder M. RUSSELL BALLARD of the Quorum of the

Elder M. Russell Ballard, 2004

Twelve, said: “There is no greater expression of love than the heroic Atonement performed by the Son of God. Were it not for the plan of our Heavenly Father, established before the world began, in a very real sense, all mankind — past, present, and future — would have been left without the hope of eternal progression….

   “Thankfully, Jesus Christ courageously fulfilled this sacrifice in ancient Jerusalem. There in the quiet isolation of the Garden of Gethsemane, He knelt among the gnarled olive trees, and in some incredible way that none of us can fully comprehend, the Savior took upon Himself the sins of the world. Even though His life was pure and free of sin, He paid the ultimate penalty for sin — yours, mine, and everyone who has ever lived. His mental, emotional, and spiritual anguish were so great they caused Him to bleed from every pore (see Luke 22:44; D&C 19:18). [and he paid for all mankind’s sins then – not after we die.]

And yet Jesus suffered willingly so that we might all have the opportunity to be washed clean — through having faith in Him, repenting of our sins, being baptized by proper priesthood authority, receiving the purifying gift of the Holy Ghost by confirmation, and accepting all other essential ordinances. Without the Atonement of the Lord, none of these blessings would be available to us, and we could not become worthy and prepared to return to dwell in the presence of God.

   “…The gift of resurrection and immortality is given freely through the loving grace of Jesus Christ to all people of all ages, regardless of their good or evil acts. And to those who choose to love the Lord and who show their love and faith in Him by keeping His commandments and qualifying for the full blessings of the Atonement, He offers the additional promise of exaltation and eternal life, which is the blessing of living in the presence of God and His Beloved Son forever.”

In Oct. of 1988, DALLIN H. OAKS, Of the Quorum of the Twelve, said:

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, 1988

“… What think we of Christ? As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we testify with the Book of Mormon prophet-king Benjamin 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.

"And as we repent of our sins and seek to keep his commandments and our covenants, we cry out, as Benjamin’s people cried out, “O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins” (Mosiah 4:2).

In all of this, we remember and rely on the Lord’s sure word: “Keep my commandments in all things. And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” (D&C 14:6–7.)

Can we expect to become like God in this life? Absolutely not! But we are expected to be on the path – striving, repenting – every day! That’s one of the reasons we take the Sacrament ever week!

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, 1999

But we need to remember the encouragement given by Elder Jeffrey Holland: "Don't you quit. You keep walking, you keep trying, there is help and happiness ahead. Some blessings come soon. Some come late. Some don't come until heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. It will be alright in the end. Trust God and believe in Good Things to Come."

President Gordon B. Hinckley, 1995

And make President Gordon B. Hinckley’s counsel your motto:

“Every day try a little harder to be a little better.”