This is a review of the slides we used while This is a review of the slides we used while discussing . . .discussing . . .

Eternal ProgressionEternal Progression (D&C 121-132)(D&C 121-132)

The Heavenly Order of The Heavenly Order of EternityEternity

D&C 124-138D&C 124-138

While [Joseph] was still in the East . . . [h]e also While [Joseph] was still in the East . . . [h]e also spent several days with Elder Parleyspent several days with Elder Parley PP. Pratt who was . Pratt who was in Philadelphia arranging for the publication of several in Philadelphia arranging for the publication of several books. Parleybooks. Parley PP. Pratt remembered:. Pratt remembered: ‘ ‘DDuring these uring these interviews he taught me many great and glorious interviews he taught me many great and glorious principles concerning God and principles concerning God and the heavenly order of the heavenly order of eternityeternity. It was at this time that I received from him the . It was at this time that I received from him the first idea of eternal family organization.first idea of eternal family organization. . . . . . . IIt was from t was from him that I learned that the wife of my bosom might be him that I learned that the wife of my bosom might be secured to me for time and all eternitysecured to me for time and all eternity’ (’ (Church History Church History in the Fulness of Timesin the Fulness of Times, p. 221)., p. 221).

If a man learns nothing more than to eat, drink If a man learns nothing more than to eat, drink and sleep, and does not comprehend any of the designs and sleep, and does not comprehend any of the designs of God, the beast comprehends the same things. It eats, of God, the beast comprehends the same things. It eats, drinks, sleeps, and knows nothing more about God; yet drinks, sleeps, and knows nothing more about God; yet it knows as much as we, unless we are able to it knows as much as we, unless we are able to comprehend by the inspiration of Almighty God. comprehend by the inspiration of Almighty God. If If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves.not comprehend themselves. I want to go back to the I want to go back to the beginning, and so lift your minds into more lofty beginning, and so lift your minds into more lofty spheres and a more exalted understanding than what spheres and a more exalted understanding than what the human mind generally aspires to (Teachings of the the human mind generally aspires to (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 343).Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 343).

Becoming A Disciple: Becoming A Disciple: Worship & Redeeming ZionWorship & Redeeming Zion

D&C 57-101D&C 57-101

3 Main Themes:3 Main Themes:

1) “Plant & Establish” 1) “Plant & Establish” = =

2) “Watchmen” 2) “Watchmen” ==

3) “Tower” 3) “Tower” = =

3 Main Themes:3 Main Themes:

1) “Plant & Establish” 1) “Plant & Establish” = = DiscipleshipDiscipleship

2) “Watchmen” 2) “Watchmen” == Prophets & ApostlesProphets & Apostles

3) “Tower” 3) “Tower” = = TempleTemple

Plant - EstablishPlant - Establish

The Symbol of the Olive TreeThe Symbol of the Olive Tree

“With careful pruning and cultivating the “With careful pruning and cultivating the [olive] tree will begin to produce its fruits in about [olive] tree will begin to produce its fruits in about seven years, seven years, but it will not become fully productive but it will not become fully productive or nearly fifteen yearsor nearly fifteen years” (” (Book of Mormon Student Book of Mormon Student ManualManual, 47), 47)

PrunePruneDungDungDigDig

A ProcessA Process

““Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew those jobs needed doing and so you are not knew those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that explanation is that He is building quite a different house He is building quite a different house from the one you thought offrom the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing —throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace” (C. S. Lewis, building a palace” (C. S. Lewis, Mere ChristianityMere Christianity, p. , p. 160).160).

““We must be careful, as we seek to become We must be careful, as we seek to become more and more god-like, that we do not become more and more god-like, that we do not become discouraged and lose hope. discouraged and lose hope. Becoming Christlike is a Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptiblechange that is slow, almost imperceptible” ” ((Teachings of Ezra Taft BensonTeachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.72)., p.72).

““Spirituality is not acquired suddenlySpirituality is not acquired suddenly. It is . It is the consequence of a succession of right choices. the consequence of a succession of right choices. It is the harvest of a righteous lifeIt is the harvest of a righteous life” (Dallin H. ” (Dallin H. Oaks, Pure in Heart, p. 144).Oaks, Pure in Heart, p. 144).

The plan of salvation was calculated to save The plan of salvation was calculated to save all who were all who were willing to obeywilling to obey the requirements of the requirements of the law of Godthe law of God (Joseph Smith, (Joseph Smith, The Words of The Words of Joseph SmithJoseph Smith, p. 49)., p. 49).

Obedience is the first law of heaven, the Obedience is the first law of heaven, the cornerstone upon which all righteousness and cornerstone upon which all righteousness and progression restprogression rest.. It consists in compliance with It consists in compliance with divine law, in conformity to the mind and will of divine law, in conformity to the mind and will of Deity, in complete subjection to God and his Deity, in complete subjection to God and his commands. commands. To obey gospel lawTo obey gospel law is to is to yield obedienceyield obedience to the Lord, to to the Lord, to execute the commandsexecute the commands of and of and be be ruledruled byby him whose we are (Bruce R. McConkie, him whose we are (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon DoctrineMormon Doctrine, p. 539)., p. 539).

Obedience is the first law of heaven, the Obedience is the first law of heaven, the cornerstone upon which all righteousness and cornerstone upon which all righteousness and progression restprogression rest. …. …Obedience is possible because of Obedience is possible because of two things: two things: 1. 1. Laws were ordained by Deity so that his Laws were ordained by Deity so that his spirit children by conformity to them might progress spirit children by conformity to them might progress and become like himand become like him; and ; and 22. The . The children of God were children of God were endowed with agency, the power and ability to either endowed with agency, the power and ability to either obey or disobey the divine willobey or disobey the divine will.. Obedience and Obedience and disobedience thus had their beginnings in pre-disobedience thus had their beginnings in pre-existence, the obedient spirits being the ones who kept existence, the obedient spirits being the ones who kept their first estate and the disobedient the ones who their first estate and the disobedient the ones who were cast out with Lucifer and his hosts (Bruce R. were cast out with Lucifer and his hosts (Bruce R. McConkie, McConkie, Mormon DoctrineMormon Doctrine, p. 539)., p. 539).

Obedience-that which God will never take by force-He will accept when freely given. And He will then return to you freedom that you can hardly dream of-the freedom to feel and to know, the freedom to do, and the freedom to be, at least a thousandfold more than we offer Him. Strangely enough, the key to freedom is obedience (Boyd K. Packer, Speeches of the Year [Provo, 7 Dec. 1971]).

I would expose you this morning to some I would expose you this morning to some tender, tender, innermost feelings on this matter of agencyinnermost feelings on this matter of agency. . Perhaps the greatest discovery of my life, Perhaps the greatest discovery of my life, without without question the greatest commitmentquestion the greatest commitment, came when finally , came when finally I had the confidence in God that I would . . . yield I had the confidence in God that I would . . . yield my agency to Him-without compulsion or pressure, my agency to Him-without compulsion or pressure, without any duress, as a single individual alone, by without any duress, as a single individual alone, by myself, no counterfeiting, nothing expected other myself, no counterfeiting, nothing expected other than the privilege. In a sense, speaking figuratively, than the privilege. In a sense, speaking figuratively, to take one's agency, that precious gift which the to take one's agency, that precious gift which the scriptures make plain is essential to life itself, and scriptures make plain is essential to life itself, and say, ‘I will do as thou directs,’ is afterward to say, ‘I will do as thou directs,’ is afterward to learn learn that in so doing you possess it all the morethat in so doing you possess it all the more (Boyd K. (Boyd K. Packer, Speeches of the Year [Provo, 7 Dec. 1971]).Packer, Speeches of the Year [Provo, 7 Dec. 1971]).

The The perfect formula for obedience perfect formula for obedience was stated was stated by our Lord in the pre-existent council when he by our Lord in the pre-existent council when he volunteered to follow the Father's plan and be the volunteered to follow the Father's plan and be the Redeemer of the world: Redeemer of the world: ‘Father, thy will be done, and ‘Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever’the glory be thine forever’ (Moses 4:2.) (Bruce R. (Moses 4:2.) (Bruce R. McConkie, McConkie, Mormon DoctrineMormon Doctrine, p. 539)., p. 539).

Tried as AbrahamTried as AbrahamD&C 101:2-4 D&C 101:2-4

[see D&C 121-123][see D&C 121-123]

Trials -- Trials -- ‘If thou endure it well. . .’‘If thou endure it well. . .’

D&C 121-123D&C 121-123

Why do bad things happen Why do bad things happen to good people?to good people?

The nearer a person approaches the The nearer a person approaches the Lord, Lord, a greater power will be manifested by a greater power will be manifested by the adversarythe adversary to prevent the accomplishment to prevent the accomplishment of His purposes (Joseph Smith, of His purposes (Joseph Smith, History of the History of the ChurchChurch, 3:46)., 3:46).

Men have to suffer that they may come Men have to suffer that they may come upon Mount Zion and be exalted above the upon Mount Zion and be exalted above the heavensheavens (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 5:556).5:556).

Instead of the Lord requiring a person’s Instead of the Lord requiring a person’s animal or grain, now the Lord wants us to give up animal or grain, now the Lord wants us to give up all that is ungodly. This is a higher practice of the all that is ungodly. This is a higher practice of the law of sacrifice; it reaches into the inner soul of a law of sacrifice; it reaches into the inner soul of a person. Elder Neal A. Maxwell described it this person. Elder Neal A. Maxwell described it this way: way: ‘Real, personal sacrifice never was placing an ‘Real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed!consumed!’ (M. Russell Ballard, ’ (M. Russell Ballard, CES New CES New TestamentTestament Symposium, 13 Aug. 1996, 5). Symposium, 13 Aug. 1996, 5).

Being human, we would expel from our lives Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, were to close the doors upon sorrow and distress, we we might be excluding our greatest friends and might be excluding our greatest friends and benefactorsbenefactors.. Suffering can make saints of peopleSuffering can make saints of people as as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery (Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle (Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1972], p. 98). [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1972], p. 98).

No pain that we suffer, no trial that we No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. experience is wasted. It ministers to our It ministers to our education education . . . and it is through sorrow and . . . and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the we gain the education education that we come here to acquire and which that we come here to acquire and which will will make us more like our Father and Mother in make us more like our Father and Mother in heavenheaven [Orson F. Whitney as quoted in [Orson F. Whitney as quoted in Faith Faith Precedes the MiraclePrecedes the Miracle, p. 98] (Howard W. Hunter, , p. 98] (Howard W. Hunter, EnsignEnsign, Nov. 1987, 60)., Nov. 1987, 60).

I walked a mile with Pleasure.I walked a mile with Pleasure.

She chattered all the way,She chattered all the way,

But left me none the wiserBut left me none the wiser

For all she had to say.For all she had to say.

I walked a mile with Sorrow,I walked a mile with Sorrow,

And ne’er a word said she;And ne’er a word said she;

But oh, the things I learned from herBut oh, the things I learned from her

When Sorrow walked with me! When Sorrow walked with me!

(Robert Browning Hamilton, (Robert Browning Hamilton, “Along the Road,”“Along the Road,” as as quoted in Howard W. Hunter, quoted in Howard W. Hunter, “The Opening and “The Opening and Closing of Doors,”Closing of Doors,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 60) Ensign, Nov. 1987, 60)

President Romney then said: President Romney then said:

““This does not mean that we crave sufferingThis does not mean that we crave suffering. . We We avoid all we canavoid all we can.. However, we now know, and we all However, we now know, and we all knew when we elected to come into mortality, that we knew when we elected to come into mortality, that we would here be proved in the crucible of adversity and would here be proved in the crucible of adversity and affliction. . . . affliction. . . .

[Furthermore,] the Father’s plan for proving [and [Furthermore,] the Father’s plan for proving [and refining] his children did not exempt the Savior himself. refining] his children did not exempt the Savior himself. The suffering he undertook to endure, and which he did The suffering he undertook to endure, and which he did endure, equaled the combined suffering of all men [and endure, equaled the combined suffering of all men [and women everywhere. Trembling and bleeding and women everywhere. Trembling and bleeding and wishing to shrink from the cup, he said,] wishing to shrink from the cup, he said,] ‘I partook and ‘I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.’finished my preparations unto the children of men.’ (D&C (D&C 19:18–19.)” (Howard W. Hunter, 19:18–19.)” (Howard W. Hunter, EnsignEnsign, Nov. 1987, 59)., Nov. 1987, 59).

Out of tribulation comes Out of tribulation comes knowledge. . .knowledge. . .

“ “A man is saved no faster than he gets A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledgeknowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he , for if he does not get knowledge, he will brought into captivity by some evil power in will brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world, as evil spirits will have more the other world, as evil spirits will have more knowledge, and consequently more power than knowledge, and consequently more power than many men who are on the earth. many men who are on the earth. Hence it needs Hence it needs revelation to assist us, and give us knowledge of revelation to assist us, and give us knowledge of the things of Godthe things of God”” ((Teachings of the Prophet Teachings of the Prophet Joseph SmithJoseph Smith, p. 217)., p. 217).

The Ultimate The Ultimate Outcome!Outcome!

D&C 123:11-17D&C 123:11-17

Never be discouraged. If I were sunk in Never be discouraged. If I were sunk in the lowest pit of Nova Scotia, with the Rocky the lowest pit of Nova Scotia, with the Rocky Mountains piled on me, I would hang on, Mountains piled on me, I would hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I I would come out on topwould come out on top (Joseph Smith to his (Joseph Smith to his cousin George A. Smith). cousin George A. Smith).

The wounds in [the Lord's] hands, feet, and side The wounds in [the Lord's] hands, feet, and side are signs that in mortality painful things happen even are signs that in mortality painful things happen even to the pure and the perfectto the pure and the perfect, signs that tribulation is , signs that tribulation is not evidence that God does not love us. It is a not evidence that God does not love us. It is a significant and hopeful fact that it is the wounded significant and hopeful fact that it is the wounded Christ who comes to our rescue. He who bears the Christ who comes to our rescue. He who bears the scars of sacrifice, the lessons of love, the emblems of scars of sacrifice, the lessons of love, the emblems of pain in mortality is undoubtedly intended to give pain in mortality is undoubtedly intended to give courage to others who are also hurt and wounded by courage to others who are also hurt and wounded by life, perhaps even in the house of their friends life, perhaps even in the house of their friends (Jeffrey R. Holland, (Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant: Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997],[1997], 259). 259).

Celestial MarriageCelestial MarriageD&C 131-132D&C 131-132

While [Joseph] was still in the East . . . [h]e also While [Joseph] was still in the East . . . [h]e also spent several days with Elder Parleyspent several days with Elder Parley PP. Pratt who was . Pratt who was in Philadelphia arranging for the publication of several in Philadelphia arranging for the publication of several books. Parleybooks. Parley PP. Pratt remembered:. Pratt remembered: ‘ ‘DDuring these uring these interviews he taught me many great and glorious interviews he taught me many great and glorious principles concerning God and principles concerning God and the heavenly order of the heavenly order of eternityeternity. It was at this time that I received from him the . It was at this time that I received from him the first idea of eternal family organization.first idea of eternal family organization. . . . . . . IIt was from t was from him that I learned that the wife of my bosom might be him that I learned that the wife of my bosom might be secured to me for time and all eternitysecured to me for time and all eternity’’ ( (Church History Church History in the Fulness of Timesin the Fulness of Times, p. 221)., p. 221).

““Let us plan for and teach and plead with our Let us plan for and teach and plead with our children to marry in the house of the Lord. children to marry in the house of the Lord. Let us Let us reaffirm more vigorously than we ever have in the past reaffirm more vigorously than we ever have in the past that it does matter where you marry and by what that it does matter where you marry and by what authority you are pronounced man and wifeauthority you are pronounced man and wife. .

. . . the temple ordinances are . . . the temple ordinances are absolutely crucialabsolutely crucial; ; we cannot return to God’s presence without them” we cannot return to God’s presence without them” (Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, Nov. 1994, 88).(Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, Nov. 1994, 88).

Someone has said that Someone has said that happy is the man who has happy is the man who has found his worship, his wife, and his work, and loves all found his worship, his wife, and his work, and loves all three.three. Do you realize that during your comparatively Do you realize that during your comparatively young years, you will probably be making three of the young years, you will probably be making three of the most momentous decisions of your life? You will be most momentous decisions of your life? You will be deciding on the role of the Church or worship in your deciding on the role of the Church or worship in your life, selecting a wife or husband, and--particularly for life, selecting a wife or husband, and--particularly for you men--choosing your life's workyou men--choosing your life's work ( (Ezra Taft Benson Ezra Taft Benson was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this fireside address was given at Brigham Young this fireside address was given at Brigham Young University on 4 March 1979University on 4 March 1979).).

The End…The End…