this is a review of the slides we used while discussing... the great plan of happiness d&c 76

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

The Great Plan of The Great Plan of HappinessHappiness

D&C 76D&C 76

The great The great plan of salvation plan of salvation is a theme is a theme which ought to occupy our which ought to occupy our strict attentionstrict attention, and , and be regarded as one of be regarded as one of heaven’s best gifts to heaven’s best gifts to mankindmankind (Joseph Smith, (Joseph Smith, HCHC 2:23). 2:23).

God’s plan of salvation is the wrong thing to God’s plan of salvation is the wrong thing to be wrong about!be wrong about!

No error could be more enormous or more No error could be more enormous or more everlasting in its consequences! (Neal A everlasting in its consequences! (Neal A Maxwell, Maxwell, EnsignEnsign, May 1984, p. 22)., May 1984, p. 22).

D&C 76:The Plan of SalvationD&C 76:The Plan of Salvation

• Intro. + Conclusion Intro. + Conclusion (v. 1-19, 114-119)(v. 1-19, 114-119)

• Jesus Christ Jesus Christ (v. 1, 20-24)(v. 1, 20-24)

• The Adversary The Adversary (v. 25-38)(v. 25-38)

• Vision of our Possibilities Vision of our Possibilities (v. 39-113)(v. 39-113)

The Introduction The Introduction & Conclusion& Conclusion

I could explain a hundred foldI could explain a hundred fold more than I more than I ever have of the glories of the kingdoms ever have of the glories of the kingdoms manifested to me in the vision, manifested to me in the vision, were I permittedwere I permitted, , and and were the people preparedwere the people prepared to receive them to receive them ((Teachings of the Prophet Joseph SmithTeachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section , Section Six 1843–44, p.304- 305).Six 1843–44, p.304- 305).

Jesus ChristJesus Christ

• The The ONLYONLY Savior Savior (v. 1)(v. 1)

• Received “fulness” therefore “worship” Received “fulness” therefore “worship” him! him! (v. 20-21)(v. 20-21)

• Testimony of “Christ” and “our Testimony of “Christ” and “our heritage” heritage” (v. 22-24)(v. 22-24)

The Adversary & His ServantsThe Adversary & His Servants

• RebellionRebellion (v. 25, D&C 29:36-45)(v. 25, D&C 29:36-45)

““Disobedience is essentially a prideful Disobedience is essentially a prideful power power struggle against someone in authority over us. struggle against someone in authority over us. It can It can be a parent, a priesthood leader, a teacher, or be a parent, a priesthood leader, a teacher, or ultimately God. ultimately God. A proud person hates the fact that A proud person hates the fact that someone is above him. someone is above him. He thinks this lowers his He thinks this lowers his position.position.

Selfishness is one of the more common faces of Selfishness is one of the more common faces of pride. pride. ‘How everything affects me’ is the center of all ‘How everything affects me’ is the center of all that mattersthat matters—self-conceit, self-pity, worldly self-—self-conceit, self-pity, worldly self-fulfillment, self-gratification, and self-seeking” (Ezra fulfillment, self-gratification, and self-seeking” (Ezra Taft Benson, Taft Benson, EnsignEnsign, May 1989, 6)., May 1989, 6).

““Now, in this world, mankind are naturally Now, in this world, mankind are naturally selfish, ambitious and striving to excel one above selfish, ambitious and striving to excel one above another; yet some are willing to build up others another; yet some are willing to build up others as well as themselves. So in the other world there as well as themselves. So in the other world there are a variety of spirits. Some seek to excel. And are a variety of spirits. Some seek to excel. And this was the case with Lucifer when he fell. this was the case with Lucifer when he fell. He He sought to things which were unlawfulsought to things which were unlawful” (” (Teachings Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smithof the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 297). , p. 297).


• RebellionRebellion (v. 25)(v. 25)

• PerditionPerdition (v. 26, 31-32, 43)(v. 26, 31-32, 43)

““IIn the realms of perdition or the kingdom n the realms of perdition or the kingdom of darkness, where there is no light, Satan and of darkness, where there is no light, Satan and the unembodied spirits of the pre-existence shall the unembodied spirits of the pre-existence shall dwell together with those of mortality who dwell together with those of mortality who retrogressretrogress to the level of perdition. to the level of perdition. These have lost These have lost the power of regenerationthe power of regeneration. They have sunk so low . They have sunk so low as to have as to have lost the inclinations and ability to lost the inclinations and ability to repentrepent” ” (Spencer W. Kimball, (Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Miracle of ForgivenessForgiveness, p., p. 1125). 25).




• Maketh war with saintsMaketh war with saints (v. 29)(v. 29)

““Serve God according to the best knowledge Serve God according to the best knowledge you have, and lay down and sleep quietly; and when you have, and lay down and sleep quietly; and when the Devil comes along and says, ‘You are not a very the Devil comes along and says, ‘You are not a very good saint, you might enjoy greater blessings and good saint, you might enjoy greater blessings and more of the power of God, and have the visions of more of the power of God, and have the visions of your mind opened, if you live up to your privileges,’ your mind opened, if you live up to your privileges,’ tell him to leave; that you have long ago forsaken his tell him to leave; that you have long ago forsaken his ranks and enlisted in the army of Jesus, who is your ranks and enlisted in the army of Jesus, who is your captain, and that you want no more of the Devilcaptain, and that you want no more of the Devil” ” (Brigham Young, JD 4:270).(Brigham Young, JD 4:270).

““Thousands of temptations assail, and you Thousands of temptations assail, and you make a miss here and a slip there, and say that you make a miss here and a slip there, and say that you have not lived up to all the knowledge you have. have not lived up to all the knowledge you have. True; but often it is a marvel to me that you have True; but often it is a marvel to me that you have lived up to so much as you have, considering the lived up to so much as you have, considering the power of the enemy upon the earth. Few that have power of the enemy upon the earth. Few that have ever lived have fully understood that power. I do not ever lived have fully understood that power. I do not fully comprehend the awful power and influence fully comprehend the awful power and influence Satan has upon the earth, but Satan has upon the earth, but I understand enough I understand enough to know that it is a marvel that the Latter-day Saints to know that it is a marvel that the Latter-day Saints are as good as they areare as good as they are” (Brigham Young, JD 8:285).” (Brigham Young, JD 8:285).




• Maketh war with saintsMaketh war with saints (v. 29)(v. 29)

• Overcame Overcame (v. 30-37)(v. 30-37)

““WWhat must a man do to commit the hat must a man do to commit the unpardonable sin?unpardonable sin? He must receive the Holy Ghost, He must receive the Holy Ghost, have the heavens opened unto him, and know God, have the heavens opened unto him, and know God, and then sin against Him. After a man has sinned and then sin against Him. After a man has sinned against the Holy Ghost, there is no repentance for against the Holy Ghost, there is no repentance for him. He has got to say that the sun does not shine him. He has got to say that the sun does not shine while he sees it; he has got to deny Jesus Christ while he sees it; he has got to deny Jesus Christ when the heavens have been opened unto him, and when the heavens have been opened unto him, and to deny the plan of salvation with his eyes open to to deny the plan of salvation with his eyes open to the truth of it; and from that time he begins to be the truth of it; and from that time he begins to be an enemy”an enemy” ((Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith,Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. p. 3358).58).

““The sin against the Holy Ghost requires such knowledge that it is manifestly impossible for the rank and file to commit such a sin” (Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 123).

““Satan is evil: totally and always. He Satan is evil: totally and always. He ever seeks to defeat the gospel plan and ever seeks to defeat the gospel plan and “destroy the souls of men” (D&C 10:27) . . . “destroy the souls of men” (D&C 10:27) . . .

Satan is irrevocably committed to Satan is irrevocably committed to countering and countering and overcoming theovercoming the influence of the influence of the Spirit of ChristSpirit of Christ upon men” (Marion G. upon men” (Marion G. Romney, Ensign, June 1971, p. 36).Romney, Ensign, June 1971, p. 36).

Our PossibilitiesOur Possibilities

Jesus Christ was Jesus Christ was the greatest teacher who ever the greatest teacher who ever taughttaught. He made known the greatest truths ever . He made known the greatest truths ever learned. He revealed the meaning of life, the way to learned. He revealed the meaning of life, the way to success, and the secret of happiness. success, and the secret of happiness.

And all that he taught was focused on eternal life. And all that he taught was focused on eternal life. He preached no telestial program. He was too busy to He preached no telestial program. He was too busy to preach a terrestrial way of life. preach a terrestrial way of life. His whole message His whole message seems to have been focused on celestial lifeseems to have been focused on celestial life. It was his . It was his constant theme and he followed it explicitly (Teachings constant theme and he followed it explicitly (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 11-12).of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 11-12).

Celestial KingdomCelestial Kingdom

• Resurrection of the Resurrection of the ‘just’‘just’ (v. 50, 65, 69; see (v. 50, 65, 69; see Philippians 3:11-12; Moroni 10:30-33)Philippians 3:11-12; Moroni 10:30-33)

• Overcome by faith Overcome by faith (v. 51-56; Rev. 12:11)(v. 51-56; Rev. 12:11)• Innumerable company Innumerable company (v. 67)(v. 67)• Receive a Receive a ‘fulness’‘fulness’ of the Father of the Father (v. 71; see (v. 71; see

D&C 93)D&C 93)

Terrestrial KingdomTerrestrial Kingdom

Three Groups. . .Three Groups. . .

• (v. 72-74) Group #1(v. 72-74) Group #1

• (v. 75-78) Group #2(v. 75-78) Group #2

• (v. 79) Group #3(v. 79) Group #3

To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to to take the Lord’s side on every issuetake the Lord’s side on every issue. It is to vote as . It is to vote as he would vote. It is to think what he thinks, to he would vote. It is to think what he thinks, to believe what he believes, to say what he would believe what he believes, to say what he would say and do what he would do in the same say and do what he would do in the same situation. It is to have the mind of Christ and be situation. It is to have the mind of Christ and be one with him as he is one with his Father (Bruce one with him as he is one with his Father (Bruce R. McConkie, “R. McConkie, “Be Valiant in the Fight of FaithBe Valiant in the Fight of Faith,” ,” Ensign,Ensign, Nov. 1974, 33). Nov. 1974, 33).

Telestial KingdomTelestial Kingdom

• Surpasses all understanding Surpasses all understanding (v. 89)(v. 89)

God thus takes into merciful account not God thus takes into merciful account not only our desires and our performances, but also only our desires and our performances, but also the degrees of difficulty which our varied the degrees of difficulty which our varied circumstances impose upon us. circumstances impose upon us. No wonder we will No wonder we will not complain at the final judgmentnot complain at the final judgment, especially since , especially since even the Telestial Kingdom's glory surpasses all even the Telestial Kingdom's glory surpasses all understanding understanding (D&C 76:89). God delights in (D&C 76:89). God delights in blessing us (Neal A. Maxwell, blessing us (Neal A. Maxwell, According to the According to the Desires of Our HeartsDesires of Our Hearts, , EnsignEnsign, May 1996, p. 21)., May 1996, p. 21).

One of the greatest [truths] is that One of the greatest [truths] is that to hell to hell there is an exit as well as an entrancethere is an exit as well as an entrance. Hell is no . Hell is no place to which a vindictive judge sends prisoners to place to which a vindictive judge sends prisoners to suffer and to be punished principally for his glory; suffer and to be punished principally for his glory; but it is a place prepared for the teaching, the but it is a place prepared for the teaching, the disciplining of those who failed to learn here upon disciplining of those who failed to learn here upon the earth what they should have learned. . . . No the earth what they should have learned. . . . No man will be kept in hell longer than is necessary to man will be kept in hell longer than is necessary to bring him to a fitness for something better (James bring him to a fitness for something better (James E. Talmage, InE. Talmage, In Conference Report, Conference Report, April 1930, p. April 1930, p. 97).97).

Telestial KingdomTelestial Kingdom

• Surpasses all understanding Surpasses all understanding (v. 89)(v. 89)

• Received Received notnot (v. 82, 101)(v. 82, 101)

• Bow knee and confess Bow knee and confess (v. 110)(v. 110)

• MUST go through HELL MUST go through HELL (v. 84)(v. 84)

The End . . .The End . . .

this is a review of the slides we used while discussing... the great plan of happiness d&c 76

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