The overall plan

The plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, and the plan of mercy are all parts of the same plan.  The plan of happiness says that “if it were possible that our first parents could have gone forth and partaken of the tree of life they would have been forever miserable, having no preparatory state, and thus the plan of redemption would have been frustrated.” (Alma 12:26)

If they had partaken of the tree of life after having partaken of the tree of knowledge, therefore knowing good from evil they could never die. They/we would be forever miserable in this world in our sins and could never return home.

“And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made, therefore God himself atoned for the sins of the world to bring about the plan of mercy.” (Alma 42:15)

We had to have a way to cleanse ourselves or to repent, but “repentance could not come unto man except there were a punishment”….now how could a man repent except that he sin? How could he sin except there were a law? And how could there be a law save there was a punishment?” (Alma 42: 15-17)  

The Plan of Redemption

The Plan of Redemption

Alma the son of Alma explains to King Lammoni that "The plan of redemption was prepared from the foundation of the world through Christ, for all whosoever would believe in his name. And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself, but the suffering and death of Christ atone for their sins through faith and repentance." (Alma 22:13-14)

How wonderful it is to know that God so loved us that he prepared a way for us from the beginning of the world that we might overcome death and hell. Though our physical bodies may rot in the grave and return to the earth from which they came, that essences which is us – our Spirit, our intelligence, our experiences and knowledge which we have gained in this mortal life – will rise again to our heavenly home from which we came.  

Though the gift is free and Christ atoned for each and every one of us no matter our station in life or the severity of our sins, we must accept the gift. It is like having an inheritance of wealth in the bank with our name on it and if we never claim it we lose it.  We don’t get out of this life alive is a truism. May we each remember we are children of a Heavenly Father who loves us, and use our inheritance wisely.  

Is scripture reading becoming mundane?

“If ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love. I would ask, can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26)

It is good ever now and then to stop and check to see if you are moving closer to Christ or away from him? Is scripture reading becoming mundane? Are your prayers becoming habit rather than real conversations with your Father in Heaven? Are you getting too busy for the basics of read, ponder and pray? That is where I am right now and so I have repented and will drop some demands on my life to get back to the important stuff.  

The terrible on will be brought to naught

Speaking of the end time Isaiah tells us, “For assuredly as the Lord liveth they shall see that the terrible one is brought to naught … they also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.” (2 Nephi 27:31 & 35)

In the words of Ben Franklin, “experience keeps a dear school, but a fool will learn in no other.”

Are then most of us not fools?

The Lord will set his hand again the second time...

Today I will post this, “And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men.”  (2 Nephi 25:17)

 We are there. It has happened. The Gospel has been restored and he has preformed that marvelous work and wonder among us.

Satan has led our men away with flaxen cords

I’m now reading in 2 Nephi where he quotes so much of the book of Isaiah that they brought with them out of Jerusalem. The verse that popped out at me is. “Children are their oppressors, and women rule over them.” (2 Nephi 13 12 – Isaiah 9:16)   

Surely Nephi saw our day that he would include these verses from Isaiah in his writings. It could not have been an easy thing to write with a punch and stylus on metal plates. It was far easier; I am sure, to write on papyrus. But under the direction of the Lord he wrote these things.

I think what this scripture is referring to is the breakdown of the family. In the beginning God created man, and then he said it is not good for man to be alone. For one thing he could not populate the earth except that he had a man and a woman. They were to be a team and create children and care for them. The children would grow up and become mothers and fathers and create their own family. They were to teach them to follow the ways of the Lord, but God knew the time would come when there would come a breakdown in that structure. The change has come slowly generation by generation, but it is unusual to find strong families now.

That is the thing I dislike so much about the recent movie Frozen. I don’t know if it is about homosexuality or not. It is however, feminist. That is the thing that ties my gut in a knot and makes me want to puke. Satan has led our men away with flaxen cords into eternal destruction Many women have likewise abandoned their positions in the family and children have become our oppressors.  I saw a quote the other day that indicated that this individual was not half, and did not need a partner to complete them. We are there in the time Isaiah spoke of. If you are fortunate enough to have a strong family, strengthen your boarders, double the guards, and gather your weak ones to the center of the fortress. The enemy is strong, but with the Lords help those who love him will endure.