Questions Elder Cook and his older brother asked to determine if his older brother should delay medical school to serve a mission. (Their inactive father was against the mission.)
- Is Jesus Christ divine?
- Is the Book of Mormon the word of God?
- Is Joseph Smith the prophet of the restoration?
Elder Cook prayed about those questions along with his brother and he knew as he received the answers that it would influence everything he did afterward.
Our revealed doctrine not only refutes the idea that most people would be consigned to damnation but also supports the necessity of individual repentance.
Over a lifetime of service and spiritual experiences, I have come to understand that true conversion is the result of the conscious acceptance of the will of God and that we can be guided in our actions by the Holy Ghost.
Conscious choice is the crux of agency.
One of the numerous examples of Joseph Smith’s prophetic role is found in the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. It is an explicit record of the vision of heaven, including kingdoms of glory, which the Prophet Joseph and Sidney Rigdon were blessed to receive on February 16, 1832. At that time, the vast majority of churches were teaching that the Savior’s Atonement would not provide salvation for most people. It was believed that a few would be saved and the vast majority would be doomed to hell and damnation, including endless tortures “of the most awful and unspeakable intensity.”
The revelation contained in the 76th section provides a glorious vision of the degrees of glory where the vast majority of Heavenly Father’s children who were valiant in their premortal estate are profoundly blessed following the ultimate judgment. The vision of the three degrees of glory, the lowest of which “surpasses all understanding,” is a direct refutation of the then strong but erroneous doctrine that the majority would be doomed to hell and damnation.…
In our day, many have adopted the concept that there should be no consequence for sin. They support the unconditional condoning of sin without repentance. Our revealed doctrine not only refutes the idea that most people would be eternally condemned to hell and damnation but also establishes that personal repentance is a commanded prerequisite to partake of the Savior’s Atonement and inherit the celestial kingdom. I testify that Joseph Smith was truly an instrument in the Lord’s hands in bringing forth the Restoration of His gospel!
Consider the difference between a God who would see the majority of His children consigned to torture for eternity versus a Heavenly Father who maintains justice while ensuring that virtually all of His children receive a degree of unimaginable glory.
The “works of righteousness” emanate from and are the fruits of conversion. True conversion is brought about by the conscious acceptance and commitment to follow the will of God. The banquet of consequences and blessings that flow from conversion is true and permanent peace and the personal assurance of ultimate happiness—despite the storms of this life.
Conversion to the Savior changes a natural man into a sanctified, born again, purified person—a new creature in Christ Jesus.
As hard as things are sometimes for me I cling to my personal assurance of ultimately having happiness.
For the Savior’s mandate to share the gospel to become part of who we are, we need to:
1) become converted to the will of God;
2) we need to love our neighbors,
3) share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and
4) invite all to come and see.
The blessings of sharing the gospel include increasing our conversion to the will of God and letting God prevail in our lives.
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