3 Ne. 12:48Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
This is Gods expectation of us...This is our goal in life.
2 Ne. 2:5 - law is given
2 Ne. 2:5And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever.
To help us He has given instructions to help us know good and evil (the ability to tell them apart), and a Law which says to do good.
D&C 132:21 - except ye abide...ye cannot attain
D&C 132:21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory.
What is this glory?
D&C 132:20 - Then shall they be gods...have all power
D&C 132:20 Then shall they be gods,because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.
Only by obeying the law in vrs 21 can we get there.
To help us to understand, he has given us the Law in the form of Commandments.
Alma 12:31 - he gave commandments...in a state to act
Alma 12:31 Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as Gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good--
After establishing these commandments God decided to test us.
For a fair test we needed.
Knowledge of Good and Evil.
A Body here on earth (i.e. a state to act).
But this body brought us weaknesses of the flesh.
2 Ne. 4:27 - why should I give way to temptations
2 Ne. 4:27And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?
The challenge of becomming like God is not easy.
Like Nephi, in the process we all commit sin.
Mosiah 4:29 - there are divers ways
Mosiah 4:29 And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them.
Sin is deliberatly doing what we know to be wrong.
Alma 42:18 - just law...brought remorse of conscience
Alma 42:18 Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man.
Our conscience will tell us if we have sinned.
We must protect our conscience so that it does not become dulled by repeated sin.
From our birth onwards we become free from Gods control in all things.
2 Ne. 2:26 - become free forever...save it be
2 Ne. 2:26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
There is only one exception where we are not free.
That is we are not free to reject "the punishment of the law at the great and last day"
Mosiah 29:12 - judgments of God are always just
Mosiah 29:12 Now it is better that a man should be judged of God than of man, for the judgments of God are always just, but the judgments of man are not always just.
Fortunately God is a just God. He works by Justice.
His Justice is established in advance and is set as laws.
2 Ne. 9:25 - no law given...no punishment
2 Ne. 9:25 Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him.
2 Ne. 9:26 - endless torment
2 Ne. 9:26 For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.
2 Ne. 9:27 - wasteth the days...for awful is his state
2 Ne. 9:27But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!
If you spend your life acting against your conscience (which probably means you're acting against His laws/commandments) then know that your positions will be awful when it comes to the judgement.
The law requires a punishment (this punishment is unavoidable but can be transfered).
Alma 42:22 - law given...punishment affixed..mercy claimeth
Alma 42:22But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance mercy claimeth; otherwise, 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.
No one has the freedom to escape the "punishment of the Law".
But you can have your repentance punishment claimed (transfered to another) by Mercy.
Otherwise you will recieve the full extent of your punishment yourself, according to Justice.
Jacob 6:10 - justice cannot be denied...endless torment
Jacob 6:10And according to the power of justice, for justice cannot be denied, ye must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless torment.
Besides Mercy, there is no other way out because Justice cannot be denied.
The level of pain that the punishment inflicts on our spirit will be similar to the pain of fire or intense heat (try holding a lighter under your hand.. adn see how long you can last!).
But remember, this level of pain will carry on without end as "endless torment".
D&C 19:10 - punishment...is endless punishment
D&C 19:10 For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore--
D&C 19:11 Eternal punishment is God's punishment.
The effect of Gods Laws is endless, so the effect of His punishment is endless as well (that's a very long time!).
Alma 11:37 - no unclean thing can inherit
Alma 11:37And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins.
If we remain in our sins, God cannot save us.
We cannot live with him in an unclean state.
God knew we would all fall into this unescapable state.
He knew that we would have to suffer an intensity of pain in our bodies if we were to pay the price that the punishment required.
But He knew that we would not be able to withstand the pain of the punishment with our mortal bodies and would probable die trying.
If we tried to wait until after our death before suffering this pain, our resurrected bodies would not be capable of reaching the pain intensity required so the punishment would simply continue on, forever unmet.
God knew that the only option was to have one "great and last sacrifice" done by someone who is part God.
Alma 34:10 - not a sacrifice of man
Alma 34:10For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
Alma 34:11Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay.
No other man or animal can make this kind of sacrafice.
Alma 7:10 - born of Mary...Son of God
Alma 7:10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.
Because Jesus Christ was the "Son of God" (immortal) and was "born of Mary" (mortal) he is different to every other person that has ever lived.
Christ has the ability to suffer with the mortal part of his body like no other man can.
What was the purpose that Christ came into the world?
2 Ne. 9:21 - save all...if they will hearken
2 Ne. 9:21And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.
He can only "save all men" if we keep that one requirement to "hearken unto his voice".
And what does his voice ask us to do?
D&C 19:15 - command you to repent
D&C 19:15 Therefore I command you to repent--repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore--how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.
D&C 19:16For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
D&C 19:17But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
D&C 19:18Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit--and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink--
Re-read the above scripture and imagine that Christ is speaking directly to you.
The part we must do is repent.
2 Ne. 2:7 - those who have a broken heart...none else
2 Ne. 2:7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.
No one else could fulfill the requirements (ends) of the Law.
We must have a "broken heart and a contrite spirit".
Mosiah 15:9 - standing betwixt them and justice
Mosiah 15:9 Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice.
Christ has "satisfied the demands of justice".
Christ is "filled with compassion" towards us.
Christ is "standing betwixt (between) them (us) and justice".
Alma 12:34 - repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart
Alma 12:34 Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest.
Alma 12:35 And whosoever will harden his heart and will do iniquity, behold, I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into my rest.
But we need to be sure that when Christ stands between us and justice, that we can have claim on his mercy.
When we have claim on his mercy he will become our advocate. Christ will plead our cause before God at the judgement.
D&C 45:3 - Listen to...advocate
D&C 45:3Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him--
D&C 45:4Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;
D&C 45:5Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.
We need him to say this on our behalf.
Alma 34:15 - bring salvation to all those who shall believe
Alma 34:15And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.
Alma 34:16 - mercy can satisfy the demands of justice
Alma 34:16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.
Alma 34:17 - exercise your faith unto repentance
Alma 34:17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;
Because Christ respects our free-agency, he will not force himself upon us as our Advocate. Instead he will be the Advocate of "all those who shall believe on his name".
Hel. 5:9 - the atoning blood of Jesus Christ
Hel. 5:9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come, yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.
So now we see that "atoning blood of Jesus Christ" is really a principle element in the Atonement. It is what makes Christ different, and what makes all of this possible.
3 Ne. 27:19 - washed their garments in my blood
3 Ne. 27:19And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.
3 Ne. 27:20 - commandment: Repent...be baptized
3 Ne. 27:20Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.
To wash our garments (sins) in his blood, we must.
Repent.
Come unto Christ (have faith in Christ).
Be baptised.
recieve the Holy Ghost.
This is the only way we can stand without sin at the judgement day.
