We lived as spirit sons and daughters of God in heaven before we came to earth. A veil of forgetfulness is drawn over our memory of our pre-existence with God in order for us to live by faith, which was necessary for our further growth and progression. The purpose of life is to learn and choose to keep the commandments of God.
WITHOUT THE SAVIORS HELP WE CAN NEVER DO ENOUGH TO SAVE OURSELVES
Dale G. Renlund said, “Without the blessings that come from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we can never do enough or be enough by ourselves. The good news, though, is that because of and through Jesus Christ we can become enough. All people will be saved from physical death by the grace of God, through the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And if we turn our hearts to God, salvation from spiritual death is available to all “through the Atonement of [Jesus] Christ … by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.” We can be redeemed from sin to stand clean and pure before God. As Micah explained, “[God] hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8 in the Bible) Micah’s direction on turning our hearts to God and qualifying for salvation contains three interconnected elements. To do justly means acting honorably with God and with other people. We act honorably with God by walking humbly with Him. To do justly is therefore a practical application of the first and second great commandments, to ‘love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind … [and to] love thy neighbour as thyself.’ (Matthew 22: 37-38 in the Bible)
To do justly and walk humbly with God is to intentionally withdraw our hand from iniquity, walk in His statutes, and remain authentically faithful. (Ezekiel 18: 8-9) A just person turns away from sin and toward God, makes promises to Him, and keeps those promises. A just person chooses to obey the commandments of God, repents when falling short, and keeps on trying. We not only do justly and walk humbly with God; we also learn to love mercy the way that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do. God delights in mercy and does not begrudge its use. In Micah’s words to Jehovah, “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, … will have compassion upon us,” and will “cast all … sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7: 18-19 in the Bible) To love mercy as God does is inseparably connected to dealing justly with others and not mistreating them.
BE NOT JUDGEMENTAL
“Always dealing honorably with others is part of loving mercy. Consider a conversation I overheard decades ago in the emergency department of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. A patient, Mr. Jackson, was a courteous, pleasant man who was well known to the hospital staff. He had previously been hospitalized multiple times for the treatment of alcohol-related diseases. On this occasion, Mr. Jackson returned to the hospital for symptoms that would be diagnosed as inflammation of the pancreas caused by alcohol consumption.
Toward the end of his shift, Dr. Cohen, a hardworking and admired physician, evaluated Mr. Jackson and determined that hospitalization was warranted. Dr. Cohen assigned Dr. Jones, the physician next up in rotation, to admit Mr. Jackson and oversee his treatment. Dr. Jones had attended a prestigious medical school and was just beginning her postgraduate studies. This grueling training was often associated with sleep deprivation, which likely contributed to Dr. Jones’s negative response. Confronted with her fifth admission of the night, she complained loudly to Dr. Cohen. She felt it was unfair that she would have to spend many hours caring for Mr. Jackson, because his predicament was, after all, self-inflicted. Dr. Cohen’s emphatic response was spoken in almost a whisper. He said, ‘Dr. Jones, you became a physician to care for people and work to heal them. You didn’t become a physician to judge them. If you don’t understand the difference, you have no right to train at this institution.’ Following this correction, Dr. Jones diligently cared for Mr. Jackson during the hospitalization.
Mr. Jackson has since died. Both Dr. Jones and Dr. Cohen have had stellar careers. But at a critical moment in her training, Dr. Jones needed to be reminded to do justly, to love mercy, and to care for Mr. Jackson without being judgmental. (Not their real names)”. (Dale G. Renlund remarks in General Conference October, 2020)
WHAT ARE THE REWARDS OF KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD WHILE WE LIVE ON THE EARTH
The Savior said of those that follow him and accept His Gospel in the face of opposition, “Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven.” (Luke 6: 23 in the Bible)
“…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2: 10 in the Bible)
If we are faithful in keeping the commandments, the Savior has promised: almost unbelievable blessings.
Dallas Jones is the local leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For further discussion call (231) 383-8359 or send an email to dallasjones8349@yahoo.com. Those interested in reading more articles from Dallas Jones visit djonesarticles.com.