SPIRITUAL NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

We should resolve to take time each day to say personal and family prayers, read the Holy Scriptures, worship the Lord each Sunday, be kind and helpful to loved ones, friends, associates and those in need of our help.  We need to work to overcome selfishness and seek the opportunities to lift the lives of others around us.

Clean Up Our Language

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

(Matthew 12: 36-37 in the Bible)

Profanity and Blasphemy refers to irreverent use of the name of Deity or in other words taking the name of the Lord in vain.  “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (4th Commandment of the 10 commandments Ex. 20:7 in the Bible.)

This is probably the most often broken of any of the 10 commandments.

Corrupt Communication or Foul Language

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Eph. 4:29 in the Bible)  “ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”  (Colossians 3: 8 in the Bible)

Making a Mockery of the Sacred Privilege of the Procreation Process

The use of the “F” word in its many indecent degrading forms is now common in daily language, movies and books.  Only with a physical body is procreation possible on earth.  As spirit children we did not have the procreative powers.  Satan and all his angels will never have the privilege of procreation.  Is it any wonder they do everything in their power to make a mockery of the procreation privilege which they never will have!!  That is why the worldly sexual abuse and gross sins are so serious.  “ 5 Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost?”  (Alma 39: 5 in the Book of Mormon)

Be More Righteous in the Actions We Take

The apostle John said, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works…“  (Revelations 20: 12-13 in the Bible)

Partial Judgment at Death

We learn that at death as each spirit leaves the physical body there is a partial judgment by the Lord that separates the righteous from the wicked.  The righteous spirits go to “Paradise” and the unrighteous go to “Spirit Prison” (a spiritual prison caused by sin and a lack of spiritual knowledge and understanding of the Savior’s Gospel plan).  “And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.  Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea in darkness… thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.” (Alma 40: 12 in the Book of Mormon)

Partial Judgment When We are Resurrected

The Lord makes a judgment as to those that will come forth in the resurrection of the Just (first) and the resurrection of the Unjust (second).  “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation”.  (John 5: 29 in the Bible)

“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection …. (Revelation 20: 6 in the Bible)

Final Judgment

After the resurrection of all mankind, the great and Final Judgment will take place.  The Savior Jesus Christ will be the final Judge.  “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son”  (John 5: 22 in the Bible). “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad”.  (2 Corinthians 5: 10 in the Bible)

Great and Wonderful Blessings for the Righteous!

Information on the judgments of God are to motivate His children to live righteous lives so that they will receive the marvelous blessings that he has in store for them.  So great are these blessings that the apostle Paul declared, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”  (1 Corinthians 2: 9 in the Bible)