THE ETERNALNESS OF HIS PLAN

I can't remember when I wasn't troubled by something I started observing while I was yet very young. If I were really pressured to pin point an event which triggered my concern, it would have to have taken place in Pocatello, Idaho, when I had not as yet reached the age of 8. I can be certain it was prior to this age, because of the importance being baptized at that age. There was a young boy in our neighborhood, who if I were to say it as kindly as possible, had been cursed to have a father who would have been removed from that stewardship, if he had started his reproductive processes during the latter part of the 20th century rather than the beginning. There were so many days before I became aware of what was really happening in this young boy’s home, that I couldn't understand how he kept running into things, or falling down and giving himself so many bruises.

As the years have multiplied into decades, I have had many moments, when observing the lives of others who very unlike myself and Nephi, did not grow up in homes with goodly parents, did not have sustaining support groups throughout their lives, did not have bodies or minds which functioned at a low levels and who seemed like every time cards were dealt they received a losing hand.

It isn't the fact that we live in a world which is dominated by greed, selfishness, pride and the rest of the deadly sins, whether they made the list of seven or not, but, it is what I read in the 18th verse of l Nephi; ‘The way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world!’ that triggers my concern.

Every time I read these words, the words of the Apostle Paul rush into my mind; ‘If in this life only we have faith in Christ, we are of all men most miserable!’ And I am overwhelmed with the whisperings of the Holy Spirit shouting into my mind, the work and glory of the Father to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children cannot be confined to this earth, else, why would the savior have gone to preach to those who perished before the flood?

Even our brief remembrances of what transpired while we lived with our Heavenly Parents prior to our mortal birth, gives us an assurance that the work of our Heavenly Father and Jehovah during that estate had varying effects upon His children. These ranged in degrees of progress from One being prepared to create this earth and be foreordained to become its Savior, to those who would be counted as noble and great during mortality, to those who accepted His Plan and finally to those who rejected His Plan and even one who became Lucifer.

The revealed understandings of the workings of our Heavenly Father, which are to be continued in the post mortal estate, aren't a great deal more enlightening, but we have come to know that those ordinances assigned to be vicariously done in mortal settings in Holy Houses of the Lord, continue to expand in an explosive way in our day and eventually every child of our Heavenly Parents born into mortality will receive these ordinances personally during mortality or vicariously after death. The other insight comes as we listen to the Lord’s anointed continually teach of the massive missionary work being done in the post mortal estate, which will continue until every child is able to confess that Jesus is the Christ.

Another reason I am troubled by Nephi’s words (The way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world) is that so many upon reading them immediately are convinced that they apply to us during the mortal estate alone. I believe the path spoken of does apply to those who are given much during mortality, but to a greater extent to those whom the Lord refers to as innocent or ignorant of His Father’s Plan during mortality, but even for they who have been given much, being wrought upon by the Father will not cease after they leave this brief span of existence.

(1Nephi 10: 17 – 20)

I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men. For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round. Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into judgment.

When we put my bothersome passage back into its context and read it with the understanding of the Eternalness of Heavenly Father’s work, we begin to gain the understanding that although all of His children must fulfill the requirements needed to qualify for all of His blessings, the when, the where and how long this takes is probably as variable as the number of the His children.

ALL MUST

Believe in the literalness of being called a child of God

Believe Jesus is the Christ the Atoning One

Be baptized for the remission of sins – whether personally during mortality or after death vicariously receive this blessing

Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost – whether personally during mortality or after death vicariously receive this blessing

Be endowed in the House of The Lord – whether personally during mortality or after death vicariously receive this blessing

Receive the blessings of being sealed into the Divine Patriarchal Order –whether personally during mortality or after death vicariously receive this blessing

Become teachable and humble

Diligently seek to know the word of God

Gain a believing spirit

Align their lives with every word of God

We must not take it as a small thing that Heavenly Father’s titles include the words Endless and Eternal, nor should we limit our gratefulness for the eternalness of His work in bringing to pass our own immortality and eternal life!!


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY