Scripture Reading/Study/Feasting

Robert D Hales, Eternal Life—to Know Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, October 2014 General Conference
“In this process, seeking for personal revelation is a key. Nephi invites each of us to ‘feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.’4”

Doctrine and Covenants 11:21

21 Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.

First Presidency, in Teaching the Gospel in the Savior’s Way (a guide to Come, Follow Me: Learning Resources for Youth, 2012), 2
“The most important part of your service will be your own daily spiritual preparation, including prayer, scripture study, and obedience to the commandments. We encourage you to dedicate yourself to living the gospel with greater purpose than ever before.”

Elder Adrian Ochoa, Look Up, October 2013 General Conference
"If you will not treasure up the words of Christ and listen closely to the promptings of the Spirit, you will be deceived"

Mosiah 1:5
5 I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct.

John 5:39
 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Elder Quentin L Cook, In Tune with the Music of Faith, General Conference April 2012
“One of the underlying premises of Lehi’s vision is that faithful members must hold fast to the rod of iron to keep them on the strait and narrow path leading to the tree of life. It is essential for members to read, ponder, and study the scriptures.”

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball (2006), 67
“I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns.”

Elder Richard G Scott, How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life, General Conference April 2012
“When I am faced with a very difficult matter, this is how I try to understand what to do. I fast. I pray to find and understand scriptures that will be helpful. That process is cyclical.”

Jacob 5 - Allegory of the Olive Tree

“The Lord scattered and afflicted the twelve tribes of Israel because of their unrighteousness and rebellion. However, the Lord also [utilized] this scattering of his chosen people among the nations of the world to bless those nations.” (Guide to the Scriptures, "Israel")

Suicide

Introduction

There is much speculation about the fate of those that take their own life. I will discuss here why there is hope and to keep going in life. I will also talk about what a serious thing that suicide is. I will conclude with a look at how unqualified we are to make a final judgement on an individual who has committed suicide.

Why To Not Commit Suicide

The Lord is With Us
Elder Jeffrey R Holland, Like a Broken Vessel, General Conference October 2013
"Whatever your struggle, my brothers and sisters—mental or emotional or physical or otherwise—do not vote against the preciousness of life by ending it! Trust in God. Hold on in His love. Know that one day the dawn will break brightly and all shadows of mortality will flee. Though we may feel we are 'like a broken vessel,' as the Psalmist says,¹⁰ we must remember, that vessel is in the hands of the divine potter. Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful, nonjudgmental, and kind."

Matthew 11:28-30
28 ¶Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

My Thoughts on Matthew 11:28-30 in This Context
{
If we truly turn to the Savior and let him carry our burdens with us we can overcome our feelings of suicide.
}


Romans 15:13
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Moroni 7:41
41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

It Is a Grievous Sin

First, President George Q. Cannon of the First Presidency made a clear statement about the seriousness of suicide when he said: “Man did not create himself. He did not furnish his spirit with a human dwelling place. It is God who created man, both body and spirit. Man has no right, therefore, to destroy that which he had no agency in creating. They who do so are guilty of murder, self-murder it is true; but they are no more justified in killing themselves than they are in killing others. What difference of punishment there is for the two crimes, I do not know; but it is clear that no one can destroy so precious a gift as that of life without incurring a severe penalty.” (Gospel Truth, 2 vols., Salt Lake City: Zion’s Book Store, 1957, 1:30; italics added.)

President Spencer W. Kimball made an equally strong statement in 1976. “It is a terrible criminal act for a person to go out and shorten his life by suicide,” he said. (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p. 187.)

The State of Those That Commit Suicide

Man Cannot Judge the Accountability of Those That Commit Suicide

The late Elder Bruce R. McConkie, formerly of the Quorum of the Twelve, expressed what many Church leaders have taught: “Suicide consists in the voluntary and intentional taking of one’s own life, particularly where the person involved is accountable and has a sound mind. … Persons subject to great stresses may lose control of themselves and become mentally clouded to the point that they are no longer accountable for their acts. Such are not to be condemned for taking their own lives. It should also be remembered that judgment is the Lord’s; he knows the thoughts, intents, and abilities of men; and he in his infinite wisdom will make all things right in due course.” (Mormon Doctrine, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966, p. 771; some italics added.)

“Peace came to me only when I recognized that only the Lord could administer fair judgment. He alone had all the facts, and only He would know the intent of the heart of my friend.” (Elder M Russell Ballard, “Suicide: Some Things We Know, and Some We Do Not”, October 1987 Ensign)

“I feel that judgment for sin is not always as cut-and-dried as some of us seem to think. The Lord said, “Thou shalt not kill.” Does that mean that every person who kills will be condemned, no matter the circumstances? Civil law recognizes that there are gradations in this matter—from accidental manslaughter to self-defense to first-degree murder. I feel that the Lord also recognizes differences in intent and circumstances: Was the person who took his life mentally ill? Was he or she so deeply depressed as to be unbalanced or otherwise emotionally disturbed? Was the suicide a tragic, pitiful call for help that went unheeded too long or progressed faster than the victim intended? Did he or she somehow not understand the seriousness of the act? Was he or she suffering from a chemical imbalance that led to despair and a loss of self-control?

‘Obviously, we do not know the full circumstances surrounding every suicide. Only the Lord knows all the details, and he it is who will judge our actions here on earth.

“When he does judge us, I feel he will take all things into consideration: our genetic and chemical makeup, our mental state, our intellectual capacity, the teachings we have received, the traditions of our fathers, our health, and so forth.“ (Elder M Russell Ballard, “Suicide: Some Things We Know, and Some We Do Not”, October 1987 Ensign)

“Suicide is a sin—a very grievous one, yet the Lord will not judge the person who commits that sin strictly by the act itself. The Lord will look at that person’s circumstances and the degree of his accountability at the time of the act. Of course, this gives us no reason to excuse ourselves in committing sins,” (Elder M Russell Ballard, “Suicide: Some Things We Know, and Some We Do Not”, October 1987 Ensign)

My Thoughts

{

We do not know what spiritual torment a person has already gone through that lead to suicide.  We do not know how a merciful, loving Father of mankind would allow the atonement of Jesus Christ to be applied, even for a person that has not understood Christ and accepted Him in this life.

God does not pronounce final judgement on us at the time we die.  There is still time for those who did not have Christ given to them to learn about him before the final judgement.

I believe that God is merciful and has provided means to present us with the opportunity to be saved until we are truly lost.  I do not believe death is the time when we are determined our place in eternity. I believe Christ will judge each of us, all who have ever lived, at some point after He returns.

}

Tithing

Elder David A Bednar, The Windows of Heaven, General Conference October 2013
“...as we live the law of tithing, we often receive significant but subtle blessings that are not always what we expect and easily can be overlooked...simple blessings in seemingly ordinary ways.”

Dallin H Oaks, "Tithing", April 1994 General Conference
“During World War II, my widowed mother supported her three young children on a schoolteacher’s salary that was meager. When I became conscious that we went without some desirable things because we didn’t have enough money, I asked my mother why she paid so much of her salary as tithing. I have never forgotten her explanation: ‘Dallin, there might be some people who can get along without paying tithing, but we can’t. The Lord has chosen to take your father and leave me to raise you children. I cannot do that without the blessings of the Lord, and I obtain those blessings by paying an honest tithing. When I pay my tithing, I have the Lord’s promise that he will bless us, and we must have those blessings if we are to get along.’”

Meek

Elder Ulisses Sores, of the Presidency of the Seventy, Be Meek and Lowly of Heart, General Conference October 2013
“Another important step to becoming meek is learning how to control our temper. Because the natural man dwells within each one of us and because we live in a world full of pressure, controlling our temper may become one of the challenges in our lives. Think for a few seconds how you react when someone does not comply with your desires the moment you want them to. What about when people disagree with your ideas, even though you are absolutely sure that they represent the proper solution to a problem? What is your response when someone offends you, critiques your efforts, or is simply unkind because he or she is in a bad mood? At these moments and in other difficult situations, we must learn to control our temper and convey our feelings with patience and gentle persuasion. This is most important within our homes and within our relationships with our eternal companions. ”
...
“I believe the Savior Jesus Christ is the supreme example of meekness. Even during the last moments of His mortal life, being unfairly accused and condemned, painfully carrying His cross up to Golgotha, being mocked and cursed by His enemies, being abandoned by many who knew Him and had witnessed His miracles, He was nailed on the cross.
“Even after the most intense physical suffering, the Lord turned to His Father and spoke from the bottom of His meek and humble heart: ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’16 Christ faced extreme physical and spiritual suffering, giving us the opportunity to change our spiritual character and become meek like Him.”

Traditions

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee (2000), 84–85
“The only safety we have as members of this church is to … give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through His prophet. There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your [personal] views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord Himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; … and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory’ (D&C 21:6).”

Personal Agendas

President Dieter F Uchtdorf, Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth, October 2014 General Conference

“It seems to be a trait of humanity to assume that we are right even when we are wrong. And if that is the case, what hope is there for any of us? Are we destined to drift aimlessly on an ocean of conflicting information, stranded on a raft we have poorly pieced together from our own biases?”

Elder Richard G. Scott, in Conference Report, Apr. 1993, 43; or Ensign, May 1993, 34
“You must be willing to forgo personal pleasure and self-interest for family-centered activity, and not turn over to church, school, or society the principal role of fostering a child’s well-rounded development. It takes time, great effort, and significant personal sacrifice to ‘train up a child in the way he should go.’ But where can you find greater rewards for a job well done?”


Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee (2000), 84–85
“The only safety we have as members of this church is to … give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through His prophet. There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your [personal] views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord Himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; … and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory’ (D&C 21:6).”

General Conference

Elder Robert D Hales, General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony, General Conference October 2013
"When I take notes at conference, I do not always write down exactly what the speaker is saying; I note the personalized direction the Spirit is giving me.

"What is said is not as important as what we hear and what we feel.8 That is why we make an effort to experience conference in a setting where the still, small voice of the Spirit can be clearly heard, felt, and understood."
...
"The greatest blessings of general conference come to us after the conference is over. Remember the pattern recorded frequently in scripture: we gather to hear the words of the Lord, and we return to our homes to live them."

Note Taking

Elder Robert D Hales, General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony, General Conference October 2013
"When I take notes at conference, I do not always write down exactly what the speaker is saying; I note the personalized direction the Spirit is giving me.

"What is said is not as important as what we hear and what we feel.8 That is why we make an effort to experience conference in a setting where the still, small voice of the Spirit can be clearly heard, felt, and understood."

My Thoughts
This is true for any Church meeting.

Peace

President Thomas S Monson, Obedience Brings Blessings, General Conference April 2013

“Throughout the ages, men and women have sought for knowledge and understanding concerning this mortal existence and their place and purpose in it, as well as for the way to peace and happiness. Such a search is undertaken by each of us.

This knowledge and understanding are available to all mankind. They are contained in truths which are eternal.”

Howard W. Hunter, in Conference Report, Oct. 1966, 14–17
Peace can be termed a “state of existence that comes to man only upon the terms and conditions set by God”

Elder Quentin L Cook, Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness, General Conference April 2013
"I have been impressed with the doctrinal difference between universal or world peace and personal peace."
...
"Peace is not found by attaining great wealth, power, or prominence.²² Peace is not found in the pursuit of pleasure, entertainment, or leisure. None of these can, even when attained in abundance, create any lasting happiness or peace."

My Thoughts

There is a difference between world peace and personal peace.

We have a lot of control over personal peace, but less over world peace.

Personal peace is not dependent on world peace.

Agency makes peace possible.

Sarcasm

Doctrine and Covenants 88:121

121 Therefore, cease from all your light speeches, from all laughter, from all your lustful desires, from all your pride and light-mindedness, and from all your wicked doings.

What It Means to be a Real Man

Brigham Young, Quoted by Dean Jessee, Letters of Brigham Young to his Sons, pp. 305–6
“It is our attention to our daily duties that makes us men.”

Jacob 6:12
  12 O be wise; what can I say more?

1 Kings 2:2-3
Solomon his son, saying,
2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;

3 And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

Women

President Gordon B Hinckley, “Standing Strong and Immovable,” Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, Jan. 10, 2004, 20; see also Gordon B. Hinckley, “Our Responsibility to Our Young Women,” Ensign, Sept. 1988, 10
“When you save a girl, you save generations.”

Rosemary M Wixom, Discovering the Divinity Within, September 2015
“Our divine nature has nothing to do with our personal accomplishments, the status we achieve, the number of marathons we run, or our popularity and self-esteem. Our divine nature comes from God. It was established in an existence that preceded our birth and will continue on into eternity.”

Tolerance

President Dieter F Uchtdorf, The Power of a Personal Testimony, General Conference October 2006
“In a time when many perceive truth as relative, a declaration of absolute truth is not very popular, nor does it seem politically correct or opportune. Testimonies of things how “they really are” (Jacob 4:13) are bold, true, and vital because they have eternal consequences for mankind. Satan wouldn’t mind if we declared the message of our faith and gospel doctrine as negotiable according to circumstances. Our firm conviction of gospel truth is an anchor in our lives; it is steady and reliable as the North Star.”

Saved

The Savior saved us from death. There are two types of death he saved us from. The first is physical death and the second is spiritual death. Physical death is usually just referred to as death or death of the body. Spiritual death is often referred to as hell.

Physical death is where our body dies and our spirit lives on. Salvation from physical death is the resurrection. The resurrection is where the bodied and spirit are reunited to never be separated again. The bodied will no longer be subject to illness. Resurrection is a free gift to all mankind.

Spiritual death is being separated man from God. Salvation from spiritual death is repentance. Through Jesus' atonement are given the ability to repent and return to live with God. Repentance is a free gift, but we must use it.

Below I have listed stuff on being saved some are about salvation from physical death. Some are about salvation from spiritual death. Some I have not categorized yet.

Revelation 1:18 speaks of the two types of death.
 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Saved from Physical Death

1 Corinthians 15:22
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

John 5:28-29
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 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.

Luke 3:6
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Saved from Spiritual Death

Hebrews 5:9
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Matthew 7:21-27
   21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  
 24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
  25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell:

If we hear his words, but do not follow them, then we fall. His words are the will of the Father and if we do not do the will of the Father, we do not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:20
 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Righteousness (repenting of and forsaking our sins) allows you entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

John 15:10
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

Daniel 9:4   
4 And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

1 John 1:6-7
 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin 

Elder Dallin H Oaks, Two Lines of Communication, October 2010 General Conference
“Because of what He accomplished by His atoning sacrifice, Jesus Christ has the power to prescribe the conditions we must fulfill to qualify for the blessings of His Atonement. That is why we have commandments and ordinances. That is why we make covenants. That is how we qualify for the promised blessings. They all come through the mercy and grace of the Holy One of Israel, “after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23).”

Ezekial 18:30-32
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

If you do not cast away your transgressions then you will die spiritually.

Belief

Many site scriptures like the following and say that all we must do is believe.

• 
  John 6:35
  35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh tome shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
  
  John 11:25
  25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
  
  John 3:16
  16 ¶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life
  
  John 6:47
  47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
• What does it mean to believe?
  John 14:12 states that if we believe we will do his works. Works like keeping the commandments of God, serving others, healing the sick, and so forth.
  12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
• Mark 10:17-22 talks about the Rich man that had kept all the commandments except when Jesus commanded him to give up his riches. Did the rich man know that Jesus was the Christ? I think he did, so one might say he believed. Would he be counted among the believers? Likely many people would not count him as a believer. Why? Because he had knowledge that Jesus was the Savior, but he did not do all things the Lord commanded.
  
  Obedience
  2 Thessalonians 1:88 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
  Vengeance on all that do not obey, even the "believers".
  Matthew 7:21-27
  21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
  22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
  23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
  24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
  25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
  26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
  27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell:
  
  Matthew 19:17
  17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
  
  My Thoughts on Matthew 19:17
  {
  Entering into life would be salvation from spiritual death.  If that is what you want to have, then keep the commandments.
  }

Luke 6:46

46 ¶ And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

My Thoughts on Luke 6:46

{

If you have not done what he has said then you can't call Him your Lord.  Has one really accepted Christ if they ignore his teachings?

}

Have You Been Saved?

My Thoughts

{

I often hear this question posed to people, "Have you been saved?" or "If you were to die right now where would you go?"  As if your decision to follow Christ happens once instead of daily.

}

Russell T Osguthorpe - Sunday School General President, One Step Closer to the Savior, General Conference October 2012

“Conversion is the goal of all gospel learning and teaching. Conversion is not a onetime event. It is a lifelong quest to become more like the Savior. ”

Romans 5:9-10
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

My Thoughts on Romans 5:9-10

{

It says that we SHALL be saved, not that we are saved. 

}

Matthew 24:13
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

Matthew 25:31-46
31 ¶ When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. 

My Thoughts on Matthew 25:31-46

{

He talks of those that lived a life like the Saviors, a life of service.  He says that these are those that are "saved" not the ones that gave lips service and confessed that he was the Christ one time.

}

D Todd Christofferson, Free Forever, to Act for Themselves, October 2014 General Conference
“Christ died not to save indiscriminately but to offer repentance. We rely ‘wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save’19 in the process of repentance, but acting to repent is a self-willed change. So by making repentance a condition for receiving the gift of grace, God enables us to retain responsibility for ourselves. Repentance respects and sustains our moral agency...”
...
“A God who makes no demands is the functional equivalent of a God who does not exist. A world without God, the living God who establishes moral laws to govern and perfect His children, is also a world without ultimate truth or justice. It is a world where moral relativism reigns supreme.”

Uncategorized

John 17:3
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

John 6:48-58
48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

My Thoughts on John 6:48-58

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These verses state over and over that one must partake of this in order to live forever. A work that must be done in order to be saved.
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John 10:27-29
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. His sheep have eternal life. They are those who follow Him. They follow him, not just confess that He is Christ.

Revelation 21:27
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

My Thoughts on Revelation 21:27 

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Those that lie or work other abominations can not enter, even believe Jesus if the Christ. See Matthew 7:21-27 - Not everyone that says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom. and great was the fall of it.
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1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; These verses speak of being sanctified (saved) when abstaining from fornication and being honorable.

2 Nephi 28:8
8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

Romans 13:11
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. In this chapter Paul detailed how being righteous leads to salvation. He states here that they are closer now to salvation than when they believed. Why are they closer? Because they have obeyed the Lord's commandments. That brings them closer to salvation than simply believing.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. Keeping in memory would appear to be more than just believing.

John 8:31-32
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. You shall know truth if you are Christ's disciples. If you know truth, ye are free. Not just because you believe. Only if you continue in his word.

1 John 1:7
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If you walk as Jesus walked, then his blood cleanses us from all sins that we may have previously committed.

2 Nephi 31:19-21
19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.

Luke 6:37
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
You have to forgive to be forgiven. You have to not judge in order to not be judged. If you are judged and not forgiven, you are not saved.

Mosiah 3:11-12
11 For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.
12 But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 3:2-5

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Matthew 3:8-10
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Alma 5:20-21
20 I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil?
21 I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.

Doctrine and Covenants 59:21
21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.

Alma 60:21
21 Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?