Eternal Progression: Study Guide 4 (1986)

Premortal Life M a n y people h a v e w o n d e r e d , " D i d w e exist before our birth? W h y are w e here o n earth?

W h e r e w i l l w e go after d e a t h ? " T h e a n s w e r s to these questions h a v e been revealed by our Father i n H e a v e n . W e are literally h i s c h i l d r e n . W e l i v e d w i t h h i m as spirits before w e w e r e b o r n . W e w e r e i n d i v i d u a l s a n d w e r e created i n the image of our Father. W e w e r e , h o w e v e r , u n l i k e h i m i n m a n y w a y s . H e w a s m u c h more f u l l y developed spiritually, a n d w e d i d not h a v e a p h y s i c a l body, as he does. T o enable u s to become like h i m , our Father i n H e a v e n p r e p a r e d a p l a n that a l l o w e d u s to come to the earth.

Additional Study W e are the c h i l d r e n of G o d : A c t s 17:29; R o m a n s 8:16 W e lived w i t h our F a t h e r i n H e a v e n before w e w e r e b o r n : Ecclesiastes 12:7; J e r e m i a h 1:5; J o h n 9:2; H e b r e w s 12:9; A l m a 13:1-13 ( p . 241)* W e can become like our Father i n H e a v e n : P s a l m 82:6; L u k e 12:44; R o m a n s 8:17; 2 C o r i n t h i a n s 3:18; 1 J o h n 3:2

Mortal Life on Earth I n this mortal life, w e are g i v e n opportunifies fo become like o u r H e a v e n l y F a t h e r . A s w e are b o r n into this life, our spirit enters a p h y s i c a l body.

A l t h o u g h these bodies are m o r t a l a n d imperfect, receiving t h e m is the first step to receiving a glorified, i m m o r t a l b o d y like our Father has.

T h i s life is also a period of testing a n d tempering.

H a v i n g no m e m o r y of our p r e m o r t a l life, w e m u s t act by f a i t h . W e experience difficulties a n d trials, a n d b y o v e r c o m i n g t h e m w e develop m a n y of fhe characferisfics of our Father. H e gives u s c o m m a n d m e n t s to point the w a y w e s h o u l d go to fulfill our p u r p o s e . B u t w e are free to choose to obey or disobey. W e are h e l d responsible for o u r choices a n d acfions.

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Additional Study T h e p u r p o s e of o u r m o r t a l life is fo w o r k t o w a r d b e c o m i n g like o u r H e a v e n l y Father: M a t t h e w 5:48; A c t s 14:22; P h i l i p p i a n s 2:12; 2 Peter 1:4; A l m a 12:24 ( p . 239); A l m a 34:31-32 ( p . 295); A b r a h a m 3:25 ( p . 38) T h r o u g h the process of b e i n g tesfed w e can g r o w a n d d e v e l o p : Job 23:10; R o m a n s 5:3; H e b r e w s 12:9; J a m e s 1:12 W e are free to choose to obey or disobey: 2 N e p h i 2:27-29 ( p . 59); H e l a m a n 14:30-31 ( p . 403)

PREMORTAL

LIFE

' References to the Book ot Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl ot Great Price are followed by the page number where the passage is found. All other references are to the Bible.

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Life after Death Because our bodies are m o r t a l , each of u s w i l l die. T h i s p h y s i c a l death is a part of the p l a n b y w h i c h our imperfect mortal bodies are m a d e perfect a n d i m m o r t a l . A t death our spirit leaves the p h y s i c a l body, but the spirit is still alive a n d is taken to the spirit w o r l d . T h e r e w e a w a i t the resurrection a n d the j u d g m e n t . Jesus taught that to be saved i n the k i n g d o m of h e a v e n a p e r s o n must accept h i m a n d be baptized. B u t m i l l i o n s leave this ife w i t h o u t hearing of the S a v i o r . I n the spirit w o r l d the gospel w i l l be taught to all w h o died w i t h o u t the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ a n d his gospel.

Additional Study W h e n w e die, our spirits are t a k e n h o m e to G o d : Ecclesiastes 12:7; A l m a 40:11-14 ( p . 308) T h e gospel is being preached to those i n the spirit w o r l d : J o h n 5:25, 28; 1 Peter 3:18-19; 1 Peter 4:6; Doctrine a n d C o v e n a n t s 138

Eternal Life W h e n w e are resurrected, w e receive a perfect, immortal body a n d d w e l l i n a state of glory. T h e degree of that glory w i l l d e p e n d o n our faithfulness i n this life. If w e h a v e been faithful and w o r t h y , w e w i l l be w i t h our F a t h e r i n the celestial glory. T h o s e w h o receive this glory w i l l k n o w a fullness of joy. T h o s e w h o do not accept the gospel of C h r i s t a n d repent of their sins w i l l receive lesser degrees of glory.

D u r i n g this mortal life G o d gives u s the p o w e r to bring children into this w o r l d . T h i s p o w e r of procreation is a sacred, d i v i n e gift. G o d has set l i g h standards for confrolling it w i t h i n the marriage relationship. B y s h a r i n g i n the creation of life a n d by n u r f u r i n g a n d g u i d i n g our families i n righteousness, w e can w o r k t o w a r d b e c o m i n g like our Father.

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i "

CELESTIAL CFI.FSTIAI

TERRESTRIAL TFRRFYIRIA!

TELESTIAL

SPIRIT

WORLD

I'RLMORTAL LIFE

T h e marriage a n d f a m i l y r e l a f i o n s h i p s n e e d nof e n d w i t h death. T h r o u g h the P r o p h e t J o s e p h S m i t h , G o d has revealed that families c a n be sealed together for eternity. T h i s sacred s e a l i n g ceremony is performed i n temples u n d e r the authority of the priesthood.

Additional Study T h e r e w i l l be different degrees of glory i n the resurrection: J o h n 14:2; 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 15:40-41; 2 C o r i n t h i a n s 12:2; P h i l i p p i a n s 3:21; D o c t r i n e a n d C o v e n a n t s 88:18-32 T h e p o w e r to bring c h i l d r e n into this w o r l d is a sacred gift: Genesis 1:27-28; P s a l m 127:3-5 Families can be eternal: M a t t h e w 16:19; 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 11:11

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The Commandments G o d Has G i v e n for Cleanliness G o d has g i v e n us l a w s to g o v e r n the sacred p o w e r of procreation, a n d penalties for abusing it. H e has c o m m a n d e d us to r e f r a i n from a n y sexual relations outside the marriage relationship. Jesus taught that e v e n i m p u r e thoughts m a k e u s u n c l e a n a n d u n w o r t h y to return to our Father i n H e a v e n . W e m u s t keep our thoughts clean a n d be modest i n our actions, speech, a n d d r e s s .

' T H O U SHALT NOT COMMIT A D U L T E R Y . " Exodus 20:14

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G o d h a s taught u s that i n a l l w a y s w e are to treat our bodies as sacred temples. T o h e l p u s u n d e r s t a n d this p r i n c i p l e , he revealed to Joseph S m i t h a l a w of h e a l f h k n o w n as the W o r d of W i s d o m . W e s h o u l d nof take into our bodies a l c o h o l , tobacco, coffee, fea, a n d other h a r m f u l d r u g s . T h e s e substances damage our bodies a n d affect o u r s p i r i t s . T h e W o r d of W i s d o m gives c o u n s e l o n w h o l e s o m e foods. T h e L o r d promises thaf if w e obey this l a w , w e w i l l enjoy greater h e a l t h . W e w i l l f i n d greaf treasures of w i s d o m , s f r e n g t h , a n d d i v i n e profection. W e w i l l receive greater h a p p i n e s s i n this life a n d prove ourselves w o r f h y of greaf j o y i n the next life.

WORD OF

WISDOM

Abstain from— Alcohol

Tea

Tobacco

Harmful drugs

Coffee

Additional Study W e are c o m m a n d e d fo a v o i d s e x u a l s i n or " a n y t h i n g like u n t o i t " : M a t t h e w 5:28; M a t t h e w 19:16-18; A l m a 39:3-5; D o c t r i n e a n d C o v e n a n t s 59:6 W e m u s t k e e p e v e n o u r thoughts clean a n d pure: M a t t h e w 5:28; M a t t h e w 15:19-20; M o s i a h 4:30 T h o s e w h o violate the l a w of chastity pay a price: 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 3:16-17; 1 C o r i n t h i a n s 6:9; H e l a m a n 4:24

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What C a n You D o to L i v e the L a w s of God? 1. R e a d A l m a 11-13, 34 a n d H e l a m a n 14.

C o n t i n u e r e a d i n g the Book of M o r m o n f r o m b e g i n n i n g to e n d .

2. B e g i n i m m e d i a t e l y to abstain f r o m u s i n g a n y h a r m f u l substances (alcohol, tobacco, coffee, a n d tea).

3. C o m m i t y o u r s e l f to honor the l a w of chastity i n both tfiought a n d d e e d .

4. P r a y for s f r e n g f h a n d guidance i n l i v i n g fhese l a w s of G o d .

5. A t f e n d w o r s h i p services of fhe C h u r c h w i t h a C h u r c h member.

Address: Time: 6. T a k e part i n the fifth d i s c u s s i o n w i t h the missionaries.

Next Appointments: Discussion 5 Discussion 6 B a p t i s m a l Date:

Cover: Mother and Child by Mary Teasdale Oil on canvas. Utah State'Fine Art Collection, administered by the Utah Arts C o u n c i l . U s e d by permission.

Š 1986 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America

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