Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. said, "The picture is complete. Man could sin before his mortal birth." In The Infinite Atonement, it states that our spirits were distinct from one another and that we could make choices and choose the extent to which we adopted the truth in premortal life. That is why some were designated the "noble and great ones." That is why some were cast out of heaven. That is why some were foreordained for certain jobs here on earth. So yes, we could choose, develop, and sin in the premortal existence.
Some might ask, "How does this work with the whole 'no unclean thing can dwell with God' scripture?" Luckily, The Infinite Atonement enlightens our minds on this. It explains that the word "dwell" in this context refers to "a permanent or eternal condition that exists after men are brought 'before the judgement-seat of God.' Dwelling, in this sense is a future condition. Until the judgment occurs there seems to be no scriptural prohibition against imperfect being temporarily residing in God's presence."
Wow. This absolutely blew my mind.
What does this piece of truth mean about our relationship with God?
Well, let me try to put into words what I felt when I read this.
Sometimes in this life we feel we are unworthy to talk to God, rely on Christ, change, get a second, third, twentieth chance. We've all felt that way. Sometimes we feel like we are unworthy to be connected with God. Satan tries to use that to get us to distance ourselves from our Father. And sometimes it works.
HOWEVER
If we understand the truth mentioned above, we can overcome these thoughts and feelings. Even before this life, we were not perfect. We made mistakes, and we worked to improve. AND we were around God. We were in His presence. Now, we didn't dwell there in the sense of an eternal existence with our Father like what we are shooting for after this life. But we were allowed, imperfect as we were, to temporarily be in His presence. Is that true for this life? YES!
We feel God's spirit. We receive His spirit after being confirmed. Isn't that a bit of God's presence right there? Some prophets ancient and modern have seen Jesus Christ and some have talked with God. Prophets aren't perfect...but wait, they have been in God's presence. Their spirits were still imperfect, yet they could be in the presence of God and Jesus Christ.
Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. During his process of becoming the prophet, he explains that he had weaknesses and problems and fears that he worked to overcome. Yet He could feel of God's presence in his life.
Can we? What does this all mean for us right now?
Yes, we can! It means that we are allowed to feel God. We are allowed to open up to Him. We are allowed to rely on His Son even in the moment that we are sinning. Especially then. Just like Peter when he was sinking calls out to Christ, so must we when we are overwhelmed by fears, imperfections, weaknesses, and sin. God does NOT want us to feel that because we are imperfect beings, we can not connect with Him. He just wants us to permanently dwell with Him after this life, so He tells us the requirements so we can strive for that. But along the way, we must not feel like unclean things that aren't allowed to be loved by Him. We are loved. No matter where we are in our process of developing.
Isn't this such a cool truth?
I know that God loves us. And that we are His children. We can talk to Him whenever we want.
Love,
Rachel
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Why We Are All So Different: What The Premortal Existence Tells Us
Joseph Fielding Smith said:
"God gave his children their free agency even in the spirit world, by which the individual spirits had the privilege...of choosing the good and rejecting the evil...Because of this, some even there were more faithful than others in keeping the commandments of the Lord."
"The spirits of men were not equal. They may have had an equal star, and we know they were all innocent in the beginning; but the right of free agency which was given to them enabled some to outstrip others, and thus, through the eons of immortal existence, to become more intelligent, more faithful, for they were free to act for themselves, to think for themselves, to receive the truth or rebel against it"
I've never thought of this before. That is why we come here with talents and differences. Depending on how we chose to act upon the truth in the life before this one, we advanced as spirit at our own rate "so that only some became 'noble and great ones' (Abraham 3:22)." I hope to build here upon what I chose in the premortal existence. I want to become a noble and great one, a true follower of Christ, and reach my full potential. I want to learn to choose, despite anything that may come against me or any weaknesses that I've been given here on earth. I am also grateful for my weaknesses, because they are teaching me more than a life without weakness ever could. I'm learning how to use the Atonement in my life which is and will be a precious gift to me for the rest of my life. I have a lot to work through and learn, and sometimes I feel like I have no idea how to let the power of the Atonement into my life in order to get to where I need to be and live the gospel more fully. But I know that life is a process and that as long as I'm trying, God won't let me fall.
I hope you are doing great Emily, and I know because of the greatness of your spirit, that you made great choices and learned great things in the life before this one. And I'm proud of you for what you are doing here. You amaze me!
Love ya,
Rachel
"God gave his children their free agency even in the spirit world, by which the individual spirits had the privilege...of choosing the good and rejecting the evil...Because of this, some even there were more faithful than others in keeping the commandments of the Lord."
"The spirits of men were not equal. They may have had an equal star, and we know they were all innocent in the beginning; but the right of free agency which was given to them enabled some to outstrip others, and thus, through the eons of immortal existence, to become more intelligent, more faithful, for they were free to act for themselves, to think for themselves, to receive the truth or rebel against it"
I've never thought of this before. That is why we come here with talents and differences. Depending on how we chose to act upon the truth in the life before this one, we advanced as spirit at our own rate "so that only some became 'noble and great ones' (Abraham 3:22)." I hope to build here upon what I chose in the premortal existence. I want to become a noble and great one, a true follower of Christ, and reach my full potential. I want to learn to choose, despite anything that may come against me or any weaknesses that I've been given here on earth. I am also grateful for my weaknesses, because they are teaching me more than a life without weakness ever could. I'm learning how to use the Atonement in my life which is and will be a precious gift to me for the rest of my life. I have a lot to work through and learn, and sometimes I feel like I have no idea how to let the power of the Atonement into my life in order to get to where I need to be and live the gospel more fully. But I know that life is a process and that as long as I'm trying, God won't let me fall.
I hope you are doing great Emily, and I know because of the greatness of your spirit, that you made great choices and learned great things in the life before this one. And I'm proud of you for what you are doing here. You amaze me!
Love ya,
Rachel
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
A Comforting Reminder: The Power is in Us
"The Atonement of Jesus Christ not only saves us from the effects of the Fall, but in addition endows us with those powers necessary to save us from every weakness, every ignorance, and every obstacle that might otherwise hinder or prevent our progress in some way" (The Infinite Atonement 52).
Because of Christ, the power is in us to overcome anything that may stand in our way. Our ability to become whole depends on our faith. We must believe that the power given to us by Christ's Atonement is in us. Do we believe that we can overcome any obstacle? Do we have hope in Christ? Do we believe that we can overcome our giant weaknesses and sins through Him?
I'm definitely trying.
Luckily, for Christ, trying is enough ("help though my unbelief")
I will let that seed of faith, the desire to believe, work in me until I have the sufficient faith to overcome the obstacles standing in my way.
I have my work cut out for me, but in Him, I can do it as long as I never give up.
Love ya,
Rachel
Because of Christ, the power is in us to overcome anything that may stand in our way. Our ability to become whole depends on our faith. We must believe that the power given to us by Christ's Atonement is in us. Do we believe that we can overcome any obstacle? Do we have hope in Christ? Do we believe that we can overcome our giant weaknesses and sins through Him?
I'm definitely trying.
Luckily, for Christ, trying is enough ("help though my unbelief")
I will let that seed of faith, the desire to believe, work in me until I have the sufficient faith to overcome the obstacles standing in my way.
I have my work cut out for me, but in Him, I can do it as long as I never give up.
Love ya,
Rachel
Thanks for the Fall
For my study today, I want to take a moment and appreciate what the Fall of Adam and Eve has given me.
I am so grateful for the opportunity we have here to progress towards God. I fall so many times. But Christ redeems my fall as long as I repent. Honestly, I'm still learning what repentance means. And how to use the Atonement in my life. But as I learn, I'm NOT remaining in the same state. Thanks to Christ and to the Fall, I can constantly change and move.
I am also grateful for the ability to feel. There was a time in my life where the trauma of my childhood was triggered and at times, I lost my ability to feel. It was hard to discern, to place value on things, to find my way when I was under those triggered moments. God helped me through it and didn't let me get lost. Without those times, I wouldn't be able to appreciate emotion like I do now. In fact, I may make it the study of my life! God knows what we need and how to direct us. I'm so grateful that I'm learning how and why to be good through sadness, sin, and confusion. Against the background of darkness, the light becomes so much clearer. I just have to keep going, trusting that Christ won't let me fall too far as I figure things out right now.
I am so grateful for the opportunity we have here to progress towards God. I fall so many times. But Christ redeems my fall as long as I repent. Honestly, I'm still learning what repentance means. And how to use the Atonement in my life. But as I learn, I'm NOT remaining in the same state. Thanks to Christ and to the Fall, I can constantly change and move.
I am also grateful for the ability to feel. There was a time in my life where the trauma of my childhood was triggered and at times, I lost my ability to feel. It was hard to discern, to place value on things, to find my way when I was under those triggered moments. God helped me through it and didn't let me get lost. Without those times, I wouldn't be able to appreciate emotion like I do now. In fact, I may make it the study of my life! God knows what we need and how to direct us. I'm so grateful that I'm learning how and why to be good through sadness, sin, and confusion. Against the background of darkness, the light becomes so much clearer. I just have to keep going, trusting that Christ won't let me fall too far as I figure things out right now.
And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
And they would have had no children ; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy , for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin .
2 Nephi 2:22-23
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