We have come so far together! With as wonderful and exciting as these
discoveries may have been for you, would you believe that there is still
more of our journey yet to finish in order to fully know God?
As we have taken the time to carefully and prayerfully clear away as much
of the “dross” (Alma 34:29) as is possible for now, God can begin to fill us
unlike anything we may have experienced before. Instead of our minds and
hearts being full of anger, resentment, hate, defensiveness, shame, or pain,
He can fill up the now emptied space with peace, joy, trust, and love. We will
spend the rest of the chapter touching on how He can do that as He draws us
closer and closer to Him. First, let’s talk about why ordinances are so important.
of the “dross” (Alma 34:29) as is possible for now, God can begin to fill us
unlike anything we may have experienced before. Instead of our minds and
hearts being full of anger, resentment, hate, defensiveness, shame, or pain,
He can fill up the now emptied space with peace, joy, trust, and love. We will
spend the rest of the chapter touching on how He can do that as He draws us
closer and closer to Him. First, let’s talk about why ordinances are so important.
“It soon becomes obvious to anyone who is taught the doctrine of the Church
that the plan is a definite set of regulations, performances, directives, and
covenants. A definite plan calls for well-defined ordinances and definite authority,
and definite procedures with definite promises...To become like [God] is the only
way to really know Him. He has revealed the plan that is designed to get us there
(see John 17:3; 1 John 3:1–3). It is a straight and narrow pathway, available only
through Jesus Christ, and consisting of the ordinances, covenants, and requirements
that God Himself has established. We know that God has both the knowledge and the
power to save humankind. We have neither the knowledge nor the power to save
ourselves and therefore need divine help and direction. Why, then, should it be thought
a thing incredible that God should have a plan? And having a plan, why should it be
thought incredible that it should have ordinances?
that the plan is a definite set of regulations, performances, directives, and
covenants. A definite plan calls for well-defined ordinances and definite authority,
and definite procedures with definite promises...To become like [God] is the only
way to really know Him. He has revealed the plan that is designed to get us there
(see John 17:3; 1 John 3:1–3). It is a straight and narrow pathway, available only
through Jesus Christ, and consisting of the ordinances, covenants, and requirements
that God Himself has established. We know that God has both the knowledge and the
power to save humankind. We have neither the knowledge nor the power to save
ourselves and therefore need divine help and direction. Why, then, should it be thought
a thing incredible that God should have a plan? And having a plan, why should it be
thought incredible that it should have ordinances?
“The ordinances and covenants are instruments of change, repentance, purification, and
personal spiritual improvement. The ordinances are very important to us because the greatest
benefits of Christ’s Atonement are administered to us only through those ordinances…”
(Source,emphasis added).
Next Section HERE
Previous Section HERE
Comments
Post a Comment