The Plan of Salvation: Overview

Premortal World

Many years ago, perhaps even millions and millions of years ago, we lived as spirit children with our Father in Heaven. The Family: A Proclamation to the World states, "IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World).

Architects create structures, and can call them their creations. However, these creations don’t have the potential to become like their builder. Our Heavenly Father has created us. We, as His spirit children, have the potential to become as He is. President Uchtdorf said, “My dear brothers and sisters, if we look at ourselves only through our mortal eyes, we may not see ourselves as good enough. But our Heavenly Father sees us as who we truly are and who we can become. He sees us as His sons and daughters, as beings of eternal light with everlasting potential and with a divine destiny” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “It Works Wonderfully!”, Ensign, November 2015).

It was in our pre-earthly estate that our Father in Heaven introduced His plan to us, His spirit children. Elder Robert D. Hales explained,

“In a premortal council, Heavenly Father explained to us His plan of redemption. The plan was based on doctrine, law, and principles that have always existed. We learned that if we accepted and followed the plan, we would be required to willingly leave our Father’s presence and be tested to show whether we would choose to live according to His laws and commandments. We rejoiced at this opportunity and gratefully sustained the plan because it offered us the way to become like our Heavenly Father and inherit eternal life.

“But the plan was not without risk: if we chose in mortality not to live according to God’s eternal laws, we would receive something less than eternal life. Father knew we would stumble and sin as we learned by experience in mortality, so He provided a Savior to redeem from sin all who repent and to heal the spiritual and emotional wounds of those who obey.” (Robert D. Hales, “The Plan of Salvation: A Sacred Treasure of Knowledge to Guide Us”, Ensign, Oct 2015).

The Atonement of Jesus Christ, is a critical piece in our Father’s Plan. In the Bible Dictionary we read that, “All are covered unconditionally as pertaining to the fall of Adam. Hence, all shall rise from the dead with immortal bodies, because of Jesus’ atonement…The atonement is conditional, however, so far as each person’s individual sins are concerned, and touches every one to the degree that he has faith in Jesus Christ, repents of his sins, and obeys the gospel” (Bible Dictionary: Atonement).

We know, however, that not everyone was joyful about the news, nor did everyone accept the Father’s plan. We had agency in the premortal world, just as we have it now. Joseph Fielding Smith taught, “God gave his children their free agency even in the spirit world, by which the individual spirits had the privilege, just as men have here, of choosing the good and rejecting the evil, of partaking of the evil to suffer the consequences of their sins. Because of this, some even there were more faithful than others in keeping the commandments of the Lord” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:58-59).

We know through the scriptures that Lucifer turned,

“a third part of the hosts of heaven…away from [our Father in Heaven] because of their agency;

And they were thrust down, and thus came the devil and his angels;” (Doctrine &Covenants 29:36-37).

These spirits, just as we, lived in the presence of God, the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. They were given the opportunity to make a conscious, informed choice, and made their choice knowing full well what the consequence would be.

Elder Tad R. Callister, in his book The Infinite Atonement noted that, “All premortal spirits commenced their spirit sojourn innocent (i.e., meaning free from sin), but all such spirits lost their innocence through individual sin” (Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p77). He also reminds us that, “the two-thirds that remained were not all equal in their allegiance and obedience to God. At their spiritual birth they were ‘on the same standing as their brethren’, but through the laws of agency each spirit advanced at his own rate so that only some became ‘noble and great ones’” (Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p76-77).

Birth

From our premortal life, we came down to our second estate on earth, through the miracle of birth. A veil of forgetfulness was placed over our memories so that we would have to live by faith in this life. In the Book of Mormon Alma taught that, “this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors” (Alma 34:32). And from the Book of Abraham we learn that we are here on earth to be tested, and “to see if [we] will do all things whatsoever the Lord [our] God shall command [us]. And they who keep their first estate [that is to be obedient in the premortal existence] shall be added upon; … and they who keep their second estate [that is, to be obedient during mortal life] shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.” (Abraham 3:25-26). Of these verses Elder Richard G. Scott stated,

“So that the period of mortal testing and growth would yield its greatest benefit, you were taught and prepared for the circumstances you would personally encounter in mortality. Our Father’s pattern for guiding you through mortal life was explained. …God would give each child moral agency, the right to choose His counsel or to ignore it. All would be encouraged but not forced to obey. You understood that while you could choose your path on earth, you could not determine the outcome of your choices. That would be decided by eternal law” (Richard G. Scott, “Truth Restored”, Ensign, November 2005).

Mortality

We are now here in mortality. We have some glimpses of what happened before this life, but we were sent here to live by faith and to use our agency to learn for ourselves; to choose between good and evil, right and wrong, and sometimes between something good and something even better.

This life is a time where we will be tried and tested, again and again. The adversary is very aware of who we are, and who we can become; he and his minions do not have a veil covering their memories. But the Lord does not either. And, with Him at our side we can succeed because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Understanding the Atonement of Jesus Christ is essential to our eternal success on this earth. As we come to understand the power that is available to us through the Atonement, not just the power to repent but also the power to change, we can gain confidence as we make our journey back to our Father in Heaven.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, “God knew the challenges [those in mortality] would face, and He certainly knew how lonely and troubled they would sometimes feel. So He watched over His mortal family constantly, heard their prayers always, and sent prophets (and later apostles) to teach, counsel, and guide them” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Ministry of Angels”, Ensign, Nov 2008).

Through miracles too numerous to be counted we have the fullness of the gospel on the earth. The gospel of Jesus Christ was restored by Jesus Christ, through the prophet Joseph Smith. We have the Priesthood restored to the earth through which we can make covenants that will help us on our path back to our Father in Heaven. In fact, we have everything that we will need to make it back to Him, if we will do what He asks and endure to the end.

Lorenzo Snow taught, “The Lord has placed before us incentives of the grandest character. In the revelations which God has given, we find what a person can reach who will travel this path of knowledge and be guided by the Spirit of God. I had not been in this Church [very long] when it was clearly shown to me what a man could reach through a continued obedience to the Gospel of the Son of God. That knowledge has been as a star continually before me, and has caused me to be particular in trying to do that which was right and acceptable to God” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, “Chapter 5: The Grand Destiny of the Faithful”).

Death

Our days are known to the Lord, and when our time on this earth is done we will pass into the spirit world. Brigham Young taught the following about our life after this one,

“We shall turn round and look upon [the valley of death] and think, when we have crossed it, why this is the greatest advantage of my whole existence, for I have passed from a state of sorrow, grief, mourning, woe, misery, pain, anguish and disappointment into a state of existence, where I can enjoy life to the fullest extent as far as that can be done without a body. My spirit is set free, I thirst no more, I want to sleep no more, I hunger no more, I tire no more, I run, I walk, I labor, I go, I come, I do this, I do that, whatever is required of me, nothing like pain or weariness, I am full of life, full of vigor, and I enjoy the presence of my heavenly Father” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 17:142; quoted in Doctrines Of The Gospel Student Manual, “Chapter 30: Death And The Postmortal Spirit World”).

What a marvelous day, when that time comes.

One of my favorite scriptures is found in the book of Alma, where Alma is speaking to his son Corianton. He said, “Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life” (Alma 40:11, emphasis added). We have a loving Father in Heaven who is watching over each of us, and will be there to welcome us home. President Ezra Taft Benson also taught that, “Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar His face is to us” (Ezra Taft Benson, "Jesus Christ—Gifts and Expectations", Ensign, December 1988). I am looking forward to that day, even though I know it is probably many years away.

In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma describes two divisions among spirits in the Spirit World. We usually refer to these divisions as Spirit Paradise and Spirit Prison.

Bruce R. McConckie described Spirit Paradise as follows: “Paradise—the abode of righteous spirits, as they await the day of their resurrection; paradise—a place of peace and rest where the sorrows and trials of his life have been shuffled off, and where the saints continue to prepare for a celestial heaven; paradise—not the Lord’s eternal kingdom, but a way station along the course leading to eternal life” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, 4:222). 

We have learned the following about Spirit Prison: 

“The Apostle Peter referred to the postmortal spirit world as a prison, which it is for some. In the spirit prison are the spirits of those who have not yet received the gospel of Jesus Christ. These spirits have agency and may be enticed by both good and evil. If they accept the gospel and the ordinances performed for them in the temples, they may leave the spirit prison and dwell in paradise.

“Also in the spirit prison are those who rejected the gospel after it was preached to them either on earth or in the spirit prison. These spirits suffer in a condition known as hell. They have removed themselves from the mercy of Jesus Christ” (Gospel Principles, “Chapter 41: The Postmortal Spirit World”).

Through the restoration of the gospel we know that, “Through the work we do in temples, all people who have lived on the earth can have an equal opportunity to receive the fulness of the gospel and the ordinances of salvation so they can inherit a place in the highest degree of celestial glory” (Gospel Principles, “Chapter 46: The Final Judgment”).

“The spirit world is a place of waiting, working, learning, and, for the righteous, resting from care and sorrow. Our spirits will live there until we are ready for our resurrection”. (Gospel Principles, “Chapter 41: The Postmortal Spirit World”)..

Resurrection

After some amount of time in the spirit world all will be resurrected. In the Bible Dictionary it states, “All will not be raised to the same glory in the resurrection nor will all come forth at the same time. Christ was first; the righteous have precedence over the wicked, and come forth in the first resurrection, whereas the unrepentant sinners come forth in the last resurrection….

“The resurrection consists in the uniting of a spirit body with a body of flesh and bones, never again to be divided. The resurrection shall come to all, because of Christ’s victory over death….[A] resurrection means to become immortal, without blood, yet with a body of flesh and bone. To obtain a resurrection with a celestial, exalted body is the center point of hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Bible Dictionary: Resurrection).

Judgment

In the scriptures we read that all of us will be judged. In the Book of Revelation, John records, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:12). Joseph Smith explained that these books refer to, “the books which contained the record of [our] works, and refer to the records which are kept on the earth. And the book which was the book of life is the record which is kept in heaven;” (Doctrine & Covenants 128:7).

Alma explains that not only will we be judged according to our works, but also our words, and our thoughts (see Alma 12:14). And, lest we think we can hide anything from the Lord, Nephi teaches that Jesus Christ will be, “the keeper of the gate…and he employeth no servant there [and] he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name” (2 Nephi 9:41).

In Gospel Principles we read, “There is another record that will be used to judge us. The Apostle Paul taught that we ourselves are a record of our life. Stored in our body and mind is a complete history of everything we have done. President John Taylor taught this truth: “[The individual] tells the story himself, and bears witness against himself. … That record that is written by the man himself in the tablets of his own mind, that record that cannot lie will in that day be unfolded before God and angels, and those who shall sit as judges” (Gospel Principles, “Chapter 46: The Final Judgment”).

Depending on how we have chosen to live our lives in mortality will determine which kingdom of glory we will inherit. The Doctrine and Covenants specifies three kingdoms of glory: the Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial.

Those in the Celestial Kingdom are those who “received the testimony of Jesus…believed on his name and were baptized…[kept] the commandments…[received] the Holy Ghost...[overcame] by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise” (Doctrine & Covenants 76:51-53). These are those who were sealed as husband and wife in the Holy Temple, and kept the covenants therein. These are those who are obedient and valiant in their testimony of Jesus Christ. “These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever” (Doctrine & Covenants 76:62).

Bruce R. McConkie gives quite a detailed description of what it means to be valiant in the testimony of Jesus. He said,

“Now what does it mean to be valiant in the testimony of Jesus?

“It is to be courageous and bold; to use all our strength, energy, and ability in the warfare with the world; to fight the good fight of faith. ‘Be strong and of a good courage,’ the Lord commanded Joshua, and then specified that this strength and courage consisted of meditating upon and observing to do all that is written in the law of the Lord. The great cornerstone of valiance in the cause of righteousness is obedience to the whole law of the whole gospel.

“To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to ‘come unto Christ, and be perfected in him’; it is to deny ourselves ‘of all ungodliness,’ and ‘love God’ with all our ‘might, mind and strength.’

“To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to believe in Christ and his gospel with unshakable conviction. It is to know of the verity and divinity of the Lord’s work on earth.

“But this is not all. It is more than believing and knowing. We must be doers of the word and not hearers only. It is more than lip service; it is not simply confessing with the mouth the divine Sonship of the Savior. It is obedience and conformity and personal righteousness. ‘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.’

“To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to ‘press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.’ It is to ‘endure to the end.’ It is to live our religion, to practice what we preach, to keep the commandments. It is the manifestation of ‘pure religion’ in the lives of men; it is visiting ‘the fatherless and widows in their affliction’ and keeping ourselves ‘unspotted from the world.’

“To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to bridle our passions, control our appetites, and rise above carnal and evil things. It is to overcome the world as did he who is our prototype and who himself was the most valiant of all our Father’s children. It is to be morally clean, to pay our tithes and offerings, to honor the Sabbath day, to pray with full purpose of heart, to lay our all upon the altar if called upon to do so.

“To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to take the Lord’s side on every issue. It is to vote as he would vote. It is to think what he thinks, to believe what he believes, to say what he would say and do what he would do in the same situation. It is to have the mind of Christ and be one with him as he is one with his Father.” (Bruce R. McConkie, “Be Valiant in theFight”, Ensign, November 1974).

That is a tall order, and can only be accomplished by relying consistently and continually on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. But, those who do this, “shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths…. Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power” (Doctrine & Covenants 132:19-20).

That is our goal.

We know the following about those who will inherit the Terrestrial Kingdom. “These are they who rejected the gospel on earth but afterward received it in the spirit world. These are the honorable people on the earth who were blinded to the gospel of Jesus Christ by the craftiness of men. These are also they who received the gospel and a testimony of Jesus but then were not valiant” (Gospel Principles, “Chapter 46: The Final Judgment”). This would include those members of the church who are not valiant in their testimony of Jesus Christ.

We know that hard times are ahead for us, before the Second Coming of the Savior. In the early days of the church, Heber C. Kimball said, “The Saints will be put to tests that will try the integrity of the best of them” (as quoted by Ezra Taft Benson, “May the Kingdom of God Go Forth”, Ensign, May 1978). And more recently, President Russell M. Nelson reminded us,

“[D]ifficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord ‘shall suffer persecution.’ That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives.

“How you deal with life’s trials is part of the development of your faith. Strength comes when you remember that you have a divine nature, an inheritance of infinite worth” (Russell M. Nelson, "Face the Future with Faith", Ensign, May 2011).

How we deal with our trials will also be a determining factor in where we go after this life.

The lowest Kingdom of Glory is the Telestial Kingdom. In the Doctrine & Covenants we read,

“These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus.

“These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit….

“These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie” (Doctrine & Covenants 76:82-83, 103).

Those who do not inherit a kingdom of glory will be cast into what is referred to as outer darkness. Regarding them, in the Doctrine & Covenants, the voice of the Lord was recorded as saying,

“Thus saith the Lord concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves through the power of the devil to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy my power—

“They are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born;

“For they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity;

“Concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come—

“Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame.

“These are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels—

“And the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power” (Doctrine & Covenants 76:31-37).

I don’t think this means those who have a testimony, and failed to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, or those of us who make poor choices more often than we want to admit.

This is for those who knew God, had a witness of Him, but rather than relying on the power of the Atonement, these are they who allowed themselves, through their agency, to be overcome by the power of the devil, and follow him as their master.

Alma puts it this way, “But behold, an awful death cometh upon the wicked; for they die as to things pertaining to things of righteousness; for they are unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God; but they are cast out, and consigned to partake of the fruits of their labors or their works, which have been evil; and they drink the dregs of a bitter cup” (Alma 40:26).

Where we end up after this life is determined by our choices here on earth. The Lord’s Plan of Happiness is a plan of agency. Our agency.

Eternities

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said this about the Plan of Salvation.

“The Savior’s sacrifice opened the door of salvation for all to return to God. His ‘grace is sufficient for all [who] humble themselves before [God].’ His grace is the enabling power that allows access into God’s kingdoms of salvation. Because of His grace, we will all be resurrected and saved in a kingdom of glory.

“Even the lowest kingdom of glory, the telestial kingdom, “surpasses all understanding,” and numberless people will inherit this salvation.

“But the Savior’s grace can do much more for us. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we aspire to something unimaginably greater. It is exaltation in the celestial kingdom. It is life eternal in the presence of our Father in Heaven. It is the greatest gift of God. In the celestial kingdom, we receive ‘of his fulness, and of his glory.’ Indeed, all that the Father hath shall be given unto us” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “It Works Wonderfully!”, Ensign, November 2015).

How grateful I am to have the Plan of Salvation. To know where I came from, and that I’m a daughter of God; why I’m here on earth, the steps I need to take to return to my Father in Heaven, and what comes after this life. How grateful I am for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the strength and support it provides to me each day; when I remember to ask. I know that God lives, that He loves us, and watches over us. He will give us the experiences we need to progress toward perfection and our destiny as heirs of eternal life if we will let him.

The Hastening of the Work of the Lord

When the Prophet Joseph Smith was in Kirtland, Ohio, the Lord told him, “Behold, I will hasten my work in its time” (Doctrine & Covenants 88:73). Since that time we have seen the hand of the Lord moving forth His work. We don’t always understand the way He goes about doing things but we can trust that He is in charge. As President Gordon B. Hinckley stated,

“God is at the helm. Never doubt it. When we are confronted with opposition, He will open the way when there appears to be no way. Our individual efforts may be humble and appear somewhat insignificant. But the accumulated good works of all, laboring together with a common purpose, will bring to pass great and wondrous accomplishments” (Gordon B. Hinkley, “God is at the Helm”, Ensign, May 1994).

Examples of the work of the Lord can be found in the scriptures. In Moses, the Lord Himself explained His work, “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Other examples of His work include missionary work, temple work, and the work of serving His children here on earth.

In Isaiah we read that, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). We have seen the fulfillment of that prophecy in many ways. I will only list three relatively recent examples.

In 1961 construction on the Berlin Wall was started. “The Berlin Wall [was] a barrier that divided Berlin…Constructed by the German Democratic Republic…the wall completely cut off (by land) West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin” (wikipedia: Berlin Wall). Garold and Norma Davis wrote about the struggles of the church members in the area, and the ray of hope of the Lord preparing a way for the opening of the doors to the gospel again:

“During this time of darkness and difficulty, an event took place that later proved to be a turning point for the Church in the German Democratic Republic. On 9–10 November 1968, mission president Stanley D. Rees of the North German Mission and his wife visited the GDR, bringing with them Elder Thomas S. Monson of the Quorum of the Twelve. Sister Krause recalls: “He [Elder Monson] was so young we thought he was a missionary, because the Mission Presidents often brought missionaries with them when they came.” At a meeting in Gorlitz, Elder Monson promised the Saints of eastern Germany they would have all the blessings other members of the Church enjoyed. Although outward events of the “cold war” in the German Democratic Republic did not seem to be altered immediately, subtle changes began taking place within the Church in that country—slowly at first, but accelerating over the next twenty years.

"On 27 April 1975, on a hilltop overlooking the Elbe River between Dresden and Meissen, President Monson dedicated the German Democratic Republic for the preaching of the gospel. On 24 August 1977, President Spencer W. Kimball spoke to the saints in the Dresden chapel, the chapel that had been converted after the war from an officers’ casino. In August 1982, the Freiberg stake was created. On 23 April 1983, ground was broken in Freiberg for a temple. In June 1984, the Leipzig stake was created, and in 1985, the Freiberg Temple was dedicated. Permission was given to build new chapels for the saints: in Freiberg, alongside the temple; in Leipzig; in Zwickau; in Dresden; and in Karl-Marx-Stadt.

“Finally, in October 1988, it was announced that after fifty years, full-time missionaries would once again be permitted to come from outside the country to establish a mission. A brighter day was majestically dawning over the German Democratic Republic” (Garold & Norma Davis, “Behind the Wall: The Church in EasternGermany (Part 1: Saints in Isolation, 1945–1989)).

It was in November of 1989 that “the East German government announced…that all GDR citizens could visit West Germany and West Berlin. Crowds of East Germans crossed and climbed onto the wall, joined by West Germans on the other side in a celebratory atmosphere” (wikipedia: Berlin Wall). Despite the physical barriers that were in place, the Lord was able to work with the faithful saints to further His work behind the wall.

Another example of the Lord hastening His work occurred in June of 1978. It was at this time that the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaimed that, “all worthy male members of the Church [could] be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color” (Doctrine & Covenants; OfficialDeclaration #2). Since that time the priesthood, together with all the blessings available through it, has continued to spread throughout the earth.

The People’s Republic of China is another example of the Lord hastening His work. Even as recent as 2013, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke about the country of China and the work of the Lord there. He said, "The church has no proselyting missionaries in the People's Republic of China…Nor does it have any plans to send missionaries, or to engage in any proselyting activities in China.” (Deseret News, “New LDS site answers questions about Mormons andChina”, 15 March 2013).

On the Church’s website about Mormons and China it states that, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not one of the five recognized religions in China” (www.mormonsandchina.org). However, there is an LDS temple there—in Hong Kong. Elder Monte J. Brough and Elder John K. Carmack explain,

“In 1898 Hong Kong became a British colony with the signing of a 99-year lease, expiring June 30, 1997. In December 1984, British and Chinese authorities signed a declaration confirming that the British government would hand over Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China on July 1, 1997” (Elder Monte J. Brough and ElderJohn K. Carmack, How the Hong Kong Temple Came to Be, Ensign, December 2006).

Through a series of miraculous events, a temple was built in Hong Kong, and dedicated in May 1996, so when Hong Kong was returned to the People’s Republic of China in 1997 the temple went with it.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has members living in China, but they are encouraged to obey the laws of the land (see Articles of Faith 1:12). “Over the years, the Church has built a strong relationship of trust with the People’s Republic of China by always respecting the important laws and traditions of that country" (www.mormonsandchina.org). The Church is observing Chinese laws and directions on religious activities by not allowing access to this website, containing religious information, to those in China.

The work of the Lord will continue to go forth, and it will be interesting to see how things will work out with the gospel spreading to all parts of the earth. I know that the Lord is at the helm, and in charge of His work. As Joseph Smith stated,

“[T]he Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540).

Personal Experience with Reading the Book of Mormon

I have read the Book of Mormon multiple times in my life. A few years ago I realized that sometimes I didn’t really get much out of my scripture reading. I remember a talk by President Ezra Taft Benson in which he talked about reasons for reading the Book of Mormon. He said,

“It helps us draw nearer to God. Is there not something deep in our hearts that longs to draw nearer to God, to be more like Him in our daily walk, to feel His presence with us constantly? If so, then the Book of Mormon will help us do so more than any other book.

It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path.” (Ezra Taft Benson, "The Book of Mormon-Keystone of Our Religion", Ensign, Nov 1986).

Marion G. Romney also spoke of the power that comes from a regular study of the Book of Mormon when he said:

“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness.” (Marion G. Romney, "The Book of Mormon", Ensign, May 1980).

I decided that I was going to test these promises, and make a daily, intentional, study of the book of Mormon. When I first started, I was a little worried because I generally read right before bed. I didn't think I could get much out of it, and I was also worried that staying up later to read would not be as beneficial as sleep. I knelt down and explained to the Lord that I wanted to read the scriptures, but I would really need His help to get something out of what I was reading, and also that I would have help to be functional in the morning - especially with my later night readings.

As a young mother, I was often very tired, and my emotions were high. About a month after starting this experiment I had a really rough day. When I talked to my husband about my troubles he said that he was surprised about me having a rough day, because for the past month there had been such a wonderful feeling in our home. I feel that has been a tremendous blessing from reading the Book of Mormon. It has given me the courage to keep reading every day because I know that the Lord will continue to support me. One thing I have learned is when I remember to ask the Lord, he is there to help.

Photo Thought: Faith in the Face of Trial

"[I]f now or on some future day, you look around and see that other perhaps less-devoted acquaintances are succeeding in their jobs when you just lost yours; if major illness puts you on your back just at the moment critical tasks of service seem to come calling; if a call to a prominent position goes to someone else…if well-meaning efforts still somehow lead to disaster with a fellow ward member, a neighbor, or an investigator; if news from home brings word of financial setback or mortal tragedy you can do nothing about; or if, day after day, you simply feel like a bland and beaten background player in a gospel drama that really seems made for the happiness of others, just know this: many such things were the lot of Joseph Smith himself at the very moment he was being led to the stage of the single most transcendent thing to happen on this earth since the events of Golgotha and the Garden Tomb nearly 2,000 years earlier.

"'But,' you may say, 'my life and earthly destiny will never be like that of the Prophet Joseph.'

"That probably is true. But it is also true that your lives do matter to God, and your eternal potential and that of every soul you will meet is no less grand and significant than that of the Prophet Joseph himself. Thus, just like our beloved Joseph, you must never give up, give in, or give out when life in general…gets utterly painful, confusing, or dull. Rather, as Paul teaches, you must see that 'all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose'.

“Just as He did with young Joseph Smith, God is shaping and directing you every single day to ends more glorious than you can know!"

(Matthew Holland, "The Path to Palmyra", Ensign, June 2015)

Photo Thought: Faith to Try

How to Keep On Keeping On

There has been a lot going on in my life lately that has left me with a lot of unknowns; many unanswered questions, unknown paths to take, uncertainty about different, and potentially difficult, decisions, and a feeling that change is on the horizon. I’ve been praying, reading my scriptures, trying to do all the right things to receive guidance and direction, but not feeling the answers as readily as I used to. Did I do something to separate myself from heaven, or is this a test to see what I will do with the knowledge and understanding the Lord has given me? How do I continue moving forward when I don’t have a clear direction on the path I need to take?

In this most recent General Conference Elder L. Whiteny Clayton told a story about a little girl who had to face almost insurmountable challenges. I love how he described the process she followed:

"After the crash, Sailor had a choice. She could have chosen to stay by the airplane in the dark, alone and afraid. But there was a long night ahead, and it was just going to get colder. She chose another way. Sailor climbed up a hill, and there she saw a light on the horizon.

"Gradually, as she made her way through the night toward the light, it grew brighter. Still, there must have been times when she could not see it. Perhaps it went out of view when she was in a ravine or behind trees or bushes, but she pressed on. Whenever she could see the light, Sailor had evidence that she was on the right path. She did not yet know precisely what that light was, but she kept walking toward it based on what she knew, trusting and hoping that she would see it again if she kept moving in the right direction” (L. Whitney Clayton, “Choose to Believe”, Ensign, May 2015).

She chose to act, despite her circumstances. 

In my own life I have found that I feel most frustrated, or spiritually stagnated, when I feel helpless or feel that I don’t have any control over a situation. Escaping that mindset can sometimes be difficult to overcome. Each of us has been blessed with the God given gift of agency. We always have a choice. 

While seeking for guidance I found a quote which gave me some direction. It said, “Doctrines and principles are eternal, unchanging gospel truths that provide direction for our lives” (Book of Mormon: Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students, p2).

When I read this it gave me hope. I felt that in my struggles, or spiritual stagnation, or feeling no clear direction or guidance I could seek to find—and more fully live—the doctrines and principles of the gospel. By so doing I would be moving in the right direction until I had a solid foothold again. 

In Sunday School today our teacher spoke about having courage; courage to keep moving forward despite obstacles and challenges; courage to live the gospel despite opposition; courage to make good decisions—the consequences and effects of which will follow us throughout our lives. President Monson taught,

"Scarcely an hour of the day goes by but what we are called upon to make choices of one sort or another. Some are trivial, some more far-reaching. Some will make no difference in the eternal scheme of things, and others will make all the difference…

"[W]e all know where we want to go, and it does matter which way we go, for by choosing our path, we choose our destination.

"Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed—the courage to say no, the courage to say yes. Decisions do determine destiny.

"I plead with you to make a determination right here, right now, not to deviate from the path which will lead to our goal: eternal life with our Father in Heaven” (Thomas S. Monson, “The Three Rs of Choice”, Ensign, Nov 2010).

Many times in life we will need to make decisions, without specific guidance from the Lord. Why does that happen and how do we proceed? Elder Richard G. Scott said,

"When we explain a problem and a proposed solution [to the Lord in prayer], sometimes He answers yes, sometimes no. Often He withholds an answer, not for lack of concern, but because He loves us—perfectly. He wants us to apply truths He has given us. For us to grow, we need to trust our ability to make correct decisions” (Richard G. Scott, “Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer”, Ensign, Nov 1989, emphasis added).

Moving forward into the darkness—or the unknown, waiting to catch a glimpse of the light requires faith. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught, "We take one step at a time. In doing so we reach toward the unknown, but faith lights the way. If we will cultivate that faith, we shall never walk in darkness” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “We Walk by Faith”, Ensign, May 2002).

I love the counsel that the Lord gave Joshua, as he is preparing to lead the children of Israel out of the wilderness and into the promised land. "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9).

Even during difficult times in life we must always remember that the Lord is ever aware of us. He is watching over us, and those things that we are experiencing "shall be for [our] good” (Doctrine & Covenants 122:7). This life is a test, and at times we may need to walk in darkness. When we feel that way, may we trust that the Lord is ever watchful of us, and that His ever-present hand is in our lives, even if we are unable to see it at times.