Eternal Life: It's So Simple

   When you think on it, obtaining eternal life, which means to live in the presence of God in a state of never-ending happiness with our families, is pretty simple. There is a difference between simple and easy. I never said it was easy, but simple? Yes. Why do I say it is simple? Because we have the road map to eternal life right in front of us.

   God tells us several times in the scriptures how to obtain eternal life. In the book of 2 Nephi, chapter 31, it says 

"And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son. 

And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do... 

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." (2 Nephi 31:11-12, 20)

   We have that promise right there.  We shall have eternal life. All we have to do is repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, have faith in Christ, and then endure to the end. It's the only way. But how do we endure to the end? It is simple. This process called the "Doctrine of Christ" which you have seen me mention before (faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end) is actually a cycle. It doesn't end once we are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. We start over. We try to increase our faith even more. We do that by reading the scriptures and coming to church. We always need to be repenting. We are not perfect. None of us are.

 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:8-10). 

   Since we can't really be baptized again, we renew the covenants we made at baptism every Sunday when we take the sacrament. That's how we keep living the cycle. We must go to church every Sunday to fully live the doctrine of Christ. As we take the sacrament to renew that baptismal covenant, we are promised the companionship of the Holy Ghost. So you see? It all fits together. 

   This is a cycle that never ends. We must always be striving to make ourselves better. As we do that, the Atonement of Jesus Christ takes over the rest. Christ is our Advocate with the Father. In Spanish, it says that He is our "abogado." Which means "lawyer." He fights for our side, defends us and will convince the Father that we are worthy to merit eternal life and glory. The question is, are we worthy?

A Land of Promise

   I like to make my blogs appropriate to the time of year or season. Even though I will post this after the holiday, we need not one single day to remember and recognize the greatness and potential this country has. This country was founded on Christian principles. I have done my "homework" on the Founding Fathers and yes, they were all self-proclaimed Christians. They were not just simply "deists" as the school textbooks will say. They were open about their belief in Christ. At one time, this nation had Christian morals...Oh how the times have changed...
   Everything happens for a reason. It was no coincidence that Columbus found this land, it was no coincidence that this land was destined to be free, it was no coincidence that a rag-tag team of American colonists defeated highly trained and far superior British troops to win their independence. God's hand is in all things.  In the Book of Mormon, it talks much of the American continent and the future freedoms it would have. This is only appropriate because America is the actual setting of the Book of Mormon. In Ether 9:23-25, it states:

"Wherefore … it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain–and the work, yea, even work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.
Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; …
For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; … for it is built up by the devil. "

This land was meant to be free. And anything that is done to hinder or take away from these freedoms is the works of the devil himself. So why is this country suffering? 2 Nephi 1:7 can tell us:

"  7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever."

It is only a land of liberty if  we keep the commandments of God. He will maintain this country as free so long as we remember Him. So as long as we keep making everyone work on Sunday, which is supposed to be the Sabbath Day, fall into sin such as alcohol, drugs and fornications, then this land will keep getting worse and worse. But the opposite is true as well, God's hand is over this nation. But He will only bless us and protect this nation if we keep His commandments.