Elder Russel M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said: “Because one’s spirit is so important, its development is of eternal consequence. It is strengthened as we communicate in humble prayer with our Loving Heavenly Father.[i]
The attributes by which we shall be judged one day are all spiritual.[ii footnotes (below)] These include love, virtue, integrity, compassion, and service to others. [iii below] Your spirit coupled with and housed in your body, is able to develop and manifest these attributes in ways that are vital to your eternal progression. [iv] & [v]. Spiritual progress is attained through the steps of faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, including the endowment and sealing ordinances of the holy temple.[vi]
Just as the body requires daily food for survival, the spirit needs nourishment as well. The spirit is nurtured by eternal truth. It has not been long since we celebrated the 400th anniversary of the King James translation of the Holy Bible. And we have had the Book of Mormon for nearly 200 years…. Because of these and other precious scriptures, we know God is our Eternal Father and that his Son Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. For these spiritual gifts, thanks be to God!
We know that prophets of many dispensations such as Adam, Noah, Moses, and Abraham, all taught of the divinity of our Heavenly Father and of Jesus Christ. Our present dispensation was introduced by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, when They appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1820. The Church was organized in 1830. We remain under covenant today to take the Gospel to ‘every nation, kindred, tongue, and people”. [vi] (see [vi] below also) As we do so, both givers and receiver will be blessed.
Ours is the responsibility to teach His children and awaken in them an awareness of God. Long ago King Benjamin said, “Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created, all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth;… “… Believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.” [vii]
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but we are not. Each day ours is the challenge to access the power of the Atonement, so that we can truly change, become more Christlike, and qualify for the gift of exaltation and live eternally with God, Jesus Christ, and our families.[viii] For these powers, privileges, and gospel gifts, thanks be to God!” ~ from Elder Russell M. Nelson’s book ‘Accomplishing the Impossible’ p.41-43, Deseret Book Company, 2015
[ii] The spirit, not the body, is the active, responsible component of the soul. Without the spirit the body is dead (see James 2:26). It is the spirit, therefore that chooses good or evil and will be held accountable for both the positive and negative attributes it possesses at the final judgement (see Alma 41:3-7).
[iii] Spiritual attributes also include “faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, [and] diligence” (Doctrine and Covenants 4:6)
[vi] continued… 1 Nephi 19:17, 2 Nephi 26:13; Mosiah 3:20; 15:28; 16:1; Alma 37:4… (and many more)
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