4. 88:14 The Savior brings the resurrection which brings a fullness of joy – you can’t have a fullness of joy without your spirit and body united according to D&C 138 and 45.
Without a testimony of death, a testimony of resurrection has little meaning. So to truly want and understand the resurrection, you need to see death.
I will never forget the few times in my life I have come face to face with the death of those that I love. These experiences will never leave me… many students will relate with this although this is a very tender subject. I remember the few times I have experienced the death of loved ones I have felt such finality and asked myself, “what power can right this wrong? How can this ever be fixed?”
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin stated: “Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays. But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come. No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, in this life or the next, Sunday will come.” (Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Dark Friday, Bright Sunday,” New Era, Mar. 2008, 4)
Is there any power in all of the universe that can right this wrong and heal this grief? And the spirit whispers – “I am the resurrection and the life… whoso believeth this shall never die”
The resurrection of the dead is the redemption of the soul of man. This is a wonderful thing he has done, the bringing of the resurrection of every child of God.
5. 88:17-18 The Savior beautifies, celestializes all of creation. All creation will be resurrected and filled with glory. Even your pets will rise in the resurrection- the Savior cares about every creeping thing (see D&C 77).
6. 88:21 The Savior is the giver of celestial law and an example of a celestial being.
You have to live a celestial law- this balances the idea that you just have to “do your best” If you just teach that we do all that we can and then the Savior “makes up the difference” you miss the entire teaching of the necessity of living celestial law. I cannot make it to the celestial kingdom if I am not willing to live a celestial law. Where do I learn to do this? Right now in mortality – today!
Where do I find celestial law? Sermon on the Mount- you can also find it right here in D&C 88… does it include not sleeping longer than is needful? What about finding fault with others? Celestial attitudes and behaviors are outlined in D&C 88.
88:28 there seems to be a relationship between three ideas – if I live a celestial law, I have a celestial spirit, and if I continue in this I will receive a celestial body in the resurrection.
88:28-32 Different levels … quickened by a portion – I think that these verses suggest that there is progression beyond the resurrection. I don’t get the fullness of celestial glory at the resurrection, but I progress until I can receive the fullness over time. I like that idea.
88:34-35 – if you do it the Lord’s way, you get the Lord’s reward or blessing. If you do it your way you get your reward. Who’s reward do you want? Yours or his?
How do you illustrate this? Your reward or His reward? There are several examples of individuals and nations that went about things “their own way” and not the Lord’s way:
1. Judas
2. Korihor
3. Coriantumr
4. 4th Nephi people – living after the manner of happiness- they chose to live His way
88:38-40 You cleave to the type of person you are becoming. This is a very relevant issue for the youth. You want a person who will love the Lord and treat you the right way? You be that type of person. You have restored to you what you have lived. See Alma 41:11-12 – you can’t put a terrestrial being in a telestial environment, it cannot stand it there. Verse 14 – be merciful, deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually- you shall have mercy restored unto you again… it is so good to be able to see both sides of an issue and make the right call.
If you want a celestial glory, you need to live a celestial law.