D&C 105:1-5

105:1-5 - The Lord makes a very interesting delineation in verse 2 that I think is important. He says that Zion hasn’t not been redeemed because of transgression, which leads me back to my question, just how wicked are they? But He clarifies that he’s “speaking concerning the church and not individuals.” This was nice for me to see that it wasn’t everyone, that there righteous people there and that the Lord recognized that. The IM quotes President Lorenzo Snow as teaching, “the Saints in Jackson County and other localities, refused to comply with the order of consecration, consequently they were allowed to be driven from their inheritances; and should not return until they were better prepared to keep the law of God, by being more perfectly taught in reference to their duties, and learn through experience the necessity of obedience. And I think we are not justified in anticipating the privilege of returning to build up the center stake of Zion, until we shall have shown obedience to the law of consecration. One thing, however, is certain, we shall not be permitted to enter the land from whence we were expelled, till our hearts are prepared to honor this law, and we become sanctified through the practice of the truth.”  So if they are not living the law enough for inherit Zion at this point, what principles do we have to live? The Lord says that it is the law of the celestial kingdom.” The IM explains this saying, “The Saints in Missouri were not successful in living a celestial law and se were not qualified to establish Zion. Failure to control their hearts cut them off form God’s full power and kept them from prevailing over their enemies. This is the concept the Lord tried to teach them when He said, ‘This is Zion- THE PUREIN HEART.’ Only when our hearts are pure can we understand and live celestial law. Celestial law, according to Elder Bruce R. McConkie, ‘is the law of the gospel, the law of Christ, and it qualified men for admission to the celestial kingdom because in and through it men are ‘sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost,’ thus becoming clean, pure, and spotless.’ Elder McConkie also said: ‘If a man obeys celestial law in this life, he obtains a celestial body and spirit.’ This enables the individual to live in unity of God and others. Elder Joseph F. Smith explained: ‘Those who profess to be Latter-day Saints must become acquainted with the laws of the celestial kingdom, must abide by them, must comply with the requirements of heaven and hearken to the word of the Lord, in order that Zion may be built up acceptably, and that we may partake of the benefits and blessings of this labor. For it is a labor which devolves upon those who have been called out from the midst of the world in this dispensation. We have been called, and so far as we will be faithful we are chosen to do this work. But notwithstanding we have been called, if we do not prove faithful we will be rejected. I do not speak this in reference to the whole Church, but in reference to individual members of the Church.’” I don’t really feel very good, so I’m going to call it a day.