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This is a talk from an unknown person found in Italy in an apartment of the elders. In my opinion is worth to take a look, I enjoyed reading it.
Three Dimensions in the Mortality
And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things
whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
Abraham 3:25
The perfection that we are challenged to obtain it is not the product of chance, but
it is the result of a deep inner change that it will happen progressively, when a person
follows the divine plan. However, because the plan must succeed, special conditions must
exist in this mortal estate. The 3 followings characteristics are inherited because of the
fallen of Adam and Eve. Not only because of their transgression but also because of what
we ourselves choose to do, Those choices bring us the terrible problem of a
spiritual death.
1 a world of opposition.
2 Nephi 2:11
For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things
Everything of in our second estate exists in terms of contrast, in terms of opposition.
"Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one"
That is that no element around us exists alone, for itself, but like a component, or
element of an opposing pair. It is essential that we comprehend this,
because:"wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no
life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense
nor insensibility....... Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught;
wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation."
Each element of life has its significance and take origin from the fact it is
part of an opposing pair, like righteousness and wickedness, happiness
and unhappiness good the evil see (2 Nephi 2:11). The fascinating
characteristic of this opposing pair is that the one can't exist without the
other.At the same time, one cannot be taken away without necessarily taken
away the other.. It is here that we see the importance of the tie between those 2
elements. If good and evil were independent and existed for themselves, mankind
could maybe do good and evil at the same time. But the link demands that if
you choose one you cannot choose the other. In other words they are strictly incompatible,
since mankind can't serve God and Mammon at the same time see (Matthew 6:24)
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else
he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
It is quite interesting to note that the same structure of strict opposition was present
in the garden of Eden 2 Nephi 2:15
it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to
the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.
The result of choosing of the forbidden fruit was to universalize the mortal estate
of opposition.
The knowledge of good and evil.
While we are living in the context of sharp and absolute opposition, it is necessary
for us to identify this opposition and understand the difference between good and evil.
Eating the fruit of the tree in the garden gave to Adam this knowledge. (Genesis 1:11).
This made Adam and his posterity able to recognize good and evil. In other words, from
that moment on the mankind was able to perfectly understand the opposition from which our
world is formed. Because the plan was fair, this capacity should be given to all men to
maintain their first estate Abraham 3:26
And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their
first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first
estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for
ever and ever.
The scriptures are making reference to this capacity, calling it "the light of
Christ". The Lord declared(in D&A 93:2)
And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
This gift that many people consider to be moral conscience is therefore universal.
It is an essential condition without which mankind cannot exercise free will.
It is a warranty that we chose with full understanding . Not because we perfectly
understand all the elements or the consequences of the different terms of our
alternatives, but because we feel inside of us when something is wrong, in order to
recognize the good from evil , our spirit will ask the help of another spirit:The
Holy Ghost. But notwistanding, with the light of Christ we have access to the help
necessary to take the right decisions and live in full harmony with it whatever is good in
this world of opposition. Moronih explained:' For behold, my brethren, it is given unto
you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye
may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
Moroni 7:16
For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil;
wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good,
and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ;
wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
The explanations of Moronih it is very important, because the Spirit or Christ's light
persuades mankind to do good. Consequently it is trough mistakes that we
learn what is wrong Moronih 7:17
But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him,
and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after
this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither
do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
3 Our free agency.
Our mortal life wouldn't be complete without the dimension of free agency. In fact,
this is one of the trade marks of the plan of salvation. Even in our pre-mortal
existence we had our free agency.
Alma 13:3
And this is the manner after which they were ordained--being called and prepared from the
foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their
exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil;
therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with
a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a
preparatory redemption for such.
After that Adam had received the commandment "don't eat" God told him:"
nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember
that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
However, in our mortal estate, the freedom to chose becomes even more essential to our
spiritual growth, since the entire purpose of this experience it is to leave us exercise
our power to decide. 2 Nephi 2:16
Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could
not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.
So, because the free agency could be fully exercised and used, it was necessary, wheter
the opposition in all things that the knowledge of the difference between good and evil.
The first one couldn't be completed without the second one. 2 Nepfi 2:27
Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are
expedient unto man.
Or in other words, our mortal estate gives us all the necessary elements because the
mankind could grow, progress and eventually a day to be perfect.
These 3 dimensions of our mortal estate, fully combined, make us responsible. The
possibilities are given to us, the opportunities are many and the choices are what we
need. We are agents of ourselves, knowing that one day we must give an account of all we
did. The stage it is ready for the great adventure for the mortality, the story more
exciting of all: our life.
The Fourth dimension of the Mortality: The Time.
2 Nephi 2:21
And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that
they might repent while in the flesh;
We are in a world of oppositions. We have the capacity to chose the good from evil. We
have the complete freedom to chose for ourselves. Yet, even with all of this, there is
another essential dimension that must be present in order for us
to progress and grow. That dimension is "time." This is essential because it
puts a limit on our
ability to chose right from wrong. If you will, it pushes man to make a choice. Imagine a
life
without the constraints of time. Imagine having "forever" to make up our mind.
Without this
pressure, man would tend to procrastinate using his free agency. It's like having no
limits on
money. If a person was able to buy anything they wanted, in all probability they wouldn't
by
anything!
2 Nephi 2:16
Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one
or the other.
But time places a limit on our freedom to choose. If we procrastinate using our free
agency, then
the choice is made for us. From the time we are born to the time we die, we only have so
much
time, and there isn't enough time to do all the things we want. As such, "time"
is something that we
can't afford to waste. It must be used with wisdom. Therefore, we must be selective. When
we use
the word "opportunities" we are acknowledging that not all choices are available
every moment. As
such, the function of "time" forces us to set priorities and make decisions. And
this is why it is in
the plan of salvation.
If we could do everything I desire, probably I will not desire anything.
The absence of limitations will bring us to be premise.
But not all the choices are available in any moment. This is the meaning of the word
"Opportunities". We have all the time we need but we don't have any extra of it.
The time is a rare thing that could be wasted. We are supposed to used it in a very smart
way and wisdom. For the majority people in this world the "time is money" this
is a weak way to express the fluidity of the time and its value. This is the way in which
was thought from God, it is put in the plan of salvation because the plan of salvation
wouldn't work without it.. The time it is what will give a sense to the mortal experience
Alma 34:32
For behold, 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.
We should have a balance of the time. We could earn time like we could waste it. We could
save time and use it for worth things or viceversa. Our Father in Heaven has prepared this
earth for a perfect economy of a time that will give us the maximum of the opportunities
of salvation for the mankind, if we are willing to follow the path it would be enough to
follow his laws. Alma 12:24
nevertheless there was a space (Time) granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore
this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare
for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of
the dead.
The purpose of the entire creation was to test us and the different dimensions of the
mortality examined until now are the conditions of such experience. Abraham 3:25
And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord
their God shall command them;
In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve could try, until a certain point, the first 3
dimensions of the mortality.
A There was opposition, the 2 trees
B They had the knowledge of this opposition having received the commandment from God
C They had their free agency according to the promise of God Himself.
Surely these 3 dimensions in some way were limited, if eat or not, but this was the
essential choice, because everything was depending on it.. Anyway the time was missing. At
least, the time like we understand it, like mortal beings.
2 Nephi 2:22-23
And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have
remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in
the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained
forever, and had no end.
2 Nephi 2:23
23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of
innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
When Adam and Eve took their decision and transgress to the commandment of God eating the
fruit, they introduced the mortality. In the same way they entered in the time dimension,
hat essential dimension because the probatory estate could be in the world. Because of the
time, the plan of salvation contains several characteristics that we will try to explain
and analyze.
A preparatory and probatory estate.
Immediately after the fallen, mankind received the blessings of a special promise: They
would have enough time to fulfill the purpose of their creation. 2 Nephi 2:19-21
And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven out of the
garden of Eden, to till the earth.
2 Nephi 2:20
20 And they have brought forth children; yea, even the family of all the earth.
2 Nephi 2:21
21 And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that
they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation,
and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto
the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto
all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents.
Regarding to the time fixed to mankind, the question of Job it is still interesting
Job 7:1
[Is there] not an appointed time to man upon earth? [are not] his days also like the days
of an hireling?
The Lord answered in a clear way to this question D&A 121:25
For there is a time appointed for every man, according as his works shall be.
But then, why the time was given to mankind? What it has to do with this number of
years and days? The answer is sharp Alma 42:4
And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary
time, a time to repent and serve God.
We have sufficient time to repent, but like we wrote the time is limited and we should use
it very well 2 Nephi 9:27
But woe unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like
unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for
awful is his state!
Alma 34:32-33
For behold, 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 34:33
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I
beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for
after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not
improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can
be no labor performed.
This life is a probationary test for the purpose of preparing us to live
with God. It's purpose is not
to stress us, tempt us or see how much punishment we can endure. This life is like a gym
that is
meant to build up our spiritual muscles and make us spiritually strong. God's plan is to
bring us
back to Him and life in mortality is like a school where God is the Great Professor. And
the day
will come, if we remain faithful to God's commandments, that we will pass the final exam
and
graduate from this life into life eternal.
This life is really a test and a preparation. The time is the limit necessary. At the end
of the millennium the time will be over D&A 84:100 D&A 88:110 Revelation 10:6
This is perfectly logic because at that point will start another dimension: The Judgment.
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