PATTERNS OF PROGRESS – FROM MORTALITY TO THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM

 

PATTERNS OF PROGRESS – FROM MORTALITY TO THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM

Implied and inherently integral in the Plan of Salvation is the idea and necessity of progression. It seems that progress is imbedded deeply within our DNA. Commonly and frequently we ask, “What’s next?” “What could be better?” “How can we improve on the status quo?” I believe that we both consciously and subconsciously continually seek to progress on multiple levels of our lives. Simply stated, there’s a genuine and authentic yearning at our core to progress in our lives.

Many times our urge for progression abruptly surfaces and becomes readily apparent, especially when something or someone threatens to inhibit or reduce our intended, anticipated progress. We witness it frequently in traffic in CA – some drivers display obnoxious impatience, trying to move forward just one more car length. Frustration and anger of this kind can be dangerous for both the culprit and other innocent parties in his path. Maybe you’ve experienced this scenario – you’re waiting at a stoplight and look away for a second when the light turns green. Then, in less than a millisecond someone behind you is blaring their horn! I’ve often wondered how much of the horn-blower’s life was wasted during those seconds. In these kinds of examples, patience seems to be in disharmony with progress.

Although, it’s within the context of life’s interactions with one another that we are ultimately tested. Our quest for progress (toward perfection) is ultimately tested, and precisely measures our divine progress through every human interaction! So, how can this be? Patience is a virtue, it’s a divine characteristic of God and our Savior. And yet, progress should also be an honorable quality as long as the end goal has a righteous purpose (of course, there can be unrighteous progress as well). Accordingly, our mortal journey will be increasingly successful, measurably improved, and evermore fulfilling as we temper our eager and desire for progress with adequate portions of humble patience.

When considering progress as an integral component of God’s intended plan for His children (more formally identified as His Plan of Salvation), we can find steps or ‘patterns of progress’ in scripture that can help us better measure our individual progress. Through evaluation of our behaviors, decisions, and beliefs we can better categorize ourselves as having characteristics representative of telestial, terrestrial or celestial attributes, and simultaneously measure our progress! When we honestly self-evaluate in this manner, we will discover: 1) where we stand, 2) which direction we’re heading, and 3) what we could/should/must be doing to progress toward a more celestial existence. Frequent personal evaluations like these can be of tremendous value in our mortal quest/test to measure our progress and make necessary course corrections. Additionally, we can confirm we’re indeed making progress (that we haven’t plateaued or regressed), and ensure that it’s a righteous progress (that we’re faithfully and intentionally heading toward eternal life, where we will ultimately live again with our Heavenly Parents in Their celestial home).

Fortunately, we are not left alone to accomplish the daunting task of progressing to perfection on our own. And, contrary to popular belief, we are definitely not expected to achieve perfection here and now! The expectation is to: 1) get ourselves on the path that leads toward perfection, 2) orient our direction towards God and begin our journey back to Him, 3) continue stepping in faith, progressing forward to God, establishing our trajectory and our momentum, and 4) learn by trial and error how to stay on the path (make and keep covenants with God, and practice how to return to the path when we wander via repentance). It’s also important that we don’t try to run faster than we are able (Mos. 4:27), and remember that personal progress is categorically unique for each individual. Incremental progress with the right trajectory and momentum is more important (infinitely more important) than achieving the desired end-result (perfection) in mortality!

If we are persistent and heading the in the right direction, not only have we met the expectation for mortality, we will eventually achieve the ultimate desired end-result. And like a heaven-sent lifeline, we have the unbelievable, gracious offer of customized, one-on-one, 24/7/365 mentor! He offers individualized mentorship (a “wonderful counselor” Isa. 9:6), free of charge, bestowed from the only person ever to live on the planet who actually achieved perfection! Hard to imagine the magnitude of this gift and realize it comes to us from a member of the Godhead!  Maybe more succinctly: Through Christ’s atonement (which includes His offer of personalized mentoring) we can incrementally improve (D&C 50:24), continuously grow and progress toward the ultimate goal (3 Ne. 12:48; Matt.5:48), and become perfected in Christ one day (Mor. 10:32).

To further validate, we can’t take the commandment from God to be perfect (3 Ne. 12:48; Matt. 5:48) at face value, without also taking into consideration Nephi’s counsel on obeying all of God’s commandments, when he said, “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1 Ne. 3:7, emphasis mine). And then to have Nephi’s perspective validated by the Savior himself, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn. 14:6, emphasis mine). How deeply comforting it is to know with absolute confidence that notwithstanding the overwhelming expectations we face (achieving perfection), Christ will eagerly partner (mentor) with us in our desire to keep God’s commandments, all of His commandments, even the commandment to “be ye therefore perfect” (ibid.). To clarify, becoming “perfect” has everything to do with “becoming perfected in Christ” (Mor. 10:32-33). Our personal progress down the path of mortality (or more correctly, ‘up the path of mortality’) with the Savior as our guide, is to intentionally elevate who we are, to continually ‘raise the bar’, and to incrementally progress to ever-higher refined levels of living.

Below are a few examples, both scriptural and prophetic, of how we can use the ‘telestial-terrestrial-celestial’ model to: 1) evaluate our progress on the ‘path to perfection’, check our trajectory and momentum, and 3) make course corrections as needed-

TELESTIAL   Perfect our actions	TERRESTRIAL   Perfect our motives	CELESTIAL   Perfect our perspectives (judgement) on how we view others
- Worldly -	- More Heavenly -	- Most Heavenly -
And again, we saw the glory of the telestial, which glory is that of the lesser, even as the glory of the stars differs from that of the glory of the moon in the firmament. These are they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus. These are they who deny not the Holy Spirit. These are they who are thrust down to hell. These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the blast resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work. These are they who receive not of his fulness in the eternal world, but of the Holy Spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial; And the terrestrial through the ministration of the celestial. And also the telestial receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to minister for them, or who are appointed to be ministering spirits for them; for they shall be heirs of salvation. And thus we saw, in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding;  And no man knows it except him to whom God has revealed it. And thus we saw the glory of the terrestrial which excels in all things the glory of the telestial, even in glory, and in power, and in might, and in dominion. And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one; for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world; …But received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant.  Last of all, these all are they who will not be gathered with the saints, to be caught up unto the church of the Firstborn, and received into the cloud. These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. These are they who suffer the wrath of God on earth. These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God, until the fulness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work; When he shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father, spotless, saying: I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. Then shall he be crowned with the crown of his glory, to sit on the throne of his power to reign forever and ever. But behold, and lo, we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the telestial world, that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven, or as the sand upon the seashore; And heard the voice of the Lord saying: These all shall bow the knee, and every tongue shall confess to him who sits upon the throne forever and ever; For they shall be judged according to their works, and every man shall receive according to his own works, his own dominion, in the mansions which are prepared; And they shall be servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end. (D&C 76:81-91, 98, 101-112). No honor, not valiant and no testimony of Jesus Christ.	And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament. Behold, these are they who died without law; And also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh; Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it. These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men. These are they who receive of his glory, but not of his fulness. These are they who receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father. Wherefore, they are bodies terrestrial, and not bodies celestial, and differ in glory as the moon differs from the sun. These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God. And now this is the end of the vision which we saw of the terrestrial, that the Lord commanded us to write while we were yet in the Spirit. And the glory of the terrestrial is one, even as the glory of the moon is one. (D&C 76:71-80; 97). Honorable, but not valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ	They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given— That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true. They are they who are the church of the Firstborn. They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things— They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory; And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son. Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God— Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. And they shall overcome all things. Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet. These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever. These are they whom he shall bring with him when he shall come in the clouds of heaven to reign on the earth over his people. These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection. These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just. These are they who are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all. These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn. These are they whose names are written in heaven, where God and Christ are the judge of all. These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood. These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical. And thus we saw the glory of the celestial, which excels in all things—where God, even the Father, reigns upon his throne forever and ever; Before whose throne all things bow in humble reverence, and give him glory forever and ever. They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness and of his grace; And he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion. And the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one. And to God and the Lamb be glory, and honor, and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (D&C 76:51-70; 92-96, 119). Honorable and valiant in their testimony of Jesus Christ
Compelled to believe	Concede belief	Choose to believe
Compelled to be humble	Concede humility	Choose to be humble
The poor are of little value, repulsive	Blessed are the poor in spirit and come to Christ (Matt. 5:3)	Blessed are the poor in spirit, that come to Christ and grow that relationship (3 Ne. 12:3)
Meekness as weakness	Meekness as a Godly quality, knowing where the power source is	Meekness as strength to submit in all things to God – these meek people will inherit the earth in a paradisiacal glory, a celestial world
Little concern for covenants with God	Covenant making with God is important	Covenant making and sacredly keeping is of the highest priority
Righteous motives hold little value	It’s good to seek after righteousness	Its best to seek and personally employ righteousness so that we can be filled with the Holy Ghost (3 Ne. 12:6)
Mercy as weakness unless we have an urgent need	Concerned with receiving mercy (forgiveness) from others as giving mercy to others	Faith that our mercy (forgiveness) toward all men will secure God’s mercy on our own brokenness (3 Ne. 12:7)
Purity isn’t important – eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die (2 Ne. 28:7-8)	Purity is generally good idea, at least for society’s benefit (some commitment to the concept) –  emphasis on outward actions	Those with pure hands and hearts are holy in their motives, attitudes, words, actions, deeds, thoughts, and intentions, and will see God and dwell with Him – emphasis on both outward and inward convictions (3 Ne. 12:8)
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, people should get what the deserve – unrighteous judgement (Ex. 21:24)	Peacemakers are well-intentioned people, they work hard not to promote wars; but as far as individual contention goes, some people just shouldn’t be forgiven for their offences	Blessed are the peacemakers (avoid contention with others – family, other faiths, others with political differences, even the horn-blower) they will be known as God’s children – only righteous judgement, everyone has the potential to be redeemed (3 Ne. 12:9)
Persecution is part of life, it’s a tough pill to swallow but get used to it	Blessed are those persecuted for their religion, hold true to your convictions, you’ll be rewarded when all is said and done. They have a loyalty to “the church”	Blessed are those persecuted for Christ’s name (including being reviled and say all manner of false evil against you, “for my sake,” theirs is the kingdom of heaven – great will be their heavenly reward. They have an intrinsic loyalty to Christ and His church” (3 Ne. 12:10-11)
Salt and light can be useful things for self-use, not enough to proactively share in faith-filled service, selfishness	Salt and light can be used as examples for the world faithful service to the world (Matt. 5:14)	Salt and light in the world are gifts from the Savior to use to bless the saints – ‘this people’ (and others); salt flavors and it preserves! Light guides, inspires and eradicates fear! (3 Ne. 12:13-16)
God’s laws and commandments are restrictive and restraining and nice suggestions; they take away free agency	God’s laws and commandments are our mortal ‘school master’	God’s laws and commandments are liberating and fulfilling; they provide safety and protection; they are gifts from a loving Creator; they are markers on the path that lead us back to Him and our heavenly home

May we all find happiness on our pathway to perfection! It’s not just a path, it’s a succession, a cumulative climb, a lifelong journey, one step forward and one step upward, followed by another, then another and another… In the meantime, we can find solace and encouragement (D&C 68:6) in our passage because of the confidence we have in our faithful Partner. By combining our commitment with exercising faith, we will eventually fulfill the purpose of mortality. We will eventually reach our divine potential. We will pass the test (Abr. 3:25). For when we choose to be on the right course, and persist in the right trajectory, with the right momentum, we are on our way and our perfection is pending! In other words, our perfection is certain as we faithfully partner with the Savior in our mortal quest to progress until we return back to our heavenly home! Life just doesn’t get much better than this!

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Wm. Calvin Hughes | October 3, 2020 | Lake Elsinore, CA