Friday, February 25, 2011

D&C Section Twenty-nine: Continued

There are three or four other important teachings in this section. I think all of this would have been new to some point to the members. One is, all commandments to the Lord are spiritual. I take this to mean that every commandment has spiritual implications and ramifications. Obedience to any commandment increases spiritual power and sensitivity.

Insights into the fall of Adam and Satan are given in this chapter. With Satan, we're told that the issue with him was power. With those who followed him it was agency. I believe, and there is no doctrine to support this, that the third who fell with Satan chose to follow him because he was their only hope in their minds. They felt sure they would fail in mortality and Satan's plan promised them exaltation at no risk. We should remember that Satan held a high position in the pre-mortal life and was undoubtedly convincing and persuasive. He would have known how to manipulate those who were weak into following him, perhaps not unlike how Hitler so easily manipulated the German nation.

With the fall of Adam, he became spiritually dead or separated from God, and would die physically also. God knew this would be the result so he provided the Savior so that both deaths could be overcome for Adam and all of the posterity who would follow him. With this, the Lord gives some important things to remember. He says, many will not be redeemed from spiritual death because they do not repent. These people will receive the "wages of whom they list to obey." Like President Kimball once said, we never underestimate the sin, we underestimate the consequences.

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