24 - Entering into the Rest of the Lord By Mike Stroud

Transcription

1 24 - Entering into the Rest of the Lord By Mike Stroud Mike: 1 Nephi Chapter 2 sets the stage for what we want to talk about here, verse 16. Who would like to read verse 16 for me... sister <student>, please. Student: (1 Nephi 2:16) And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to now of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers. Mike: Let's go back to the very first part of that, where he says having great desires to know the mysteries of God. See. I hope that we all have those desires. I really do, because God wants to reveal his mysteries to us. Definition of a mystery is really simple. We make it more than it is. A mystery is a sacred truth, a sacred secret, that can only be found out through personal revelation. These mysteries are really private and they're really designed to be one-on-one. Okay. Most mysteries of God has in store are designed to be revealed individually to people. Nephi had desires to know the sacred truths, these sacred secrets, and as a result of that desire, and as a result of something he called 'softened heart'. You see that there? As a result of that, the Lord did visit me. And I want you to take a look at that, now. We're talking about the day out today were talking about truth at different levels.and all of these levels are true, but I want to go down a little bit deeper level today and some things and show you how the Scriptures can talk about certain things that are here at this level or as you progress, and as you become more knowledgeable and gain more knowledge in light and truth these truths become deeper and deeper. Same words but different levels of understanding. And that will take... We will do that today. The Lord does visit me and soften my heart, wherefore, I did not rebel against him like into my brothers. The mystery I want to dig into today is this saying right here 'entering into the rest of the Lord'. Now you can read about that in the Bible I'm not to go there today, but I'll give you a reference if you go to Hebrews chapter 3 and chapter 4 and just look at this on your own time. Paul talks about entering into 'the rest of the Lord.' The reason I'm not good to go there is because of limited time, suffice it to say, this term right here... 'Entering into the rest of the Lord' is mentioned in Hebrews 3 and 4. Paul knew about it. And Paul knew about the deeper meanings of what this means. And to really understand this only the book of Mormon really opens it up for us. The book of Mormon opens this up along with the Doctrine and Covenants so we can really understand it. So let's go on over to Alma chapter 12, and let's start with that a couple of things here. But on your own, when you go home today, after today's lessons read Hebrews chapter 3 and chapter 4 and apply what were going to talk about today and I think you will be excited. I think you'll look at that and say, Wow. That's what Paul was talking about. Good stuff. Okay, let's go diverse 34, who would like to read verse 34? <Student> Student: (Alma 12:34-35) Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth with not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine only begotten son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest. And whosoever will harden his heart and will do iniquity, behold, I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into my rest. Mike: Okay, stop right there. Let's go to verse 34. We see little book of Mormon list. When we have a book of Mormon list you'll find that there are things listed one, two, three, four, five. And in the Bible you will find some of that, but not much. But the book of Mormon really is loaded with lists and the Doctrine and Covenants and we have one right here in verse 34. He says # 1, if you will repent of your sins; and #2, if you will not harden your heart. Remember what Nephi said over there, wherefore the Lord did soften my heart and he did visit me. So the opposite of hardened your heart is softened heart. That if you repent of your sins and not harden your heart you can have claim on what? On Mercy. And

2 if you have claim on mercy it will be unto, you can receive a remission of your sins. Which is what we all want. A remission of sins is a little different than forgiveness of sins. A remission means, not only are you forgiven but the effects of all of your sins are wiped away. It is literally, when you have your sins remitten, not only are you forgiven, God does not hold you accountable for it but anything that those sins have caused effects in your life are removed. If you have anger issues that were a part of sin; if you have discouragement or depression issues that were a part of sin; if you had guilt issues that were a part of sin;you can be forgiven for those things but to be remitted means that all of those things are removed. Okay. And so we really, we really seek for this. Remission... Forgiveness comes before this and the remission comes after that. And then what we do is if you do these four things than what? What does he say? You will 'enter into the rest of the Lord'. Now I want to talk about two things. Number 1, how do we do this? And we kinda talked about that a little bit. And number 2, what the heck is it? How do we enter into the Rest of the Lord, And what does that mean? What is that. Now I'm sure you're probably have some ideas and thoughts on that. Come up here for just a minute, 'harden your heart.' Let's put some words out here that would describe a person whose heart is hard. Let's just come up with a few words, a few adjectives that would describe that kind of person. Just give me some ideas. What words might we use to describe someone who has a hard heart? Student: ignore friends, ignore the truth Mike: ignore friends, would you say? Student: Ignore the facts, ignore truth. Mike: okay, ignore truth.?? Say again <student>. Student: What is the question? Mike: The question is: give me some words that would describe a person who has a hard heart. Brother <student> student: an unwillingness to stop doing the things that you know are wrong. Unwillingness to change. Mike: I'm just going to put to change. Brother <student> Student: angry Mike: that's a good isn't it? Anger. Sister <student> student: stubborn Mike: Stubborn, that's another good one. Sister<student> did you have one? student: proud Mike: proud, that's an excellent one. That probably sums them all up, doesn't it? And President Benson thought that all of these, and a list of maybe 40 more, all are found within the sin of pride. Brother student. student: vain Mike: Can I put one up here, Rebellious, Selfish, and on and on. We can just go on and on, right on down the list. All of these describe a person whose heart is hard. Okay. But what the Lord wants, is if you have this, look at this formula, if you have a hard heart then you can't enter into the rest of the Lord. Isn't that what verse 35 says that student read. Let's look at that again. Now my brothern and, verse 35, whosoever will harden his heart and will do iniquity, behold, I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into my rest. [10:02] So, any of these kind of things keep us out out of that. Let's look at the next first and see if we can find out some more things. President <student> do you want to read 36 for us. Student: (Alma 12:36) And now, my brothern, behold I say unto you, that if you will harden your hearts you shall not enter into the rest of the Lord; Mike: Now, notice he just said that two times in a row. Two versus, same thing. Whatever the Lord says something over and over again, whenever he repeats himself, we had better pay attention. It's enough for God to say something once. But when he says it twice or three times in a row we had better be listening. This is somehow entering into the rest of the Lord, is so important, that he's mentioning it

3 over and over, one verse after another. So we need to learn what this is all about. Let's go down to 36, go ahead and continue president. Student: therefore your iniquity provoketh him that he sendeth down his wrath upon you as in the first provocation, yea, according to his word in the last provocation as well as the first, to the everlasting destruction of your souls; therefore, according to his word, unto the last death, as well as the first. Mike: You understand he's saying there? Is that is a little confusing, yes? He's using a word there, that's take her word there that Alma was using, let's take a look at it. The word is: provoke. Now that's a word be in use their... Provoke. Can you give me a definition of that word? What is to provoke mean? Student: he uses... Right here, uses it twice, he uses harden your heart and iniquity. Mike: okay, I want to know student: having a heard is provoking somebody Mike: And I would like to put this one back over here, because you're right, that is another one of these things. Iniquity describes the hard heart. Now next to provoke he also has something here that he's saying is the first provocation. Now look closely at that verse again. He's talking about something here, that's what he's talking about this first provocation, Alma's talking about something that is passed, and he's talking about from something from history. So something in Alma's past history that he calls the first provocation. Provoke means to make angry. Student: the're that anger Mike: The lord doesn't use the word angry, the Lord uses a different word. He uses a word called wrath. I found out that in the Scriptures God's wrath is simply this, you want to definition of God's wrath, this is a wonderful definition, God's wrath means to withdraw his spirit. You experience the wrath of God when he simply does what? This... He just walks away. Student: isn't that where we are in the first place? Mike: because of the fall.that's right, now the purpose of the atonement, as Bob said in his talk the other day, is to bring to pass a reconciliation to where the family can be reunited. If we choose to provoke him to wrath, then what's he going to do? Is going to back out.is that if we provoke if the wrath, he won't allow you to enter into the rest of the Lord. Sister Stroud. sister Stroud: the dictionary says that wrath is vengeance or punishment as a result of the consequence of anger. Mike: Oh. Sister Stroud: so, its a consequence of anger. Now what your punishment would be is exactly what you said that because of the provocation he withdraws as punishment. Mike: very good, thank you. Now something else is tied with this first provocation. If you look at that to get something called his first commandments. You see that?then what Alma does is he comes down and he talks about a second provocation. And tied to this second provocation is his second commandments. What the heck is he talking about here? Remember when I first read that I went, what is he talking about? What is Alma saying here? The first part is history in Alma, so I almost talking about this as something that happened in the past. But this he's talking about the second provocation is something in the future.and there tied in somehow with commandments. Now let's find out what this is all about. The first provocation takes place, if you have your Bible, let's go to Exodus chapter 19, and I'm going have to borrow one... Sister Stroud can I barrow yours please? Exodus 19, and lets find out what this is about. Now when Alma was quoting these things, brothers and sisters, when he's talking about the first commandments and the first provocation; he's taking this information off of the brass plates. So here's a question. Did Moses come before or after Alma? Student: before. Mike: he came before. Quite a bit before didn't he? Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob come before or after Alma?. Student: before Mike: before. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob come before or after Moses?

4 Student: after Mike: I caught you... Before. <ha, ha> Because Moses is a descendent of Levi, who is the son of Jacob, who is the son of Isaac, who is the son of Abraham. I was just trying to catch of their because you're so dang sharp. Student: I watched the movie last night he's still in the basket. <laughing> Mike: Now let's go onover here to Exodus and let me show you something that's kind of interesting. So what Alma is doing, is he's talking a from the brass plates and he's telling us about a story in Exodus 19. When were going to start about, let me find it here, I want to start at about verse 10, no verse five. I want to go to verse five. Exodus 19:5. Now let me tell you the story here before we go into that. In verse 5, Moses and the children of Israel have been out of Egypt for three months. All of these people lived in Egypt and their ancestors for 400 years. They were in Egyptian captivity for 400 years. At this point in chapter 19 verse five, they have been out of Egyptian captivity for 90 days. The Red Sea was 90 days ago. Remember that situation. Do you know how many people are with Moses in this wilderness? Do you know how many people are there? There were... There were 700,000 warrior aged men. Warrior age, not counting old people, children, only 700,000. Experts estimate there could have been up to 2 1/2 million people in this great Exodus that came out of Egypt... Up to 2 1/2f million. For sure, there were 700,000 warriors who could fight in a war. And I add all the rest in there. Now what happens there is, I've been on the Sinai, perhaps some of you have been on the Sinai Peninsula. You can drive a car from Egypt's northern border to Israel's southern border in about three hours and 45 minutes. I've driven that. Okay, to walk it, to go from there on up, maybe will take several weeks, maybe several months. At that time. And you can do that. Now watch. They... God kept them in that desert going in circles for 40 years. Why? His goal was bring them into the promised land, but only two out of the original group ever set foot in the promised land. All of the original group died in the 40 year. So the only people that came into the promised land were Joshua and Kaleb and all of the children born to that original group. Everybody else died. What happened? Why did God keep them for 40 years in that desert? Here's why. This is the first provocation. So let's find out what happened. Go to verse five. The Lord says to Moses, Exodus 19:5-6, (5) now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a particular treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: Peculiar treasure. [20:00] So the Lords wanting to take this huge group of people and have them become a very different peculiar people. Look at the next verse, it gets even better. The next verse over the passage says, (6) And you shall be unto a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. So let's take a look at something here. Can I you race this now up here... Can I erase some of this? We want to find out what this provocation is. What happened here. Okay. Let's look and see what we've got. We've got Moses... invites the people to join God at the foot of a high mountain... A high mountain. Now in the Scriptures when whenever we see mountains we can also put out here what? A temple.because of mountain in the Old Testament is always symbolic of a holy place, a temple. Notice also, what you've got here is: you've got a group of people that God wants to make into Kings and Queens, royalty; a royal nation, priests and priestesses. Have any of you ever heard those words before? Where have you heard those words, sister <student>, where have you been that you've heard the words Kings and Queens, priests and priestesses? Student: the Temple Mike: in the Temple... In the Temple as a part of the Temple endowment. Now, you know what the word endowment means? A one word definition of endowment... Gift. So here is God inviting this whole nation to come up to a special place where he could give them a gift that will result in them becoming and nation of Kings and Queens, priests and priestesses. Also we've got here Melchizedek priesthood. Keep that in mind. Even though it doesn't say it in the Bible, I'll show you where it says it otherwise. So Melchizedek is the priesthood, so everything here has to be priesthood centered. So what ever is happening here now is built around this. This is what God desires. So when he says, let's go to back to the Bible now, lets go back to verse 10, And the Lord said unto Moses, go unto the people, and

5 sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, They wash their bodies, they wash their clothes, up in verse 15 there told to stay away from their husbands and wives for this three-day, Come not against your wives, verse 16 it will come to pass on the third day in the morning that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the amount and the voice of the trumpet exceedingly loud so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. Now what Moses is told to do is bring these people up to the base of the mountain.so what's Moses doing, inviting them to come where? To the Temple. And they come up, and on the third day, let's see what they see. Go to verse 18, and Mount Sinai was altogether honest smoke, because the Lord descended upon it and fire: Who is this God that is coming down here? Who is this God that is coming to Sinai? It's Jehovah, isn't it? Is that the father or the sun? That's the sun. Is the father anywhere here? No, the father is not anywhere here, this is the sun. We call him Jesus Christ also, but this is his Old Testament, one of his Old Testament names, Jehovah. Now look what he says here, says, and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. All right. Now, what happened? Everything is okay thus far, the people of come up, they are obeying the voice of the Lord. Skip over to chapter 20 and let's find out what happens. So here's earthquakes, lightning, fire, smoke, loud noises, and the people are looking up at this mount, and the grounds moving underneath their feet and let's see what they do. Go to chapter 20 verse 18. Brother student, you want to read that? Student: (Exodus 20:18-19 ) and all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightenings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. Mike: what happened? They ran away. They absolutely were brought appear for what purpose? To receive a gift. Probably the greatest gift that God could give his children, is the gift to see him face-toface and receive the ordinances of the priesthood to make them like him. And what did they do? Flew... They're out here. Look at the next verse. <Student> read the next verse, 19. I love this next verse. Student: And they said under Moses, speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. Mike: Okay, so what happened? They rejected the gift. They rejected the invitation. Instead of faith and moving forward they were filled with fear and they ran away and said to Moses, you go talk to him and tell us what he said. We don't want to talk to him, you go talk to him. Notice that there was no question that God was there. It's not a question as if he was there or not, it was, We don't want to go there. For for whatever reason, I don't know, there are probably 1000 different reasons, we will talk about that the day. But for whatever reason they refuse the gift, provoked God, and refusing that endowment and we'll see what happens as a result of it. <Student> student: Isn't that the big problem, where you don't talk to God? Mike: Still! Haven't we learned anything yet. <Laughing> all right, student: still!... in some religions you're actually forbidden to talk to God, You have to talk to somebody else. Mike: Let's go to Doctrine and Covenants section 84 And get the rest of the story as who's that guy, Paul... Sister Stroud: Paul Harvey Mike: Paul Harvey used to say, 'and now for the rest of the story'. Section 84. We've got to go to the Doctrine and Covenants to find out what took place. Because the Bible is just not real clear. It just said that God was angry and the people said were not going to talk with you. Section 84 and go to verse 23. I'll take the end of the story first. Sister <student> would you like to read that... let's go to verse 22 And see what it is God wanted them to experience. Verse 22. Student: (D&C 84:22) for without this no man can see the face of God, even the father, and live. Mike: What was the purpose of this invitation to come up here, was to receive these blessings, and the bottom line was what? See... See God face to face. This is hard for me to fathom that the whole nation had an opportunity of entering into this. Brother <student>

6 student:what it says, without this... Without the faith no man can see the face of God and live. Mike: to talk about this in a minute. Right, exactly, hold on to that thought. Now let's look at verse 23,<student> student: (23) Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God; Mike:That's clear, see. He tried didn't he? He tried, it says he sought diligently to do it but do they use their agency, rejected the gift, the invitation, and provoked him. Now let's look at the next verse brother <student> verse 24. Student: (24) But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; Mike: stop, does that sound like something we've read here today? Does that sound like something over in Alma, it does doesn't it? Go ahead <student>. Student: therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fullness of his glory. Mike: Now, notice the interesting wording here, brothers and sisters. That the Lord because of this rejection, which we call, Alma calls the first provocation. As a result of that, notice what it says, they were not allowed to enter into his rest, not rest; But not allowed to enter into his rest while in the wilderness. That tells us a couple of things. That tells us that you can enter into the rest of the Lord while in the wilderness and that would be symbolic of this life. Or it can happen to you after death also. [30:00] That's what we can learn right here... for these people to have it happen in life was no option anymore. Brother <student> student: what it says here is, they could not endure his presence. So they didn't want to be anyplace around the Lord. Mike: that's right. And because of that... provoked. Brother <student>. Student: You have teachings in here that if you see the face of God you die. And these people believed that and what conditions they are in. Mike: exactly, very good point.i hope you listen to what he said right there because depending on which spiritual level or where you're at in your spirituality, the rule in the Scriptures was: if you see God and there isn't some change wrought in you, it's will to kill you. Because you take a telestial being, you take somebody here with this flesh and bones and blood and you bring them into the presence of God and that's not changed his presence will burn that body up. And these people knew that, but they seem to have missed the point that you can be sanctified and changed so that you can do this. But I think again, <student>, it's a level of spirituality. Okay. It's a very good point. Thank you for bringing that up. Now look at verse (25). Therefore, God took Moses out of their midst and the holy priesthood. So what did they lose? Now are coming down here, the first Commandments were: clean yourself up, wash yourself, keep my commandments, come up and in process if you don't have a hard hard and repent of your sins you can come into my presence, see my face and enjoy all of these blessings. They rejected that and provoked him. That's the first set of commandments, that was the first provocation. They failed that gift. Now, almost looking down into the future and you say into us you're going to have that same opportunity... By second commandments, to do what? 'Enter into my presence', don't provoke him... Don't provoke him, because watch what you lose. Watch what you lose... You lose the Melchizedek priesthood. Student: Thank you, that's what he took away from them. Mike: that's what he took away from them. So what's to lose? Second of all, you lose the Melchizedek priesthood, you lose all of the power, ordinances, covenants, everything that's associated with what is designed to bring you into the presence of the Lord. You lose it all. Student: actually they were just strolling around in the Misery for 40 years. Mike: for 40 years, student: he had already washed his hands, and he had nothing to do with them for 40 years.

7 Mike: now I want to go back, now, a little bit ahead, <student> kind of hit on that, I like to go back now, to verse 18 and let's see what they lost. Okay. Any questions on the first and second provocations? Are we okay on that? All right. So what I was doing is he giving us a warning and saying, don't repeat this mistake. Don't reject the invitation. Now, brothers and sisters, you and I, in our day have an invitation to enter into the rest of the Lord while still in the wilderness. And the wilderness is interpreted as what? This life. Can it happen in the spirit world? Yes. Can it happen at the resurrection? Yes. But the Lord specifically inviting us to do it now. Why? If you can do it in the spirit world, and you can do it after the resurrection and in the celestial kingdom why is he emphasizing doing it now? Student:??? Mike: why is there an advantage of any kind in doing this in this life versus waiting and having pronounced on us in the next life? Brother <student>. Student: because all of these things are to our vantage and to our joy. You can better... you can better take care of your family by entering into the rest of the Lord in this life; just like Alma the older was able to call down the blessings for his son Alma the younger, when the angel came down to him and the sons of Messiah. Mike: Thank you very much, let's go to section 130 real quick and then will come back to 84. Section 130 is one of my favorite scriptures, and I believe that it applies right here in what were talking about. Let's go to verse 18. Section 130:18; <student> will you read that for us when you get to it, D&C 130:18. student: (D&C 130:18-19) (18) Whatever principal of intelligence we attain unto this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. Mike: Stop right there good witted that just tell us? What did we learn from that verse? Student: whatever you learn, whatever you comprehend,whatever you develop, or who you are in this life will be continued in the next life. Mike: good, look at the next verse.<student> verse 19. Now watch this one, this is the one, the question is: why seek after the while in the 'wilderness', verse 19. Student: (19) and if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life Mike: stop. When? When? If you gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life... go a head through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come. Mike: What's the word that jumps up off that verse two you right there? Student: an advantage Mike: you've got it! Somehow, as brother <student> is talking about, there is an advantage to us answering into the rest of the Lord while in this life. Any questions or comments on that? Brother <student>. student: In Matthew chapter 6 verses 19 to 23 talks about the treasures of heaven this is where the manual teaches Mike: come back here with the tape recorder a little bit closer student: okay, it says the treasures in heaven are the character, perfections, and attributes what men acquire by obedience to law thus those who gazed such attributes of such godliness as knowledge, faith, justice, judgment, mercy and truth will find the same attributes restored to them again into mortality. Whatever principles of intelligence we gain unto in this life it will rise with us in the resurrection. The greatest treasure is possible to inherit in heaven consists in gaining a continuation of the family unit in the highest heaven in the celestial world. Mike: okay, so I'd like to just back off this now just a minute, are we okay? Can we erase this? Let me now just put some words up here as to what this is. We've talked about how to do it. You cannot enter into the fullness of the rest of the Lord without the Temple and without the Melchizedek priesthood...

8 You can't do it. That's the first thing you got to do. Now, Satan knows this. So think at the effort that he is expanding trying to keep people out of the temple.think of the effort that he is expanding trying to keep men asleep when it comes to priesthood things. Think about that. And by and large he is very successful. He has been extremely successful in what Pres. Benson calls, 'neutralizing the priesthood of the church'. Pres. Benson said this about us brothern, 'we live far below our privileges and the Lords expectations.' See that? We live far below, hence good portions of the Bible or the book of Mormon have things like awake and arise, shake off the chains of death,, you know, because he understands that. Now, let me put some synonymous terms up here with what this is. I'm going to write some things up here that mean the same as 'entering into the rest of the Lord', okay. Some of these we talked about in class. These are synonyms okay... 'Make your calling and election sure'; and whenever the Lord uses the word sure we should pay attention on that because the word sure and used by the Lord means this: can't fall. Or we could say, can't fail. Either way. When you get to a point where this word is used in your behalf then you come to the place you want to be in this life, okay. Let me give you another one. 'Calling an election make sure'. Here's one, 'the more sure word of prophecy'. Here's that word again. Now this is talked about in 2 Peter in the Bible and is talked about in the Doctrine and Covenants section 130; 2 Peter and Doctrine and Covenants 30. [40:02] I'm not going to go into what these are right now, let's just go little bit further, let's take this one here.' The fullness of the Melchizedek priesthood'; These things are all synonymous with 'entering into the rest of the Lord', okay? Let's do another one.' The second anointing's'; the, interesting how this is used, 'the second comforter'; I hope you're asking yourself this question. Have you experienced any of this? Where you have a second you have to have a what? You have to have a first. Okay. So here you have a first here, and here you have a first here, and so the question comes up what is the first anointing, and what is the first comforter? All of these things here, and others, are the same as entering into the rest of the Lord at a deeper level. Can this mean for or five different things entering into the rest? It can't. And all of them are correct. Can you enter into the rest of the Lord in the spirit world, yes; can you do it in the telestial kingdom, yes; but were talking about entering into here in the wilderness of the till astral world. Why? Because there are advantages to us if we do. Can I tell you, brothers and sisters, that if you enter into the rest of the Lord in this life you have achieved the highest possible spiritual level of achievement that you can. There is nothing higher than doing this and mortality. So were talking about the top. And all of us are at different levels, and were all moving, but all of us should have this as a goal wheather we're here, here or here. We should still be looking for this to fulfill this. And, can I tell you, you can.the Lord would not teach us about it if what? If it were impossible to achieve. What kind of a jokester would that be, to teach you about something, get you all worked up and get you to have a desire for and say, oops, you can't do it, sorry. I was just having fun with you. Okay. So this is all available. Any questions or comments on this? Who is the first comforter?who is the first comforter? This is the Holy Ghost, isn't it? Is this the spirit of Christ? No. Remember they're different, aren't they? This is the man. Who is the second comforter? Student: Jesus Christ Mike: this is Jesus Christ. This is the Lord. Which one comes first? The first comforter comes before the second. The Holy Ghost prepares the way and makes it possible for you to receive the second. What happens here? <Student> says here earlier that they had a tradition in the early days that if you entered into the presence of God unprepared what would happen to you? You would die. So what is the Holy Ghost's purpose? To prepare you. And how does he prepare you, because God says, I cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. And so the Holy Ghost purpose is to what? Sanctify, cleans, purify with fire, and make it possible for what? To stand in the presence of Jesus Christ, face-to-face, in this life and have him bless you and teach you. What about this one? Second anointing. When's the first one? And do you have the first one? Student: baptism

9 Mike: It's not baptism. Brother <student> student: initiatory Mike: okay, this is done in the Temple. This is a part of the Temple endowment, right? So when all of you, who have been through the Temple, and received your Temple blessings have already been anointed as a part of that. Now let me put a couple words, this anointing here, this anointing, is to become what? To become what? Student: a king and a priest Mike: a king and a priest, And for the women, what? a queen and a priestess. So everyone of you have already, that have been to the Temple and have received your Temple blessings, have already received the first anointing. That takes place as part of the temple endowment. Now, when you go through you will hear something, something, words like this in the Temple was say, brothers and sisters, if your true and faithful the day will come when you will be chosen, called up, and anointed what? Kings and Queens, priest and priestess, whereas, you are now anointed only to become such. That happens on this one; So what happens on this one? Watch. You are anointed a king and a queen. That's what happens there. This is what Moses wanted to do for all of these people when they rejected the gift, provoked him, and the warning from Alma is: you, us, are going to have this same invitation. And we do. It is there. If you've gone to the Temple, if anybody has been invited to come to the Temple you've received the second set of commandments. That's an invitation. What are you going to do? Well, about 70% of the membership of the church say, no.i guess were doing the Moses did. But about 70% of the church say no, either not to go at all or go and slip away for what happened there. About 70%, maybe more. In the Philippines it's about maybe 90%. I don't know maybe more than that? Can you see that it's a very small select group that God wants to call up and call them a peculiar people, a nation of kings and queens. Any questions on that? Okay. Turn to Matthew. Matthew chapter 11 and I want to show you now a Scripture that you're all familiar with. Were going to look at it a little bit differently. See, brothers and sisters, you are... You guys in here are all well down the road... You are well down the road, you are really moving up towards this. You are further along than you think you are. I want you to grab a hold of that today. You're not a long ways away from this. It's close. You just have to shorten the gap, take the last steps, exercise the faith, and claim your rights. Claim your rights. Matthew chapter 11, and I want to go to verse 27 through 30. Who would like to read 27 for me? Someone read that for me, student, 27. Student: (Matthew 11:27) all things are delivered unto me of my father: and no man knoweth the son, but the father; neither knoweth any man the father, save the son, and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him. Mike: Now that is a little confusing. Does that confuse you little bit? That's because it's not done right. There is a Joseph Smith translation at the bottom of your page. To understand verse 27 you need to pull in the JST at the bottom. Now student can you read them for us with the JST, read the 27th verse, and include it. Yeah right there at the C is for you want to look at it. Right there C let's look at and see how it originally sounded before the Bible was altered.read down as soon as you get to see dropped down to the bottom. Student: All things are delivered unto me of the father; and no man know the son, but the father; neither knoweth any man the father; save the son, And they to whom the son will reveal himself; Mike: [50:00] stop, what did he just say there? You will know the son when he does what? Reveals himself to you. What is that? If this right here [what Matthew chapter 27 footnote is talking about is this entering into the rest, go ahead and finish it up. and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him. Student: they shall see the father also. Mike: oh, another additional blessing here. Not only will you have the presence of Jesus Christ, but when you come to this point, what is the Savior going to do? He's going to introduce you to the father. Are we living below are privileges?

10 Student: yes Mike: oh my! Are we living below the Lords expectations for us? Does he want this for us? Absolutely. Now, with that in mind, let's read verse 28, which is the most famous you've all heard that verse 28 okay. Sister <student>, Matthew 11: 28. Student: come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [51:14] Mike: Stop, what have we been talking about today? You've read that hundred times, have you? You just thought, well, I've been working all day, I'm so tired, I'm hometeaching all day and then in meetings in church all day and I'm going to go home and I'm going to rest. That is not what he is talking about here folks. Go back to verse 27, what's he talking about? Seeing the face of the son and being introduced to the father. Come to me, and I will give you rest. Let's look at the next verse. Student: but, doesn't that take you beyond the mortal state, you don't feel tired you don't feel the mortal pressures Mike: that would fit. Like I said, there are all kinds of different applications. But this one, the rest of the Lord, that he's talking about here is more than physical rest. Go ahead finish her up. Student: Verse 29, take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Mike: you shall find what? [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Isn't that wonderful? So, when you have this experience, in Matthew 11:27-30 is fulfilled in your behalf, a whole different way of looking at that Scriptures are members cries that Scripture a long time ago. I've had that Scripture memorized for 20 years. But I never knew what was there until the Lord kinda brings you along and says hey there's different levels here. Just today, can I tell you what the Holy Ghost taught me today in this class that has not been... I've taught this class 5 times, okay, and today here's what the Spirit told me. Back in section 84 where it says, that the Lord will not let them into his rest while ill the wilderness... I missed that altogether. And today the Spiro taught me today that the wilderness was the telestial world. He wanted them to enter in while they were alive; and now that was taken away. And when they enter in it will have to be at some future time in the spirit world or after death. They missed the opportunity and the advantage of entering into his rest in this life. Okay. So, brothers and sisters, let's go over to section 76 for just a minute and let me show you just a couple of things here. Section 76. I want to show you something about your identity that you have lost... You have lost an identity, all of us have lost our identities. The big... When we talk about the fall of Adam and Eve, the biggest loss was not the loss of the garden of Eden. It wasn't introducing death into the world or spiritual death. The greatest loss because of the fall is you've lost the knowledge of who you are. All of us. We are, because of the fall, spiritually retarded. we really are. If you knew who you were, okay, it would make so much a big difference. On purpose the Lord has taken your identity away. He has taken it away from you because it's a part of the plan for you to trust in him, develop the spirit of revelation, and have re-revealed to you what you lose through the fall. That is a part of the plan. Is to regain that information. Let's look at this verse and see who you really are, okay. Let's start over here in verse 57. Talking about man, and thire counterpart - women, who have entered into what we call the fullness of the Melchizedek priesthood, right here, same as entering into the rest of the Lord. Let's go up to verse 54, (D&C 76:54-57) These are they who are the church of the firstborn. These are they into whose hands the father has given all things these are they who are priests and kings, and their wives are priestesses and queens, who have received of his fullness, 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 Begotton Son. Now watch this next verse, watch. Wherefore, Because of these things that we just read. Wherefore, as it is written, they are god's, even the sons of God. Did you notice that god with a small 'g'. Do you see that?... god with a small 'g', whats that's telling us is who these people are that are going to achieve this level of reward in this life and in the resurrection of the dead.

11 What is a god with a small 'g'? What is that? Because, look, it said, gods with a small 'g' even the sons of God with a capital 'G', what is that? Comment? Brother <student> student: God with the big 'G' is kind of obvious, the Father and also the Lord Jesus Christ; the small 'g's is kinda like... are gods in the making, not yet perfected, gods in training. You want to put it that way. Mike: The word I want to put under this, you're right brother <student>,under this God with a small 'g'; I want to put this, spell this out, they are 'godly'. It means there godly. Let's go over to section 84 again, and let me show you something here so that you can get a picture of all this. Part of restoration of who we are. If we know who we were we can claim what our destiny is. If you can know who you were before you came here, and who the person is inside you, it makes it easier to make decisions that will take you on toward the fulfillment of your destiny. If you don't know who you are, you will continue to make wrong choices. It's this loss of identity that keeps us stuck and not moving forward, because we really don't know who the person inside is. We concentrate on this thing we see in the mirror. We concentrate on this thing. This thing that overeats [padding belly], okay. This thing that's got an addiction. This thing that takes the name of God in vain. The spirit inside is not that person. It's this outside shell that leans toward those things, and you think that the body that's doing these things is the real you. This isn't you! The real you is in doing those things. It sure body that's doing those things. And your choice allows, either the body to control or the spirit to control. Inside, everybody in this room, right here, everybody in this room are wonderful, powerful, spiritual gods with a small 'g'. And you're sitting there and saying, not me. Oh yeah, you! How do I know this? How do I know this? Look what you have, of 7 billion people on the face of this earth; look what you've got. Look at the church, look at the priesthood, look at the Temple blessings, look at their freedoms you enjoy, look at all the blessings you have compared to 7 billion of father's children. There's this little tiny group of people that come into favorable contact with these huge blessings. Why? Is that a lucky draw where is that just dealing the cards out? It's because of who you were before you came here. This is who you are. Your spirit inside you is godly. You have already progressed to a state of godliness, brothers and sisters. [1:00:02] It's just that you've lost that identity, and that tremendously hampers how you feel about yourself, how you see, how you view things.go over to section 84, verse 19, talking about this right here. And when you read section 84 at a deeper level now I want you to every time you read about the Melchizedek priesthood I want you to plug this in. It's okay to read this as just being ordained, but when you read this right now I want you to think of the fullness of the Melchizedek priesthood, which means 'entering into the rest of the Lord in this life'. Can it mean other things? Yes. And would it be okay to mean other things? Yes. But there are different levels. Brother <student> read verse 19 for us. Let's read 18, go ahead. go to 18 please. Student: (D&C 84:18 19) and the Lord confirmed a priesthood also upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations, which priesthood also continueth and abideth forever with the priesthood which is after the holiest order of God. Mike: so, God withdrew the Melchizedek priesthood and left what with the children of Israel? Student: Aaronic priesthood Mike: the Aaronic priesthood. Now look what it says here brothers and sisters he removed the priesthood which is after the holiest order. Now you can't use that word holiest unless you add to other words with it. You've gotta put holy, holy or and then holiest, one to three. When your ordained brethren the minute the hands were laid upon your head, and you are ordained and conferred the priesthood and ordained an elder, you entered that right there. You entered that Holy level. When you go to the Temple you enter a different order, you are now in the Holier. I'm going to put Ordination next to this one, stair steps next to Holy; I'm to put Temple next to Holier; and then next to the Holiest I'm going to put the Fullness of the Melchizedek priesthood, which is the Holiest order of the Melchizedek priesthood. You've got three orders here. Have we brother entered into this one? We've been ordained, haven't we. Those of us who have been to the Temple of entered into this one... Sisters, you're entering

12 into it with them.. You've already done two thirds of it. Let's repent, clean up our lives, and seek for this third level. Go with me now brother <student> to verse 19. Student: And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key and the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. Mike: Now notice that it's not keys it is a key. This priesthood, which once he's talking about? Any of these, he's talking about this one... This one administers the key to what? The Holiest order administers the key to the mysteries of the kingdom and the key to the knowledge of God. Let's take the next verse brother student, you're doing a good job first 20. Student: Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. Mike: Stop. How is godliness spelled, big 'G' or little 'g'. Student: little g Mike: that's a little g. And that little g right there corresponds with god with a small g. Okay? That corresponds with god with a small g. Keep going brother student. Student: And without the ordinances thereof, Mike: The ordinances thereof, what? Of the fullness of the milk as the priesthood, this holiest order... Go ahead... Student: and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; Mike: what is the power of godliness, brothers and sisters. It's how to become a God with a small G. In other words, how to become godly... How to become Christlike. Is Christ to God? Are we asked to become Christlike? Is the same thing as saying become as god with a small g or godly, is the same thing. Don't get hung up when were saying, are you saying we are god. Yes I am. But in this sense, not with a 'G'. One more, keep going... Student: for without this no man can see the face of God, even the father, and live. Mike:With out the fullness of the priesthood, you provoke God, and you lose all those blessings that are agents for fathers lost. So Alma is saying, you're going to have another chance. Accept the invitation, live up to his expectations, and your privileges, and don't be afraid. It's who you are. And you're already here [Holier]. It's this, you are already here. Inside. I'm not saying your body is, your body is all corrupt and raw making mistakes and are all sinners and we all do dumb things, but inside, your spirit is different. Let's go to page 21 in the hymnbook. We started this class with this him today, page 21, Come listen to a prophets voice. Now, I want you to think about what we've talked about today and let me show you something that is fascinating. Look down at the lower left-hand corner of your page and it says verse 4 was written by Bruce R McConkey, member of the quorum of the 12. And first 4 was included into this him in Do you see that? See that? Why did Brother McConkey add a fourth verse to this hymn that's been around for years and years and years in Well let's look at verse 4. Then heed the words of truth and light that flow from fountains pure, Yea, keep his law with all my might till thine election's sure, Till thou shalt hear the holy voice, that's this the sure word of prophecy, that's what this is. Do you know whose voice this is? This is the father. This is the father's voice. Somewhere in this process of entering into the rest of the Lord, you will have the opportunity to hear a voice call you by name, you won't see him, but you will hear his voice and it is the voice of the holy father. What's he doing? He's pronouncing your calling and election made sure. He sealing you up unto eternal life. He's fastening you with a nail in a sure place so you can't fall. Watch the rest of it. Till thou shalt hear the holy voice assure eternal reign, last verse, While joy and cheer attend thy choice, as one who shall obtain. Obtain what? This. All of this. I testify to you these things are true, I feel the Holy Ghost. I feel it. I don't know if you do, but I testify you by the power of the Holy Ghost that what were talking about is true, and the Lord wants us all come up. It's okay to be where you're at, brothers and sisters, were all right now, all of us right now are doing the best we can. This is something sisters Stroud that taught me this been a great blessing in my life. We should look at others and say you should