Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith — John Shaqi
Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. SmithSmith, Joseph F. (Joseph Fielding)
Religion
Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith
Smith, Joseph F. (Joseph Fielding)
Latter Day Saint churches
have." Here is presented the true type of the resurrected being. And
after this manner are all those who have their resurrected bodies, and
there are many of these, for we are told in the scriptures that "the
graves were opened, and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose and
came out of the graves, after his resurrection, and went into the holy
city and appeared unto many." This class of beings dwell in heaven, or
in the paradise of the just, having been counted worthy to come forth
in the first resurrection, even with Christ, to dwell with him and to
be associated with the members of the kingdom of God and his Christ.
These comprise the three conditions or estates of man in heaven. Not
all, however, of the disembodied spirits enjoy the same privileges,
exaltation and glory. The spirits of the wicked, disobedient, and
unbelieving, are denied the privileges, joys and glory of the spirits
of the just and good. The bodies of the Saints will come forth in the
first resurrection, and those of the unbelieving, etc., in the second,
or last. In other words, the Saints will rise first, and those who are
not Saints will not rise until afterwards, according to the wisdom,
justice and mercy of God.
Christ is the great example for all mankind, and I believe that
mankind were as much foreordained to become like him, as that he was
foreordained to be the Redeemer of man. "Whom God did foreknow"--and
whom did he not foreknow?--"he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren." It is very plain that mankind are very far from being
like Christ, as the world is today, only in form of person. In this
we are like him, or in the form of his person, as he is the express
image of his Father's person. We are therefore in the form of God,
physically, and may {23} become like him spiritually, and like him in
the possession of knowledge, intelligence, wisdom and power.
The grand object of our coming to this earth is that we may become like
Christ, for if we are not like him, we cannot become the sons of God,
and be joint heirs with Christ.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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