Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Who will God receive?

Who will God receive?
According to 3 Nephi 9:14, God receives “whosoever will come.”  
The only condition is willingness. Christ’s voice in the darkness makes the invitation universal, immediate, and personal.


📜 14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.
📜 15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.
3 Nephi 9:14 — Cross‑reference words

“Come”
Scripture consistently ties “come unto Christ” with being received, healed, or given life.  
• Matthew 11:28 — “Come unto me… and I will give you rest.”  
• John 6:37 — “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”  
• 2 Nephi 26:33 — He invites all to come; none are denied.  
• Alma 5:33 — “The arms of mercy are extended… and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.”

Here are the cross-reference scriptures that the LDS literature has picked as the scriptures to go with "come."

📜 14 And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!

📜 24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.
🗝📜 25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.
📜 26 Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
📜 27 Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.
📜 28 Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.

📒 Alma 5
📜 33 Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.
🗝📜 34 Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;
📜 35 Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire—
📜 36 For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever bringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn.
Closing Summary — “Come”

Across all these passages, the word “come” forms one of the most consistent covenant invitations in scripture. The New Testament verses show Christ personally calling the weary, the cast‑out, and the seeking to draw near and receive rest, acceptance, and life. The Book of Mormon passages deepen that same theme but add something uniquely expansive: they emphasize that no one is ever turned away.  

1 Nephi 1:14 frames “coming unto God” within His mercy over all the inhabitants of the earth—His nature guarantees that those who come will not perish. 2 Nephi 26:24–28 intensifies the universality: Christ does everything for the benefit of the world, denies none, forbids none, excludes none, and offers salvation “without money and without price.” Alma 5:33–36 then personalizes the invitation again—His arms of mercy are extended, His voice calls “Come unto me,” and He promises nourishment, life, and reception to all who respond.

The significance of these added LDS cross‑references is that they transform “come” from a simple directional verb into a doctrinal pattern: God’s character is revealed through His invitation. He is merciful, inclusive, unrestrictive, and proactive in reaching out. The Book of Mormon passages especially insist that the invitation is not selective or conditional on background, status, or prior worthiness. Instead, the only condition is willingness.  

Together, these scriptures show that “come unto Christ” is not merely an action—it is the doorway to being received, healed, nourished, and made alive by a God who never commands anyone to depart and never forbids any soul from approaching Him.
“Eternal life”
Eternal life is consistently defined as. relationship with God through Christ.  
• John 17:3 — Eternal life is to know the Father and the Son.  
• Mosiah 5:15 — Being “steadfast and immovable” leads to being “brought to heaven… to have everlasting salvation.”  
• 3 Nephi 15:9 — “Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live.”

Here are the cross-reference scripture that the LDS literature has picked as the scriptures to go with "eternal life."

📕 John 3
📜 16 ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Closing Summary — “Eternal life”

Across these passages, “eternal life” is not presented as merely endless existence but as a living, covenantal relationship with God through Christ. John 17:3 defines it directly: to know the Father and the Son. Mosiah 5:15 and 3 Nephi 15:9 expand that definition by showing how steadfastness, endurance, and looking to Christ bind a soul to Him in a way that leads to everlasting salvation and divine life.
The added  cross‑reference, John 3:16, is significant because it anchors the entire LDS doctrine of eternal life in God’s love and Christ’s gift. It emphasizes that eternal life is offered because “God so loved the world,” and that believing in Christ—trusting, turning, and coming to Him—opens the way to life that does not perish. This verse ties the relational definition of eternal life to the motive behind it: divine love reaching out to all humanity.

Together, these scriptures show that eternal life is both a gift and a relationship—rooted in God’s love, revealed in Christ, and received by those who look to Him, believe in Him, and endure with Him.
“Arm” (arm of mercy)
The “arm” symbolizes divine reach, rescue, and covenant embrace.  
• Isaiah 40:11 — He gathers His lambs “with his arm.”  
• Mormon 5:11 — “The arm of mercy hath been extended.”  
• D&C 6:20 — “I am in your midst, and mine arm is over you.”

Christ’s “arm of mercy” is not passive; it is extended, active, and waiting.

Here are the cross-reference scripture that the LDS literature has picked as the scriptures to go with "arm."

📜 16 ¶ And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

📒 Alma 19
📜 36 And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name.
Closing Summary — “Arm”

Across these passages, the “arm” of the Lord consistently represents divine intervention, covenant loyalty, and personal rescue. Isaiah 40:11 shows the arm as gentle and gathering; Mormon 5:11 and D&C 6:20 show it as merciful, extended, and protective. The image is never static—God’s arm moves toward His children, not away from them.

The added LDS cross‑references deepen this theme. Isaiah 59:16 reveals that when no mortal intercessor could save, God’s own arm brought salvation, underscoring that redemption is ultimately His work, not humanity’s. Alma 19:36 then widens the scope: His "arm" is extended “to all people who will repent and believe,” showing that divine rescue is not limited by lineage, history, or nation. It is universally offered.

Together, these scriptures show that the “arm of mercy” is both powerful and personal—strong enough to save when no one else can, and extended far enough to reach every soul willing to turn toward Him.

3 Nephi 9:15 — Cross‑reference words
“Created”
Christ identifies Himself as the Creator, matching New Testament declarations.  
• John 1:🗝1–3 — “All things were made by him.”  
• Colossians 1:16 — “By him were all things created.”  
• Hebrews 1:1, 🗝2, & 3  — The Father “made the worlds” by the Son.

Creation authority reinforces the weight of His invitation: the One who made all things invites all things to come.

Here are the remaining cross-reference scripture that the LDS literature has picked as the scriptures to go with "created." 

📜 4 And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth.

📜12 And also that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name.

📒 Ether 4
📜 7 And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.

📜 9 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who created the heavens and the earth, a light which cannot be hid in darkness;
Closing Summary — “Created”

Across the New Testament passages, Christ is unmistakably identified as the Creator: all things were made by Him, through Him, and for Him. This creative authority gives weight to His invitation in 3 Nephi 9:15—the One who formed the heavens and the earth is the same One extending mercy, calling all to come, and offering life.

The additional LDS cross‑references deepen and broaden this doctrine. Mosiah 15:4 affirms that Christ and the Father act in perfect unity as “one God,” the Eternal Father of heaven and earth. Helaman 14:12 explicitly names Jesus Christ as “the Creator of all things from the beginning,” tying creation to His coming and His signs, so that belief in His name becomes anchored in His identity as Maker. Ether 4:7 reinforces this by having Christ Himself declare that He is “the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are,” linking creation to revelation, sanctification, and faith. Doctrine and Covenants 14:9 then brings the same truth into the Restoration era: Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, created the heavens and the earth and shines as a light that cannot be hidden.

The significance of these added scriptures is that they show a unified witness across dispensations: the Creator is the Redeemer, and the One who made all things is the One who invites all things to come unto Him. Creation is not a distant act but a foundation for covenant relationship. His power to create becomes the assurance that He has power to save, reveal, sanctify, and receive every soul who turns toward Him.
“I” (oneness with the Father)
Christ’s unity with the Father is relational, functional, and revelatory.  
• John 14:10–11 — “I am in the Father, and the Father in me.”  
• John 17:21–23 — The oneness of Father and Son is the pattern for covenant unity.  
• 3 Nephi 11:27 — The Father “glorified his name” in the Son.

This unity means His words are the Father’s words, His mercy the Father’s mercy, His receiving the Father’s receiving.

Here is the cross-reference scripture that the LDS literature has picked as the scriptures to go with "I"

🗝📜 23 And now Father, I pray unto thee for them, and also for all those who shall believe on their words, that they may believe in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one.
📜 29 Father, I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me out of the world, because of their faith, that they may be purified in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me, that we may be one, that I may be glorified in them.
Closing Summary — “I” (Oneness with the Father)

Across these passages, Christ’s declaration “I am in the Father, and the Father in me” reveals a unity that is not symbolic but deeply relational and perfectly aligned. John 14:10–11 shows that His words and works flow from the Father. John 17:21–23 expands this unity outward, offering it as the pattern for covenant discipleship. 3 Nephi 11:27 confirms that the Father glorifies His name in the Son, showing their unity in purpose, authority, and revelation.

The added LDS cross‑references in 3 Nephi 19 intensify this theme by shifting from description to intercession. In verses 23 and 29, Christ prays that His disciples—and all who will believe through their words—may experience the same unity He shares with the Father. This is not merely doctrinal; it is invitational. Christ desires to be in His followers as the Father is in Him, creating a shared oneness rooted in faith, purification, and divine glory.

The significance of these added scriptures is that they reveal the full scope of Christ’s unity with the Father: it is not only a truth about His identity but a destiny offered to His people. The oneness of Father and Son becomes the model, the promise, and the prayer for all who believe.
Summary
Who will God receive?  
Anyone who will come.  
Christ extends His arm of mercy to all, and the Creator Himself promises eternal life to any soul who turns toward Him. His unity with the Father guarantees that this invitation is divine, complete, and trustworthy.
Final Thoughts & Closing Summary

3 Nephi 9:14–15 reveals a God who invites, receives, creates, and unites. Every cross‑reference—whether from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, or the Doctrine and Covenants—echoes the same truth: Christ’s voice is always extended toward the willing soul.
“Come” shows that His invitation is universal. No one is forbidden, no one is cast out, and no one is beyond the reach of His mercy. Eternal life is shown not as endless time but as a living relationship with the Father and the Son, grounded in divine love and sustained by endurance in Christ.
The “arm of mercy” passages reveal a God who does not wait for perfection but reaches into human weakness with power, tenderness, and covenant loyalty. His arm saves when no one else can and extends to all who will repent and believe.
The “created” scriptures testify that the One who calls us is the Maker of heaven and earth. Creation becomes the foundation for redemption: the Creator has both the authority and the desire to reclaim every soul. Across dispensations, prophets affirm that Jesus Christ is the Creator, the Light, and the Revealer of all things.
Finally, the “I” passages show the unity of the Father and the Son—a unity of purpose, love, and glory. Christ not only declares this oneness but prays that His disciples may share in it. The invitation to come becomes an invitation to become: to be purified, to be one, and to be filled with divine life.
Taken together, these verses form a single message: The God who created all things extends His arm of mercy to all people, inviting every soul to come, to believe, to be received, and to be made one with Him.
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Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Is there anyone Jesus doesn't want to saved?

✨ Does Jesus want anyone to be excluded from salvation?
2 Nephi 26:23–24 gives one of the clearest answers in all scripture, and its structure is deliberate.  
Let’s unfold it layer by layer.

📜 23 For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.
📜 24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.

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🌑 1. “The Lord God worketh not in darkness.”
This is the foundation.  
Nephi begins by clearing away suspicion, fear, or hidden agendas.

- No secret exclusions  
- No hidden elect  
- No divine favoritism  
- No backroom salvation deals  

The God being described is transparent, consistent, and public in His mercy.

This line is the precondition for everything that follows.

📜 16 ¶ Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
📜 17 Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
📜 18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

The witness of Nephi and Isaiah converges on a single truth: 

God does nothing in shadows. From the beginning He has spoken openly, inviting all to “come near” and hear a voice that has never been secret or selective. The Redeemer who teaches, leads, and longs to give peace “as a river” is the same One who refuses to hide His intentions or restrict His mercy. Isaiah’s declaration—“I have not spoken in secret from the beginning”—stands as the Old Testament counterpart to Nephi’s assurance that the Lord “worketh not in darkness.” Together they reveal a God whose transparency is part of His love, whose guidance is offered without favoritism, and whose desire has always been to draw every soul into light, peace, and covenantal flourishing.

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🌍 2. “He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world.”
This is universal language.

- Not “for the benefit of the righteous.”  
- Not “for the benefit of the chosen.”  
- Not “for the benefit of those who already love Him.”  

The world—the whole human family.

This is Nephi’s way of saying:  
Every act of God bends toward blessing, healing, and redeeming humanity.

📜 27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

📒 Jacob 5
📜 41 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard?

📒 Alma 26
📜 37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.

Nephi’s claim that God does nothing except for the benefit of the world is echoed across the Book of Mormon’s witness. Lehi teaches that every soul is given what is expedient and is free to choose life through the Mediator who stands available to all, not a select few. Jacob’s allegory shows a God who weeps over His vineyard and asks what more He could possibly do, revealing a divine heart that exhausts every option for redemption. Ammon concludes the pattern by declaring that God is mindful of every people in every land, His mercy stretching over the whole earth without boundary or preference. Together these voices testify that God’s actions, invitations, and sorrows all arise from the same universal intent: the blessing, reclaiming, and joyful gathering of the entire human family.

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❤️ 3. “For he loveth the world…”
This echoes John 3:16, but Nephi adds a crucial nuance:

God’s love is not passive.  
It is not observational.  
It is not conditional.

It is self‑giving.

📕 John 3
📜 14 ¶ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
📜 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
🗝📜 16 ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
📜 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
📜 18 ¶ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
📜 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
📜 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
📜 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John’s teaching mirrors Nephi’s universal claim: 

God acts for the benefit of the whole world, not a fragment of it. Just as Moses lifted the serpent to heal all who would look, Christ is lifted up so that every soul may have life. Verse 16 stands as the heartbeat of the passage—God so loved the world that He gave His Son, not to condemn but to rescue, illuminate, and restore. The following verses show that judgment is not an act of exclusion but the natural consequence of turning from offered light. Christ’s mission is entirely oriented toward blessing, healing, and reclaiming humanity, and the only resistance comes from those who refuse the light He freely extends. In this way, John affirms Nephi’s witness: every divine act bends toward the world’s good, and salvation is held open to all who will receive it.

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✝️ 4. “…even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him.”
Here is the center of the doctrine:

- The Atonement is not selective.  
- The invitation is not limited.  
- The drawing power is aimed at all.  

“Draw all men unto him” is the opposite of exclusion.  
It is gravitational mercy.

📜 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

📜 5 Yea, I know that ye know that in the body he shall show himself unto those at Jerusalem, from whence we came; for it is expedient that it should be among them; for it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him.

Christ’s declaration that His lifting up will draw all men unto Him reveals the universal reach of His self‑giving love. Nephi affirms the same truth: the great Creator willingly becomes subject to mortality and death so that every soul, without exception, might be reclaimed, gathered, and brought back under His gentle authority. The cross is not a selective act but a cosmic invitation, a power aimed at the entire human family. Together, these witnesses show that Christ’s sacrifice is designed to pull all humanity toward Him with unbounded mercy, leaving no one outside the radius of His redeeming draw.

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🕊️ 5. “Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation”
This is the knockout line.

Nephi doesn’t merely say Jesus invites all.  
He says Jesus forbids Himself from excluding anyone.

This is covenantal, not sentimental.

It means:

- There is no category of person Jesus doesn’t want.  
- There is no sin that disqualifies someone from being invited.  
- There is no lineage, nation, background, or history that bars entry.  
- There is no divine decree that says, “Not you.”  

The only barrier is the one a person builds for themselves—and even then, Christ keeps knocking.

📕 John 17
📜 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

By Elder Dallin H. Oaks
    Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
April 2017
    
    "Because we have the truth about the Godhead and our relationship to Them, we have the ultimate road map for our journey through mortality."

🗣️ The Prophet Joseph Smith
“It will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned … all the principles of exaltation.”

📜 18 ¶ To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
📜 21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

📜 22 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.

  Chapter 2: God the Eternal Father
Joseph Smith 

“Any person that had seen the heavens opened knows that there are three personages in the heavens who hold the keys of power, and one presides over all. …
    “… These personages … are called God the first, the Creator; God the second, the Redeemer; and God the third, the Witness or Testator.
    “[It is] the province of the Father to preside as the Chief or President, Jesus as the Mediator, and the Holy Ghost as the Testator or Witness.”

"We understand our relationship to the members of the Godhead from what is revealed about the plan of salvation."
"Questions like “Where did we come from?” “Why are we here?” and “Where are we going?” are answered in what the scriptures call the “plan of salvation,” the “great plan of happiness,” or the “plan of redemption” (Alma 42:5, 8, 11. The gospel of Jesus Christ is central to this plan."
"As spirit children of God, in an existence prior to mortality, we desired a destiny of eternal life but had progressed as far as we could without a mortal experience in a physical body. To provide that opportunity, our Heavenly Father presided over the Creation of this world, where, deprived of our memory of what preceded our mortal birth, we could prove our willingness to keep His commandments and experience and grow through the other challenges of mortal life. But in the course of that mortal experience, and as a result of the Fall of our first parents, we would suffer spiritual death by being cut off from the presence of God, be soiled by sin, and become subject to physical death. The Father’s plan anticipated and provided ways to overcome all of those barriers."
"It all begins with God the Father. While we know comparatively little about Him, what we know is decisive in understanding His supreme position, our relationship to Him, and His superintending role in the plan of salvation, the Creation, and all else that followed."

🗣 Elder Bruce R. McConkie
“In the ultimate and final sense of the word, there is only one true and living God. He is the Father, the Almighty Elohim, the Supreme Being, the Creator and Ruler of the universe.”

🗣 President David O. McKay
“The first fundamental truth advocated by Jesus Christ was this, that behind, above and over all there is God the Father, Lord of heaven and earth.”

"What we know of the nature of God the Father is mostly what we can learn from the ministry and teachings of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ."

🗣 Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
“What God our Eternal Father is like, … to reveal and make personal to us the true nature of His Father, our Father in Heaven.”

📜 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

📕 John 14
📜 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

“The firstborn among all the sons of God—the first begotten in the spirit, and the only begotten in the flesh.”

"The Son, the greatest of all, was chosen by the Father to carry out the Father’s plan—to exercise the Father’s power to create worlds without number (see Moses 1:33 and to save the children of God from death by His Resurrection and from sin by His Atonement. This supernal sacrifice is truly called “the central act of all human history.”

📜 22 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.

📜 19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness.

"We know whom we worship and why we worship. We know who we are and what we can become. We know who makes it all possible, and we know what we must do to enjoy the ultimate blessings that come through God’s plan of salvation. How do we know all of this? We know by the revelations of God to His prophets and to each of us individually."

📜 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

"It is not even enough for us to be convinced of the gospel; we must act and think so that we are converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the plan of salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ challenge us to become something."

🗣 President Thomas S. Monson
“Essential to the plan [of salvation] is our Savior, Jesus Christ. Without His atoning sacrifice, all would be lost. It is not enough, however, merely to believe in Him and His mission. We need to work and learn, search and pray, repent and improve. We need to know God’s laws and live them. We need to receive His saving ordinances. Only by so doing will we obtain true, eternal happiness. …"
“From the depths of my soul and in all humility,”
“I testify of the great gift which is our Father’s plan for us. It is the one perfect path to peace and happiness both here and in the world to come.”

What Is Salvation?

Salvation is the gift of being saved from physical and spiritual death. It comes through God’s grace and the power of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world (see Doctrine and Covenants 43:34). It includes being resurrected from the dead and gaining immortality. Some scriptures use the words salvation or being saved to refer to eternal life. To receive eternal life is to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and to receive a place with Them for eternity. It is “the greatest of all the gifts of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:13  14:7.

American Dictionary of the English Language


SALVA'TION, noun [Latin salvo, to save.]
1. The act of saving; preservation from destruction, danger or great calamity.
2. Appropriately in theology, the redemption of man from the bondage of sin and liability to eternal death, and the conferring on him everlasting happiness. This is the great salvation
Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation 2 Corinthians 7:10.
3. Deliverance from enemies; victory. Exodus 14:13. 
4. Remission of sins, or saving graces. Luke 19:9.
5. The author of man's salvation Psalms 27:1.
6. A term of praise or benediction. Revelation 19:1.

Christ’s willingness to lay down His life reveals a love that reaches every soul without exception. His own words—“I will draw all men unto me”—show that the cross is not a narrow doorway but a universal pull, extended to the whole human family. Nephi affirms that the Creator submitted to mortality and death precisely so that all people might be reclaimed and brought back under His redeeming power. Together these witnesses show that the Atonement is designed to gather, not divide; to draw, not filter; to make every person reachable by the mercy of the lifted Christ.

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🤔💭 Closing Summary Final Thoughts

This study reveals a single, unbroken truth running through scripture and prophetic witness: Jesus Christ excludes no one from His saving reach. Nephi shows that God works in perfect openness, never in darkness, and Isaiah confirms that His voice has been public from the beginning. Every divine act is for the benefit of the whole world, and the Book of Mormon repeatedly testifies that God weeps, labors, and rejoices over all peoples in every land. John affirms that God’s love is self‑giving, not selective, and that Christ was lifted up to heal, illuminate, and rescue all who will look to Him. The Atonement stands as a universal invitation, a power designed to draw the entire human family toward the Redeemer who died for all. Nephi’s final declaration seals the doctrine: Christ commands none to stay away from salvation. Prophets ancient and modern testify that the plan of salvation is rooted in the character of a Father who presides, a Son who mediates, and a Holy Ghost who witnesses, all working together to bring every soul home. Salvation is God’s greatest gift, offered without restriction, and the only barriers are those we raise ourselves. In every age, the message remains the same: there is no one Jesus does not want, no heart He will not receive, and no life beyond the reach of His redeeming love.

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🌈 So is there anyone Jesus doesn’t want to save?
According to Nephi’s logic:

No.  
There is no such person.  
There never has been.  
There never will be.

The entire passage is constructed to make exclusion impossible.

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Monday, December 29, 2025

What is the reason why Jesus set an example for us?


📒 21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;
📜 12 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and remember that they shall have faith in me or they can in nowise be saved;
📜 6 And this is my gospel—repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom.)

Question: What is the reason why Jesus set an example for us?  
Scripture (3 Nephi 27:21): “This is my gospel… the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do.”  

Key words
- Gospel → the good news, the covenant path, the way of salvation.  
- Do → action, obedience, imitation, living the pattern.

Dissection
1. “This is my gospel” → Jesus defines His gospel not only as doctrine but as a lived pattern. The reason He sets an example is so the gospel is embodied, not abstract.  
2. “The works which ye have seen me do” → His life is the model. Healing, serving, forgiving, submitting to the Father.  
3. “That shall ye also do” → The purpose is imitation. By following His example, disciples enact the gospel in their own lives.  

Reason
Jesus set an example so that His gospel would be both taught and demonstrated. The gospel is not just words—it is a way of living. By “doing” as He did, we align ourselves with His covenant, show faith through action, and become witnesses of Him.  
Gospel

Here’s a layered dissection, keeping the focus on “gospel” and the question: What is the reason why Jesus set an example for us?  

Anchor Scripture
📒 3 Nephi 27:21 → “This is my gospel… the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do.”  
Reason: Jesus sets the example so the gospel is not only declared but embodied. His life is the living definition of the gospel.  

📜 36 And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation.

📒 1 Nephi 13:36 → The gospel is written, tied to the Lamb, the Rock, and Salvation. His example shows that the gospel is not just text but living testimony.  

📜 7 ¶ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
📜 19 Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that bring glad tidings of good things, and that say unto Zion: Behold, thy God reigneth! As the dews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend upon them!)

📗 Isaiah 52:7 → The gospel is “good tidings” and “peace.” Jesus’ example demonstrates how to publish peace and salvation through action.  

📘 Doctrine and Covenants 128:19 → The gospel is a “voice of gladness” for living and dead. His example shows joy, mercy, and truth embodied in deeds.  

📜 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

📕 1 Corinthians 9:14 → Those who preach the gospel must live it. Jesus lived it first, showing that preaching without doing is incomplete.  

📜 13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.
📜 40 And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us—)

🗝📜 19 And there he preached to them the everlasting gospel, the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind from the fall, and from individual sins on conditions of repentance.
📜 25 I marveled, for I understood that the Savior spent about three years in his ministry among the Jews and those of the house of Israel, endeavoring to teach them the everlasting gospel and call them unto repentance;
🗝📜 57 I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.

📒 3 Nephi 27:13 → The gospel is defined as doing the will of the Father. Jesus’ example is the gospel itself—submission, obedience, and love.  

📘 Doctrine and Covenants 76:40 → The gospel is “glad tidings” borne from heaven. His example makes heavenly gladness visible on earth.  

📘 Doctrine and Covenants 138:19, 25, 57 → The everlasting gospel is resurrection, redemption, repentance. Jesus’ example—His ministry, sacrifice, and continued work—shows that the gospel is eternal labor for souls.  

📚 Moses 5
📜 58 And thus the Gospel began to be preached, from the beginning, being declared by holy angels sent forth from the presence of God, and by his own voice, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost.

📚 Moses 5:58 → The gospel began “from the beginning,” declared by angels and God’s own voice. Jesus’ example fulfills that ancient declaration, showing continuity from creation to redemption.  

Synthesis
The reason Jesus set an example is so the gospel is lived, not abstract. His works embody salvation, peace, gladness, obedience, resurrection, and redemption. By “doing” as He did, we enact the gospel in our own lives, becoming living witnesses of God’s reign.  
In expanding the word gospel from 3 Nephi 27:21, the scriptures of the Plan of Salvation reveal how Christ’s example is inseparably tied to redemption, resurrection, and eternal life. Isaiah 53 shows His suffering for our healing. Acts 4 and Moses 6 declare salvation in no other name but Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15 and Hebrews 5 testify of resurrection and eternal salvation through obedience. Alma 12 and 2 Nephi 25–10 emphasize repentance, reconciliation, and grace. Abraham 3 and Revelation 1 place this plan in premortal design and eternal glory. Doctrine and Covenants 128 calls us forward in this great cause, rejoicing in freedom for the living and the dead.  

📜 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

📕 Acts 4
📜 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
📜 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
📜 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
📜 1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
(📕 Titus 1
📜 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;)

📜 23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
📜 24 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.)
📒 Alma 12
📜 33 But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son;

📜 22 Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.

📚 Moses 6
📜 52 And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you.
📜 62 And now, behold, I say unto you: This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time.

📜 24 And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;
📜 25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;
📜 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.
📜 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.)

Closing Summary For A Plan Of Salvation 

Together, these passages show that the gospel is the Plan of Salvation itself—Christ’s example of doing the Father’s will, suffering for sin, conquering death, and offering grace. His life and sacrifice embody the gospel, making it more than doctrine: it is the lived path of reconciliation, obedience, and joy. Thus, the reason He set an example for us is so that in “doing” as He did, we participate in the Plan of Salvation, becoming witnesses of His mercy and heirs of eternal life. This closes the section on “gospel” and unites both explorations: the gospel as Christ’s example, and the gospel as the eternal plan of redemption.
“Do” in the Gospel of Christ’s Church

The cross-reference word do in 3 Nephi 27:21—“the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do”—points us to the actions required of disciples. Matthew 4 calls us to follow Him and become fishers of men. Mark 8 commands self-denial and taking up the cross. John 14 declares Christ as the only way to the Father. Hebrews 5 shows obedience learned through suffering. 1 Peter 2 and 1 John 4 emphasize following His steps and becoming as He is in this world. In the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 31 teaches enduring to the end in His example, 3 Nephi 12 calls for perfection, 3 Nephi 18 sets prayer and repentance as His example, and Moroni 7 exhorts us to be filled with Christlike love and purity. Doctrine and Covenants 35 and 56 confirm that salvation comes through believing, becoming one in Him, and keeping His commandments by taking up the cross.  

📜 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
📕 Mark 8
📜 34 ¶ And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
📕 John 14
📜 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
📜 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
📜 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
📜 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

📜 16 And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.
📜 48 Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
📜 16 And as I have prayed among you even so shall ye pray in my church, among my people who do repent and are baptized in my name. Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you.
📜 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

📜 2 I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one.
📜 2 And he that will not take up his cross and follow me, and keep my commandments, the same shall not be saved.

Closing Summary Ye Must Do

The “things that ye must do” are not abstract—they are the lived imitation of Christ’s example: following Him, denying self, obeying, enduring, praying, repenting, loving, and becoming one with Him and the Father. In 3 Nephi 27:21, Jesus sets the pattern so His gospel is embodied in action. To “do” as He did is to walk the covenant path, to live the truth of His church, and to be transformed into His likeness. This closes the section on “do,” completing the witness that the gospel is both declared and enacted in the life of Christ and in the lives of His disciples.
Closing Summary for the Entire Bible Study

This study has traced the question “What is the reason why Jesus set an example for us?” through the words gospel and do in 3 Nephi 27:21. The gospel is revealed as the Plan of Salvation itself—Christ’s submission to the Father, His suffering for sin, His triumph over death, and His gift of grace. It is glad tidings from the beginning, declared by angels, fulfilled in His ministry, and extended eternally through resurrection and redemption. To “do” as He did is to embody that gospel: following Him, denying self, obeying, enduring, praying, repenting, loving, and becoming one with Him and the Father.  

Jesus set His example so that the gospel would not remain abstract but lived. His works are the pattern of salvation, showing us how to walk the covenant path and become witnesses of His mercy. In living the gospel and doing His will, we are transformed into His likeness, reconciled to God, and filled with hope in eternal life. This unites the two threads—gospel and do—into one witness: the gospel is both declared and enacted, and Christ’s example is the way by which we are saved.

Song "THE BEST TIME OF MY LIFE" Paul Williams and The Victory Trio
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Sunday, December 28, 2025

How do we receive knowledge from God?

📽 Jesus Christ Teaches How to Do His Father's Will

📜 7 Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
📜 8 For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

🌿 How We Receive Knowledge From God
A doctrinal dissection of “ask” and “seek”

3 Nephi 14:7–8 gives a three‑step pattern—ask, seek, knock—but the cross‑references on ask and seek already reveal the inner mechanics of divine learning. These two words describe two different modes of approaching God, and together they form the covenant rhythm of revelation.

Let’s take them one at a time.
🔹 ASK — The posture of dependence
To ask is not merely to request information. In scripture, asking is:

- Relational — You turn toward God as a child turns toward a parent.  
- Vocal — You articulate desire, even if the words are imperfect.  
- Yielding — You acknowledge that truth is not self‑generated.  
- Trusting — You assume God is willing to respond.

Asking is the heart’s opening.  
It is the soul saying: “I cannot know this alone.”

In the scriptural pattern, asking is always tied to:

- Prayer  
- Humility  
- Softness of heart  
- Willingness to receive correction  
- Readiness to obey whatever answer comes  

Asking is the invocation—the moment you step into God’s light.

Here's the cross-reference scriptures and subject scriptures for ask

📜 29 Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

Important part of asking is prayer 

📜 17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
📜 29 The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
📗 Joel 2
📜 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

📜 5 ¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
📕 Luke 18
📜 1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
📜 8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

📜 6 For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.
📜 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
📜 26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.
📜 3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
🗝📜 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
📜 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

📜 24 Behold, I say unto him, he exalts himself and does not humble himself sufficiently before me; but if he will bow down before me, and humble himself in mighty prayer and faith, in the sincerity of his heart, then will I grant unto him a view of the things which he desires to see.
📜 11 And if thou wilt inquire, thou shalt know mysteries which are great and marvelous; therefore thou shalt exercise thy gift, that thou mayest find out mysteries, that thou mayest bring many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, convince them of the error of their ways.
📜 2 Behold, this is pleasing unto your Lord, and the angels rejoice over you; the alms of your prayers have come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded in the book of the names of the sanctified, even them of the celestial world.
📜 76 Also, I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth.
📜 119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;

📚 Moses 5
📜 8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.

💫 Closing Summary for Ask

To ask is to pray, and to pray is to place yourself in the only posture where divine knowledge can be received. Scripture teaches that asking is not mechanical but relational: a child turning toward a Father, a soul yielding its own wisdom, a heart trusting that God hears. From Psalms’ rhythm of morning, noon, and evening prayer to Christ’s command to pray always and not faint, the pattern is constant—God responds to those who call upon Him with sincerity, meekness, and real intent. The Book of Mormon adds that prayer without intent profits nothing, but prayer with full energy of heart fills the soul with love, hope, and the Holy Ghost. The Doctrine and Covenants affirms that humility in mighty prayer opens the way to mysteries, revelation, and sanctifying light. Across all dispensations, the message is the same: asking is the gateway. Prayer is the act that softens the heart, aligns the will, and invites the Spirit to manifest truth. Those who ask in the name of the Son, with faith and sincerity, are promised that they will receive, they will be taught, and they will be transformed.
🔹 SEEK — The posture of participation
To seek is active, not passive. It means:

- Searching the scriptures  
- Observing the works of God in the world  
- Studying, pondering, experimenting  
- Walking toward the answer rather than waiting for it to arrive  

Seeking is the mind’s movement.  
It is the soul saying: “I will pursue what You reveal.”

Where ask is relational, seek is behavioral.  
Where ask opens the heart, seek engages the will.

Seeking is the journey—the movement of a disciple who believes God will meet them along the way.

Here are the cross-reference subjects on seek

📜 9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

📜 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

📜 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.
📜 27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

📜 35 And by giving heed and doing these things which ye have received, and which ye shall hereafter receive—and the kingdom is given you of the Father, and power to overcome all things which are not ordained of him—

🗝📜 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
📜 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

📒 Jacob 2
📜 18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.
📜 6 And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.

📜 7 For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you.
🗝📜 63 Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
📜 64 Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you;
📜 65 And if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation.
📜 117 Therefore, verily I say unto you, my friends, call your solemn assembly, as I have commanded you.
🗝📜 118 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.
📜 119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;
📜 120 That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High.
📜 121 Therefore, cease from all your light speeches, from all laughter, from all your lustful desires, from all your pride and light-mindedness, and from all your wicked doings.
📜 122 Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege.
📜 123 See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous; learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires.
📜 124 Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.
📜 125 And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace.
📜 126 Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen.

To seek is to move. Scripture teaches that God honors those who act with willing hearts, ready minds, and deliberate initiative. Seeking is the disciple’s choice to engage agency, to labor diligently, to press toward the mark, and to pursue the kingdom of God before anything else. It is the willingness to study, to prepare, to organize, to teach, to learn, to repent, to rise early, to cease from idleness, and to clothe oneself in charity. Seeking is not passive waiting but covenant participation—drawing near to God so He may draw near in return. It is the steady, faithful pursuit of wisdom “by study and also by faith,” the daily alignment of life with divine objectives, and the diligent effort that opens the way for revelation, strength, and sanctifying power. Those who seek with real intent find God not by accident but by movement, discipline, and devotion. Seeking is the lived expression of a soul that believes God will meet them along the way.
🔥 Together: ASK + SEEK = Revelation
When Jesus pairs these words, He is teaching that revelation is both gift and pursuit.

- Asking = receiving what only God can give  
- Seeking = becoming the kind of person who can recognize what God gives  

Revelation is not a lightning strike.  
It is a relationship.

It is not a puzzle to solve.  
It is a path to walk.

It is not a one‑time event.  
It is a pattern of life.

By Elder Russell M. Nelson
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
November 2009

"It is one of the most marvelous gifts the Lord has offered to mortals. It is His generous invitation to “ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”¹
"For each of you to receive revelation unique to your own needs and responsibilities, certain guidelines prevail. The Lord asks you to develop “faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God.” Then with your firm “faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, [and] diligence,” you may ask, and you will receive; you may knock, and it will be opened unto you."²

¹📕 Matthew 7
📜 7 ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

¹📕 Luke 11
📜 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

¹📒 3 Nephi 14
📜 7 Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

📜 5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.
📜 6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.
📜 7 Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen.

Closing Summary for ASK + SEEK = Revelation

Revelation comes through a divine partnership in which asking opens the heart to God’s gifts and seeking shapes the soul to recognize them. Jesus’ repeated invitation to ask, seek, and knock reveals that revelation is not sudden spectacle but a sustained relationship—a life lived with an eye single to God’s glory. Elder Nelson teaches that personal revelation flows as we cultivate faith, hope, charity, humility, diligence, and every Christlike virtue. These qualities tune the soul to heaven’s frequency. When we ask with sincerity, we receive; when we seek with devotion, we find; when we knock with covenant intent, God opens the way. Revelation is both God’s generosity and our discipleship, a continual pattern of turning to Him, moving toward Him, and entering the doors He opens.
🌤️ The Flow of Divine Knowledge
If we combine the two words into a single movement, the pattern looks like this (in pure language, not diagrams):

1. Turn your heart toward God  
2. Express your desire openly  
3. Move your feet toward the light you already have  
4. Receive more light as you walk  
5. Repeat  

This is why Jesus can promise:

- “Ask, and it shall be given.”  
- “Seek, and ye shall find.”  

Because the promise is not transactional—it is transformational.  
Those who ask become receptive.  
Those who seek become perceptive.  
Those who knock become admitted.

By Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
October 2025

 "God knows who we truly are, who we are designed to become, and so His expectations for us are high."
 "It is our part to turn away from sin, turn toward the Savior, and walk in His way, one step at a time."
 "Our Father asks that we approach this challenge of faith and discipleship not as casual tourists but as wholehearted believers who leave behind and abandon Babylon and set their hearts, minds, and steps toward Zion."
 "I urge and bless every member of the Church, and all who desire to be part of it, to trust the Savior and engage, patiently and diligently, in doing your part with all your heart—that your joy may be full and that, one day, you will receive all the Father has. Of this I bear witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Closing Summary for The Flow of Divine Knowledge

Divine knowledge unfolds as a living pattern: we turn our hearts toward God, speak our desires to Him, walk in the light we already possess, and receive greater light as we move. Revelation grows in this rhythm because God’s promises are meant to transform us, not merely inform us. Asking makes the soul receptive, seeking makes the disciple perceptive, and knocking brings us into the life God is opening before us. Elder Uchtdorf teaches that this journey requires wholehearted discipleship—turning from sin, turning toward the Savior, and walking His path step by step. We are invited to leave behind the spirit of Babylon and set our hearts, minds, and footsteps toward Zion. As we trust the Savior and engage patiently and diligently in doing our part with all our heart, joy increases, capacity expands, and we become who God designed us to become. In this way, the flow of divine knowledge is not an event but a lifelong transformation into the fullness the Father desires to give His children.
🚪 KNOCK — The posture of covenant courage

If ask opens the heart  
and seek engages the will,  
then knock is the moment of holy boldness.

To knock is to:

- Approach a real threshold  
- Acknowledge that you are at the right door  
- Act in faith even when you cannot see what is on the other side  
- Present yourself for entry  

Knocking is not timid.  
It is not passive.  
It is not theoretical.

Knocking is the embodied act of a disciple who has already asked, already sought, and now stands before God’s doorway with the courage to say:

“Here I am. Let me in.”

By Milton Camargo
    First Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency
October 2020
   
 "An important part of Heavenly Father’s plan is the opportunity to communicate with Him anytime we want."
"To knock is to act in faith. When we actively follow Him, the Lord opens the way before us."
 "Alma provides a good example of what it means to ask, seek, and knock. We read that “Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people.” That prayer, however, was not answered the way he hoped, and Alma was cast out of the city. “Weighed down with sorrow,” Alma was about to give up, when an angel delivered this message: “Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice.” The angel then told him to return to Ammonihah and try again, and Alma “returned speedily."(Alma 8:10-18)
 "What do we learn from Alma about asking, seeking, and knocking? We learn that prayer requires spiritual labor, and it does not always lead to the outcome we hope for. But when we feel discouraged or weighed down with sorrow, the Lord gives us comfort and strength in different ways. He may not answer all of our questions or solve all of our problems right away; rather, He encourages us to keep trying. If we then speedily align our plan with His plan, He will open the way for us, as He did for Alma."

Closing Summary for KNOCK

To knock is to act in covenant courage. It is the moment when desire and discipleship become embodied faith—approaching God’s threshold, trusting His timing, and stepping forward even without full sight. Elder Camargo teaches that knocking means actively following the Lord so He can open the way before us. Alma’s experience shows that knocking requires spiritual labor, persistence, and willingness to try again when prayers are not answered as hoped. Though cast out and weighed down with sorrow, Alma received strength, reassurance, and new direction, and he returned speedily in obedience. From this we learn that God often answers by encouraging us to keep moving, aligning our plans with His. When we knock with steadfast faith, God opens doors in His own way and His own time, guiding us through discouragement into renewed purpose and divine opportunity.
🔹 What knocking looks like in lived discipleship

Knocking is expressed through:

- Obedience to the light already given  
- Stepping into callings, covenants, and responsibilities  
- Acting on revelation before the outcome is known  
- Showing up where God told you to show up  
- Crossing thresholds that require trust  

Knocking is the moment of commitment.

It is the soul saying:  
“I am ready to enter whatever You open.”

By Elder Michael B. Strong
Of the Seventy
April 2025

 "A disciple is a follower or student of another. Disciples are “apprentices” who devote their lives to becoming like their teacher. Thus, being a disciple of Jesus Christ implies more than believing His teachings and doctrine. It even implies more than acknowledging His divinity and accepting Him as our Savior and Redeemer, as vitally important as that is."
 "Of all the many divine attributes of Jesus Christ we are to emulate, one stands preeminent and embodies all others. That attribute is His pure love, or charity."
 "Compassion is the portion of charity that seeks to alleviate suffering."
 "Helping others along their covenant path may take the form of an unconventional act of service."
 "Discipleship of Jesus Christ is the only way to obtain enduring happiness. It is a path filled with deliberate and purposeful acts of love toward others. While the path of discipleship may be difficult and challenging, and while at times we may struggle and fall short, we can take comfort that God is mindful of us and yearns to help us every time we try."
 "Follow President Nelson’s invitation to prioritize our discipleship. May we “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart” to “be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; … that when he shall appear we shall be like him”(Moroni 7:48)
 because we will carry a sign of true discipleship, which is “charity … the pure love of Christ.”(Moroni 7:47)"

Closing Summary for "Knocking in Discipleship" 

Knocking in discipleship means stepping forward with covenant courage—acting on the light already given, embracing responsibilities, and trusting God enough to move before outcomes are certain. It is the lived commitment of a disciple who shows up where the Lord directs and crosses thresholds that require faith. Elder Strong teaches that true discipleship is more than belief; it is apprenticeship to Christ, expressed through deliberate acts of charity, compassion, and service that lift others along their covenant path. Pure love becomes the defining sign of those who knock, because charity embodies every divine attribute we seek to emulate. Though the path is demanding and we often fall short, God strengthens all who try. As we prioritize discipleship, pray with all the energy of heart, and allow Christ’s love to shape our actions, we become ready to enter every door He opens. Knocking, then, is not merely asking for access—it is becoming the kind of disciple who walks through the doorway carrying the pure love of Christ.
🔹 Why Jesus places “knock” last

Because knocking is the culmination of the first two:

- Asking softens the heart  
- Seeking aligns the life  
- Knocking moves the body  

Revelation is not complete until it becomes embodied.

You can ask in private.  
You can seek in study.  
But you can only knock by showing up at the door.

This is why the promise attached to knocking is different:

“It shall be opened unto you.”

Not “given.”  
Not “found.”  
But opened—a doorway, a passage, a new realm of understanding.

Knocking is the threshold moment where heaven responds with access.

By Bonnie H. Cordon
    Young Women General President
October 2021
   
 "The best way for you to improve the world is to prepare the world for Christ by inviting all to follow Him."

By President Ezra Taft Benson
    President of the Church
October 1987

 "We are meeting the adversary every day. The challenges of this era will rival any of the past, and these challenges will increase both spiritually and temporally. We must be close to Christ, we must daily take His name upon us, always remember Him, and keep His commandments."

By Margaret D. Nadauld
    Young Women General President
April 1998

   "We want to come unto Christ because it is only in Him and through Him that we can return to the Father."
 "I bear testimony that as we accept the invitation to come unto Christ, we will find that He can heal all wounds. He can lift our burdens and carry them for us, and we can feel “encircled about eternally in the arms of his love” (2 Ne. 1:15). In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

By Elder Lowell D. Wood
    Of the Seventy
April 1993

"We are fortunate to have the scriptures, which contain the words of ancient Apostles and prophets, and to have the privilege of listening to modern-day Apostles and prophets testify of Christ."
 "Clearly it is vital on the journey to eternal life to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of our sins, and be baptized in the proper manner by those holding the proper authority and using the proper prayer."
 "As we come unto Christ, we must surrender our worldly ways, our pride, and our selfishness."
 "Life is often difficult. There are trials, disappointments, challenges, sickness, and unemployment even for the Saints. These must be borne with submissive patience, for often these trials are evidence of the Lord’s hand preparing us to be worthy of living with him. To yield to Christ means to put him and his teachings first. The total submission of our will to his is one of the most difficult obstacles we face on our journey toward eternal life."
 "Self-control and self-discipline are important virtues that need to be developed in the process of coming unto Christ."
 "The process of being perfected requires that we receive special instruction, make sacred covenants, and receive the highest ordinances of the priesthood. These blessings are available only in the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Individuals who come unto Christ must come to his temple."

Closing Summary Jesus Places Knock Last 

Jesus places knock last because it represents the moment when desire becomes movement. Asking softens the heart; seeking aligns the life; knocking requires embodied faith—showing up at the threshold where heaven grants access. The promise shifts accordingly: asking receives, seeking finds, but knocking opens. Opening is relational, covenantal, and transformative.

Modern prophets and leaders echo this pattern. Sister Bonnie H. Cordon teaches that coming to Christ always includes bringing others with us, preparing the world for Him through invitation and participation. President Ezra Taft Benson emphasizes that in an era of rising spiritual and temporal opposition, disciples must stay close to Christ through daily remembrance and obedience. Sister Margaret D. Nadauld testifies that only in Christ can we return to the Father, and that He alone heals wounds and carries burdens, encircling His followers in sustaining love. Elder Lowell D. Wood outlines the path of coming unto Christ: hearing Him, exercising faith, repenting, receiving authorized baptism, yielding pride, developing discipline, and ultimately entering His holy temple to receive the ordinances that perfect and prepare the Saints.

Together these teachings affirm that discipleship matures through embodied action. Asking turns the heart toward God, seeking turns the mind toward truth, and knocking turns the whole soul toward covenantal encounter. The door opens to those who arrive ready to enter.
🔥 The full pattern: Ask → Seek → Knock

In pure language:

- Ask — turn your heart toward God  
- Seek — move your mind and life toward His light  
- Knock — step to the threshold and act in faith  

This is how divine knowledge flows:

Desire → Pursuit → Embodied Courage → Revelation
Closing Summary for ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK

This study reveals that receiving knowledge from God is a covenant pattern of transformation, not a momentary event. Asking turns the heart toward heaven through sincere, humble prayer, opening the soul to divine influence. Seeking engages the will, moving the disciple into deliberate action—studying, laboring, repenting, preparing, and aligning life with God’s purposes.
Knocking embodies faith in motion, stepping into callings, covenants, and responsibilities with courage even when outcomes are unseen. Together these three form the rhythm of revelation: God gives, we grow; God invites, we respond; God opens, we enter. Prophets and apostles affirm that revelation flows as we cultivate Christlike attributes, walk toward the Savior one step at a time, and act with charity, diligence, and devotion. 
Alma’s persistence, the Savior’s invitations, and modern prophetic counsel all testify that God meets those who pray with real intent, seek with faithful effort, and knock with covenant commitment. As we turn from sin, turn toward Christ, and walk His path with all our heart, we are changed. Revelation becomes a relationship, discipleship becomes a journey, and the doors God opens lead us into greater light, deeper love, and the life He designed us to inherit.
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