In Heavenly Father’s Plan of Salvation, our time on earth is one of testing and trials; learning and growth. “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; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them…. and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever,” (Abraham 3:24-26). To be “proven” is to be tested.
We are invited to “come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved,” (1 Nephi 6:4). In this process we are to yield “to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father,” (Mosiah 3:19).
On the one hand we are to develop all the talents and abilities within us and to become spiritually and temporally self-reliant. We are also to help those who are willing to work to provide for themselves and their families the temporal and spiritual necessities of life; or self-reliance.
On the other hand we are to reach down to those in need, providing charity, the “pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47). We are to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees,” (D&C 81).
It is the outward actions of our lives that demonstrate our inner commitments to love and serve Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them,” (Matthew 7:20).
These outward actions become our defined way of life. This way of life is centered upon the doctrines, teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is a gospel culture. And it is independent of geography, culture, race, age or class. As we strive to become like our Heavenly Father, our motives will align with Him and our personal qualities and attributes will become more refined and Christlike.
It should come as no surprise that there should be a common “look and feel” to the lives of Latter-day Saints throughout the world as we embrace a Gospel culture. “This work of providing in the Lord’s way is not simply another item in the catalog of programs of the Church. It cannot be neglected or set aside. It is central to our doctrine; it is the essence of our religion,” (President Dieter F. Utchdorf, Providing in the Lord’s Way, October 2011).
We are invited to “come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved,” (1 Nephi 6:4). In this process we are to yield “to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father,” (Mosiah 3:19).
On the one hand we are to develop all the talents and abilities within us and to become spiritually and temporally self-reliant. We are also to help those who are willing to work to provide for themselves and their families the temporal and spiritual necessities of life; or self-reliance.
On the other hand we are to reach down to those in need, providing charity, the “pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47). We are to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees,” (D&C 81).
It is the outward actions of our lives that demonstrate our inner commitments to love and serve Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them,” (Matthew 7:20).
These outward actions become our defined way of life. This way of life is centered upon the doctrines, teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is a gospel culture. And it is independent of geography, culture, race, age or class. As we strive to become like our Heavenly Father, our motives will align with Him and our personal qualities and attributes will become more refined and Christlike.
It should come as no surprise that there should be a common “look and feel” to the lives of Latter-day Saints throughout the world as we embrace a Gospel culture. “This work of providing in the Lord’s way is not simply another item in the catalog of programs of the Church. It cannot be neglected or set aside. It is central to our doctrine; it is the essence of our religion,” (President Dieter F. Utchdorf, Providing in the Lord’s Way, October 2011).
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