Sacrifice is Required

“Having the assurance that they were pursuing a course which was agreeable to the will of God, they were enabled to take, not only the spoiling of their goods, and the wasting of their substance, joyfully, but also to suffer death in its most horrid forms; knowing, (not merely believing,) that when this earthly house of their tabernacle was dissolved, they had a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens (2 Corinthians 5:1).

Do you possess that assurance? If so, how does that feel? How did you obtain it? If not, do you desire it? Are you willing to pay the price by living the laws upon which the blessings are predicated?

Such was and always will be the situation of the saints of God, that unless they have an actual knowledge that the course that they are pursuing is according to the will of God, they will grow weary in their minds and faint; for such has been and always will be the opposition in the hearts of unbelievers and those that know not God, against the pure and unadulterated religion of heaven, (the only thing which ensures eternal life,) that they will persecute, to the uttermost, all that worship God according to his revelations, receive the truth in the love of it, and submit themselves to be guided and directed by his will, and drive them to such extremities that nothing short of an actual knowledge of their being the favorites of heaven, and of their having embraced that order of things which God has established for the redemption of man, will enable them to exercise that confidence in him necessary for them to overcome the world, and obtain that crown of glory which is laid up for them that fear God.

What is the only thing that ensures eternal life? What is the unadulterated religion of heaven? What does it mean to “having embraced that order of things which God has established for the redemption of man?” Perhaps the account of the Brother of Jared found in Ether 3:12-20 can shed some light on the Lord's order of things and what occurs. Here and now in mortality, can you be redeemed from the fall without the Lord showing Himself unto you and you being brought back into my presence? Is there any other way for anyone to be redeemed without following the order of things which God has established for the redemption of man?

Is there any other way than to know the Anointed Redeemer Himself, embrace Him, and enter into His presence? Can you accomplish this by attending a two hour temple session that teaches FIGURATIVELY the way back to His presence, passing by sentinels along the way? Or ... is this talking about the real thing, recognizing and adhering to the words of angels here and now, sacrificing all that the Lord instructs, repenting and facing God, parting the veil, and LITERALLY embracing Him, entering His presence, being redeemed, and laying hold on eternal life?

For a man to lay down his all, his character and reputation, his honor and applause, his good name among men, his houses, his lands, his brothers and sisters, his wife and children, and even his own life also, counting all things but filth and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, requires more than mere belief, or supposition that he is doing the will of God, but actual knowledge: realizing, that when these sufferings are ended he will enter into eternal rest; and be a partaker of the glory of God.

For unless a person does know that he is walking according to the will of God, it would be offering an insult to the dignity of the Creator, were he to say that he would be a partaker of his glory when he should be done with the things of this life. But when he has this knowledge, and most assuredly knows that he is doing the will of God, his confidence can be equally strong that he will be a partaker of the glory of God.

Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things: it was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life; and it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things, that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has, for the truth's sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice, because he seeks to do his will, he does know most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life.

To obtain a promise of surety or covenant of eternal life and salvation from Christ, what is required? What does it take to have power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation? Must you be willing to make a sacrifice of all earthly things?

Would you suppose the opposition in the hearts of unbelievers and those that know not God would challenge the faith of the believers and those that know God. Would the opposition be against the order of things which God has established? Would the adversary oppose the redemption of man? Would you suspect that the unbelievers, who know not God and belong to the church of the devil, would tend to and likely cause opposition?

If so, what would be potential sacrifices required from the believers, who are “wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived”? (D&C 45:57) Potential sacrifices may include some of the following: Sacrifice her character and reputation? His honor and applause? A good name among men? Your social status? Houses? Lands? Material possessions? Investments? Jobs? Business? Occupation? Income? Brothers and sisters? Spouse? Children? Relatives? Neighbors? “Friends”? And even his own life? Everyone's sacrifice seems to be unique and perfectly situated in such a fashion to test and stretch each individual perfectly.

Whenever a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has, for the truth's sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice, what has always happened? Time and time again? Generation after generation? What are the results, blessings, and outcomes that repeatedly emerge and occur by applying the same patterns, truths, and “order of things” under the hand of God, who changes not?!

After you have offered through the medium sacrifice all that you have been required of God, for the truth's sake, not even withholding your life, and believing before God that you have been called to make this sacrifice, what will surely happen? To YOU, intimately and personally?

It is in vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are heirs with those, or can be heirs with them, who have offered their all in sacrifice, and by this means obtained faith in God and favor with him so as to obtain eternal life, unless they in like manner offer unto him the same sacrifice, and through that offering obtain the knowledge that they are accepted of him.” (Lectures on Faith 6:3-8)

Assuming you have not sacrificed what God requires of you and have failed to obtain His promise of eternal life, is there any fairness, logical reason, or justifiable expectation or anticipation for you to simply stroll into the Zion, Heaven, or Christ's presence with others, who have offered their all in sacrifice, and by this means obtained faith in God and favor with him so as to obtain eternal life?

As you observe and experience first hand sacrifices,  perhaps you will better appreciate how profoundly and perfectly God really does know you.

Faith ... Principle of Action and Power

"And as faith is the moving cause of all action in temporal concerns, so it is in spiritual; for the Savior has said, and that truly, that he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved. (Mark 16:16)

As we receive by faith, all temporal blessings that we do receive, so we, in like manner, receive by faith all spiritual blessings, that we do receive. But faith is not only the principle of action, but of power, also, in all intelligent beings, whether in heaven, or on earth. Thus says the author of the epistle to the Hebrews. (11:3):

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God: so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

By this we understand that the principle of power, which existed in the bosom of God, by which the worlds were framed, was faith; and that it is by reason of this principle of power, existing in the Deity, that all created things exist—so that all things in heaven, on earth, or under the earth, exist by reason of faith, as it existed in HIM.

Had it not been for the principle of faith the worlds would never have been framed, neither would man have been formed of the dust—it is the principle by which Jehovah works, and through which he exercises power over all temporal, as well as eternal things. Take this principle or attribute, (for it is an attribute) from the Deity and he would cease to exist." (Lectures on Faith 1:12-16)

Faith … Moving Cause of all Action

“The author of the epistle to the Hebrews, in the eleventh chapter of that epistle, and first verse, gives the following definition of the word faith:

Now faith is the substance [assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

From this we learn, that faith is the assurance which men have of the existence of things which they have not seen; and the principle of action in all intelligent beings.

If men were duly to consider themselves, and turn their thoughts and reflections to the operations of their own minds, they would readily discover that it is faith, and faith only, which is the moving cause of all action, in them; that without it, both mind and body would be in a state of inactivity, and all their exertions would cease, both physical and mental.

Were this class to go back and reflect upon the history of their lives, from the period of their first recollection, and ask themselves, what principle excited them to action, or what gave them energy and activity, in all their lawful avocations, callings and pursuits, what would be the answer? Would it not be that it was the assurance which we had of the existence of things which we had not seen, as yet?—Was it not the hope which you had, in consequence of your belief in the existence of unseen things, which stimulated you to action and exertion, in order to obtain them? Are you not dependent on your faith, or belief, for the acquisition of all knowledge, wisdom and intelligence? Would you exert yourselves to obtain wisdom and intelligence, unless you did believe that you could obtain them? Would you have ever sown if you had not believed that you would reap? Would you have ever planted if you had not believed that you would gather? Would you have ever asked unless you had believed that you would receive? Would you have ever sought unless you had believed that you would have found? Or would you have ever knocked unless you had believed that it would have been opened unto you? In a word, is there any thing that you would have done, either physical or mental, if you had not previously believed? Are not all your exertions, of every kind, dependent on your faith? Or may we not ask, what have you, or what do you possess, which you have not obtained by reason of your faith? Your food, your raiment, your lodgings, are they not all by reason of your faith? Reflect, and ask yourselves, if these things are not so. Turn your thoughts on your own minds, and see if faith is not the moving cause of all action in yourselves; and if the moving cause in you, is it not in all other intelligent beings?” (Lectures on Faith 1:7-11)