Worthiness Is An Illusion

[Traveler]

Getting to heaven is not about worthiness – though some seem to point to such and think such.

I submit that getting into heaven and being happy there is all about preparation. I am convinced from the gospel of Christ and by all that I learn in scripture that G-d intends to prepare who ever will allow him to do so. Every commandment, every ordinance, every word, every one called by G-d has but one purpose – that is to prepare (not make worthy) everyone to live in the society of G-d.

It is by his love, compassion and mercy that he labors (with his servants) through divine sacrifice to prepare us all. It is through our stupidity that we think we can pay little attention and make token worship and thus somehow will enter heaven unprepared.

Prepare you the way of the L-rd!

The Traveler

[CrimsonKairos]

Your comments brought to mind one of my favorite passages from the Doctrine and Covenants, namely, viz., to wit: D&C 133:57-58

And for this cause, that men might be made partakers of the glories which were to be revealed, the Lord sent forth the fulness of his gospel, his everlasting covenant, reasoning in plainness and simplicity—

To prepare the weak for those things which are coming on the earth, and for the Lord’s errand in the day when the weak shall confound the wise, and the little one become a strong nation, and two shall put their tens of thousands to flight.

[the_jason]

Traveler, I think your comments are a bit misleading. While I agree that preparation is essential, you give off the impression that one does not need to be worthy to receive salvation.

Yes, one must be prepared to live with Father again, but included in that preparation is worthiness. There are ordinances which are required for entrance to the Celestial Kingdom, ie baptism, endowment, etc., and these ordinances require worthiness.

One cannot enter the Celestial Kingdom without being worthy, for "no unlcean thing can dwell with God."

[Annabelli]

Young children refer to stupid as the "s" word. It carries the same significance as a cuss word!

Worth carries different values for different people.

[Doctor Steuss]

Mosiah 2: 21

I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

[Dr T]

I agree with the_jason. It looks like preperation=worthiness as you describe it. If, in your understanding, you are not prepared, doesn't it follow that you are not worthy? (in what you are putting forward)

[Iggy]

Young children refer to stupid as the "s" word. It carries the same significance as a cuss word!

Worth carries different values for different people.

What does this have to do with worthiness? Annabelli more often than not you are totally out in left field,

[Annabelli]

All people were found worthy of the Antonement. Preparing for the Celestial Kingdom will be different for each person according to life's experiences.

[Traveler]

The difference between believing in worthiness and believing in preparedness is in the interpretation and focus of life - one forever looking backwards the other forever looking forward - one lives in the past - the other in the future – one sees errors and flaws – the other sees possibilities and potential – one sees themselves and others based on what we and they were – the other sees themselves and other for what they are becoming.

The motto of the Boy Scouts of America is to be prepared. When I was a scout master I would tell my boys there is no such thing as bad weather or bad luck, just bad equipment and bad preparation. If someone has no idea what they are preparing for – most likely they will not be prepared. I have yet to see anyone prepared for what they could not fathom or understand.

Those that have eyes to see and ears to hear – Prepare ye the way of the L-rd!

The Traveler

[Snow]

Getting to heaven is not about worthiness – though some seem to point to such and think such.

I submit that getting into heaven and being happy there is all about preparation. I am convinced from the gospel of Christ and by all that I learn in scripture that G-d intends to prepare who ever will allow him to do so. Every commandment, every ordinance, every word, every one called by G-d has but one purpose – that is to prepare (not make worthy) everyone to live in the society of G-d.

It is by his love, compassion and mercy that he labors (with his servants) through divine sacrifice to prepare us all. It is through our stupidity that we think we can pay little attention and make token worship and thus somehow will enter heaven unprepared.

Prepare you the way of the L-rd!

The Traveler

Excellent point - one of the best I've seen you make and you've made many good ones.

Thank you. Somewhat related, it reminds me of the best counsels I've ever received:

"True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior. Preoccupation with unworthy behavior can lead to unworthy behavior. That is why we stress so forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel. (Boyd K. Packer, Conference Report, October 1986)

[prisonchaplain]

I would argue that the sacrifice of Jesus is our worthiness. Those who have embraced the forgiveness and reconciled with their God, will live out their lives for Christ--some with greater results than others, but none worthy, other than by the shed blood of the Christ.

[CrimsonKairos]

Only a perfect being deserves a perfect celestial reward. Through Christ, we can literally become perfect (Moroni 10:32-33). Once we're perfect, we're "worthy" of celestial glory...worthy through Christ.

But we must perpare ourselves to be perfected, and that preparation involves repenting, serving, loving, etc...

We prepare to be made worthy through Christ's blood, as PC said.

Lots of this is semantic.

[Traveler]

One of the great classic criticisms of Christianity was by an individual (whose name I forget) in the allegory of the geese. The allegory explains that once a week (usually Sundays) the geese would waddle through the mud to where they would gather to talk about flying. Then when they were through talking about flying they would return to their places waddling back through the mud.

If a Christian does not realize that we practice and prepare to live with G-d in the same exact manner we prepare to live with our fellow man thinking that G-d will prepare himself to live in that manner with us is like the foolish 5 virgins that had no oil in their lamp (unprepared) when the bride groom comes.

I have learned that there are 5 great principles that govern how G-d deals in his love, mercy and compassion with man. One of those principles is that G-d will not do for any man that which man is capable of doing themselves.

Let me make this as clear as I possibly can. First I realize that there are things that can help prepare us and some of those are great and wonderful gifts from heaven. But the second – and this is very important:

IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU OUGHT TO DO AND CAN DO TO PREPARE FOR G-D AND YOU DO IT NOT YOU ARE LIKE THE FOOLISH MAN THAT BUILDS THEIR HOUSE UPON THE SAND.

Prepare my friends or the time and season (Eces 1:9) of preparing will pass just as it did in the days of Noah (who prepared by building an ark through his much labor). G-d has not changed how he saves us – if we do not prepare in a like manner with our ark in our day we will be unprepared and washed away in what is coming as countless others have in their generation.

Are you prepared?

The Traveler

[prisonchaplain]

Are you trying to say that obedience is better than sacrifice, and that grace gains us entry into the school of Christian life? If so, amen, and let's get to cramming for the ultimate final!

[Doctor Steuss]

One of the great classic criticisms of Christianity was by an individual (whose name I forget) in the allegory of the geese. The allegory explains that once a week (usually Sundays) the geese would waddle through the mud to where they would gather to talk about flying. Then when they were through talking about flying they would return to their places waddling back through the mud.

[...]

As Mahatma Gandhi once said:

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

[prisonchaplain]

<div class='quotemain'>

One of the great classic criticisms of Christianity was by an individual (whose name I forget) in the allegory of the geese. The allegory explains that once a week (usually Sundays) the geese would waddle through the mud to where they would gather to talk about flying. Then when they were through talking about flying they would return to their places waddling back through the mud.

[...]

As Mahatma Gandhi once said:

"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

While some Christians are boorish and worse, so are "some" in any religion. Me thinks one reason nonChristians will claim to like Christ is that they have read a few cursory anecdotes and passages attributed, and find some aspects that appeal to them. In other words, they like what they like, not really Christ bloodied, crucified, and calling men to reconcile to God through following the narrow path.

[tiancum]

I assert that even the Ghandis were very unlike Christ.

Someone once told me how vital repentance was. ...The ability to see our own weakness.

It went something like this. No unclean thing can enter the Kingdom of God.

Surely, after this life, we will have our life's review. No matter how well we have done, no matter how much we have given, served, obeyed, repented we will see our utter failure to do enough.

This is where our training will come in. Did we train enough to look inward and ask the savior to forgive us? To use His Atonement at that moment? Or will we do as we do here, and use excuses and justification.

If we have trained enough in repentance, then it will be easier, and we will get mercy for mercy.

If we have spent our lives training in blaming, justifying, excuses, hating, needing to be right, focusing on others weakness, then that training will come into play, and as we knock on the door, he will say he never knew us.....

Anyway, i hope i did it justice. Perhaps the above is what defines a true Christian.

[Traveler]

Not everyone that has learned about and accepted the notions of Christ are prepared to live in his kingdom. In general I have learned that those that often claim to be prepared demonstrate differently when the time has come (usually a time of difficulty).

We are all about or involved in the process of preparing. I ask the question - what are you preparing for?

My father once told me - You are today what you have spent your whole life to this point preparing for.

We are given in scripture (though it requires eyes to see and ears to hear - and even this expression often used by Jesus is a direct reference to preparation) that people "MUST" be prepared to be with the L-rd. Read with me Luke Chapter 1 verse 17 that speaks of John the Baptist: "And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just: {to make ready a people prepared for the L-rd}"

If you want to make a game of words - I am letting you know that this is not a word game. But if you do not want to be serious about this - realize, please, what you choose. If you are certain you are prepared then your eternity is in your wisdom or arrogants.

Are you that people made ready for the L-rd? Are you the people preparing for the L-rd? Are you among the people that think the L-rd will fix your lack of preparing?

It is by the grace of G-d that his kingdom is possible and reachable – but do not kid yourself --- No one that is not prepared will enter into the kingdom of heaven. The scriptures and the words of Christ are very consistent (unless you deceive yourselves) – regardless of the L-rd’s mercy, compassion and kindness – the 5 virgins that did not prepare, despite that they had an invitation and a personal relationship with the L-rd, despite all their willingness to “wait” on the L-rd they were not prepared and did not enter. Only those prepared, entered.

I plead to all – “Prepare ye, prepare ye.”

The Traveler