Bradley gave his farewell talk Sunday April 10th.
If you were not able to make it to Bradley's farewell we have the talk here for you to read. Also, Bradley has yet to receive his Visa and will be heading to the MTC in Utah on Wednesday April 20th.He will stay in Utah till he receives the Visa, from there he will head to the MTC in Brazil.
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I would like to thank the young men and young women for that musical number; it has always been one of my favorites. I would also like to thank Parker, Elder Banbury, for his talk on the restoration of the Lords gospel and contribute my testimony that I know Joseph Smith is a true prophet that was prepared by the Lord to return his holy gospel and priesthood upon this Earth.
Today’s world has been blessed beyond measure. If someone from a 100 years ago were to see the world we now live in, they would be awe-struck. Why is it then that we often see so much misery? Such sadness, hate, and unhappiness in the world? Elder Boyd K. Packer has said that “If you understand the great plan of happiness and follow it, what goes on in the world will not determine your happiness.”
Throughout high school, my friends and I were repeatedly asked, “Why are you so happy?” After contemplating this I decided that is because we don’t have to worry about those difficult life questions that others ponder, we have the answers. We know where we came from, where we are going, and that we are God’s children and He has a plan for us.
“Through the prophetic words of Father Lehi, we know the intent of the Lord is for each person to find joy; indeed “men are, that they might have joy” (2 Ne. 2:25). God, our Heavenly Father has prepared a way for us to be happy.
Today I will be speaking on the Plan of Salvation. The plan of salvation is also known as the “Great plan of happiness”, the “Plan of redemption”, and the “plan of mercy”. It is known as all of these things because as we learn about it and how it affects each and everyone of us, it brings us peace. Peace that testifies to us that Our Heavenly Father loves us, he has not forgotten about us, and that he has prepared a way for us and our families to return to him. I also know that our Father’s plan for us involves everyone, not just a select group of his children or members of a specific church.
Pre-Earth Life:
Our Heavenly Father’s Great Plan starts with our Pre-Earth life. Before we came to this Earth there was a great council in Heaven. At this council our Heavenly Father presented a way for each of us to become more like Him. At the time we could see that we were not like our Father, we lacked the blessings he enjoyed and knew we could only gain them by living in mortality and gaining a physical body. We all accepted His plan with a full knowledge that this was the only way to become like Him. God’s whole purpose- His work and His glory- is to enable each of us to enjoy all his blessings.
Jesus Christ is central to God’s plan. Through his Atonement, Jesus Christ fulfilled His Father’s purpose and made it possible for each of us to enjoy immortality and eternal life.
The Creation:
Under our Father’s direction, Christ created the earth, a place for us to gain a body and experience. In order to progress and become like God we each are tested here on Earth. What makes this so hard is that we do not remember our Pre-earth life, we must walk by faith rather than sight.
Agency and the Fall of Adam and Eve:
Adam and Eve were the first of God’s children to come to earth. They were created in God’s image, of flesh and bone. In the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve resided in God’s presence, the two could have lived forever in their innocence, with God providing for their needs.
God also gave Adam and Eve the greatest gift of all, agency, or the ability to choose between right and wrong, good and evil. In the garden, Adam and Eve were given 2 commandments: not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and to multiply and replenish the earth. We find this account in Moses 3:16-17, “And I, the Lord God, commanded the man, saying: Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (:16-17)”. By not partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve could remain in the Garden of Eden but not progress by experiencing opposition in mortality. They could not know joy because they could not experience sorrow and pain. If I had never been inside an air conditioned building, I would not know the joy of staying cool and I would not define being outside as hot and miserable because it was all I knew. Without one there is no other.
Satan eventually tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, they chose to do so with their agency. Upon eating the fruit, Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden. Being subject to physical death and spiritual death, being removed from God’s presence, is known as the Fall. Most churches believe that if Adam and Eve had not partaken of the fruit, that we would all be living in the Garden right now. This is not so. We read in 2nd Nephi 2:22-25, “And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end. 23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. 24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. 25 Adamfell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. (:22-25)”. Adam and eve partaking of the fruit was always a part of our Father’s plan. In the April 2004 general conference Bruce Hayfen said “The fall was not a disaster. It wasn’t a mistake or an accident. It was a deliberate part of the plan of salvation. We are God’s spirit offspring sent to earth innocent of Adam’s transgression. Yet our Father’s plan subjects us to temptation and misery in this fallen world as the price to comprehend authentic joy.” For me, a part of that authentic joy is knowing that even though I am facing such great opposition, I am becoming more like my Father in Heaven by following his plan.
Life on earth:
Our life here on Earth is an opportunity and a blessing. For some it is often hard to see life this way, at times I have found myself feeling dismayed or overwhelmed. When I begin to feel this way I remember to turn to my Savior and Father and remember their plan and love for me. I have many friends outside the church and I wouldn’t characterize them as living a life of sin, but since seeing many of them learn about God’s plan of salvation, I have noticed a distinct difference in their outlook, attitude, and demeanor. Many times what brings us down is sin, and the guilt we feel from it. I know that all we have to do to escape these feelings of loneliness, and the pain brought with it, is to turn to the Savior and use his Atonement. There is no sweeter feeling in the world than the love our Savior has for each and every one of us.
Atonement:
Before the world was organized, our Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior and Redeemer. Through Christ’s great sacrifice we are all able to overcome the affects of the fall. Although we will all suffer physical death, which is the separation of the body and spirit, Christ has promised each of us that we may be resurrected just as he was. This is promised to everyone, good and evil. Although everyone will be resurrected, it is only the righteous that will be able to live in our Father’s presence. God sent His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to overcome the obstacle of sin in addition to the obstacle of physical death. We are not responsible for the Fall of Adam and Eve, but we are responsible for our own sins. It is impossible for us to live in God’s presence at this point because of our sins. It is only through the grace and mercy of our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we can return and live with our Father again. Christ has prepared the way, all we must now do is exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end.
Christ alone was able to take upon himself the sins of the world because he was the literal Son of God. He was sinless and completely obedient to the His Father. Even though Christ was tempted many times, he never once gave in to temptation. For these reasons, Christ was the only one able to save us, he was the perfect sacrifice. When Christ was asked to pay the price of the world’s sins, he was prepared and willing. Christ has an unfathomable love for us and the Father. In order to fulfill His Father’s plan and ensure that we have the opportunity to return to live with Him, He suffered, bled and died. One of my favorite scriptures depicts this; I hope it reaches out to you as it does to me. This passage can be found in Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19. “16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; 17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; 18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink— 19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. (:16-19)”.
Every time I read this I can’t help but think, how much pain have I inflicted upon the Savior with my sins? I am so comforted to know that I have a Savior that would do this for me, he truly does know and love each and every one of us. I wish I could go back to the Garden of Gethsemane
We must make the most of his Atonement by, again, exercising faith in Him, repenting, receiving baptism by immersion, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and striving to keep his commandments to the end of our lives. Through continuing repentance, we may obtain forgiveness and be cleansed of our sins by the power of the Holy Ghost. We are relieved of the burden of guilt and shame, and through Jesus Christ we become worthy to return to the presence of God. As we rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, He can help us endure our trials, sicknesses, and pain. We can be filled with joy, peace, and consolation. All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. In paying the penalty for our sins, Jesus did not, however, eliminate our personal responsibility. We must show that we accept Him and that we will follow His commandments. Only through the gift of the Atonement can we return to live with God.
Spirit World:
After we go through physical death, for death is a part of the process by which we are transformed from mortality to immortality, our spirits then go to the spirit world. Death does not change who we are and whether or not we seek after good or evil but those who chose to obey the will of God in this life will live in a state of happiness, peace, and rest whereas those who chose to not follow God’s laws will live in a state of unhappiness. As we know, everyone is included in God’s plan; in the Spirit world the gospel is preached to those who did not obey God or those who never had the opportunity to hear it while on Earth. We will remain in the spirit world until it is time for the resurrection.
Resurrection, judgment, and immortality:
Once our bodies are reunited with our souls we will be placed in God’s presence to be judged. If we have been true to Christ and his Atonement and repented we will receive mercy. We will then be rewarded according to our works and desires upon this earth. During the resurrection, all people, good and evil, will be made immortal and live forever; this is a gift from God. Eternal life however is not the same as immortality. Eternal life will only be given to those who obeyed God’s gospel. Eternal life is to live in God and Jesus Christ’s presence forever with our eternal families; it is to know God and Christ.
Kingdoms:
In Heaven there are 3 kingdoms, or glories. We will all be judged based on our actions here on earth to see which kingdom we will belong to. Those who have repented of their sins and received the ordinances of the gospel and kept the associated covenants will be cleansed by the Atonement of Christ. They will receive exaltation in the highest kingdom, also known as the celestial kingdom. They will live in God’s presence, become like Him, and receive a fullness of joy. They will live together for eternity with those of their family who qualify. In the scriptures this kingdom is compared to the glory or brightness of the sun. People who do not accept the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ but live honorable lives will receive a place in the terrestrial kingdom. This kingdom is compared to the glory of the moon. Those who continued in their sins and did not repent in this life will receive their reward in the lowest kingdom, which is called the telestial kingdom. This kingdom is compared to the glory of the stars.
I challenge all of you, even if you have done this previously, to pray to God, asking with real intent, to know if the Book of Mormon is true, if Joseph Smith is a real prophet. I know he will provide an answer, make sure you are looking for it.
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