Moses 3-4

"When we realize, as one person (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin) put it , that we're not human beings having a spiritual experience, we're spiritual beings having a human experience, we come to understand where our main emphasis should be and on whom we are reliant."

                        (Pres. Monson BYU Devotional Tues Nov. 1, 2011)

    The patterns used by God in creating the earth

are instructive in helping us understand how to

make prayer meaningful. In the third chapter of the book of Moses we learn that all things were created spiritually before they were naturally upon the

earth. (Moses 3:4–5).

We learn from these verses that the spiritual

creation preceded the temporal creation. In a similar way, meaningful morning prayer is an important element in the spiritual creation of each day—and precedes the temporal

creation or the actual execution of the day. Just as the temporal creation was linked to and a continuation of the spiritual creation, so meaningful morning and evening prayers are linked to and are a continuation of each other. Elder Bednar (Oct. Conf. 2008)

“the story of the rib, of course

is figurative”

(“The Blessings and Responsibilities of Womanhood,” Ensign, Mar. 1976, 71).

“The rib, coming as it does from the 

side, seems to denote partnership. 

The rib signifies …a lateral relationship

 as partners, to work and to live,

 side by side” (“Lessons from Eve,” Ensign, Nov.1987, 87).

 “Two compelling doctrinal reasons help us to understand why eternal marriage is essential to the Father’s plan.

 

Reason 1: 

 The natures of male and female spirits complete and

perfect each other, and therefore men and women are

 intended to Progress together toward exaltation.

“… For divine purposes, male and female spirits are different, distinctive, and complementary.”

… The unique combination of spiritual, physical, mental, 

and emotional capacities of both males and females 

were needed to implement the plan of happiness.

 Alone, neither the man nor the woman could fulfill the purposes of  his or her creation.

“… Because of their distinctive temperaments and capacities, males and females each bring to a marriage

relationship unique perspectives and experiences.

 The man and the woman contribute differently but equally to a oneness and a unity that can be achieved 

in no other way. The man completes and perfects the 

woman and the woman completes and perfects the 

man as they learn from and mutually strengthen and 

bless each other.

 ‘Neither is the man without the woman, neither the 

woman without the man, in the Lord’

  (1 Corinthians 11:11; italics added).

 

“Reason 2:

By divine design, both a man and a

woman are needed to bring children into mortality

and to provide the best setting for the rearing and

nurturing of children. …

“A home with a loving and loyal husband and wife

is the supreme setting in which children can be

reared in love and righteousness and in which the

spiritual and physical needs of children can be met.

“Just as the unique characteristics of both

males and females contribute to the

completeness of a marriage relationship, so

those same characteristics are vital to the

rearing, nurturing, and teaching of children”

Elder Bednar - (“Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan,” Ensign, June 2006, 82–84;).

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of  the Twelve Apostles explained:“The Father’s plan … offered a genuine

opportunity for his spirit children to achieve what he desired for them

—immortality and eternal life. …

“In his proposed modification, Lucifer [only] 

pretended to seek the same outcome.

[In contrast to Jesus Christ (the premortal

Beloved Son, who sought to further the work 

and glory of the Father), Lucifer sought to obtain

 the Father’s power for himself]

”(The Lord’s Way [1991], 

viii; the bracketed text is taken from the footnote on the cited page).

Two truths concerning Satan that are important

for us to remember:

    “Number one, Satan, or Lucifer, or the father of lies…

is real, the very personification of evil. His motives are in

every  case malicious, and he convulses at the

appearance of redeeming light, at the very thought

of truth.

    Number two, he is eternally opposed to the love of God,

the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the work of peace

and salvation. He will fight against these whenever and 

wherever he can. He knows he will be defeated and cast

out in the end, but he is determined to take down with 

him as many others as he possibly can”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (“We Are All Enlisted,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov.2011, 44).

 

“To the first man and woman on earth, the Lord said,

‘Be fruitful, and multiply’

 (Moses 2:28; see also Gen. 1:28; Abr. 4:28).

This commandment was first in 

sequence and first in importance.

It was essential that God’s spirit

children have mortal birth and an

opportunity to progress toward

eternal life”

(“The Great Plan of Happiness,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 72).

Elder Oaks