teddyaware

And the amazing thing is that once authentic faith is exercised and diligent, prayerful study becomes an enjoyable daily pursuit, the doors of spiritual perception are unlocked and it then becomes so perfectly obvious that the Book of Mormon is a mighty miracle, a most precious blessing sent from the God of miracles to enable the man of faith to know of a surety that Jesus Christ really does exist and that he loves each of us with a love far beyond human comprehension. It will be most interesting to witness what happens when the spiritual eyes of the skeptics are finally opened and they wonder with amazement how they weren’t able to see that which by then will have become so completely and unmistakably obvious.

God is the law; he’s not a slave to the law. Although you appear unwilling to grasp the concept, what you’re presently existing in is a creation ruled over by a God of infinite and eternal love. He is our all-benevolent Heavenly King who wisely who rules over his creation by assuring that the laws of justice and mercy are always kept in a state of perfect equilibrium. In the end, when the mysteries of God’s motivations and will are fully revealed, all but the sons of perdition will shout unrestrained praises to their God and King, for it will then be perfectly understood by all that he rules over a creation that he perfectly designed to maximize human joy by bringing to pass the very best of happy endings. It’s going to be most interesting to observe the facial expressions of the crotchety naysayers when they inevitably awaken to the realization that God really did know what he was doing and that all things really did work out for the best in the end! 9 Behold, I am the law, and the light. (3 Nephi 15) and… 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21)

It is, and there’s absolutely nothing at all God can do about it without tampering with the delicate balance of diametric opposition in all things that allows all things to exist. Like it or not, there is no possibility for a realm of heavenly joy to exist without it having to uneasily coexist with an opposing realm of perfectly hellish misery. Wasting time and energy caterwauling and wishing it were otherwise is as useless as using a child’s plastic hammer to break down an infinitely deep and wide steel wall.

By divine design, the Book of Mormon, as we presently have it, without the inclusion of a translation of the sealed portion, deliberately contains a more rudimentary and less nuanced presentation of the plan of salvation than the more expansive and inclusive plan of salvation that’s set forth in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. In point of fact, Mormon was actually about to include the more expansive presentation of the plan of salvation in his abridgment, but for a wise purpose God forbade him to do so but not without extending the promise that if the the saints of the latter-days accept the Book of Mormon and prove faithful the more complete and detailed plan of salvation will be uncovered and revealed to them. Nevertheless, the broad theme of the portion of King Benjamin’s sermon that you quote are indeed doctrinally correct, for in the end it’s true that the only souls who will not be saved are the unredeemed sons of perdition who will continue to persist in their rebellion against against Christ until it is everlastingly too late. You’ll continue to fail to accurately interpret the Book of Mormon if you don’t understand the fact that it’s actually a basic gospel doctrine primer and not a comprehensive catalogue of all gospel mysteries. 8 And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people. From the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken. 9 And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater be made manifest unto them. 10 And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation. 11 Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people. (3 Nephi 26) The following verses address your last point: 32 They are they who are the sons of perdition of whom I say that it had been better for them never to have been born; 33 For they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity; 34 Concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come— 35 Having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame. 36 These are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels— 37 And the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power; 38 Yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath. 39 For all the rest shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb, who was slain, who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made. (Doctrine and Covenant 76)

For your consideration, a fly in the ointment… 15 Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not. 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. (Doctrine and Covenant 19)

All of this all boils down to the following testimony of the Apostle Peter who most solemnly warned the saints that there were members of the church in his day who were twisting and misinterpreting Paul’s teachings to their own destruction. The reason why those who misinterpret Paul in our day will twist themselves into pretzels rather than accept the obvious fact that the Lord requires them to keep his commandments is because if they accept the truth they’ll actually be required to get off their derrières and do something. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in the grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3)

Of course his grace is always fully sufficient and freely offered!. The problem isn’t on God’s end but on man’s. And what is the problem that hinders men from laying hold on God’s freely offered and fully sufficient grace? It’s that even converted believers have a perennial problem with frustrating the grace of God, and they will do it even as God is beckoning to them and freely offering them the fulness of his grace. If a man has been invited to a sumptuous feast, is it the fault of the host or the invitee if the invitee refuses to fill his plate with delicacies and enjoy a delicious, nourishing meal? This gospel principle is so simple and easy to comprehend that even young children can understand it. It’s not God’s fault if a lack of faith causes a man to hesitate or even refuse to partake of his freely offered infinite and eternal grace.

In his infinite wisdom and mercy, God makes the fulness of his saving grace freely available to all believers who desire to obtain it, but the reason why so few believers actually succeed in immediately laying hold on the fulness of God’s grace is due to the fact that mighty faith in Christ is an indispensable prerequisite needed in order to obtain the fulness of his grace. We are saved by grace through faith, and it’s simply a fact of life that not all believers instantly possess a sufficient measure of faith to enable them to immediately lay hold on and internalize the full measure of divine grace due to the fact that they haven’t sufficiently applied themselves in striving to grow in the grace and knowledge of God to make it happen.. It’s only those who overcome this fallen world through faith who are granted the right to be crowned kings in heaven, with the right to rule and reign with a rod of iron while seated on the very throne of God’s own power and authority. Now the divinely decreed process of sanctification in Christ doesn’t mean that those who are as yet lacking in mighty faith aren’t presently enjoying the great blessing of retaining a remission of their sins, but it does need to be understood that ever increasing endowments of God’s grace are needed if men are going to become fully sanctified and spiritually transformed by Christ in all holiness. God’s grace is imparted in wisdom, it’s not just dispensed willy nilly without it being perfectly understood that the recipients of greater measures of God’s grace need to be in a proper state of preparation and receptivity in order to be able to receive and internalize increasing outpourings of God’s grace until they obtain unto “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” I reiterate, just because the fulness of God’s grace is freely offered to all it doesn’t mean that most believers presently possess the faith, faithfulness and readiness to be able to obtain and wisely utilize great measures of gracious empowerment that extend far beyond their present capacity to properly receive and process them. Finally, I’m happy to report that the following words of admonition from the Apostle Paul could have just as easily been written by Moroni. If the “born again” Paul had already received the fulness of God’s grace and blessings, why does he solemnly testify to his fellow laborers that he has not yet received the fulness of what God’s grace is able to offer him? 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (Philippians 3)

BULLSEYE!!

Because it’s a commandment of God. And if for some unfortunate reason eternally married couples are unable to bring forth children in this life, the promise is sure that if they prove faithful they will have the opportunity to fulfill the commandment to multiply after the resurrection. The main purpose of celestial marriage is to enable men and women to bring forth children in the eternal world. Meanwhile, if two men or two women desire to spend eternity together perhaps they will be able to do so, but there won’t be any need for a gospel ordinance to make it happen since the bearing of children (the most important element of eternal marriage) won’t be in the mix.

From the LDS Bible Dictionary HAM See also Noah, Bible Patriarch In the Old Testament, the third son of Noah (Gen. 5:32; 6:10; Moses 8:12, 27). Noah, his sons, and their families entered the ark, Gen. 7:13. Canaan, Ham’s son, was cursed, Gen. 9:18–25. The government of Ham was patriarchal and was blessed as to things of the earth and wisdom but not as to the priesthood, Abr. 1:21–27. Ham’s wife, Egyptus, was a descendant of Cain; the sons of their daughter Egyptus settled in Egypt, Abr. 1:23, 25 (Ps. 105:23; 106:21–22).

Of course you’d think it’s stupid due to the fact that you’re an advocate for Marxist inspired DEI, a perverse “participation trophy” society designed to demoralize and squelch man’s divinely implanted desire to multiply his talents and press onward and upward in faith, in favor of a counterproductive system of enforced equal outcomes where everyone is equally miserable. But that’s the whole point isn’t it? To the most radical advocates of DEI, it’s better if everyone is equally miserable because it’s more fair and just that way. And heaven forbid that the motivation to be valiant in the testimony of Jesus should bless a man with greater bestowals of heavenly rewards than the slothful believer who buries his talents and sits on his butt all day. In a perfect DEI universe nobody’s feelings would ever get hurt enough to inspire a remorse of conscience and a desire to repent. What a perfect world that would be because in the DEI “heaven” there would be no need for a Savior and everybody could just sit around playing video games in hell forever without a care in the world.

It’s so simple and perfectly Biblical… The remission of sins (justification) cannot be obtained without the mercy and grace of God manifested in and through the atonement of Jesus Christ; and sanctification unto holiness is also impossible to obtain without the enabling power manifested in and through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The question is this: if the initial degree of grace bestowed upon new believers is sufficient, why are believers commanded to continue to grow in grace. The answer’s obvious: ever increasing outpourings of grace are needed in order for the saints of God to grow unto “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ,” While it’s undeniably true that the fulness of God’s grace is fully available to the saints right from the start, it’s also true that every case increasing in the grace and knowledge of God is part of his merciful, divinely ordained process of spiritual growth. The unrestricted availability and accessibility of God’s grace is not the same as a believer possessing enough faith to receive the infinite and eternal fulness of God’s grace right from the start. And while it may indeed be theoretically possible to obtain the infinite and eternal fulness of God’s grace right from the start, the truth is that even the greats like Peter and Paul didn’t immediately obtain the fulness of God’s blessings For example, if the Apostles Paul and Peter believed that they had availed themselves of the fulness of God’s grace right from the start, what in the world would inspire them to give the following inspired warnings? 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3) and… 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation ; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1) and… 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in the grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3) How is it possible to grow in grace if one has already obtained the fulness of God’s grace in his life? If this were the case, there would be no need for the many warnings throughout the Bible that speak of our indispensable need to strive in faith (faith is also a spiritual gift, a manifestation of God’s grace) in the earnest pursuit of obtaining full sanctification in Christ. Are all of these apostolic admonitions to spiritually improve by growing in the grace and knowledge of God nothing more than rhetorical hot air that will ultimately have no real consequences if the listeners to the warnings fail to heed them? The bottom line? The unrestricted availability of the fullness of God’s grace isn’t the thing same as actually laying hold upon and obtaining the fulness of God’s grace and blessings. If it were otherwise, the law of the harvest would be nullified and God would end up being a cosmic adherent to a philosophy similar to woke DEI.

I’m grateful for all the negative commentary regarding Clark Gilbert on this thread! Silly me, I’m embarrassed to have to admit I was naive and foolish enough to think it was the Lord who had called Elder Gilbert to be an apostle, but it’s now painfully obvious I was mistaken! When are the leaders of the church going to wake up and realize that the church needs to be led by popular people, people as popular and accepted by the world as were the ‘rock star’ prophets of old?! Thanks to the many keen insights provided by the sagacious Peggy Fletcher Stack, and all the other enlightening comments from the unbelievers, embittered quasi-believers and apostates who’ve graciously taken the time to participate on this thread, I’ve been freed from my ignorance and am now able to bask in the glorious light of sparks!! 11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow. (Isaiah 50)

The answer to your inquiry is found in the succeeding verses. After the restored gospel sweeps the earth in the latter-days and gathers out righteous Israel, God the Father is going to descend upon the earth and affectionally mingle with his saints after Zion and the city of New Jerusalem have been fully established and sanctified. 62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem. 63 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, AND WE WILL RECEIVE THEM INTO OUR BOSOM, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other; 64 And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest. (Moses 7)

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Thanks longview! I’ve long considered you a kindred spirit and welcome presence on the board.

Perhaps you’re unaware of the fact that the LDS Canon includes the Bible, and it’s in the Bible that the words that speak of joint heirship with Christ are found? 17 And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17) and… 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21) Note that earlier in the Book of Revelation the faithful saints who overcome the world are, among other great eternal blessings, promised the right to rule and reign forever as heavenly kings and priests, with the very name God himself written on their foreheads, and the glorious right to be seated on the very throne of God’s own eternal power and authority while ruling as heavenly kings forever! 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Revelation 3) In light of the above, one would have to honestly ask himself why in the world God would give men the right to be seated on the very throne of his almighty power and authority if he hasn’t endowed them with the same power, right and authority to be legitimately seated thereon?

The New Testament is filled with many sections of scripture that make it abundantly clear the Lord expects his true disciples to be actively engaged participants in the process of sanctification, which is the divinely ordained program by which fallen man is enabled to overcome the fallen nature by conscientiously striving to grow in the grace, knowledge and power of God. But I must say that after many years of careful observation it appears to me that many non-Latter-Day Saint Christians deliberately avoid any focus on these particular portions of holy writ when discussing the gospel with Latter-Day Saints, which has left me with the impression that they regard this specific category of divine counsel to be less important doctrinal afterthoughts that will ultimately have little, if any, impact on the final state of redeemed man. The verses you cite above are representative of the many scriptural admonitions that unmistakably convey the knowledge that justification through the grace of Jesus Christ (obtaining a remission of sins) is inextricably linked to the additional commandment to continue to grown in grace by proactively engaging in the process of sanctification until the devoted follower of Christ is made holy as God is holy. 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy, in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1)

It’s very simple. Beau Oyler actually did tell the truth, but the problem is that he told only a portion of the truth. He was indeed correct when he reported that he was informed he didn’t need to take any further action to report the abuse, but what he left out was the all important reason why he was told he didn’t need to take further action, which is that the proper law enforcement authorities had already been informed of the abuse and the abuser had even self reported his crime. This is why in courts of law we take an oath to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Oyler likely thought he was being clever by disclosing a portion of the truth while dishonestly leaving out the whole truth in order to make it look like the church was participating in a reprehensible coverup. Oyler is oily.

I don’t know if this will help to answer your question, but in the soteriology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints the saints will never outgrow their need for the enlightenment and empowerment of the grace of God. We are only made able to become like God if the fulness of God’s Spirit dwells within us. In fact, we are utterly powerless to think, do or say anything in righteousness unless the Spirit of God dwells within us, at least in some measure. The Latter-Day Saints believe the only way men can progress in the sanctification process, and eventually be crowned to reign as kings in heaven, is through the merciful process of being progressively filled with greater and greater portions of the Spirit of God until perfection in Christ is obtained. Truly, the only way men can become like God is by being filled with the Spirit of God, and this by virtue of the faithful becoming joint heirs with Christ in all that he himself possesses, including being endowed with an infinite and eternal portion of the Spirit of God. Because, as Peter testified, the sanctified are made partakers of the divine nature through the atonement of Christ, God is thereby justly and properly able to fill those who overcome their fallen natures by faith in Christ with an infinite and eternal outpouring of the Spirit of God. You see, the Latter-Day Saints really do believe that with God all things are possible, and the greatest of all those possibilities is the supreme blessing of being filled with all the fulness of God by virtue of becoming joint heirship with Christ in all that he possesses, including the supreme joy of being filled with all the fulness of the glory of God. We Latter-Day Saints believe that the atoning sacrifice of Christ is an infinite and eternal sacrifice, which means that the redemptive blessings of his sacrifice to the faithful are infinite and eternal in quality, quantity and scope. 22 For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing. 23 And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come. 24 And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them. (Moroni 7) and… 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3) and… 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Revelation 3)

One wonders if you realize that the very same doctrine of obtaining perfection in Christ through being consciously diligent in seeking to know and do God’s will is taught in the New Testament? Isn’t it perfectly obvious that the Bible teaches the “law of the harvest,” that each of us will reap eternal rewards beyond the ‘entry level’ degree salvation depending on how diligently we sow through his grace? The Lord’s fervent hope for his children is for them to become perfect in him through his enabling grace. 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness; (Colossians 1) and… 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 IF ye continue in the faith grounded, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Colossians 1) and… 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, WARNING every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. (Colossians 1) and… 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already PERFECT but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3) and… (Please note that the following most solemn words of admonition from the Lord were directed to those who were already born again Christians!) 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH WILL I GRANT TO SIT WITH ME IN MY THRONE, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Revelation 3)

Jump through any illogical hoop and circumvent all reason pertaining to the God of infinite love for each member of the race of man, that he created in his own holy image, just to be able escape the revealed glorious latter-day revelation that God has done, is now doing, and will forever do all he possibly can do, without violating the eternal principle of agency, to bring to pass the cleansing, healing and redemption of his most beloved creation.

Aw shucks! But my turbocharged Type A personality enjoys engaging in over-the-top gesticulating while I’m teaching, something I’m unable to do while commenting on this board! So I do the next best thing which is to engage in over-the-top bolding, capitalizing, highlighting, enlarging and making excessive use of exclamation marks!!! But in answer to your above question, the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob beautifully explains why we are unable to do anything good apart from God’s empowering influence: 7 Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement — save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man (permanent spiritual and physical death) must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more. 8 O the wisdom of God, his wisdom and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more. 9 And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness. 10 O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit. (2 Nephi 9) Wise Jacob’s point is that after the fall we would have had no goodness that we could call our own apart from the redemptive blessings bestowed on us through atoning suffering of Jesus Christ. In fact, after the fall we would have been so totally bereft of any internal goodness that we would have been powerless to prevent ourselves from being unavoidably drawn down into the spiritual black hole of hell where we would have all become devils (beings in which there is no goodness). Jacob provides proof positive that without the wondrous mitigating effects of the atonement of Christ we would have no internal goodness of our own and zero access to any source of external goodness. This is why the redeemed saints in the scriptures shout such unrestrained and exultant praises to Christ as their God and King, for they know that without his willingness to courageously descend below all things in his atoning suffering that no good thing could come unto them. 24 And behold, there were divers ways that he (God) did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen and there could no good thing come unto them. (Moroni 7)