Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
“Chastity is sexual purity. Those who are chaste are morally clean in their thoughts, words, and actions. Chastity means not having any sexual relations before marriage. It also means complete fidelity to husband or wife during marriage.
“... The prophet Alma taught that sexual sins are more serious than any other sins except murder and denying the Holy Ghost.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/chastity?)
Alma 39 and the Law of Chastity
(all verses below are found in Alma 39 unless otherwise noted)
Gates to Immorality (things that lead to it)
Results/Consequences of the sin
Barriers to Immorality (preventing the sin)
Giving Hope to those who commit the sin
Elder Ulisses Soares: “I testify that as we rely upon the rock of salvation, the Savior of our souls, … our ability to control our thoughts will increase significantly. … Then the enemy’s temptations, little by little, will lose their power over us, resulting in a happier and more pure and consecrated life.” (Ulisses Soares, “Seek Christ in Every Thought,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 84)
Elder Richard G. Scott: “Remember, repentance is not punishment. It is the hope-filled path to a more glorious future” (Personal Strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, CR, October 2013).
Preach My Gospel: “All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ” (p. 42).
Elder David A. Bednar: “The Savior has suffered not just for our iniquities but also for the inequality, the unfairness, the pain, the anguish, and the emotional distresses that so frequently beset us. There is no physical pain, no anguish of soul, no suffering of spirit, no infirmity or weakness that you or I ever experience during our mortal journey that the Savior did not experience first” (“The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality,” Ensign, Apr. 2012).
Elder Richard G. Scott: “The Atonement will not only help us overcome our transgressions and mistakes, but in His time, it will resolve all the inequities of life—those things that are unfair which are the consequences of circumstance or others’ acts and not our own decisions” (Ensign, May 1997, “Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer”).
Elder Quentin L. Cook: “Jesus Christ, is our Savior and Redeemer, whose Atonement not only provides for salvation and exaltation but also will compensate for all the unfairness of life” (October 2011 Conference).
Elder Todd D. Christofferson: “The Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane and His agony on the cross redeem us from sin by satisfying the demands that justice has upon us. He extends mercy and pardons those who repent. The Atonement also satisfies the debt justice owes to us by healing and compensating us for any suffering we innocently endure. “For behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam” (April 2013 Conference). See also 2 Nephi 9:21; Alma 7:11–12.
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: “The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude” (General Conference, October 2008).
Official Statement of the First Presidency on AIDS, 1988: “Members of the Church should extend compassion to those who are ill with AIDS. We express great love and sympathy for all victims but particularly those who have received the virus through blood transfusions, babies afflicted from infected mothers, and innocent marriage partners who have been infected by a spouse. In the Lord’s eternal plan those who endure such suffering, pain, and injustice, not of their own doing, will receive compensatory blessings through the Lord’s infinite mercy.”
President James E. Faust: “All of us benefit from the transcendent blessings of the Atonement through which the divine healing process can work in our lives. The hurt can be replaced by the joy the Savior promised. Through faith and righteousness all of the inequities, injuries, and pains of this life can be fully compensated for and made right. Blessings denied in this life will be fully recompensed in the eternities. . . Thus our suffering in this life can be as the refining fire, purifying us for a higher purpose. Heartaches can be healed, and we can come to know a soul-satisfying joy and happiness beyond our dreams and expectations” (October 1996 General Conference).
Elder Richard G. Scott: “Find the compensatory blessings in your life when, in the wisdom of the Lord, He deprives you of something you very much want. To the sightless or hearing impaired, He sharpens the other senses. To the ill, He gives patience, understanding, and increased appreciation for others’ kindness. With the loss of a dear one, He deepens the bonds of love, enriches memories, and kindles hope in a future reunion. You will discover compensatory blessings when you willingly accept the will of the Lord and exercise faith in Him” (April 1996 General Conference).
Neil A. Anderson: “. . . As evil increases in the world, there is a compensatory spiritual power for the righteous. As the world slides from its spiritual moorings, the Lord prepares the way for those who seek Him, offering them greater assurance, greater confirmation, and greater confidence in the spiritual direction they are traveling. The gift of the Holy Ghost becomes a brighter light in the emerging twilight.” (The Divine Gift of Forgiveness, page 43).
Sister Reyna I. Aburto: “When I was nine years old, I lost my older brother during a devastating earthquake. Because it happened unexpectedly, it took me a while to grasp the reality of what had occurred. I was heartbroken by sorrow, and I would ask myself, “What happened to my brother? Where is he? Where did he go? Will I ever see him again?”
Back then I did not yet know about God’s plan of salvation, and I had the desire to know where we come from, what the purpose of life is, and what happens to us after we die. Don’t we all have those yearnings when we lose a loved one or when we go through difficulties in our lives? ( “The Grave Has No Victory,” Liahona, May 2021, 86)
T/F Quiz on Ressurection (Alma 40-42)
Bonus Questions:
“Resurrection is the reuniting of the spirit with the body in an immortal state, no longer subject to disease or death. Because of the Fall of Adam and Eve, we are subject to physical death, which is the separation of the spirit from the body. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all people will be resurrected and saved from physical death.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/resurrection?)
Brigham Young: “Where is the spirit world? It is right here. … Do they [the spirits of those who have died] go beyond the boundaries of the organized earth? No, they do not” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1954], 376).
President Joseph Fielding Smith: “These words of Alma [Alma 40:11–14] as I understand them, do not intend to convey the thought that all spirits [immediately] go back into the presence of God. … ‘Taken home to God’ [compare Ecclesiastes 12:7], simply means that their mortal existence has come to an end, and they have returned to the world of spirits, where they are assigned to a place according to their works with the just or with the unjust, there to await the resurrection” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. [1958], 2:85).
There is order to the Resurrection.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “By His Atonement and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has overcome all aspects of the Fall. Physical death will be temporary, and even spiritual death has an end, in that all come back into the presence of God, at least temporarily, to be judged. We can have ultimate trust and confidence in His power to overcome all else and grant us everlasting life.” (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 112)
Elder Paul V. Johnson: “Resurrection makes it possible for a person’s spirit and body to be united again, only this time that body will be immortal and perfect—not subject to pain, disease, or other problems [see Alma 11:43]. …
“Each of us has physical, mental, and emotional limitations and weaknesses. These challenges, some of which seem so intractable now, will eventually be resolved. None of these problems will plague us after we are resurrected.” (Paul V. Johnson, “And There Shall Be No More Death,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 121–22)
Scriptures and modern prophets teach us that resurrected bodies are:
1.Physical. That means we will have flesh and bones.
2.Immortal. We will never get sick or die again.
3.Perfected. “Deformity will be removed; defects will be eliminated,” President Joseph F. Smith once explained, “and men and women shall attain to the perfection of their spirits, to the perfection that God designed in the beginning.”
4.Beautiful. President Lorenzo Snow said, “There is nothing more beautiful to look upon than a resurrected man or woman.”
5.Capable of joy. Celestial glory becomes possible once you’re resurrected.
(https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/inspiration/what-will-your-resurrected-body-be-like?)
President Dallin H. Oaks: “As another part of God’s “plan of restoration” (Alma 41:2), the Resurrection will restore “all things … to their proper and perfect frame” (Alma 40:23). This includes the perfection of all of our physical deficiencies and deformities acquired in mortality, including at birth or by trauma or disease.” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Cleansed by Repentance,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 94)
President Dallin H. Oaks: “Does this restoration perfect us of all our unholy or unconquered desires or addictions? That cannot be. We know from modern revelation that we will be judged for our desires as well as our actions (see Alma 41:5; Doctrine and Covenants 137:9) and that even our thoughts will condemn us (see Alma 12:14). We must not “procrastinate the day of [our] repentance” until death, Amulek taught (Alma 34:33), because the same spirit that has possessed our body in this life—whether the Lord’s or the devil’s—“will have power to possess [our] body in that eternal world” (Alma 34:34). Our Savior has the power and stands ready to cleanse us from evil. Now is the time to seek His help to repent of our wicked or unseemly desires and thoughts to be clean and prepared to stand before God at the Final Judgment.” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Cleansed by Repentance,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 94)
Elder Melvin J. Ballard: “Do not let any of us imagine that we can go down to the grave not having overcome the corruptions of the flesh and then lose in the grave all our sins and evil tendencies. They will be with us. It is my judgment that any man or woman can do more to conform to the laws of God in one year in this life than they could in ten years when they are dead” (The Vision p 46-47).
President Joseph F. Smith: “The spirits of our children are immortal before they come to us, and their spirits after bodily death, are like they were before they came. They are as they would have appeared if they had lived in the flesh, to grow to maturity, or to develop their physical bodies to the full stature of their spirits” (Gospel Doctrine, p. 455).
Funeral of Jediah M. Grant: “He also spoke of the buildings he saw there, remarking that the Lord gave Solomon wisdom and poured gold and silver into his hands that he might display his skill and ability, and said that the temple erected by Solomon was much inferior to the most ordinary buildings he saw in the spirit world” (JD 4:136 Dec 4, 1856).
President Brigham Young: “As quickly as the spirit is unlocked from this house of clay, it is free to travel with lightning speed to any planet, or fixed star, or to the uttermost part of the earth, or to the depths of the sea, according to the will of Him who dictates” (JD 13:77).
Elder Boyd K. Packer: “I commend to you the reading of the 42nd chapter of Alma. It reveals the place of justice and should confirm that the poet spoke the truth when he said, “In the course of justice only, none of us should see salvation.” (Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, IV. i. 199-200.) (in Conference Report, Apr. 1977, 78-79; or Ensign, May 1977, 54)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “Justice is an essential attribute of God. We can have faith in God because He is perfectly trustworthy. The scriptures teach us that “God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round” [Doctrine and Covenants 3:2] and that “God is no respecter of persons” [Acts 10:34]. We rely on the divine quality of justice for faith, confidence, and hope.
“But as a consequence of being perfectly just, there are some things God cannot do. He cannot be arbitrary in saving some and banishing others. He “cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance” [Doctrine and Covenants 1:31]. He cannot allow mercy to rob justice [see Alma 42:25].
“It is compelling evidence of His justice that God has forged the companion principle of mercy. It is because He is just that He devised the means for mercy to play its indispensable role in our eternal destiny.” (D. Todd Christofferson, “Free Forever, to Act for Themselves,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 17)
President Dallin H. Oaks: “The love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments, and the effect of God’s laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of His love. …
“Some seem to value God’s love because of their hope that His love is so great and so unconditional that it will mercifully excuse them from obeying His laws. In contrast, those who understand God’s plan for His children know that God’s laws are invariable, which is another great evidence of His love for His children. Mercy cannot rob justice, and those who obtain mercy are “they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment” (D&C 54:6).” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Love and Law,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 26–27)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “To be classed among the truly penitent, random acts of obedience will not be adequate. We must properly enter into the covenants and persist in keeping them to the point that our expectation of salvation is affirmed by the Holy Spirit of Promise (see D&C 132:7, 19). (D. Todd Christofferson, “Justification and Sanctification,” Ensign, June 2001, 24)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “Since the Savior paid for our sins and satisfied justice for us, we become debtors to Him rather than to justice. We must therefore meet the stipulations He has established for forgiveness and cleansing. Otherwise, He withdraws His proffered mediation, and we are left to deal alone with the demands of justice, lacking the means to become pure. One must choose Christ to receive what Christ offers.” (D. Todd Christofferson, “Justification and Sanctification,” Ensign, June 2001, 23)
Elder Quentin L. Cook: “I recognize that, despite the overwhelming happiness embodied in God’s divine plan, sometimes it can feel far away and disconnected from our current circumstances. It may feel beyond our reach as struggling disciples. From our limited perspective, current temptations and distractions can seem attractive. The rewards for resisting those temptations, on the other hand, can feel distant and unattainable. But a true understanding of the Father’s plan reveals that the rewards of righteousness are available right now. Wickedness, such as immoral conduct, is never part of the answer. (Quentin L. Cook, “Shipshape and Bristol Fashion: Be Temple Worthy—in Good Times and Bad Times,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 40)
Ideas for teaching:
“... The prophet Alma taught that sexual sins are more serious than any other sins except murder and denying the Holy Ghost.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/chastity?)
Alma 39 and the Law of Chastity
(all verses below are found in Alma 39 unless otherwise noted)
Gates to Immorality (things that lead to it)
- 2–not giving heed to leaders
- 2–boasting in thy strength/wisdom
- 3–going places you shouldn’t go
- 4–trying to justify your actions
- 5–treating the sin lightly
Results/Consequences of the sin
- 7–mental distress of soul
- 9–not inherit the kingdom of God
- 11–lead others to sin & disbelieve
Barriers to Immorality (preventing the sin)
- 5–understand the serious nature of sin
- 9–“cross yourself in all these things”
- CR – 3 Nephi 12:30, Matthew 16:24, Matthew 16:25 – JST, (D&C 23:6).
- 10–counsel with those older and wiser
- vs, 13–turn to Lord with all your in, m, & s
- 14–seek not for things of the world
Giving Hope to those who commit the sin
- 15–Christ will come to take away sins
- 16–declare glad tidings of salvation
- 17–ease their mind on the subject
- 40:3–speak concerning the resurrection
- 40:22–speak about the restoration
Elder Ulisses Soares: “I testify that as we rely upon the rock of salvation, the Savior of our souls, … our ability to control our thoughts will increase significantly. … Then the enemy’s temptations, little by little, will lose their power over us, resulting in a happier and more pure and consecrated life.” (Ulisses Soares, “Seek Christ in Every Thought,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 84)
Elder Richard G. Scott: “Remember, repentance is not punishment. It is the hope-filled path to a more glorious future” (Personal Strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, CR, October 2013).
Preach My Gospel: “All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ” (p. 42).
Elder David A. Bednar: “The Savior has suffered not just for our iniquities but also for the inequality, the unfairness, the pain, the anguish, and the emotional distresses that so frequently beset us. There is no physical pain, no anguish of soul, no suffering of spirit, no infirmity or weakness that you or I ever experience during our mortal journey that the Savior did not experience first” (“The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality,” Ensign, Apr. 2012).
Elder Richard G. Scott: “The Atonement will not only help us overcome our transgressions and mistakes, but in His time, it will resolve all the inequities of life—those things that are unfair which are the consequences of circumstance or others’ acts and not our own decisions” (Ensign, May 1997, “Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer”).
Elder Quentin L. Cook: “Jesus Christ, is our Savior and Redeemer, whose Atonement not only provides for salvation and exaltation but also will compensate for all the unfairness of life” (October 2011 Conference).
Elder Todd D. Christofferson: “The Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane and His agony on the cross redeem us from sin by satisfying the demands that justice has upon us. He extends mercy and pardons those who repent. The Atonement also satisfies the debt justice owes to us by healing and compensating us for any suffering we innocently endure. “For behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam” (April 2013 Conference). See also 2 Nephi 9:21; Alma 7:11–12.
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: “The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude” (General Conference, October 2008).
Official Statement of the First Presidency on AIDS, 1988: “Members of the Church should extend compassion to those who are ill with AIDS. We express great love and sympathy for all victims but particularly those who have received the virus through blood transfusions, babies afflicted from infected mothers, and innocent marriage partners who have been infected by a spouse. In the Lord’s eternal plan those who endure such suffering, pain, and injustice, not of their own doing, will receive compensatory blessings through the Lord’s infinite mercy.”
President James E. Faust: “All of us benefit from the transcendent blessings of the Atonement through which the divine healing process can work in our lives. The hurt can be replaced by the joy the Savior promised. Through faith and righteousness all of the inequities, injuries, and pains of this life can be fully compensated for and made right. Blessings denied in this life will be fully recompensed in the eternities. . . Thus our suffering in this life can be as the refining fire, purifying us for a higher purpose. Heartaches can be healed, and we can come to know a soul-satisfying joy and happiness beyond our dreams and expectations” (October 1996 General Conference).
Elder Richard G. Scott: “Find the compensatory blessings in your life when, in the wisdom of the Lord, He deprives you of something you very much want. To the sightless or hearing impaired, He sharpens the other senses. To the ill, He gives patience, understanding, and increased appreciation for others’ kindness. With the loss of a dear one, He deepens the bonds of love, enriches memories, and kindles hope in a future reunion. You will discover compensatory blessings when you willingly accept the will of the Lord and exercise faith in Him” (April 1996 General Conference).
Neil A. Anderson: “. . . As evil increases in the world, there is a compensatory spiritual power for the righteous. As the world slides from its spiritual moorings, the Lord prepares the way for those who seek Him, offering them greater assurance, greater confirmation, and greater confidence in the spiritual direction they are traveling. The gift of the Holy Ghost becomes a brighter light in the emerging twilight.” (The Divine Gift of Forgiveness, page 43).
Sister Reyna I. Aburto: “When I was nine years old, I lost my older brother during a devastating earthquake. Because it happened unexpectedly, it took me a while to grasp the reality of what had occurred. I was heartbroken by sorrow, and I would ask myself, “What happened to my brother? Where is he? Where did he go? Will I ever see him again?”
Back then I did not yet know about God’s plan of salvation, and I had the desire to know where we come from, what the purpose of life is, and what happens to us after we die. Don’t we all have those yearnings when we lose a loved one or when we go through difficulties in our lives? ( “The Grave Has No Victory,” Liahona, May 2021, 86)
T/F Quiz on Ressurection (Alma 40-42)
- T/F Others were resurrected before the Savior. (Alma 40:2)
- T/F The resurrection could have been brought about without Jesus Christ. (Alma 40:3)
- T/F There is more than one resurrection. (Alma 40:8)
- T/F Resurrection happens immediately after death (Alma 40:6-9)
- T/F All righteous people will go to paradise (Alma 40:12)
- T/F When you die, your Spirit goes back to the physical presence of God. (Alma 40:11, BY)
- T/F In paradise, we will rest from our sorrows, cares and labors. (Alma 40:12)
- T/F The wicked await the resurrection in darkness and fear of judgment. (Alma 40:14)
- T/F Those who lived before Jesus Christ are resurrected before those who live after Him. (Alma 40:16-19)
- T/F When you are resurrected you will have the same body as when you died. (Alma 40:23)
- T/F You will get the type of body you truly want. (Alma 41:4-5)
- T/F You will be your own judge. (Alma 41:7; John 5:22)
- T/F Those who were wicked here will eventually be happy in the after-life. (Alma 41:10)
- T/F Because you don’t have a body, your desires will change after death. (Alma 41:12-13)
Bonus Questions:
- Can you repent after you die?
- What is the age of your spirit when you die?
- What does the spirit world look like?
- What can I do when I’m dead?
- Has anyone been resurrected after Christ?
- Will Christ still have His scars from the wounds in His hands, feet, and side? (see D&C 45:51-52).
“Resurrection is the reuniting of the spirit with the body in an immortal state, no longer subject to disease or death. Because of the Fall of Adam and Eve, we are subject to physical death, which is the separation of the spirit from the body. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all people will be resurrected and saved from physical death.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/resurrection?)
Brigham Young: “Where is the spirit world? It is right here. … Do they [the spirits of those who have died] go beyond the boundaries of the organized earth? No, they do not” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1954], 376).
President Joseph Fielding Smith: “These words of Alma [Alma 40:11–14] as I understand them, do not intend to convey the thought that all spirits [immediately] go back into the presence of God. … ‘Taken home to God’ [compare Ecclesiastes 12:7], simply means that their mortal existence has come to an end, and they have returned to the world of spirits, where they are assigned to a place according to their works with the just or with the unjust, there to await the resurrection” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. [1958], 2:85).
There is order to the Resurrection.
- Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected, thus preparing the way for all others (see 1 Corinthians 15:20; 2 Nephi 2:8; Alma 40:2–4).
- There are two major resurrections, one for the just and one for the unjust (see John 5:28–29; Acts 24:15; D&C 76:17).
- The resurrection of the just precedes the resurrection of the unjust (see 1 Corinthians 15:22–23; D&C 88:97–102; Revelation 20:5–6).
- Faithful who die before Christ’s resurrection will be resurrected before those who die after Christ (Alma 40:19)
- We will be resurrected to the degree of glory consistent with our faithfulness (see 1 Corinthians 15:40–42; D&C 88:22–31; 76:96–98).
- The degree of intelligence that we gain in this life will rise with us in the Resurrection (see D&C 130:18–19). (see https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/doctrines-of-the-gospel-student-manual/32-resurrection-and-judgment?)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “By His Atonement and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has overcome all aspects of the Fall. Physical death will be temporary, and even spiritual death has an end, in that all come back into the presence of God, at least temporarily, to be judged. We can have ultimate trust and confidence in His power to overcome all else and grant us everlasting life.” (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 112)
Elder Paul V. Johnson: “Resurrection makes it possible for a person’s spirit and body to be united again, only this time that body will be immortal and perfect—not subject to pain, disease, or other problems [see Alma 11:43]. …
“Each of us has physical, mental, and emotional limitations and weaknesses. These challenges, some of which seem so intractable now, will eventually be resolved. None of these problems will plague us after we are resurrected.” (Paul V. Johnson, “And There Shall Be No More Death,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 121–22)
Scriptures and modern prophets teach us that resurrected bodies are:
1.Physical. That means we will have flesh and bones.
2.Immortal. We will never get sick or die again.
3.Perfected. “Deformity will be removed; defects will be eliminated,” President Joseph F. Smith once explained, “and men and women shall attain to the perfection of their spirits, to the perfection that God designed in the beginning.”
4.Beautiful. President Lorenzo Snow said, “There is nothing more beautiful to look upon than a resurrected man or woman.”
5.Capable of joy. Celestial glory becomes possible once you’re resurrected.
(https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/inspiration/what-will-your-resurrected-body-be-like?)
President Dallin H. Oaks: “As another part of God’s “plan of restoration” (Alma 41:2), the Resurrection will restore “all things … to their proper and perfect frame” (Alma 40:23). This includes the perfection of all of our physical deficiencies and deformities acquired in mortality, including at birth or by trauma or disease.” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Cleansed by Repentance,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 94)
President Dallin H. Oaks: “Does this restoration perfect us of all our unholy or unconquered desires or addictions? That cannot be. We know from modern revelation that we will be judged for our desires as well as our actions (see Alma 41:5; Doctrine and Covenants 137:9) and that even our thoughts will condemn us (see Alma 12:14). We must not “procrastinate the day of [our] repentance” until death, Amulek taught (Alma 34:33), because the same spirit that has possessed our body in this life—whether the Lord’s or the devil’s—“will have power to possess [our] body in that eternal world” (Alma 34:34). Our Savior has the power and stands ready to cleanse us from evil. Now is the time to seek His help to repent of our wicked or unseemly desires and thoughts to be clean and prepared to stand before God at the Final Judgment.” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Cleansed by Repentance,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 94)
Elder Melvin J. Ballard: “Do not let any of us imagine that we can go down to the grave not having overcome the corruptions of the flesh and then lose in the grave all our sins and evil tendencies. They will be with us. It is my judgment that any man or woman can do more to conform to the laws of God in one year in this life than they could in ten years when they are dead” (The Vision p 46-47).
President Joseph F. Smith: “The spirits of our children are immortal before they come to us, and their spirits after bodily death, are like they were before they came. They are as they would have appeared if they had lived in the flesh, to grow to maturity, or to develop their physical bodies to the full stature of their spirits” (Gospel Doctrine, p. 455).
Funeral of Jediah M. Grant: “He also spoke of the buildings he saw there, remarking that the Lord gave Solomon wisdom and poured gold and silver into his hands that he might display his skill and ability, and said that the temple erected by Solomon was much inferior to the most ordinary buildings he saw in the spirit world” (JD 4:136 Dec 4, 1856).
President Brigham Young: “As quickly as the spirit is unlocked from this house of clay, it is free to travel with lightning speed to any planet, or fixed star, or to the uttermost part of the earth, or to the depths of the sea, according to the will of Him who dictates” (JD 13:77).
Elder Boyd K. Packer: “I commend to you the reading of the 42nd chapter of Alma. It reveals the place of justice and should confirm that the poet spoke the truth when he said, “In the course of justice only, none of us should see salvation.” (Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, IV. i. 199-200.) (in Conference Report, Apr. 1977, 78-79; or Ensign, May 1977, 54)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “Justice is an essential attribute of God. We can have faith in God because He is perfectly trustworthy. The scriptures teach us that “God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round” [Doctrine and Covenants 3:2] and that “God is no respecter of persons” [Acts 10:34]. We rely on the divine quality of justice for faith, confidence, and hope.
“But as a consequence of being perfectly just, there are some things God cannot do. He cannot be arbitrary in saving some and banishing others. He “cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance” [Doctrine and Covenants 1:31]. He cannot allow mercy to rob justice [see Alma 42:25].
“It is compelling evidence of His justice that God has forged the companion principle of mercy. It is because He is just that He devised the means for mercy to play its indispensable role in our eternal destiny.” (D. Todd Christofferson, “Free Forever, to Act for Themselves,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 17)
President Dallin H. Oaks: “The love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments, and the effect of God’s laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of His love. …
“Some seem to value God’s love because of their hope that His love is so great and so unconditional that it will mercifully excuse them from obeying His laws. In contrast, those who understand God’s plan for His children know that God’s laws are invariable, which is another great evidence of His love for His children. Mercy cannot rob justice, and those who obtain mercy are “they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment” (D&C 54:6).” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Love and Law,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 26–27)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “To be classed among the truly penitent, random acts of obedience will not be adequate. We must properly enter into the covenants and persist in keeping them to the point that our expectation of salvation is affirmed by the Holy Spirit of Promise (see D&C 132:7, 19). (D. Todd Christofferson, “Justification and Sanctification,” Ensign, June 2001, 24)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “Since the Savior paid for our sins and satisfied justice for us, we become debtors to Him rather than to justice. We must therefore meet the stipulations He has established for forgiveness and cleansing. Otherwise, He withdraws His proffered mediation, and we are left to deal alone with the demands of justice, lacking the means to become pure. One must choose Christ to receive what Christ offers.” (D. Todd Christofferson, “Justification and Sanctification,” Ensign, June 2001, 23)
Elder Quentin L. Cook: “I recognize that, despite the overwhelming happiness embodied in God’s divine plan, sometimes it can feel far away and disconnected from our current circumstances. It may feel beyond our reach as struggling disciples. From our limited perspective, current temptations and distractions can seem attractive. The rewards for resisting those temptations, on the other hand, can feel distant and unattainable. But a true understanding of the Father’s plan reveals that the rewards of righteousness are available right now. Wickedness, such as immoral conduct, is never part of the answer. (Quentin L. Cook, “Shipshape and Bristol Fashion: Be Temple Worthy—in Good Times and Bad Times,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 40)
Ideas for teaching:
- Be open and direct when talking about sex. Teach them why…
- Christ provides hope for all of us sinners.
- Teach that repentance is a hope-filled path back to God.
- The Atonement of Jesus Christ does not restore bad for good but does have a compensatory component.
- Ask your family/class – what are your questions on the resurrection and focus on them.