What Is the Purpose of Life?

This is a big question that most people have at some point in their life: What is the purpose of life? I'm going to study the words that Amulek taught in the Book of Mormon in Alma 34 to see what can be learned about the purpose of life.

First we must realize that because of the fall of Adam and Eve, all mankind is in a fallen and lost state. We commit sin and not one of us can avoid that. In this fallen state we are unable to return to God's presence, which is why we are "lost." For this reason, God has lovingly provided a way to overcome our fallen state. He provided a Savior for us, who of course is Jesus Christ. His perfect atonement (sacrifice for us) allows us to become clean and perfected in him if we follow his gospel by having faith in Him, repenting, and being baptized (Alma 34:8-15). So I guess we can classify that as one purpose for us during this life: follow Christ's gospel so we can return to God and be saved.

To put this one more way, in terms of mercy and justice, the atonement provides mercy, which can "satisfy the demands of justice." So, "he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption" (Alma 34:16).

Where do we start? Amulek says, "cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save. Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him" (Alma 34:18-19). The first step is to pray to God in humility asking for his help and his mercy. I'd even suggest meeting with missionaries; in fact, Amulek was a missionary when he taught this lesson! Click here to contact the missionaries in your area.

Amulek gives a big warning to the people he teaches. He tells them: "If ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and import of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need- I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain and availeth you nothing..."(Alma 34:28). So more is required of us than just faith and repentance, we must use our means in this life to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

The next point Amulek makes is also with very strong language that I won't paraphrase because that would only take away from it. He warns us against procrastinating our day of repentance:

"32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked." (Alma 34:32-35)

Some more counsel on how to live our lives to fulfill our purpose here (Alma 34:38-40):

• "Humble yourself"
• "Take upon you the name of Christ" (you do this through repentance and baptism)
• "Worship God," regardless of where you are
• "Live in thanksgiving daily"
• "Be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil"
• "Bear with all manner of afflictions" (patiently endure trials)

Is There Life After Death?

To study the question "Is there life after death?" let's read the words of the prophet Alma to his son Corianton in Alma 40 in the Book of Mormon.

Alma teaches his son that all men will resurrect: "Behold, there is a time appointed that all shall come forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but God knoweth the time which is appointed" (Alma 40:4).

The next question he answers is what happens between death and the resurrection? He teaches, "the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life" (Alma 40:11).

For the righteous: "the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow" (Alma 40:12).

For the wicked:

13 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house—and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.
 14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this estate, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection. (Alma 40:13-14)

So the righteous and wicked remain in a state of happiness or misery from death until the resurrection. Alma then continues by explaining what the word resurrection really means: "it meaneth the reuniting of the soul with the body ... The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame" (Alma 40:18, 23)

This resurrection is a precursor to the final day of judgment: "the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works" (Alma 40:21).

How Can Believing in Jesus Christ Help Me?

To study the question "How can believing in Jesus Christ help me?" I'm going to study Alma 36 in the Book of Mormon, which contains the words of the prophet Alma to his son, Helaman.

I can imagine the intense emotion of a father testifying to his son of the thinks he believes and knows to be true. His words are motivated by the love of a father for his son. With this intensity he begins, "My son, give ear to my words; for I swear unto you, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land" (Alma 36:1). In order to keep God's commandments, one must believe in God and that the commandments are His. I also know that keeping His commandments leads to prosperity in all aspects of life.

He continues, "I would that ye should do as I have done, in remembering the captivity of our fathers; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it was the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he surely did deliver them in their afflictions" (Alma 36:2). I think this is a very important point that Alma makes. Their ancestors at times were in captivity by their enemies and the only way they were able to escape was through the deliverance of the power of Jesus Christ. Believing in and turning to Jesus Christ can deliver us as well in our time of need. This is another powerful benefit of believing and trusting in the Savior of the world.

"And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day" (Alma 36:3). If we believe in Jesus Christ and put our trust in him, then this promise is available to us as well- we will be supported in our trials, troubles, and afflictions. I know that for me, this is the time when I most need help, and I am grateful that the Savior has been there time and again to lift me up and support me when I'm having a rough time.

Believing in Jesus Christ and laboring with him to help bring to pass the salvation of others fills your soul with "exceedingly great joy" (Alma 36:25).

And another reason to believe in Jesus Christ- listen to how it has helped Alma throughout his adult life:

"27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me." (Alma 36:27)

And lastly, from this chapter, I learned that believing in Christ will help me to "raise me up at the last day, to dwell in glory" (Alma 36:28). And isn't that what we all hope for? To learn more about Jesus Christ visit http://mormon.org/jesus-christ/.

What Does Jesus Expect of Me?

To answer this question, I'll reference the words of the prophet Jacob, son of Lehi, in 2 Nephi 9 in the Book of Mormon.

In order for me to be able to "inherit the kingdom of God" and have my "joy be full forever," I need to have faith in Jesus Christ and "endure the crosses of the world" (2 Ne 9:18). I believe that enduring the crosses of the world means living a righteous and virtuous life even in a world that doesn't respect that lifestyle. Persecution and discrimination are inevitable for those who follow Christ, so I must be willing to do what it takes and have the faith necessary to live my beliefs.

Jesus expects all men to have faith, repent, and be baptized (2 Ne 9:23) so they can be saved in the kingdom of God. We should also keep the commandments of God and not waste our time here on earth (2 Ne 9:27). Remember that to be carnally-minded is death and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal (2 Ne 9:39).

Jacob invites, "O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One" (2 Ne 9:41). The Lord expects me to come unto him. The way to come unto the Lord is through faith, repentance, and baptism. It requires keeping His commandments and living the best I can. I must also prepare myself for judgment day:

"46 Prepare your souls for that glorious day when justice shall be administered unto the righteous, even the day of judgment, that ye may not shrink with awful fear; that ye may not remember your awful guilt in perfectness, and be constrained to exclaim: Holy, holy are thy judgments, O Lord God Almighty—but I know my guilt; I transgressed thy law, and my transgressions are mine; and the devil hath obtained me, that I am a prey to his awful misery." (2 Ne 9:46) 

He also expects us to have our priorities straight. Do our decisions about time and money bring us closer to Him and to the happiness that we seek? Jacob counsels:

"51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness." (2 Ne 9:51, emphasis added)

Lastly, I learn from this chapter in the Book of Mormon that Jesus expects me to have a cheerful heart and an attitude of gratitude: "Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice" (2 Ne 9:52).

Is there a God?

To examine this question, let's read Alma 22 in the Book of Mormon, which gives an account of some missionaries who teach the gospel to a king of the Lamanites in the ancient Americas.

In verse 7, Aaron asks the king, "Believest thou that there is a God?" The king seems uncertain but is willing to believe the words of Aaron. Aaron answers the question with "Behold, assuredly as thou livest, O king, there is a God."

The king seeks to understand and asks Aaron if God is the Great Spirit that had brought their forefathers to the Americas from Jerusalem. Aaron answers affirmatively and using the same phrase "Great Spirit" in order to help the king understand, he explains in verse 10, "Yea, he is that Great Spirit, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth."

Read what happens next:

17 And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying:
 18 O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead.  ...

23 Now this was done in the presence of the queen and many of the servants. And when they saw it they greatly marveled, and began to fear. And the king stood forth, and began to minister unto them. And he did minister unto them, insomuch that his whole household were converted unto the Lord. 

Also, there was a prophet, who was a king among the Nephites, named King Benjamin that also taught to believe in God. King Benjamin declared:

9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. Mosiah 4:9

The Book of Mormon clearly teaches that there is a God. Reading the Book of Mormon will not only help you to know that there is a God and that he loves you, but it will also help you build a relationship with God. After all, he is your Heavenly Father and yearns to be a part of your life. Get a free copy of the Book of Mormon here: http://mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon/.

How the Bible and the Book of Mormon are Testaments of Jesus Christ

Much of the Christian world believes in the Old Testament and the New Testament. These books, or collections of books, are testaments of the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ. In this dispensation (the last days) we've been blessed with another testament of Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon. Both books are written by prophets and apostles who were called of God to preach and write his doctrine. In both cases the doctrine centers around Jesus Christ and his gospel plan through which salvation can be obtained.

In the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 29 explains really well the purpose of having the Bible and the Book of Mormon as two witnesses of Christ. Verse 8 says:

"Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also." 2 Nephi 29:8

This passage in 2 Nephi explains that God remembers all his people wherever in the world they may be. He speaks to them and commands them to write His words. We should not complain about receiving more of His word as it is another testimony of Him.

In the New Testament, Paul declares, "To [Jesus Christ] give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." He clearly teaches that God calls prophets to witness of Jesus Christ. This is the purpose of scripture, both the Bible and Book of Mormon. Anyone who has a problem with God giving us another witness of Jesus Christ is in danger of rejecting his holy prophets who speak His word.

What does this mean for you!?
This means that you have another testament of Jesus Christ to help you draw closer to God and learn his gospel plan for you. The Book of Mormon has helped me grow so much closer to God; in fact, the book has changed my life and helped me become who I am today. It can help you as well- I know it can. Put it to the test- request a free copy of the Book of Mormon by visiting http://mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon/.

What does the Bible say about the Book of Mormon?

The Bible Talks about Jesus Visiting the People Recorded in the Book of Mormon
John 10:16 talks about "other sheep" that Jesus said were of a different fold than the Jews. He told the Jews that he must also bring them in so that there was "one fold, and one shepherd." I believe this was referring to other people in a different area of the earth, in the American continents. I believe this for three reasons:

1. He was already among his sheep while among the Jews, so he was not referring to the Jews as "other sheep." Further, Jesus said that he was only sent to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24), which means not to the Gentiles. The people inhabiting the Americas are a branch of the house of Israel (tribe of Joseph- see 1 Nephi 5:14).

2. Jesus visited the Americas after his resurrection. You can read all about it in 3 Nephi 11 in the Book of Mormon.

3. Most importantly, Jesus himself said that this is the case in 3 Nephi 15:21 while among the Nephites in the Americas. He told the Nephites, "And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." It doesn't get much clearer than that.

The Bible talks about the Sticks of Joseph and Judah becoming One
In Ezekiel 37:15-17 a prophecy is given about the union of the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The word "stick" in this context likely refers to wooden writing tablets used during this time. The phrase "Stick of Judah" would be the writings of the Jews, known to us as the Bible. Remember, it wasn't called "the Bible" back then and most of it didn't even exist yet. The Bible does not contain a record of Joseph, so I expect most Bible scholars and historians would assume that these records had been lost thousands of years ago.

The great truth is that they were not lost. The "stick of Joseph" - or scriptural account of the descendants of Joseph - is the Book of Mormon. And the prophecy has literally been fulfilled as I carry my Book of Mormon and Bible in my hand as one. As I mentioned previously in this post, the Book of Mormon contains the record of a people who were descendants of Joseph and were guided by the hand of the Lord to the Americas. Their record became the Book of Mormon.

Isaiah in the Bible Prophesied of the Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon
Isaiah prophesied of a people "speaking out of the dust" (Isaiah 29:4). I believe that he is referring to the Nephite people who lived in the Americas and wrote what is now the Book of Mormon. Around AD 400, the prophet Moroni buried the Book of Mormon, which was written on metal plates, in a stone box beneath the earth. They were preserved there until the latter-day prophet Joseph Smith was led to them and translated them by the power and gift of God in AD 1829. The Book of Mormon was literally buried in the earth and now has been brought forth "out of the dust" to speak to us.

Isaiah prophesied further about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon later in the same chapter. Isaiah wrote: "And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed" (Isaiah 29:11). The Book of Mormon had a portion of it which was sealed and remains sealed to this day. Martin Harris met with Charles Anthon, a professor in New York City and expert in ancient writings. Martin Harris presented him with some of the characters from the Book of Mormon and Joseph's translation of them. Anthon asserted that the translation was true and asked to translate the plates himself.  Martin informed him that part of the plates were sealed and he unknowingly fulfilled prophecy with his response, "I cannot read a sealed book!" (Joseph Smith- History 1:63-65).

Isaiah continues in verse 12: "And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned." Isaiah sees the boy Joseph, who didn't have more than a Jr. High education and felt overwhelmed by the calling to translate ancient scripture into English. Isaiah continues to describe the time in which the Book of Mormon was restored and the "marvelous work and a wonder" that He performed through his prophet Joseph Smith to restore his Church to the earth (Isaiah 29:13-18).

The Book of Mormon is the Keystone

President Ezra Taft Benson, who was our prophet during my younger years, taught that the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion in 3 ways: (1) Witness of Christ, (2) Fulness of doctrine, and (3) Foundation of testimony.

Witness of Christ
The Book of Mormon bears witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ- really that is its central purpose. It testifies of His reality with power and clarity. The Book of Mormon has helped me build a personal relationship with the Savior.

Fulness of Doctrine
The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the doctrines required for our salvation, and it's written simple and plain enough so that even children can learn the pathway to salvation. The Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith that the Book of Mormon contains the "fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ" in Doctrine and Convenants 20:9.

Foundation of Testimony
Any honest seeker of truth can read the Book of Mormon and pray to God to know if it is true. Praying with a sincere heart will lead to a divinely given testimony of the truth of this book. I know that this promise given in the Book of Mormon by the prophet Moroni is true because I've pray to God to find out if the Book of Mormon is true and he has testified to me on many occasions that it is by the power of the Holy Ghost. He has filled me with feelings of peace, joy, comfort, and love in answer to my prayers. By knowing that the Book of Mormon is true, I also know that the prophet who translated the book, Joseph Smith, must have been a true prophet of God. For a false prophet could never produce a true book (Remember Jesus taught that by their fruits, ye shall know them). The Book of Mormon is definitely a fruit of the prophet Joseph Smith. And through that testimony of the Book of Mormon, I also know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Kingdom of God, which has been re-established on the earth in these last days. And by the succession of prophets since Joseph Smith, I know that Thomas S Monson is a true prophet of God on the earth today.

This is why the Book of Mormon is the keystone.

Why Are There So Many Rules?!

From Elder Arnold's talk "What Have You Done With My Name". This is one of his wife's stories:

“When I was 15 years old, I often felt that there were too many rules and commandments. I wasn’t sure that a normal, fun-loving teenager could enjoy life with so many restrictions. Furthermore, the many hours spent working on my father’s ranch were seriously dipping into my time with my friends.

“This particular summer, one of my jobs was to ensure that the cows grazing on the mountain pasture did not break through the fence and get into the wheat field. A cow grazing on the growing wheat can bloat, causing suffocation and death. One cow in particular was always trying to stick her head through the fence. One morning, as I was riding my horse along the fence line checking on the cattle, I found that the cow had broken through the fence and gotten into the wheat field. To my dismay, I realized that she had been eating wheat for quite some time because she was already bloated and looked much like a balloon. I thought, ‘You stupid cow! That fence was there to protect you, yet you broke through it and you have eaten so much wheat that your life is in danger.’

“I raced back to the farmhouse to get my dad. However, when we returned, I found her lying dead on the ground. I was saddened by the loss of that cow. We had provided her with a beautiful mountain pasture to graze in and a fence to keep her away from the dangerous wheat, yet she foolishly broke through the fence and caused her own death.

“As I thought about the role of the fence, I realized that it was a protection, just as the commandments and my parents’ rules were a protection. The commandments and rules were for my own good. I realized that obedience to the commandments could save me from physical and spiritual death. That enlightenment was a pivotal point in my life.”

I really like this story because of the message it teaches. It is so easy to see the happy hours, late nights out, and Sunday boating that our friends enjoy and thing to ourselves, "The grass looks so much greener outside the fence." Satan is skillful at making sin (both sins of commission and sins of omission) appear glamorous and fun. He does everything in his power to get us to forget that "wickedness never was happiness." If we see the rules, guidelines, prophetic counsel, laws, commandments, etc as a restrictive fence keeping us from the "pleasures" of the world, our perspective can and likely will lead to a fatal and foolish end as we "break through the fence" to our own demise. God knows that the other side of the fence contains nothing but misery and therefore has given us the fence to protect us from that misery. It is important to keep this in perspective so that we can be grateful for the fence and it's protective influence in our lives rather than resenting it and looking for any way to climb over or break through it.

God has given us Holy Scripture and inspired Prophets to protect us as we journey along the path that will keep us happy and lead to eternal joy. I know that obedience leads to happiness. Jesus taught that you too can know this for yourself: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine... John 7:17".

Don't Spurn Revelation

From 3 Nephi 29:5-6:

5Wo unto him that spurneth at the doings of the Lord; yea, wo unto him that shall deny the Christ and his works! 

6Yea, wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation, or by prophecy, or by gifts, or by tongues, or by healings, or by the power of the Holy Ghost!

To spurn means to reject or scorn. If you spurn the Savior of the world, you better be prepared for the consequences. This part jumped out at me: "wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation..." Sadly, there are so many people, even Christians, who spurn the Lord because they deny that he still speaks today through revelation and through his mouthpieces, the prophets.

We can pray to God and have our prayers answered to us. Are not those answers revelations? If I pray for God to help me understand something difficult and my mind is enlightened to be able to comprehend it, is that not revelation? Inspiration? Doesn't that suggest that God does still speak to us?

Whenever God's truths have been on the earth, God has had prophets on the earth. Through these prophets he reveals his will and the prophets preach and write it down. That's how the Bible came to be. Since this has been God's pattern since the beginning of time, why do people now, even Christians, claim that God has changed and no longer speaks his truth through prophets? Do we no longer need God? Has he forgotten us? Abandoned us? NO! God loves us. He wants to help us in our lives. He still communicates with us through revelation, and he still communicates with us through his holy prophets!

Revelation is real. Prophecy is real. Gifts of the Spirit are real, including the gifts of tongues and healings. The power of the Holy Ghost is real. WO be unto those who deny the Lord and these realities. I know that they are true, and they are meant for us.

Find out more at http://mormon.org/.