6 The
angels do not reside on a planet like this earth;
7 But
they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire,
where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and
are continually before the Lord.
(D&C 130: 6-7)
It sounds like this is a place where
the very atmosphere is full of good memories, pleasant doings of goodness, and
happy anticipations of future delights of righteousness. With all things manifest, it is a place
of both revelation and memory, a place of faith pointed at the future and
gratitude for the past, as well as drinking in the bliss of the present.
9 This earth,
in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will
be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things
pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be
manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be Christ’s. (D&C
130:8-9)
I suppose we can learn from this that
the lessons of lower kingdoms will be perfectly obvious to those who live on
this earth in that day. The very
ground will testify. To use a very weak comparison, I suppose it
is something like a senior in high school looking at the
schoolwork of those in the 6th and saying, “How easy that work is!”
10 Then
the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17,
will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby
things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;
11 And a white
stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is
a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new
name is the key word. (D&C 130:10-11)
I really like the prospect
of having this white stone spoken of, but as I was reading, I wondered just how
this can help us today.
I think that first, it can
give us a hope of good things to come.
Anticipation of good things can buoy us up. I also realized that the white stone is really all about
personal revelation, so this scripture shows us that personal revelation is
still an important part of life on a sanctified earth. New names suggest receiving new
identities, so it seems that the principle being taught her is personal
revelation is part of what changes us into new people, and our exaltation will
continue to be perfected. Honing the ability to receive and act on personal revelation will be important to prepare for the next life.
0 comments:
Post a Comment