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Everyone knows this one…

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”

- 1 Nephi 3:7

We know the three greatest sins are, in this order:

1. Deny the Holy Ghost – Unpardonable
2. Murder – Unforgivable
3. Sex-related – Hard to be forgiven of

These are related. They are most serious because they all mess with the power of life, which is the power of God; it is the power that God has.

1. Deny the Holy Ghost – Permanent destruction of spiritual life
2. Murder – Unauthorized taking of life
3. Sex-related – Unauthorized giving of life

There is no recompense for the unpardonable sin, that is to receive a perfect knowledge of the nature of God and to outright deny and betray it (citation needed — I know). The unforgivable sin is not covered by the Atonement of Christ. That remission must come from our own suffering and repentance, and it cannot be achieved in this life.

Murder is not made remiss by the Atonement — but did Jesus suffer that anyway?

One realization came to me as I research my talk for this Sunday about prayer. Prayer opened, and also closed, the proceeding of the Atonement on Earth:

“[Jesus] kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, by thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

- Luke 22:41-44

And it ends with a  prayer, just before Christ died:

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

- Matthew 27:46

“But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”

-Moroni 7:47

All saving ordinances of the priesthood address the recipient of those ordinances. Other priesthood ordinances and blessings address Heavenly Father, but all are done in the name of Jesus Christ.

Why do bad things happen to good/covenant people? Doesn’t God love His children?

Yes, of course God loves His children. The Lord reminds us in D&C 121, 122, and 123 why afflictions are allowed on good people by our loving and devoted God. From these sections, I can conclude at least six main reasons for them.

1. Sin — Transgressing God’s law will bring negative consequences.
2. Experience — Trials bring to our spirits vital experiences through which we learn new things.
3. Agency — Man has the freedom to choose, and God must allow it, and He cannot forbid it. It was decided upon in the Counsel of Heaven before the world was.
4. Covenants — The righteous are rewarded for keeping them, and those who falter are offered the way to make it right through trials.
5. Trust — Trials build a relationship between the Godhead (our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost) and an individual.
6. To condemn the wicked — Tribulation caused by wicked men who persecute the righteous dominion can then be judged accordingly.

Items 2, 5, and 6 are particularly interesting. Many non-members, or those who are unfamiliar with the Gospel are frustrated or mad at a god that could send destruction and other bad things to righteous or innocent people. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, as proclaimed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, answers these types of questions.

What other questions have the teachings, doctrine, and scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints answered for you? Or, if you are not a member, what questions might you have?

Isaiah prophesies of the coming forth of the fullness of the Gospel in such detail as to mention the things spoken to Joseph Smith during the First Vision:

“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.”

- Isaiah 29:13

Now we see this prophecy fulfilled.

“… they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”

- The Lord Jesus Christ, as revealed to Joseph Smith, a modern prophet, explaining the need for the opening of this dispensation of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. JSH 1:19

The true Church is indeed upon the earth — we have it here, in its fullness, and its complete truth: all we need to know pertaining to our salvation and the proper worship of our Lord and God, who are defined as two separate and distinct beings (”… and I saw two Personages … and [He] said, pointing to the other — This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” -JSH 1:17, emphasis added). There is much to be had in the Gospel of Jesus Christ with faith, proper study, and humility to accept it. With these things, the Spirit will touch the hearts of souls seeking the truth.

What manner of men ought we to be?

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Matthew 5:48

That seems like a rather demanding and impossible calling; but the Lord knew what he was talking about. What does this passage mean to you?

The Book of Mormon prophesies of Jesus Christ.

“And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people. And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning.”

Mosiah 3:7-8

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is 8 things, namely:

1. Atonement (v. 13)

2. Resurrection (v. 14)

3. Judgment (v. 15)

4. Faith

5. Repentance (v. 19)

6. Baptism

7. Holy Ghost

8. Endurance (v. 16)
   

As stated in 3 Nephi 27:13-21 by the Lord Jesus Christ himself when He visits the people in America. Items 4-7 are the fundamental principles and ordinances of the Gospel.