35 Receive of His Fulness
Receive of His Fulness
Why is having Faith in Jesus Christ important to everything
else in the gospel, church, and kingdom?
“When you climb up a ladder,” Joseph Smith taught, “you must
begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and
so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and
go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation” (Teachings of
Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 268).
We cannot climb this ladder without Jesus’s help. Heavenly
Father and Jesus have always seen our potential, and it is their good pleasure
to help us become like them. They know the way. Jesus is the Way.
Doctrine
and Covenants 93:21, 23 21 And now, verily I say unto you,
I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn;
23 Ye were also in the beginning with the
Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;
Our Father’s Plan is a perfect plan.
verses
13, 20 We are to continue from grace to grace, just as Jesus did,
until we receive a fulness through faith in Him and obedience to our Father’s
will.
verse 19
19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know
how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the
Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness.
We are His children, His literal offspring, and we can receive of His fulness,
which gift of Eternal Life is the greatest gift that He bestows upon His
faithful sons and daughters.
Like Jesus Christ, I can be glorified and receive God’s
“fulness.”
Doctrine
and Covenants 93
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “If men do not comprehend
the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves” (Teachings: Joseph
Smith, 40).
Children thrive when the have connection with good and
guiding parents. They are secure and can progress in a framework of structure
and love. It is the same with all of us with our Heavenly Parents. When we
understand that God is our Father, who loves us so much that He gave His only
begotten Son, we begin to comprehend our worth and the worth of every other
human soul. As we develop faith in Jesus Christ and strive to become like Him,
we are blessed to see, feel, understand, and comprehend more of our potential
through God’s grace than we ever could otherwise.
verses
3, 12–13, 21, and 26 Jesus and our Heavenly Father are One, the same
in purpose, in love, in glory, and in their commitment to all of us.
Jesus received of the Father’s glory one step at a time,
moving from grace to grace, and that’s what we need to do too; we need to
follow His example.
Jesus was with the Father from the beginning. He is His Firstborn Son, in the
our spiritual home and family.
26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am
the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying:
He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth;
verses
20, 23, and 28–29 If I have faith in Jesus Christ and keep the
commandments, I also have the opportunity to move from grace to grace until I
receive a fullness.
23 Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which
is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;
28 He that keepeth his commandments
receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth
and knoweth all things.
Light begats light; as we are faithful, we can receive
revelation upon revelation.
29 Man was also in the beginning with
God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was
not created or made, neither indeed can be.
1 John
3:2 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it
doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we
shall see him as he is.
3 Nephi
27:27 27 And know ye that ye shall
be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall
give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men
ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.
These works Jesus spoke to His Twelve Disciples.
verses
12–13 I believe that growing from grace to grace means that our faith in
Jesus is becoming stronger, as well as our commitment to being obedient and
following the prophet. I also believe it means that we are learning to love as
He does be consecrated time to ministering and serving.
[Grace
Grace is the divine help or strength extended to us through the Atonement of
the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the grace of God, everyone who has lived will be
resurrected—our spirits will be reunited with our bodies, never again to be
separated. Through His grace, the Lord also enables those who live His gospel
to repent and be forgiven.
Grace is a gift from Heavenly
Father given through His Son, Jesus
Christ. The word grace, as used in the scriptures, refers primarily to
enabling power and spiritual healing offered through the mercy and love of
Jesus Christ.
Everyone on earth experiences physical death. Through the
grace of Jesus Christ, all will be resurrected and will live forever.
Because of personal choices, everyone also experiences the
effects of sin. These effects are called spiritual death. No one can
return to the presence of God without divine grace. Through the Atonement of
Jesus Christ, we all can be forgiven of our sins; we can become clean before
God. To receive this enabling power, we must obey the gospel
of Jesus Christ, which includes having faith in
Him, repenting of
our sins, being baptized,
receiving the
gift of the Holy Ghost, and trying to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ
for the rest of our lives.
The grace of God helps us every day. It strengthens us to do
good works we could not do on our own. The Lord promised that if we humble
ourselves before Him and have faith in Him, His grace will help us overcome all
our personal weaknesses.]
I believe that to grow in grace, we must extend grace to
others. Sometimes the very acts of learning to forgive and seeking to see the
best in others lifts us through the grace of Jesus Christ.
It’s great to know that Heavenly Father and His Son extend
grace to us all. We all have different capabilities and different challenges
and limitations. He knows us perfectly, can succor, sustain, and guide us as we
turn to Him.
A righteous parent would not punish a toddler for stumbling.
verse 19
We are to worship our Heavenly Father in the name of His Son. It is through
them that we live, move, and have our being. It is become of them that our
Father’s Plan can lift us up to become like Them, through the atonement of
Jesus Christ and our faith in Him.
For Kids
Jesus Christ is the Light and Life of the World.
Doctrine
and Covenants 93:2–21
Show a picture of Jesus, and ask, “Why is it important to
learn about and follow Jesus Christ?”
Read Doctrine
and Covenants 93:19
When it’s dark outside, how do you see where you are going?
When you can see a rock in your path, what might happen?
Did you know that Jesus Christ is the source of all light?
When we are sacred, fearful, sad, worried, anxious, don’t understand what to
do; Jesus can help us feel His light and presence; He can bring us comfort, and
He can help us know what to do.
“Chapter 33:
A Revelation about Jesus Christ
- Did
the works of the Father (verse 5).
- Is the
Light of the World (verse 9).
- Is the
Creator of the world (verse 10).
- Received
all power in heaven and on earth (verse 17).
- Was
with God in the beginning (verse 21).
For Kids
I lived with Heavenly Father before I came to earth.
Doctrine
and Covenants 93:23, 29, 38
verses
23, 29, 38 We all lived with God in the beginning. We are indeed His
sons and daughters.
23 Ye were also in the beginning with the
Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;
29 Man was also in the beginning with
God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was
not created or made, neither indeed can be.
38 Every spirit of man
was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man
from the fall, men became again, in their infant
state, innocent before God.
Why is it important for us to know that we lived with our
Heavenly Parents, Jesus Christ, and all the peoples of the world before we were
born?
What do you know about the Father’s Plan for us?
Jeremiah
1:5 5 Before I formed thee in the belly
I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb
I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a
prophet unto the nations.
Doctrine
and Covenants 138:53–56 3 The Prophet Joseph Smith, and my
father, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and other
choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in
the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of
the great latter-day work,
54 Including the building of
the temples and the performance of ordinances therein for the
redemption of the dead, were also in the spirit world.
55 I observed that they were also among
the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning
to be rulers in the Church of God.
56 Even before they were born, they, with many
others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and
were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to
labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.
We were there too.
Moses
3:5 5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth,
and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord
God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually,
before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. For I, the
Lord God, had not caused it to rain upon the face of the earth. And I, the Lord
God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till
the ground; for in heaven created I them; and there was not
yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air;
Abraham
3:22–26 22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham,
the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among
all these there were many of the noble and great ones;
23 And God saw these souls that they were good,
and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers;
for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and
he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou
wast chosen before thou wast born.
24 And there stood one among them that
was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down,
for there is space there, and we will take of these materials,
and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;
25 And we will prove them herewith, to
see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall
command them;
26 And they who keep their
first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first
estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first
estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added
upon their heads for ever and ever.
For Kids
I receive light and truth as I obey God.
Doctrine
and Covenants 93:24–39
Find truths in scripture messages. You could do a matching
game.
- Verse
24: Truth is knowing things that are real in the past, present, and
future.
- Verse
28: I can receive light and truth as I keep the commandments.
- Verse
37: When I have light and truth, I am able to resist evil.
- Verse
39: I lose light and truth when I am disobedient.
When we forsake light and truth, we can lose our ability to
remember what we once knew.
Bear witness to how learning truth and living the gospel has
blessed your life.
The glory of God is light and truth.
Doctrine
and Covenants 93:1–39
verses
20–39 List the truths you learn about intelligence, glory, light,
and truth. (See notes below.)
verses
20, 22, 28, 33–35 Note of promises about your eternal destiny. What is the
relationship between these promises and obtaining light? (See notes below.)
Jacob
4:13 13 Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him
prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh
the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they
really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things
are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But
behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God
also spake them unto prophets of old.
This is an important scripture for our day. We need to hold
on to what we know is true and in alignment with our Father’s Plan and the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Doctrine
and Covenants 50:24 24 That which is of God is light; and
he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth
more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect
day.
Cleave unto light, and you will become a child of Light.
Jesus is Light and Truth. He has become just like the Father
and received His glory and His fulness. Pure intelligence is connected and
interwoven with obedience. As we submit ourselves in humility to our Father’s
will, we grow in light and truth.
John
8:12 12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am
the light of the world: he that followeth me shall
not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the
life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Video: Light and Truth 1: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2010-07-0072-light-and-truth-part-1?lang=eng
Video: Light and Truth 2: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2010-07-0080-light-and-truth-part-2?lang=eng
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2010-07-0080-light-and-truth-part-2?lang=eng
“Set in order your own house.”
Doctrine
and Covenants 93:40–50
verse 42
42 You have not taught your children light and truth,
according to the commandments; and that wicked one hath power, as yet, over
you, and this is the cause of your affliction.
When you feel darkness in your life and have moved away from
the joy of the Spirit, it’s time to set your house in order.
verse 43
43 And now a commandment I give unto you—if you will be delivered
you shall set in order your own house, for there are many things that
are not right in your house.
How do you think the Lord wants us to set our houses in
order? The Spirit will prompt you to know what you personally need to do, when
you are ready to trust Him and do it.
“Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study,
and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls”
(Elder Bednar).
How is the tapestry of your life looking?
Doctrine
and Covenants 64:33 ‘Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are
laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that
which is great.’
More
Diligent and Concerned at Home
A
Home Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells
The Lord commands parents to “bring up [their] children in
light and truth.”
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/93?lang=eng
1–5,
All who are faithful will see the Lord; 6–18,
John bore record that the Son of God went from grace to grace until He received
a fulness of the glory of the Father; 19–20,
Faithful men, going from grace to grace, will also receive of His
fulness; 21–22,
Those who are begotten through Christ are the Church of the Firstborn; 23–28,
Christ received a fulness of all truth, and man by obedience may do
likewise; 29–32,
Man was in the beginning with God; 33–35,
The elements are eternal, and man may receive a fulness of joy in the
Resurrection; 36–37,
The glory of God is intelligence; 38–40,
Children are innocent before God because of the redemption of Christ; 41–53,
The leading brethren are commanded to set their families in order.
Vs 1-5 Through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and
obedience, we will one day see Jesus and know that He is I AM.
Vs 6-11 We have some of what John revealed about Jesus, but
not all of it. Someday we will know
more, whether it is made know through added scripture or revealed to us as
well. (I still don't know if the original record was recorded by John the
Baptist or John the Revelator. But John the Revelator preserved it.
12 And I, John, saw that he received not of
the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace;
13 And he received not of the fulness at first,
but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness;
14 And thus he was called the Son of God,
because he received not of the fulness at the first.
15 And I, John, bear record, and lo, the
heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a
dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is
my beloved Son.
16 And I, John, bear record that he received a
fulness of the glory of the Father;
17 And he received all power, both in
heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in
him.
18 And it shall come to pass, that if you are
faithful you shall receive the fulness of the record of John.
Vs 15-18 These verses make me think that it is John the
Baptist's record, because He records what happens at the baptism of Jesus and
what he witnessed. If I am faithful I will receive the fulness of the record of
John the Baptist.
Vs 19 John learned in a very personal manner that Heavenly
Father and Jesus are two separate Beings and that we pray to the Father in
Jesus's name, as Jesus commanded us to do.
verses
20–39 List the truths you learn about intelligence, glory, light,
and truth.
21 And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning
with the Father, and am the Firstborn;
23 Ye were also in the beginning with the
Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;
24 And truth is knowledge of
things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;
25 And whatsoever is more or less than
this is the spirit of that wicked one who was a liar from the
beginning.
26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am
the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a
fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth;
27 And no man receiveth a fulness unless
he keepeth his commandments.
29 Man was also in the beginning with
God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or
made, neither indeed can be.
30 All truth is independent in that sphere in
which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also;
otherwise there is no existence.
31 Behold, here is the agency of man,
and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning
is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light.
32 And every man whose spirit receiveth not
the light is under condemnation.
33 For man is spirit. The elements
are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected,
receive a fulness of joy;
34 And when separated, man cannot receive a
fulness of joy.
35 The elements are the tabernacle of
God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever
temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple.
36 The glory of God is intelligence,
or, in other words, light and truth.
37 Light and truth forsake that evil one.
38 Every spirit of man was innocent in
the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men
became again, in their infant state, innocent before God.
39 And that wicked one cometh
and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from
the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers.
40 But I have commanded you to bring up
your children in light and truth.
verses
20, 22, 28, 33–35 Note of promises about your eternal destiny. What is the
relationship between these promises and obtaining light?
20 For if you keep my commandments you shall
receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the
Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace.
22 And all those who are begotten through me
are partakers of the glory of the same, and are the church of
the Firstborn.
27 And no man receiveth a fulness unless
he keepeth his commandments.
28 He that keepeth his commandments
receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth
and knoweth all things.
45 Verily, I say unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., or
in other words, I will call you friends, for you are my friends, and ye
shall have an inheritance with me—
46 I called you servants for the world’s
sake, and ye are their servants for my sake
49 What I say unto one I say unto all; pray always
lest that wicked one have power in you, and remove you out of your place.
Vs 52 and inasmuch as you keep my sayings you shall not be
confounded in this world, nor in the world to come.
53 And, verily I say unto you, that it is my
will that you should hasten to translate my scriptures, and
to obtain a knowledge of history, and of countries, and of
kingdoms, of laws of God and man, and all this for the salvation of
Zion. Amen.
Learn all that you can.
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