Come, Follow Me Helaman 13-16: Insights By Gogo Goff

I hope you enjoy some insights from my Come Follow Me Helaman 13-16 (If you missed last week’s insights for Come Follow Me Helaman 7-12 click here). Save this pin to read later.

Sharing the Gospel.

“And it came to pass that they would not suffer that he should enter into the city; therefore he went and got upon the wall thereof, and stretched forth his hand and cried with a loud voice, and prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart.” Helaman 13:4

Many people have delusions of grandeur with sharing the gospel, they think that everyone they talk to will accept the gospel when they share it. But that’s not the case. People often ask me, “How is it that every time you share the gospel it works? or how come you have these amazing experiences every week?” It is simple, For every missionary story I share with you, I don’t share the 10, 15, or even 20 that I tried to share the Gospel with who rejected it.

EVERYONE deals with rejection. And when you start sharing the Gospel so will you, even Apostles don’t always have success, Paul, arguably one of the greatest missionaries to walk to earth was teaching King Agrippa, and he was not able to convert him.

Jesus Christ Himself was rejected by most the Jews! What am I getting at? Missionary work is multi-phased and those who participate in it are acquainted with denial. This is why we must share the Gospel with everyone, some will accept, some will reject, but no effort will be wasted, and as long as you do it honorably even those who reject it will be closer to Christ than before, who knows but you planted a seed that will be harvested by the next person to try.

So what do we do? 4 Simple things.
1 Realize it is OUR duty to share the Gospel not the missionaries.
2 Pray and ask God to lead us to those who are ready
3 Pray to have the courage to open our mouths and share the gospel with them!
4 DO IT.

It is hard, it is WORK, and many people will reject it, but be of good comfort in the work, for the Lord of the Harvest is working beside you.

Redemption, Salvation, and Exaltation

“But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord.” Helaman 14:17

When I was renewing my Temple recommend I got to the question “Do you believe Jesus Christ is your Savior?” I said Yes. “Redeemer?” I said yes again.

But then the 1st councilor asked, Do you know the difference? I had to admit, I did not, so I asked him, “what is the difference?” the 1st councilor replied, “I don’t know, I figured you did, or you would find out.”

This verse explains it. To be saved from death (Physical or Spiritual) is to be Redeemed. Christ Redeems ALL mankind from physical death because He resurrects them, and said resurrection will bring them back into the presence of the Lord, to be judged. (1st Cor 15:1-22)

And of all those He resurrects He also redeems everyone from spiritual death to a degree of glory, except the Son’s of perdition, they are those who are as if there has been “no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death” (Alma 11:41) Being redeemed from sin is commonly referred to as being saved. (And for simplicity, I always refer to it as being saved or salvation)

Now it is important to understand that Salvation and Exaltation are not the same, Salvation is entering ANY kingdom of glory. Exaltation is not just Salvation into the Celestial Kingdom, but it is being saved to the highest degree of glory within that Kingdom, it is receiving the glory of Eternal Life.

One can be “saved” and not exalted. But one must be saved to Exalted to Eternal Life. An easy way to remember it is this. It is 3 simple steps.

• Jesus Redeems everyone from physical death (resurrection).
• Jesus saves everyone to a Kingdom of Glory who has been redeemed (resurrected) except Perdition from Sin. (This is referred to as amazing Grace! And yes, everyone except the sons of perdition)
• And of those who are redeemed from death and saved from sin who also make and keep Covenants with the Father, the Father rewards with Exaltation which is receiving Eternal Life.

Exaltation is what all Latter-day Saints are working towards, don’t confuse your good works towards Exaltation as works towards Salvation.

Traditions.

“And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—”
Helaman 15:7

When I was a missionary one of the most often heard comments by members of the church was, “That may work in Utah, but Maine/Vermont is different, we do things differently.” That caused me to think, yes, there is adaptation to individual circumstances, but sin is sin no matter how long it has been done that way. One of the most repeated lines I hear in post-mission missionary work is well it has been done this way since the 4th century.

Age does not determine accuracy, a sin is a sin no matter how many of your ancestors have done it, we are to follow the teachers of Christ the Prophets and Apostles, and be willing to let go of all else.

Heritage and traditions are not bad, as long as they do not promote sin. Never keep a tradition if it breaks a covenant. In the words of an Apostle: “Where family or national traditions or customs conflict with the teachings of God, set them aside. Where traditions and customs are in harmony with His teachings, they should be cherished and followed to preserve your culture and heritage.” ~Richard G. Scott

Rationalizing away Prophecy

“Some things they may have guessed right, among so many; but behold, we know that all these great and marvelous works cannot come to pass, of which has been spoken.”
Helaman 16:16

In the final years before Christ’s first coming many signs and wonders happened, the people started to harden their hearts and not believe anymore. They started to rationalize prophecy and miracles. (to rationalizes is telling yourself rational lies)

It is important to remember that just like then, the same happens today. Take for example Joseph Smith, and his prophecies about the rebellion of South Carolina and the Civil War, with almost 1,000,000 casualties.
In both D&C 87:1 and 130:12 Joseph Smith stated that South Carolina would rebel, and that “the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States” and it will “terminate in the death and misery of many souls”

These revelations, given DECADES before the Civil War, have been fulfilled. yet critics just like in the Book of Mormon rationalize it away. But at the end of the day, it adds another witness to the divinity of the Prophetic call of Joseph Smith.