Eternal Perspective

Eternal Perspective

President Gordon B. Hinckley
"We can either subdue our divine nature and hide it or we can bring it to the front in all that we do." (Oct 2002 General Conference)

Important Points
How long have we lived on earth?
How long was the preexistence? (divide it up)
Were we pre-mortal spirit sons and daughters of God?
Did gender exist before we were born?
Why was the “Grand Council” held?
Who was present?
What were the important points presented in the Council?
What role did the adversary play?
What were the important points presented by Lucifer
What is Lucifer’s major purpose upon the earth?
When was marriage instituted? Man is not complete without the woman, nor is the woman complete without the man (in the Lord).

President Ezra Taft Benson
“When we put God first [in our lives], all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives” (Ensign, May 1988, 4).

President Howard W. Hunter
“[When] our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right” (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, 40).

Elder Dallin H. Oaks
“If we do not choose God first, it will make little difference in the long run what we have chosen instead” (“Focus and Priorities,” Ensign, May 2001, 88).

Robert J. Matthews, former dean of Religious Education
“I think we often miss the real issue of the contention in [premortality] that eventually led to the War in Heaven. We talk about it as though Lucifer were going to force everybody to obey. Most people don’t want to be forced. As I see it, the real issue is that Lucifer would guarantee their salvation. He promised salvation without effort, without excellence, without hard work, without [sacrifice], without individual responsibility. That’s the lie that he promulgated in the pre-earth councils. That so-called shortcut to salvation captivated many gullible and lazy spirits. They wanted something for nothing—a free lunch” (“The Price of Redemption,” The 11th Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium-New Testament, January 29, 1983, 159).

Read Mosiah 26:1-4
Now it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did not believe the tradition of their fathers.
2. The did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ.
3. And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened.
4. And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God.

Mosiah 26:1-4
What problem did the “rising generation” have?
What led to their unbelief?
How did their limited, worldly perspective affect their conduct?
What consequences can we see today among youth who grow up without given heed to the words of the prophets and apostles?
In what ways can heeding the words of the prophets and apostles influence our dating and courtship experiences?


God’s View


Man’s View



Past Present Future

President Henry B. Eyring
"The real life we're preparing for is eternal life. Secular knowledge has for us eternal significance. Our conviction is that God, our Heavenly Father, wants us to live the life that He does. We learn both the spiritual things and the secular things 'so we may one day create worlds [and] people and govern them' (Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball,1982, 386). All we can learn that is true while we are in this life will rise with us in the Resurrection. And all that we can learn will enhance our capacity to serve. That is a destiny reserved not alone for the brilliant, those who learn the most quickly, or those who enter the most respected professions. It will be given to those who are humbly good, who love God, and who serve Him with all their capacities” ("Education for Real Life," Ensign, Oct. 2002, 21).

Elder Richard G. Scott
(Quoting Pres. S.W. Kimball) “The treasures of both secular and spiritual knowledge are hidden ones---but hidden from those who do not properly search and strive to find them…Spiritual knowledge is not available merely for the asking; even prayers are not enough. It takes persistence and dedication of one’s life… Of all treasures of knowledge, the most vital is the knowledge of God” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 389-90; p. 149 manual)

Elder Richard G. Scott
(Quoting Pres. S.W. Kimball) “Spiritual learning takes precedence. The secular without the foundation of the spiritual is…like the foam upon the milk, the fleeting shadow…One need not choose between the two…for there is opportunity to get both simultaneously” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 390; Manual 148)

Elder Richard G. Scott
“As spiritual knowledge unfolds, it must be understood, valued, obeyed, remembered, and expanded” (manual 148).

Discussion
Of all the kinds of learning, which is the most important? Why?
What is an example of how a true principle can be applied in dating and courtship decisions in a variety of situations and cultures?

Spencer W. Kimball
“If we live in such a way that the considerations of eternity press upon us, we will make better decisions… the more clearly we see eternity, the more obvious it becomes that the Lord’s work in which we are engaged is one vast grand work with striking similarities on each side of the veil” ( (Ensign, Jan 1977, 3, Manual).

Spencer W. Kimball
“If we looked at mortality as the whole of existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and short life would be calamity. But if we look upon life as an eternal thing stretching far into the pre-mortal past and on into the eternal post death future, then all happenings may be put in proper perspective” (Faith Precedes the Miracle, 97, Manual).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie
“Eternal life, which from an eternal perspective is ‘the greatest of all the gifts of God’ (D&C 14:7), is reserved for those who believe and obey (New Witness for the Articles of Faith, 358, Manual).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie
“Marriage and the family unit are the central part of the plan of progression and exaltation. All things center in and around the family unit in the eternal perspective. Exaltation consists in the continuation of the family unit in eternity” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:546, Manual).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie
“…Whenever men gain the Lord’s eternal perspective of whence they came, why they are here, and what lies ahead in the eternal realms of living and being, they are able better to govern the deeds done in the flesh. A knowledge of the resurrection thus leads to personal righteousness” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 2: 396, Manual).

Elder L. Tom Perry
“Are we investing, first and foremost, in the things that are eternal in nature? Do we have an eternal perspective? Or have we fallen into the trap of investing in the things of this world first and then forgetting the Lord?” (Ensign, May 1987, 34).

Elder Neal A. Maxwell
“…It is very important that we not assume the perspectives of mortality in making the decisions that bear on eternity! We need the perspectives of the gospel to make decisions in the context of eternity. We need to understand we cannot do the Lord’s work in the world’s way” (“But for a Small Moment,” 453-54, Manual).

Elder Dallin H. Oaks
“ Seen with the perspective of eternity, a temporal setback can be an opportunity to develop soul power of eternal significance. Strength is forged in adversity. Faith is developed in a setting where we cannot see what lies ahead” (Ensign, Nov 1985, 63, Manual)

Brigham Young
“I want to tell you, each and every one of you that you are well acquainted with God our Heavenly Father. For there is not a soul of you but what has lived in His house and dwelt with Him year after year; and yet you are seeking to become acquainted with him, when the fact is, you have merely forgotten what you did know (Discourses of Brigham Young, 50).

Spencer W. Kimball
“We made vows, solemn vows, in the heavens before we came to this mortal life… We have made covenants. We made them before we accepted our position here on the earth… We committed ourselves to our Heavenly Father, that if He would send us to the earth and give us bodies and give to us the priceless opportunities that earth life afforded, we would keep our lives clean and would marry in the holy temple and would rear a family and teach them righteousness. This was a solemn oath, a solemn promise” (“Be Ye Therefore Perfect” U of U Institute of Religion, January 10, 1975)

Richard G. Scott
“Although our memory of it (pre-existence is withheld, before we came to this earth we lived in the presence of God, our Eternal Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. We shouted for joy when given the privilege of coming to this earth to receive a body and to move forward in God’s plan for our happiness. We knew that we would be tested here. Our determination was to live obediently to be able to return to be with our Father forever. Part of that testing here is to have so many seemingly interesting things to do that we can forget the main purposes for being here. Satan works very hard so that the essential things won’t happen.

Elder Scott (con’t)
Study the things you do in your discretionary time, that time you are to control. Do you find that it is centered in those things that are of highest priority and of greatest importance? Or do you unconsciously , consistently fill it with trivia and activities that are not of enduring value nor help you accomplish the purpose for which you came to earth? Think of the long view of life, (perspective) not just what’s going to happen today or tomorrow. Don’t give up what you most want in life for something you think you want now.
The essential things must be accomplished during your testing period on earth. They must have first priority. They must not be sacrificed for lesser things, even though they are good and worthwhile accomplishments. After this life, you will be restored to that which you have here allowed yourself to become” (Ensign May 1997, 53-54).

Elder M. Russell Ballard --Keeping Life’s Demands in Balance
Use an Eternal perspective to set priorities
Set Reasonable short-term goals
Become financially Responsible and Secure
Build Close Relationships with family and Friends
Study the Scriptures
Rest, Exercise, and Relax
Teach One Another the gospel
Pray Often


Present Prophet:
Thomas S. Monson presides during a time when the world is ripening in iniquity. The establishment of Zion is our primary goal. How do we do it? By every one of us living the gospel, building strong, stable marriages, and rearing children who will be prepared to help build the kingdom---FHE, gospel study at home, family prayer, etc. . .

Conclusion
Draw diagram
Read Isaiah 55:8-9; Ask:
How does the diagram relate to these verses?
How can understanding the nature of God help us have faith in His teachings and commandments?
How can studying and applying the principles of the gospel help us in our dating experiences?
How can having an eternal perspective help us make righteous decisions in dating?