If salvation is by grace, not works—made possible through Jesus’ atonement for humanity’s transgressions—then how do men attain exaltation? On a parallel: if “justification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true,” and also “sanctification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true,” […]
Salvation—not by Works, Exaltation—by Works? Read More »
Question: How are temple covenants “manifestations of the Davidic Covenant” as you have taught in your presentations? Answer: Without needing to name covenants Latter-day Saints make in the temple, we know that they set persons on a course of purification and sanctification designed to enable them to enter into the presence of the Lord. So
Question about Temple Covenants and the Davidic Covenant Read More »
Whenever we see mention of “the Father” in the scriptures, particularly in an end-time context, that may signal a transition from the usual interaction of his people with Jehovah/Jesus to the Father’s intervention among his covenant people on the highest spiritual levels. Particularly is that evident in the Father’s manifesting his power to bring about
The Father’s End-Time Intervention in His Children’s Affairs Read More »
Question: Does Isaiah teach anything about making one’s calling and election sure as the prophet Joseph Smith does, who quotes 2 Peter 1:10–11? What does making sure your calling and election mean? Answer: Although different gospel dispensations and historical periods reveal different ways prophets and apostles teach theological concepts, the doctrines themselves remain constant throughout
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Among a series of “woes” or covenant curses the Lord pronounces on his end-time people are the consequences of their vain attachments to the things of this world: “Woe to those drawn to sin by vain attachments, hitched to transgression like a trailer, who think, Let him quickly hasten his work so we may see
How the Vain Things of the World Hold Us Back Read More »
Isaiah’s prophecies address two kinds of end-time Israel: first, people like the Jews, who have more or less maintained their ethnic integrity through centuries of exile; second, people who have assimilated into the nations, who are now identified as Gentiles. We might refer to these as “ethnic Israel,” on the one hand, and “assimilated Israel,”
Two Woman Figures in the Book of Isaiah Read More »
Question: According to Isaiah, what is the end-time role of the queens of the Gentiles in relation to their husbands? Are these numbered among the 144,000 servants of God also? Answer: Two spiritual categories of kings and queens operate on Isaiah’s spiritual ladder. One is Isaiah’s equivalent of the 144,000 servants of God in the
Question about the Queens of the Gentiles’ Ministering Role Read More »
From Isaiah’s covenant theology, Malachi’s prophecy of the hearts of the fathers turning to the children and the hearts of the children turning to their fathers before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord—lest he should come and smite the earth with a curse (Malachi 4:5–6)—defines the formula for obtaining God’s
Isaiah’s Context of Malachi’s Prophecy of Fathers and Children Read More »
Built into Isaiah’s prophecy—and indeed into all scripture—are two different ways one may interpret them. The first is superficial, presumptive, and conceited. The second is in-depth, inquiring, and unassuming. That is one way God divides people—“rendering void the knowledge of their sages and the intelligence of their wise men insignificant” (Isaiah 29:14)—when the truth finally
Reading in Context—An Interpretive Principle Read More »
Question: I recently watched a podcast that claimed the servant Jesus speaks of in 3 Nephi 21:8–10 is the prophet Joseph Smith. Why can’t the prophet Joseph Smith be the servant in Isaiah 52:13–15 of whom Jesus is speaking? Answer: There are two identified as Jehovah’s (or Jesus’) servant in the Book of Isaiah: (1)
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Paul and Silas’ missionary experience with the Jews in the synagogue at Berea reveals a telling contrast between the early saints who searched the scriptures daily to determine what God was saying in his Word and those who remained content to listen to the brethren’s preaching: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in
The Shift from Searching the Scriptures to Heeding the Pulpit Read More »
Nephi sees that “because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine”—which “pervert the right way of the Lord”—the endtime Gentiles “have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by
Following Jesus Christ, Not a Man Read More »
