What Is The Purpose of My Life?

In the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi Chapter 9 is one of the most enlightening chapters of all of scripture.  In this chapter, Nephi’s younger brother Jacob teaches the people about the purpose of our life on earth and how it fits into our Heavenly Father’s eternal plan sometimes called the Plan of Salvation.

He starts with teaching about God’s covenant with the House of Israel and then goes on to teach the people what happens to us before, during, and after this life.  He continues to teach about the fall of man (Adam and Eve), the atonement of Jesus Christ (his suffering and crucifixion), what happens to our spirits at death, the resurrection of both those that are righteous and the unrighteous, the judgment, and the eternal state of those after the judgment.

So many people go through this life, not understanding their purpose in this life.  So many people wish that life came with an “instruction manual.”  So many people get caught up in the rat race of life searching for those things that are constantly just out of reach – more wealth, more power, more time, more influence, or more happiness.   This chapter in 2 Nephi is an instruction manual for life.  This chapter is full of answers to many people’s most profound questions.  This chapter gives us a clear picture of where our priorities need to be.

This chapter is summed up in this graphic image by Christy Gomm.

Pre-Mortal Life – We lived with God as spirits before we were born.

Birth – Through birth, our spirits joined our body as we came to this earth.

Earth Life – This time on earth is a test; an opportunity to prove ourselves.

Death – At death our mortal body goes into a grave, our spirit goes to the Spirit World where we await the resurrection.

Spirit World – In the Spirit World, we either go to Paradise if we have been righteous on this earth or to Spirit Prison if we have not been righteous.  This is a time of learning and growing.

Resurrection – EVERYONE will be resurrected whether they have been righteous or not.  The resurrection is when the body (a perfected body) and our spirit is reunited.

Judgment – After the resurrection, we will have a judgment based upon our choices on earth and in the Spirit World.  At the judgment we will be assigned a Kingdom of Glory.

Kingdoms of Glory – There are three kingdoms of glory – the Celestial Kingdom where God Himself dwells and reigns.  The Terrestrial Kingdom where Jesus Christ dwells and reigns.  Then there is the Telestial Kingdom which is a heavenly place but is not in the presence of Christ or God.

By reading this chapter of scripture along with its cross references, we can learn quite a lot of details about this Plan of Salvation and the purpose of our life here on earth.

Patterns of Light

In this week’s scripture study, we focused on 1 Nephi chapters 15-22.  In chapter 18, Nephi is directed by God to build ship.  He not only has never built a ship before, but he also is in a situation where he does not have access to tools and materials so the task is quite daunting.  Rather than shying away, however, Nephi shows his faith by asking for guidance beginning with each small step along the way. Eventually being guided with each step along the way he is able to accomplish this monumental task.

I believe we all at some point have felt that we were inspired, directed, or uplifted by a guiding thought, a sudden crystal clearer understanding, or other experiences that we feel are from a greater power outside of ourselves.  Often we will refer to these moments as following our conscience, having an “Aha!” moment, being touched by an inspirational message, or as receiving messages from loved ones that have passed. I love how Elder David A. Bednar gives us a clearer understanding of these moments, where they come from, and how we can open ourselves to receive more guidance, support, and direction from God in our lives.

Patterns of Light: The Light of Christ

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-010-patterns-of-light-the-light-of-christ?lang=eng

Video Transcript:  “If I had to use one word to describe light, I would use the radiance. There's a brilliance and a sense of direction that comes from light. If you are in a totally pitch dark room, and there's the smallest element of light, then that light chases darkness. But the darkness cannot overrule the light.
So associated with light is a warmth. Associated with darkness is a coolness that I think is very significant.
The Light of Christ is what many people would call a conscience. But it's more than a psychological effect the takes place within people. Someone can be riding on a bus, see someone in distress and feel a compassion and a desire to assist and serve this person.
Many people would say, no, that's just natural behavior. But it's more. It is the influence of God that pulls us, that influences us to be good and to do good. Every person, ever born, in history, now, in the future, is influenced by the Light of Christ for goodness.
As we yield to that influence to do good and become good, then the Light of Christ increases within us. As we disobey, light is decreased and can ultimately be diminished.”  ~ Elder David A. Bednar
I have experienced this light in my own life.  I have learned that every good thought, every good intention, every good action in our life comes from the influence of God and every time we act on these good thoughts and good intentions, it brings us closer to God and gives us more light and strength to continue to do good.  I have also had times in my life where I neglected to act upon these good thoughts and intentions and I have experience my light diminishing and more and more darkness coming into my life.  I can look back now and see why that happened and by being more consistent in acting on the good thoughts and intentions in my life, I continue to gain more light and understanding.

Patterns of Light: Discerning Light

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-011-patterns-of-light-discerning-light?lang=eng

Video Transcript: “People sometimes will question whether it's inspiration or whether it's my own thought. We have to act then we find out if it's coming from me or if it's the power of God. So for example, you may have an occasion where you fail to say your morning prayers. And you, all of a sudden, hear the voice of your mother who, when you were a small boy, would say remember to say your morning prayers, remember to say your evening prayers. But why would God send an angel to deliver that message to you when the Holy Ghost can bring back to you the recollection or the remembrance of your angel mother reminding you to pray? The effect is the same.
Everything that invites and entices us to do good and to be good comes from God. People might ask well, why not make it easy to recognize all the time? I would suggest that the simple answer is because God trusts us. He shouldn't have to dramatically shake us to get our attention.
Those who are baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints receive, by the laying on of hands, the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now any person anywhere in the world can and is influenced by the Holy Ghost, but after baptism by proper authority one receives this ordinance of the Holy Ghost. That gift, as it operates in our life as we seek can ask, invites inspiration from Heaven and revelation.”            ~ Elder David A. Bednar

In my life, I have often wondered how to discern my own thoughts from personal guidance from God.  This video is helpful to me to realize that as long as the thought is to do something good or uplifting then I don’t need to worry about whether it is my own thought or not.  If I just follow through with any good or uplifting thoughts that I have then I will be a better person for it, receive more light, and be brought closer to God for acting on it.  Over time, I have experienced this greater light and gradually found it easier to discern my own thoughts from the inspiration from God.

Patterns of Light: Spirit of Revelation

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-01-012-patterns-of-light-spirit-of-revelation?lang=eng

“When sons and daughters of God communicate with Him, we call it prayer. When He communicates with us, it comes in a variety of methods, means, or channels. We're talking about the patterns whereby God communicates with his children here upon the earth.
Revelation is communication from God to his children here upon the earth. Sometimes, those messages come quickly and rather dramatically. I've compared that to a light being turned on in a dark room. Where very suddenly, the darkness is expelled, and you can see everything in the room quite clearly and brilliantly. I would suggest that that pattern of receiving messages from God is more rare than common.
A second pattern is when the light comes gradually, much like the rising of the sun. You can discern the increase of light on horizon but never all at once. This pattern of revelation, I would suggest, is more common than rare.
Sometimes, receiving inspiration is like a foggy day. There's enough light that you can tell it's not darkness anymore. It's not night. But it's not brilliantly illuminated. You can see just enough to take a few steps ahead into the cloudiness. I don't know about other people, but it occurs that way for me all the time. There's enough to just take a few steps. And then the light continues to help me see just far enough ahead that I can continue to press forward.
As we follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, He is the light. One of his names is "the Light." As we follow His example and live according to His teachings, there is illumination for all the aspects of our life. To the degree that we reject Him and reject His teachings, we're on our own. I'd much prefer to follow His light. I know when there is a power beyond my own that comes from God to me and through me, which is the spirit of revelation.” ~ Elder David A. Bednar

In my experience, I have received guidance and revelation mostly in the form of a gradual light.  As I feel confident in moving forward with a decision, I often find that the way before me begins to unfold as I take a few small steps forward.  I like Elder Bednar’s analogy of taking a few steps in the fog.  I have felt that scenario many times in my life as I was making decisions.  Sometimes, it’s easy to avoid new things in our life because we do not have a clear vision of the future.  I have found that as long as I have a clear vision of the next step, it is not necessary to see the future or final outcome.  It is when I take action by taking that first step and the vision begins to open up a bit more and a bit more.  Eventually, I can look back on that experience and see the valuable reasons why I was guided in that direction.

I believe that we all have the ability to be guided in our lives if we can just take small steps in following the goodness that is within us and the light and understanding we receive from God.