The Great and Marvelous Work

Considering this pending season in which the Gentiles' "folly and their abominations shall be manifest in the eyes of all people," (D&C 35:7), it is time to take careful stock as to our foundation. Relying on instututional religion with its built-in hype and smugness about "how well we are doing," must be replaced by a recollection of Jesus Christ's injunction to "let every man stand or fall, by himself, and not for another; or not trusting another. Seek unto my Father, and it shall be done in that very moment what ye shall ask, if ye ask in faith, believing that ye shall." (JST-Mark 9:44.) Moroni reitterates this injunction, saying, "Ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him." (Morm. 9:27.) Jesus Christ and his gospel is the only sure foundation upon which to build. Meeting together oft as the "body of Christ" to hear the word of the Lord, strengthen one another, pray on behalf of the unbeliever, partake of the Lord's supper, is indeed a valuable and even inseparable part of pressing forward in the path after having come unto Christ by entering in at the gate. However, to actually rely on an instutuion rather than on Jesus Christ alone is to build on a sandy foundation. The promise of salvation is based on the foundation, which is Christ, not on the institution. The only spiritually legitimate definition of the Lord's church, given by himself, is "Whosever repenteth and cometh unto me." (D&C 10:67.) "Whosoever declareth more or less than this," he continued, "the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church." (D&C 10:68.) Therefore, approaching this subject of what Christ's church is, and how we come to Him through his gospel, is extremely important and must be approached with the greatest sobriety. Gratefully, the scriptures are not only extensive in their coverage of the subject, but they are also extremely consistent, portraying the same message in the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. The modern tools given to us such as computerized text of the scriptures for searching, comparison, and writing; topical guides; footnotes; commentaries; all assist in compiling a clear and glorious picture.

"And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them." (D&C 10:69.)

That the Gates of Hell may Have No Power

As we therefore approach this glorious transition, in order that we might be numbered among those who are purified and know the Lord and not be among those who are cut off, it would be well for us to consider how we might ensure that we are built upon this sure stone, making it our foundation, for it is the only safe foundation. (Jacob 4:15,16.) Pertaining to this final transition time of the Lord setting his hand again the second time, again the Book of Mormon serves as the keystone in bringing us to a knowledge of the fullness of the gospel, teaching the doctrine of Christ in plainness. (D&C 20:9; 10:52,62,63.) By hearkening to its words we can throw off the chains of condemnation that have shackled us because of treating lightly those things which we have received (3 Ne. 26:9,10; D&C 84:54-57), rather than mocking and having this talent which we have received taken away from us (Ether 12:35; 2 Ne. 28:30). As we "return to the Lord from whence [we] have fallen," the "curses of God" with which we have been bound in our "scattered condition among the Gentiles" will be removed from our necks. (D&C 113:10.) False traditions will give way to the revelations of God, and the heart being made new will finally sustain the new wine that will accompany the new heaven and the new earth, resounding with the new song. The Lord will have a purified people, and it is our choice as to whether we will be written in the Lamb's book of life, having built upon His rock, having a mighty change of heart, or if we will be numbered among the hypocrites who draw near him with their lips but whose hearts are far from him. (Isa. 29:13.) The great sifting (2 Ne. 30:10; 63:54; 86:7; Joel 3:13,14) may find many, even of the righteous, who fall away (1 Ne. 8:28; Hel. 6:38), having placed their trust in the arm of flesh (2 Ne. 28:14,21,31), going with the philosophies of men rather than with the doctrine of Christ (D&C 10:67-69; Isa. 66:2,3c,4; 2 Thes. 2:10-12), chosing not to place their trust exclusively in the true and living God (JST-Mark 9:40-48; 9:48 = Isa. 66:24; Ezk. 14), even Jesus Christ, the rock of our salvation, upon whom the only true church is founded (3 Ne. 27:8-11), against which the devil will not prevail (JST-Rev. 12:7). "Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Hel. 5:12.)

Words Around "Cross"

The words before and after "cross" in Hebrew, Greek, and English all testify of the importance of looking to the cross of Jesus Christ to establish our sure foundation whereby we will not be shaken.

"Would God that ALL the Lord's People Were PROPHETS"

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