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Nature of God: The Eternal State of Man

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I heard an explanation from a Trinitarian Christian describing what is meant by essence: God is of one essence. In simple terms his answer was that essence is the certain property essential for a thing to have in order for it to be what it is. The way that this idea of God as a unified essence in three persons, translated best to the way Latter-Day Saints view the unity of God, might be as simple as saying: The shared essence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; that property common to all three that is eternal (uncreated) and essential is intelligence. *what is intelligence? We do not know for certain, but we think it is best described as the essential consciousness of intelligent being. Let’s continue: What makes these three persons, who share this eternal essence (intelligence), definable separate persons, but united as one God (Godhead)? And what makes this unity God? Beyond essence there are more qualities and characteristics of unity, and differentiation, in the persons of...
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Latter-Day Saints Believe in the Most Merciful God in Christandom

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Latter-Day Saint Beliefs of Salvation ‪D&C 76 Salvation: Heaven, Eternal Life with God, Inside the Economy of God, Safe Within the Provision of His Order and Care, Kingdoms of Glory, Degrees of Glory, Realms of Many Mansions & “Faithful Over a Few Things, Made Them Rulers Over Many”, Joint Heirs with Christ. The Central Principle of Salvation: I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.‬ ‪ The Universal Salvation of Resurrection:‬ ‪For ALL [who have lived] shall be brought forth by the resurrection of the dead, through the triumph and the glory of the Lamb, who was slain, who was in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were made.‬ Outer Darkness: The Great Hell of Eternal Torment ‪Thus saith the Lord concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves through the...
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No Man Can Serve Two Masters

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Work no hypocrisy in our words and actions! The last principle under the 3rd Commandment to TAKE NOT THE NAME OF GOD IN VAIN is to work no hypocrisy in our words and actions. “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” — Matthew 5:13 “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” — Matthew 6:5-6 “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their rew...
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Endure to the End

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Be diligent in keeping his commandments, valiant in the testimony of Christ, and endure faithful to the end. The next principle in the study of the 3rd Commandment to take not the name of God in vain is to be diligent in in keeping his commandments, valiant in the testimony of Christ, and endure faithful to the end. Diligence: Consistent, valiant effort, especially in serving the Lord and obeying His word. Valiant: It is to be courageous and bold; to use all our strength, energy, and ability in warfare with the evil of this world; to fight the good fight of faith. “Be strong and of a good courage,” the Lord commanded Joshua, and then specified that this strength and courage consisted of meditating upon and observing to do all that is written in the law of the Lord. (See Josh. 1:6–9.) The great cornerstone of valiance in the cause of righteousness is obedience to the whole law of the whole gospel. “To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to believe in Christ and his gospel with unsha...
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Reverence God: The Fear of the Lord

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Reverence God: Do all things in the name of Christ and with an eye single to His glory. Reverence is a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration. Reverence involves a humbling of the self in respectful recognition of something perceived to be greater than one’s self. Reverence for God is associated with the fear of God, and humility before God. Reverence and fear of God is necessary if we are to keep the 3rd commandment to take not the name of God in vain. When we understand the true nature of this commandment, our reverence for God will cause us to be careful how we use the name of God and inspire us to do all we do in the name of Christ (D&C 46:31) with an eye single to his glory. (D&C 4:4-5)  Reverence for God changes how we pray. Everything about our prayers, how we address God and how we internalize the purpose of prayer changes when knowing and doing his will is at the center of our thoughts and desires. The more we experience the transformative ...
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Pray Always & Conquer

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Pray always and we may “come off conqueror” (D&C 5:10) over our natural man and the fiery darts of the advisory! In this section of the commandment “Take not the name of God in vain,” I am focusing on prayer as critical to repentance, receiving the Holy Spirit, overcoming temptation, always remembering Christ, and enduring faithful in the testimony of Christ until the end. Continual prayer is the way that we take on the whole armor of God and come off conquer. In the passage in  Ephesians 6  about the armor of God the passage ends with the words “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”  Here is the whole passage, which I think is an important study in trying to understand how to keep the 3rd commandment and take upon us the name of Christ with true effect. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not aga...
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Always Remember Him & His Spirit Will Be With You

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So far, the study of the 3rd Commandment, “Take not the name of God in Vain,” has required a summary of the principles of being born again through the covenant and ordinance of baptism, in which we initiate our taking upon us the name of Christ; followed by the commandment to repent so we can walk in a stare of grace and be changed through Christ. The next three principles, or commandments, that fall into the category of commandment three, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in Vain," deal with spiritual constancy and having our focus on Christ continually. What does it mean to always remember? How does it relate to being born again and repentance? What effect does it have? THE PRINCIPLE: When we always remember Christ, His love and sacrifice for us and our duty to him, then we can have his Spirit to be with us always. The Israelites were given daily, weekly, and yearly rituals steeped in symbolic meaning to help them to always remember God and to be pure before...
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