I met some guys whose job it is to break down a Buddhist temple.
They let me take a turn with the sledge hammer.
Dream come true:
Fishin'
Models:
Buds:
I've been thinking a lot about the Plan of Salvation this week. How cool is it that we know His plan! I try to review it frequently in order to not take it for granted. Here is my shot at explaining the basics of the plan:
Before we came to this Earth we lived in heaven with Heavenly Father. We did not yet have physical bodies, just spirits. God created a plan for us to have happiness and glory like Him. His plan is for us to come to Earth, receive a body, learn and grow, and return to live with Him in Heaven.
God created the Earth and placed on it the first two humans, Adam and Eve. God gave them commandments and taught them the consequences of breaking them. God gave them agency to choose and make decisions. Adam and Eve broke God's commandment and received the consequences including inevitable death, the ability to sin, and the ability to have children. From our first parents, Adam and Eve, we receive these characteristics as well.
On Earth our purpose is to learn and grow. Here we prepare to return to live with God in heaven. Two major obstacles, however, keep us from living with Him again: death and sin. Without a physical body we could not have full happiness like our Father. And because we sin we cannot be worthy to live in His presence. Without a Savior our lives are hopeless.
Jesus Christ is our savior. He volunteered to be our savior. Through his act of resurrection and his suffering for our sins we will all be resurrected and we can be cleansed from sin. Our physical resurrection is a free gift from Him. To be cleansed from sin, however, we must follow his teachings.
Despite the Resurrection, we all must die. Our spirit and body will separate for a time. At death our spirits will go to the spirit world. Here, followers of Jesus will teach those spirits that did not have the opportunity to accept Christ's gospel on Earth.
After some time, our spirits and bodies will unite through the Resurrection. We will be brought back to the presence of God to be judged according to our works and desires. God will judge us justly and mercifully and assign us to one of three kingdoms. The highest kingdom, called Celestial, is where God is. If we follow Christ and are cleansed from sin we will be able to live with Him in the Celestial Kingdom. We will also live with those of our family who qualify. Those who choose not to follow Christ will be in one of the other two kingdoms.
Knowing this plan, it is our duty in this life to choose to follow Christ. We must live our life the way He wants us to live in order to be cleansed from sin and return to Heavenly Father.
I know that this plan is true. God, in His perfect knowledge and love created it for us.
I hope we can all do what is necessary to live eternally with Him.
Love,
Elder Osborne