Scriptural Texts:

"The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

"For O, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace; yea, even the Lord who has redeemed his people; for were it not for the redemption which he had made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world; I say; were it not for this, all mankind must have perished." (Mosiah 8:51-53)

"If you keep my commandments and endure to the end, you shall have eternal life; which is the greatest of all the gifts of God." (Doctrine & Covenants 12:3b)

Sermon:

I had been preparing a sermon based on some of the material I had left over from my class I taught at reunion. But a couple of Wednesday nights ago, at prayer meeting, when Patrick was in charge, he centered our thoughts on the scriptures that tells us to seek or covet the best gifts. So I am going to talk on the subject, "What are the best of the gifts?" I think and the scriptures seem to verify that God’s best gift is salvation, that is: eternal life.

When we buy a gift or give a gift to someone, our companions, children, parents, or friends, we want to give them something they will like and appreciate; something that they need and can use. But that isn’t always the case. Sometimes we purchase a gift for someone that we think they need or want them to have. We don’t always know what they like or dislike, or what they need and desire. Have you ever received a gift that you didn’t like or need? Wives, instead of receiving flowers, candy, jewelry, or perfume, you may have gotten a new mop, or pots and pans, or even a skill saw. Maybe your husband said, "If you don’t really want that, I would be glad to have it."

God doesn’t work that way. He knows what we need. He knows what we want and he gives us gifts meant to meet our needs and just wants. But sometimes, because of our selfish desires, we don’t see the benefit of those gifts. Sometimes, we don’t even see the gifts at all.

Scriptures tell us to seek for and even covet the best gifts — the gifts of the spirit — not those like a big house, a fancy car, the finest clothes and jewelry, but the gifts of healing, dreams, visions, miracles, tongues, interpretation of tongues, etc. And there are other gifts that perhaps aren’t listed with these, like preaching, and teaching that we should seek.

The scriptures tell us that the gifts are for edifying the body of Christ till we come to that perfection. They are given that our faith may increase, that we may draw closer to one another, and that God may draw us closer to him.

All of these things that we talk about and preach about should first of all bring praise, honor, and glory to God. If we are successful in that, he will strengthen us, causing us to grow in the stature of Christ until we become joint heirs, even the sons and daughters of God. This is the path to salvation, God’s best gift. There is no other way neither name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God; so "when he shall appear, we shall be like him" (1 J 3:2).

There is a God, a being in whom is all power, knowledge, wisdom and goodness — the creator of all things visible and invisible, who upholdeth all things by the word of his power. This truth stands revealed in his word and is testified of through the successive ages by men who have lived in such harmony with his will as to enable them to receive this testimony. Moses was privileged to receive a knowledge of this truth, and to record it for the instruction of future generations. And here is the testimony which God commanded him to write: "I am the beginning and the end; the Almighty God. By mine Only Begotten I created these things. Yea, in the beginning I created the heaven, and the earth upon which thou standest" (Genesis 1:12-3). But Moses was not the first to whom this revelation had been given. Adam, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, all received the knowledge long before Moses’ day, telling them that all things were created by and through this being. This knowledge was also received by many after Moses’ day. David says, "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth" (Ps 33:6). Isaiah testified that he "saw the Lord sitting upon a throne," and then declared, "Thus saith God, the Lord, he that created the heavens and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein…I am the Lord" (Is 42:5,8).

Job also learned that Omnipotence laid the foundation of the earth. Afterward the revelation, he declared, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee" (Job 42:5). So, Adam, Enoch, Abraham, Jacob, Isaiah, and Job all saw God. So did Moses and Solomon. Solomon uttered his praise as follows: "The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, by understanding hath he established the heavens" (Pr 3:19). The prophet Nehemiah says, "Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all the host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all: and the host of heaven worshipeth thee" (Neh 9:6). The New Testament continues the evidence: "In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made which was made" (Jn 1:1-3). Peter declares: "The heavens and the earth standing in the water and out of the water, were created by the word of God" (2 P 3:5). Paul says, "By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominioins, principalities or powers; all things were created by him, and for him; and he is before all things, and by him all things consist" (Col 1:16).

The same truth was made known upon the Western Continent. Lehi exclaims, "Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth" (1 N 1:13). Nephi testifies: "Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it" (1 N 5:126-127). And quoting Isaiah, "Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called; for I am he; I am the first and the last. Mine hand hath also laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens" (1 N 6:19-20). Lehi says, "There is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them is: both things to act, and things to be acted upon; and to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man" (2 N 1:95). Jacob declares: "For behold, by the power of the word man came upon the face of the earth; which earth was created by the power of his word" (Jac 3:12). Thus we see the agreement of these two records that God has given to man. I have only selected a few out of the many testimonies in each of them, but they are sufficient to show how well these scriptures agree. The only revelation given to man in these days for the ushering in of the dispensation of the fullness of times was given in answer to prayer to a young boy, Joseph Smith, who was earnestly seeking to know the path that leads to eternal life.

Reason tells us that this earth could not spring from nothing. Either it eternally existed in its present form or it is the work of some formative power producing it out of matter that already existed. The fact that there is evidence of arrangement and design in its organic structure, is evidence of a purpose. For instance, its rocky rills are clothed with generous mold; this mold is composed of very different elements; and these elements are so harmoniously combined as to produce an infinite variety of vegetable life. And this vegetable matter that springs from the face of the earth is capable not only of sustaining a higher order of existence, but of contributing almost infinite pleasure to intelligent beings and affording them the sustenance necessary to sustain their physical frames. In every blade of grass, in every leaf, in every flower and tree, in fact in every species of vegetation, small or great, the most beautiful order is visible, and these in their turn contribute to the support to animal life.

When we come to the animal creation we find also a vast variety of species, each having a particular part to play in the economy of creation and, so far as human observation has reached, all and every species fills some important part and place in that economy. Here, then, is another evidence of design and arrangement.

These facts, so manifest to the observant mind, are in perfect harmony with the revealed history of creation; "And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten; male and female created I them. And I, God, blessed them, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And I, God, said unto man, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of the earth; and every tree in the which shall be the fruit of a tree, yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat" (Gen 1:29-31). "For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it, he created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited" (Is 49:18). Isaiah said, "I have made the earth and created man upon it" (Is 45:12). The Book of Mormon perfectly agrees with this testimony: "Behold the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it" (1 N 5:126-127).

Someone from long ago asked "Canst thou by searching find out God" (Job 11:7). The Savior answers, "No man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and they to whom the Son will reveal himself; they shall see the Father also" (Mat 11:28). The apostle revealed, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" (1 Cor 2:9-10), adding, "The things of God knoweth no man, except he has the spirit of God" (1 Cor 1:11). The whole history of man seals the truth of these scriptures. Without revelation from God, man has been utterly at a loss to find him out or to know God’s purposes.

It becomes our duty to search out the great purpose for which God created man. It is in vain to look to man for this revelation: "The world by [its] wisdom knew not God" (1 Cor 1:21). Hence we must look to God alone for the revelation of his eternal purpose. Let us search that word, not with prying curiosity, not desiring to show our smartness in discovering something new, but with reverent hearts seeking to understand better our relation to him, his will in us, and the duties and the responsibilities that devolve upon us; that we may be better fitted for the business of life, namely, the service of God.

"The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass, and as I have purposed so shall it stand: (Is 14:24). "For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And his hand is stretched out and who shall turn it back?" (Is 14:27). I am God, and there is none else; I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure" (Is 46:10).

These scriptures are a guarantee that whatever the Almighty hath decreed shall come to pass. Hence, if we can discover his purpose in the creation of man, we may rest assured it will be fulfilled. John heard the four and twenty elders saying; "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Rev 4:11).

The apostle Paul says, "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to the gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret since the world began" (Rom 16:25). This mystery undoubtedly is the eternal purpose for which we are searching.

If our search is limited to only this life, then our inquiry is a deception. Our effort is mere mockery and produces nothing but vanity. Paul declared, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (1 Cor 15:19). But, praise to our great Creator, the mystery has been revealed; his purpose has been made known, and we can live "in hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie promised before the world began" (Titus 1:2). Hence, we are not only his creatures and the subjects of his care here on earth, but we are saved and called "with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Tim 1:9-10).

Now the scripture says, "By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin, and so death hath passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom 5:12). Let us consider this gift — its infinite value, its boundless extent, its measureless greatness, together with its never-ceasing enjoyment. Can we hope to merit it? "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Is 64:6) when compared with it. What can we give in exchange for it? We are "wretched, miserable, poor and blind and naked" (Rev 3:17). What work can we do that shall be a just return for this priceless treasure? We can not do more than God has commanded, nor more than is our duty. For Jesus said, "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was no more than our duty to do" (Lu 17:10). Let all the works of righteousness that have been performed by the church of the Firstborn in all the ages, and all that have received the approving seal of the august Judge be placed in the balance of eternal justice along side the gift of eternal life. Compare all the best works of the saints with "the inheritance of the saints in light" (Col 1:12); for God has decreed, "He that overcometh shall inherit" (Rev 21:7). Compare the best gifts offered in this world with "the things that God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Cor 2:9). Compare the highest human exaltation with the "crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Tim 4:8). Compare the best temporal reward with just being "joint heirs with Christ" (Rom 8:17). Compare every grand aspect of acceptance and fellowship found in any earthly society with the glory, and salvation, and honor, and immortality, and eternal life — "the thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers" (Col 1:16) created by the Almighty — that are the free gift of God.

With such a sublime and glorious gift that awaits the holy, let us consider the means of preparation for eternal life. The scriptures say, "Be ye holy, for I am holy" (1 P 1:16). "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb 12:14). "No unclean thing can dwell with God" (1 N 3:35). "There can not any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God" (1 N 4:58). "Ye must practice virtue and holiness before me continually. Even so, Amen" (D&C 46:9b). "No man is possessor of all things, except he be purified and cleansed from all sin" (D&C 50:6e).

Contrary to the views of the so-called "orthodox clergy," there is a work for us to do. They say, "Only believe, and the work is done," adding, "God will do it all, if you will trust in him." But the whole tenor of God’s word exposes the lie in their theory. It was disobedience to God’s law that involved our race in dreadful ruin and that drove man from the paradise of life to the rule and regions of death. If the unchanging and eternal justice of God would not brook rebellion in the beginning, are we justified in supposing it will wink at it now? Faith is in deed an indispensable factor in the preparation for eternal life, but it is not the only one that is essential to the work. There are other principles equally essential with that. It is very inconsistent to claim the absolute necessity of obedience to the demand to believe, "because it is an injunction of the Most High," and at the same time to deny the necessity of obedience to other commands which he has given. The fact is, those who urge that salvation comes by faith only do not understand the true nature of faith, or they would know it could not stand alone in the economy of salvation. It must lead to and produce obedience to every duty enjoined; but without faith no duty would be recognized, nor any progress made in divine life. James says, "Devils also believe and tremble" (Jam 2:19), and declares that "faith without works is dead, being alone" (Jam 2:18). In so doing he challenges such "believers" to show their faith without their works, and says, "I will show thee my faith by my works" (Jam 2:15). He also declares, "By works was faith made perfect" (Jam 2:21). In fact, those who clamor for faith alone would not be willing to say none need to repent of their sins. They would urge the necessity of repentance. This fact alone destroys their theory of "faith alone." Indeed, repentance is a great and, in many instances, a difficult work; for it requires a strong, enlightened, all-absorbing faith to lead to repentance. This repentance is essential to the perfecting of faith.

While all must acknowledge that an intelligent, trusting faith in God and Christ is an all important and indispensable factor in the means of preparation for eternal life — for "without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb 11:6) — it is equally certain that faith must embrace every word that the scriptures have revealed to us; for the Savior says, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that procedeth out of the mouth of God" (Mat 4:4).

The true believer accepts his every word, bows to every ordinance, obeys every command, and implicitly trusts his every promise. Then, and then alone, can he prove that the gospel "is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom 1:16).

When Jesus commissioned his apostles to preach this gospel to all nations, his authorization included, "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Mat 28:19). What had he commanded them? There are various commands and the fact that Christ enjoined upon them to teach the observance of "all things whatsoever I have commanded you," is evidence that obedience is required, without reserve, to every command. Just as the sacrifice of sheep and oxen could not excuse Saul, the king of Israel, for his disobedience to God’s command, neither will money, prayers, and tears, excuse us from obedience to any command found in the gospel of salvation. It is written, "Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so to do, he shall in no wise be saved in the kingdom of heaven" (Mat 5:21).

When the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness and serpent-bitten Israel was bidden to look there on that they should live, was that not a strange and unheard of method of curing those deadly wounds? Yet, was it not effective? Was it the brass, the writhing form of the serpent, or the pleading look of the stricken wretches that gave the healing power? It was neither of these. It was not all of these combined and, yet, without all these, Israel, that had been bitten, must have perished. The healing power and virtue was in God. When afflicted Israel complied with his will, God was found true to his word and obedient Israel lived.

"Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up" (Jn 3:14). What for? The human race has been bitten by "that old serpent, called the devil" (Rev 12:8) and it must have perished unless the antidote had been found. Christ is that antidote. He was lifted up "that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life" (Jn 3:16). How shall we believe? By merely accepting his Godhead, acknowledging him as the redeemer, and claiming an interest in his blood, while we reject his word, make light of his ordinances, doubt the efficacy of his promise, and, then, seek to be healed in our own way and by means of our own devising? If we seek eternal life in this way, we shall seek in vain. The sting of the serpent will as assuredly work to our destruction as did those stings of the fiery, flying reptiles in the wilderness work the destruction of many who were then bitten. Indeed, we are to believe on Jesus as the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world, the Messiah who was to come; and, in believing thus, we cannot doubt his word, ignore his ordinances, nor treat his promises with contempt. Instead, we shall be found implicitly receiving and obeying his every word, submitting to all his ordinances, and trusting in all his gracious promises. We shall be "doers of the word, and not hearers only" (Jam 1:22). When we find him saying, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Lu 13:3) and "Cease to do evil; learn to do well" (Is 1:16-17), we ought, then, to "put off the old man with his deeds, and . . . put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him" (Col 3:9).

The skeptical mind reasons, "If it was the purpose of the Almighty to give man eternal life, why did He not create him in such perfection that it would have been impossible for him to sin and thus forfeit his right to the proffered gift? Surely, if the Creator was infinite in love, knowledge, wisdom and power, his foreknowledge would have seen the absolute necessity of such perfection, or infallibility, his love would have suggested the propriety of such condition, his wisdom would have been equal to the necessary arrangement, and his omnipotence ample to the completion of His eternal purpose without the intervention and sacrifice of a crucified Redeemer. The fact that he did not so endow man, is evidence, either that he did not possess all knowledge, wisdom, and power, or that he was deficient in the boasted fullness of that love which is claimed for him in the Bible, and that the gift of eternal life was the result of an after thought that occurred to the Creator, after man was created, or else that man is not the result of the work of a personal Creator. If the gift of eternal life was not the result of an after thought, then the Creator was evidently subject to the necessity of experience and observation as a means of gaining knowledge, and hence on the same level with the creature in that sense. This would destroy his claim to the Godhead, and at the same time render the hope of man, in his dependence upon such a being entirely abortive." Such reasoning only fulfills the scripture, "the fool who hath said in his heart, There is no God" (Ps 53:1).

The great mystery of the purpose of God in the creation of man has been revealed. It plainly declares the cause and the means by which the fall was brought about and it reveals the means of redemption through Jesus Christ. "Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered" (2 N 71-72).

The experience of God’s children in all ages demonstrates the fact that the pathway of the saint is beset with great and many snares, trials, difficulties and temptations which they would be unable to cope with were there not some divine means provided to strengthen and encourage them in the life-long struggle. Jesus said; "In the world ye shall have tribulation" (Jn 16:33). " If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you" (Jn 15:19). "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me" (Mat 16:25). John saw in vision that the blood-washed throng must gain their white robes and victorious palms through great tribulation (Rev 7:14). Apostle Paul observed, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph 6:12).

Who among the frail creatures of the dust can hope to prevail, unassisted by divine power against such terrible odds? Even the Captain of our salvation needed divine aid. His prayers were no empty unmeaning utterances offered for mere example’s sake. They were the earnest pleading desires of his heart, evidencing the urgent necessity for aid. And that aid came. "And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him" (Lu 22:43). Revived from his bloody agony, he petitioned the holy Father on our behalf. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" (Jn 17:20).

We have irrefutable assurance that our Savior, who redeemed us by his death on the cross and is now the mediator of the new covenant, also makes intercession on our behalf, pleading our plight before his Father, the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth. He says, "Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name that they may come unto me and have everlasting life" (D&C 45:1c-e). Our heavenly Advocate has promised to hear our prayers. He has promised to give the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost dispenses spiritual gifts and these gifts are absolutely essential to bring men and women up to the standard of perfection as it is found in Jesus Christ. If this perfection could be reached without these gifts, would they have been given? If the church in that day could not attain to it without them, can we?

The Latter Day Saints accept all the promises of God in the sense in which they are given and thus sustain the infinitely loving, generous, and unchangeable character which God has been pleased to reveal of himself and which has been testified to by the good and pure of all ages. And to this view of the divine promises, the heavens have given their sanction. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit bears abundant record to the truthfulness of the promises in a thousand different ways to the believers in Jesus Christ. There is, therefore, no room left for doubt. The promises of God are yea and amen.

One of the purposes served by miracles is the perpetuation of the knowledge that there is a God and that he beareth rule over all the earth. Without the Holy Ghost, no man can know that Jesus is the Christ; and without that knowledge eternal life cannot come unto man. In this way, the Holy Ghost as it dwells in each saint and nourishes them with spiritual manifestations is our inner evidence of eternal life if we but endure in this glorious gospel.

Would you reach this divine excellence and thus permit the eternal purpose of God to be fulfilled in you — namely, that you might have eternal life through Jesus Christ his Son? If so, cast off the vain and empty creeds of men. Despise no longer the means ordained of heaven. Seek the divine aids which Christ set in his church — that by believing in him, repenting of your sins, and being baptized for their remission, you might have your garments washed white through the blood of the great Redeemer of the world. Then seek the baptism of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands and fervent prayer. If you do, you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, for the promise is unto all. And having received this divine seal of your adoption, endure faithfully to the end. For it is written: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev 2:10).