THEOLOGY

LECTURE NINE

On the doctrine of Christ

Of Charity

How Charity is Obtained

Charity and enmity—creation, fall, atonement, and the tree of life

1. In this lecture, we will take a brief look at the plan of salvation, including the creation, the fall, enmity, charity, atonement, and the Kingdom of God.
2. In the endowment ceremony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the participants are told, “You must consider yourselves as if you were respectively Adam and Eve.” This is excellent counsel as we consider the plan of salvation and the tree of life.
3. While there is much written on the creation, we will only review one small, but important, portion as we begin—that of the creation of man.
4. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”  Genesis 1:26-27
5. Adam and Eve were created “in the image of God” and after his “likeness”.
6. It was Heavenly Father’s intent and design to have us be in his image and after his likeness from the beginning.
7. When Adam and Eve were placed in the garden of Eden, we see that there are two trees specifically mentioned: one was the tree of knowledge of good and evil which contained the forbidden fruit; and the other was the tree of life.
8. “And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.” 2 Nephi 2:15
9. Our first parents were given few commandments; but amongst them was a commandment to not partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil—the forbidden fruit.
10. Satan, seeking to frustrate God’s plan and destroy the world, beguiled Eve, convincing her to partake of this fruit which she was commanded not to partake. She, in turn, convinced Adam to partake as well:
11. “And he [Satan] said unto the woman: Yea, hath God said—Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? … And the woman said…: We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; But of the fruit of the tree [the tree of knowledge of good and evil] which thou beholdest in the midst of the garden, God hath said—Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman: Ye shall not surely die; For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it became pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and also gave unto her husband with her, and he did eat.” Moses 4:7-12
12. The forbidden fruit was eaten.
13. Eyes were opened.
14. Nakedness was realized.
15. Having transgressed the commandment of God, Adam and Eve were judged. They were removed from the garden of Eden and sent forth into the lone and dreary world. Mortality, along with mortal strife, struggle, and eventual death, became their lot. But they were not alone in punishment—Satan, who beguiled Eve, also had a judgment pronounced upon him.
16. “And the Lord God said unto the serpent [Satan], Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:14-15
17. Enmity is the state, or feeling, of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.
18. Therefore, if God placed enmity between Satan and Eve, and between Satan’s seed and Eve’s seed, then this enmity was given as a protection so that Eve’s seed would be actively opposed to Satan and to his temptations.
19. Prior to this pronouncement, enmity did not exist in the world.
20. Satan and his followers have taken this enmity and twisted it to take the wealth of the world, to buy up and control nations, armies, religions, and other devices of oppression and control. Enmity’s proper use was to have us oppose evil. Instead, it has been co-opted by those who are evil and is used against us, causing inequity, division, anger, turmoil, wars, and the love of many to wax cold.
21. “…because of the fall our natures have become evil continually…” Ether 3:2
22. “For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.” Mosiah 16:3
23. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7
24.  But hope was not lost. A Savior was provided. An atonement would be performed for the sins of mankind. Adam and Eve were given a probationary period in which they could repent and return to God’s presence.
25. “And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth. And they have brought forth children; yea, even the family of all the earth. And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents. And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end. And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” 2 Nephi 2:19-25
26. Adam and Eve received instructions and were taught of the coming of their Savior, Jesus Christ—by the voice of the Lord and by ministering angels.
27. “And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence. And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord. And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me. And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth. Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore. And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will. And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.” Moses 5:4-10
28. Note that Adam, though shut out from God’s presence, did hear his voice and follow the commandments he was given. By following these commandments, he received more light and knowledge as he was taught the plan of salvation including the atonement of Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten of the Father. We see then that “in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam”! Adam was born of the Spirit and received his baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost.
29. Let us turn back to the judgments pronounced by God in the Garden.
30. One of God’s primary concerns was that the man would partake of the tree of life while yet unrepentant and unsanctified. Doing so would damn him as he would “live forever in [his] sins”.
31. “And I, the Lord God, said unto mine Only Begotten: Behold, the man is become as one of us to know good and evil; and now lest he put forth his hand and partake also of the tree of life, and eat and live forever, Therefore I, the Lord God, will send him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken; For as I, the Lord God, liveth, even so my words cannot return void, for as they go forth out of my mouth they must be fulfilled. So I drove out the man, and I placed at the east of the Garden of Eden, cherubim and a flaming sword, which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life.” Moses 4:28-31
32. Here we see that the “way” of the tree of life is “kept” or guarded.
33. As we have seen in the prior lectures, the tree of life is the love of God. Its fruit is sweet above all that is sweet, pure above all that is pure, and white above all that is white. It is, as Nephi said, the greatest gift of God. “Wherefore, the wicked are rejected from the righteous, and also from that tree of life, whose fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” 1 Nephi 15:36
34. The process we must follow is well represented in the symbols shown both in Lehi’s dream of the tree of life (Lecture Seven) and also in Alma’s comparison of the word to a seed which, when properly tended and nourished grows up into a tree of life (Lecture Eight).
35. This process is known as the doctrine of Christ. It was taught plainly by the Savior as recorded in the Book of Mormon shortly after his resurrection.
36. “Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine. And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me. And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God. And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost. And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one. And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things. And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.” 3 Nephi 11:31-40
37. We see it again plainly in 2 Nephi chapter 31.
38. “Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive. And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end.” 2 Nephi 31:17-21
39. It is important for us to understand the symbolism of the tree and its meaning. If we only think of the tree of life as being a physical tree in a physical garden that we might one day locate, figure out how to pass the angel with a flaming sword, and then partake of, we will never arrive and partake. However, when we expand the analogy to include both Lehi’s dream of the tree of life, as well as Alma’s seed which grows into a tree of life, the veil is parted, and we begin to see that the symbols presented to us in the story of our first parents have a deep and profound meaning to each one of us.  
40. The tree of life is within each of us. The cherubim with a flaming sword is within each of us. The way to the tree is within each of us. It is for each of us to find the way and partake of the fruit of the tree of life.
41. Christ truly taught “…for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21
42. Only one born of the Spirit, one baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, can find the way, passing by the cherubim wielding the flaming sword, arrive at the tree of life, and partake of the fruit.
43. In order to do this, we must fully embrace the doctrine of Christ. We must believe, repent, turn to Christ, humble ourselves, call upon him in mighty prayer, offer up all that we have and all that we are, including our broken hearts and contrite spirits, that we might receive the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, the comforter which testifies of the Father and of the Son.
44. When we receive this comforter, and follow the counsel and commandments (promptings) it supplies; then the way is open, then we are worthy to pass by the angel with the flaming sword (for we ourselves are filled with fire) who stands as a sentinel guarding the tree of life, and then we, having been tried and made clean, can receive and partake of the fruit of the tree of life.
45. We are filled with hope and with charity.
46. Charity, or perfect love, casteth out fear. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
47. Hope overcomes judgement and jealousy.
48. Charity overcomes enmity and fear.
49. Only by bringing forth the kingdom of God from within can we establish the kingdom of God without.
50. “Now, as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion. Behold, I speak unto you, and also to all those who have desires to bring forth and establish this work; And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care.” D&C 12:6-8
51. Contrast this with the Lord’s counsel on why Zion was not established in Joseph Smith’s day:
52. “For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified. Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances. They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; therefore, the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble.” D&C 101:5-7
53. Jarrings, contentions, envyings, strifes, lusts, covetous desires—these are all the results of enmity being twisted by Satan and his followers.
54. Charity overcomes enmity.
55. Perfect love casteth out fear.
56. The kingdom of God is within.
57. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”  1 John 3:1-3
58. Our divine purpose and design is attained through receiving what God wishes to bestow upon us—His pure love, charity.
59. When God created man—male and female they were made in his image and after his likeness.
60. When man fell, and enmity entered the world, man became carnal, sensual, and devilish—full of all manner of iniquity and unable to stand in or bear God’s presence for “…no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom…” 3 Nephi 27:19
61. But by and through the atonement of the Savior, Jesus Christ, a way was provided for all mankind, even all who will, to press forward, embrace His doctrine, and receive the love of God.
62. Only by and through this way, obtaining the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, pressing forward and partaking of the tree of life, can we become what we were created to be once again—beings who are the image and likeness of our Father in Heaven.