Man became sensual, devilish and fallen after transgressing the commandment to love, serve, and worship God (18-20)

. This implies that the idea that humans are naturally evil or wicked is false; in other words, sin is not an integral part of humanity and can be abandoned at will

. Moses 5:13 - men became carnal, sensual, and devilish after they loved Satan more than God

. Once people love Satan more than God, they try to institutionalize standards, philosophies, organizations, and religions that deny (i.e. bracket, put aside) the Lord, his commandments, doctrines and ordinances, kingdom, and church
. How can we reverse this process? See Mosiah 3:19

"Everlasting covenant was made between three personages before the organization of this earth, and relates to their dispensation of things to men on the earth; these personages, according to Abraham's record, are called God the first, the Creator; God the second, the Redeemer; and God the third, the witness or Testator."  (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.190)

. The nature of their unity: each one of them is as much a God as the other two, and they act following a perfect division of responsibilities

. The difference between them: one became the Son by receiving an earthly body through the first member of the Godhead; and the third member still does not have a body of flesh and bones

Justification

"An act that is justified by the Spirit is one that is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, or in other words, ratified and approved by the Holy Ghost. This law of justification is the provision the Lord has placed in the gospel to assure that no unrighteous performance will be binding on earth and in heaven, and that no person will add to his position or glory in the hereafter by gaining an unearned blessing.

As with all other doctrines of salvation, justification is available because of the atoning sacrifice of Christ, but it becomes operative in the life of an individual only on conditions of personal righteousness."    (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p.408)

Sanctification

"To be sanctified is to become clean, pure, and spotless; to be free from the blood and sins of the world; to become a new creature of the Holy Ghost, one whose body has been renewed by the rebirth of the Spirit. Sanctification is a state of saintliness, a state attained only by conformity to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. The plan of salvation is the system and means provided whereby men may sanctify their souls and thereby become worthy of a celestial inheritance."   (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p.675-676)

"We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him.

But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment: he must have been instructed in the government and laws of that kingdom by proper degrees, until his mind is capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of the same."  (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.51)

. As I have proposed before (see class notes for section 3), in mortality no one is "firm", but we live in temporary states of "firmness" which vary in duration and magnitude from person to person; besides, there are multiple dimensions of firmness: one can be firm in a few aspects and not in others (e.g. prayer and backbiting)

. This does not mean that sin is inevitable. On the contrary: it only means that while in mortality all of us will be engaged in a life-long refining process, continually employing the principle of repentance (a direct consequence of the atonement) and receiving the Lord's mercy. Without the Lord's help (i.e. His blessings, power, and ordinances) no one would be able to endure to the end

• Humble oneself before God
• Desire to be baptized
• Come forth with broken heart and contrite spirit
Broken - made submissive; trained for use; subdued; crushed; reduced in rank
Heart - emotional constitution, basic disposition, or character; one's prevailing mood or current inclination
Contrite - broken down in spirit with grief and penitence for sin or shortcoming; humbly and thoroughly penitent
Penitent - one sorrowful for one's transgressions and resolved to amend one's life

By dictionary definition, contrition arises out of one's love for God, whereas remorse doesn't; in addition, remorse doesn't imply humility, hope of forgiveness, nor a determination to change one's life.

However, be aware that some of these terms have been used interchangeably; in other words, some authors will use the term "remorse" when they mean "contrition" and vice-versa
 

Spirit - temper or disposition of mind; a mental disposition characterized by firmness or assertiveness; mood; an individual person considered with reference to characteristics of mind or temper; soul
• Witness repentance: perhaps testify of their desire to change their lives
• Manifest by works that have received of the Spirit of Christ
• These requirements may or may not require some time to be displayed.

• Confirm those baptized and the church by the laying on of hands
• Why do you think this was mentioned twice?
• Conduct meetings as they are led (i.e. inspired) by the Holy Ghost

. To preach, confirm, teach, expound, exhort, watch, warn, visit
See a comparison table below

Duties of the members of the Church:  (68-70)

• Show by godly walk and conversation that they are worthy of partaking the sacrament
• Perform works and practice faith agreeable (i.e. in harmony; consistent) with the scriptures
• Walk in holiness before the Lord
• Bring their children to be blessed by the Elders of the Church
  

• Insights on Names and Ordinances (2018)
   
  
• Fathers, Mothers and Ordinances (2021)
  

Sacrament meetings should be held often (75)

Sacrament prayers (77, 79)

. What are the individual components of the sacrament covenant ?
. What things do we attest (i.e. affirm; testify) that we willing to do?
. What things do we attest that we are doing?
. What do we expect to receive from the Lord in return?
. Do the answers to the above-mentioned questions help determine when one should or should not partake of the sacrament?

---

Comparisons Among the Duties of the Offices of the Priesthood

	Elder	Priest	Teacher	Deacon
Preach		x
Confirm	x
Teach	x	x	x	x
Expound	x	x	x	x
Exhort	x	x	x	x
Watch	x		x
Warn			x	x
Visit		x

Source: Doctrine and Covenants 20:38-60

A Few Dictionary Definitions

preach: to proclaim or put forth in a sermon; ... to urge acceptance or compliance; to deliver a sermon; to give religious or moral instruction, especially in a tedious manner

confirm: to make firmer; to strengthen; to make valid or binding by a formal or legal act; to ratify; implies the removal of all doubt about something considered uncertain or tentative

teach: to impart knowledge or skill; to condition to a certain action or frame of mind; to cause to learn by example or experience; to carry on instruction on a regular basis; to give instruction, especially as an occupation

expound: to give a detailed statement of; to set forth; to explain in detail; to elucidate

exhort: to urge by strong, often stirring argument, admonition, advice, or appeal; to make urgent appeal; (synonym in "urge": to constrain or impel to action)

watch: to look or observe attentively or carefully; to be closely observant; to guard; to observe the course of mentally; to keep up on, or informed about; to tend

warn: to make aware in advance of actual or potential harm, danger, or evil; to admonish as to actions or manners; to notify a person to go or to stay away; to notify or apprise in advance

This list is by no means comprehensive; its purpose is just to initiate a deeper analysis of the duties.

Priesthood Organization in the Church (simplified)
(Doctrine and Covenants 107:21-27, 30)

• The Doctrine of the Priesthood and Gender Issues (PDF)  HTML (2016)

• Insights on the Priesthood (video - 2017)

• The Name of the Church (2018)

The gifts of the President of the Church (1)

• Seer
• Translator
• Prophet
• Apostle of Jesus Christ
• Elder of the Church
. For more information on what constitutes a "Seer", read Mosiah 8:15-17

. Why "patience" and "faith"?

. The promise: gates of hell will not triumph; powers of darkness will be dispersed; heavens will shake for our good and for God's glory

. To shake - to move briskly in order to remove what is contained inside (e.g. shaking a tree to get its fruits)

Questions for Review

1. How do people become carnal and devilish? (20:20)

2. What is "Justification"?  (20:30; Elder Bruce R. McConkie)

3. What is "Sanctification"?  (20:31; Elder Bruce R. McConkie)

4. Can even those who have strong testimonies of the gospel still fail or falter in their faith and obedience? (20:32)

5. In the event of extenuating circumstances would it be possible for people to be secretly set apart to Church offices, without the vote of their wards or branches? (20:65)

6. What should members of the Church do in regards to their newborn children? (20:70)

7. The Lord said that we must receive his word through his prophet in ............ (21:5)