Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Entering into His rest, part 2

Part 1 of the note on entering into the rest of the Lord is found here. As stated there, entering into his rest is mentioned frequently in the Book of Mormon. We have already seen several examples in Alma 12 and 13 in recent posts. Other examples include
Alma 16:17
That they might not be hardened against the word, that they might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but that they might receive the word with joy, and as a branch be grafted into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord their God.
Alma 57:36
and I trust that the souls of them who have been slain have entered into the rest of their God 
Alma 60:13
therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God
3 Nephi 28:3
Blessed are ye because ye desired this thing of me; therefore, after that ye are seventy and two years old ye shall come unto me in my kingdom; and with me ye shall find rest.
Moroni 7:3
Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven.
What is this "rest" anyway? The teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are not compatible with the idea of heaven as a resting place if we understand that as something related to laziness. We talk about God's work and glory, missionary work in the spirit world, etc. But several Book of Mormon verses also make it clear what kind of "rest" is meant.
Alma 40:12
paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow
Alma 34:41
a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions
2 Nephi 24:14/Isaiah 14:14
And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall give thee rest, from thy sorrow, and from thy fear
This sounds like a place where I want to be. The "rest" is also defined in D&C 84:24
But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.



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