“Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.” D&C 130:18-19
“Knowledge and intelligence” are two interesting choice of words from the prophet. Most people today would conflate those words to mean how much information and brainpower has been acquired; but it is far more. “Knowledge” is a reference to our relationship with the Lord. That relationship will determine the level of “intelligence” that we receive.
The level of intelligence we obtain is the same as how much light and glory we are given. This is how “grace” is received from God. Not by our own power, but by God’s mercy; thereby, we are given opportunities in life to receive more knowledge and intelligence. All these mercies are made available to those who make covenants with the Lord; either before they are born or hereafter.
In these links I will lay out a portion of the Plan of Salvation in a way to help you see the broader picture of mortality. This is a part of the Everlasting Covenant, but I will only go as far as what is needed during this life for those who will be the Servants of the Lord.
Calling and Election Made Sure
Pure Revelations 
So I was up till the dawn hours reading all of this and have been totally blown away. It makes my heart so happy, to receive an understanding on this level. Is there anywhere that you have printed this information in totality so as one can study it without needing to have the computer up? Thank you for all you do in helping those of us on this path…i feel so inadequate… it seems so daunting, but such joy fills my heart when i read all of this it makes it seem as if even i could achieve this great blessing. Thanks again. Tomi
LikeLiked by 5 people
I only have the first book in printed form now. In the future I will do the rest for those who want a hardcopy. Any PDFs are free to have printed yourself.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The Spirit literally directed me here. I have been loving reading all of the Book of Mormon chapters and didn’t realize you had put this book up. I would love a completed PDF version if available and putting in my order for the hard copy. Have read quite a bit tonight and can’t wait to finish. The comments and questions add much as well. Will you be putting those into the book version? [It will be in a book version with comments some time next year. PR]
LikeLiked by 1 person
So when one receives the Gift of the Holy Ghost and becomes a 3rd estate being, the become a Holy Ghost?
Why does the Lectures on Faith say the Hg is the mind of God? [These questions are answered in my link, “Our Temporal Progression,” in the sub links “Holy Spirit / Holy Ghost” and “Gift of the Holy Ghost.” PR]
LikeLiked by 3 people
So when one receives the Gift of the Holy Ghost and becomes a 3rd estate being, they become a Holy Ghost?
Why does the Lectures on Faith say the Hg is the mind of God? [The Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit are often used interchangeably. It is literally the mind of God, or the power of God’s will, truth, love, and knowledge that fills the immensity of all creation. The Holy Ghost gift has more to do with a change inside of us. Again, refer to the links in “Our Temporal Progression” on the title bar of the homepage for more information. PR]
LikeLiked by 3 people
Is there a difference between the light of Christ and the Holy Spirit? [They are a part of the same, but the Light of Christ is referring more to all things created in this world and His power. PR]
LikeLiked by 3 people
So is the light of Christ kinda like a lesser portion of the Holy Spirit? [Not lesser, just of a different name and purpose. PR]
LikeLiked by 3 people
What does the word “personage” mean in D&C 130, and where did the idea that the Holy Ghost was a being or person come from? Was this a misinterpretation by Jospeh’s Scribes, or was this Joseph’s belief that the spirit was a person who has yet to receive a body? [It means “individual.” This is accurate, like saying “The President is an individual who has been elected by the people. PR]
LikeLiked by 2 people
From your section on the Holy Spirit:
“In scripture, the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost are often thought of as a single individual; this is not a correct interpretation. The word from the Greek translation could be used interchangeably from ghost to spirit to mean the same thing. When we hear the word “ghost” we think of an individual without a body. This is correct, but is not a clear picture of what the words are meant to describe.”
I don’t quite understand why the word “personage” or “individual” is used in the teachings of Joseph Smith. The nature of the Holy Spirit has got me confused more than ever. So far I understand it as the power and glory shared between Heavenly beings (Father, Mother, Christ, messengers). [The Holy Spirit is the mind of God, as it is described in the Lectures on Faith. The Holy Ghost term can be used in the same way. This power is the glory of God shared amongst His servants. The Holy Ghost gift is a change of one’s spirit to a higher level of glory. The personage is either the soul after it has received the glory, or the Spirit being exercised by someone. PR]
LikeLiked by 7 people
Why does D&C 76 say that we become equal with the Savior in power, might and dominion? The Church of the Firstborn in verse 94 are those with the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Second Comfort, is that correct?… I believe these verses have been used to create pride and deception, to remove our depenance upon Jesus Christ. But I’m not sure what these scriptures mean exactly. The King Follette Discourse also says that we are co-equal with God, what does that mean? [Those who inherit this degree become like unto the Father, but this is not some sudden burst of power. It reads, “he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion.” One cannot be made anything without going through the process that requires such. The entire purpose of the Church of the Firstborn is to prepare them to go beneath all things that they may rise above all things and bring glory to their Father and save the souls of the House of Israel in this world and the next. PR]
D&C 76:94-95
94 They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness and of his grace;
95 And he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion.
King Follette Discourse/Sermon, April 7th 1844.
“The mind or the intelligence which man possesses is co-equal [co-eternal] with God himself.” [Like a seed contains the potential to become like the tree that bore it, we too have the same intelligence (capacity of light) to become like God. PR]
LikeLiked by 3 people
“The entire purpose of the Church of the Firstborn is to prepare them to go beneath all things that they may rise above all things and bring glory to their Father and save the souls of the House of Israel in this world and the next.”
Do you mean this happens in future estates, and not this earth cycle?…. are 3rd estate just as much members of the Church of the Firstborn as 4th estate are? [We enter this association when we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, but most do not associate with the full glory of this calling until they have ascended to the Throne of Heaven. PR]
LikeLiked by 2 people
D&C 76 also says that those who inherit celestial glory are the Church of the Firstborn. Does everyone who has received their Gift of the Holy Ghost/joined the Church of the Firstborn and ascend to the Throne of God, inherit the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom? [Celestial, yes; but it is a process to receive exaltation, which is what you might consider the highest degree. PR]
LikeLiked by 2 people
What does the scriptures when mean it says we will be saviors in Moumt Zion, or that we will become saviors? [This phrase is a reference to the 144k, the fourth estate, whose work is to assist the Lord in saving the House of Israel. PR]
Also, what does it mean to be annointed a King and Priest to rule over the House of Israel?… is that something we obtain in this life? [This is a reference to Melchizedek level priesthood, which is given to the members of the Church of the Firstborn when they rise to the fourth estate. PR]
LikeLiked by 3 people
When we are born again in the Gift of the Holy Ghost we receive a new heart in Christ. But why do some even them continue to sin or fall?… the desire to sin leaves, it’s no longer in your heart. [Every person who is born again will continue to sin. It is the nature of living in a mortal body. However, they have a new spirit within them that is claimed by Christ and cannot be lost except by denying the Holy Ghost. When they continue to sin they are subject to the buffetings of Satan. PR]
Ezekial 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Christ means Annointed/Messiah, as I understand it. So when D&C says we become Christs, is that meaning we Annointed/Messiahs? The Bible says Cyrus was a Messiah. Why? [Cyrus was an anointed king who saved the people. The word can be used in such a manner too. PR]
LikeLiked by 1 person
What is the”law of carnal commandments”? [The Ten Commandments given to Moses for the Israelites. PR]
LikeLiked by 2 people
Was animal sacrifice also considered a carnal commandment?… sacrament replaced animal sacrifice as an ordinance, so is that also a carnal commandment?
Why are the 10 commandments called carnal? [Carnal commandments related to telestial for the purpose of overcoming the flesh so we can ascend to a higher level. The Sacrament is not considered carnal, as it refers to the spiritual covenant of the Lord. PR]
LikeLiked by 2 people
What law would the Israelites with Moses had received instead? The Doctrine of Christ in Third Nephi? [A more intimate covenant where the people would have been able to enter the presence of the Lord.This would have allowed them to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is the purpose of the New Covenant given after Christ’s Resurrection. PR]
LikeLiked by 3 people
Why is this called Temporal Progression if it deals with our spiritual progression? [Temporal, meaning what can be received in this life. PR]
LikeLiked by 2 people
What does it mean to be subject to the buffetings of Satan exactly? [It is do be without direction, as the Adversary leads the servant of the Lord without protection. PR]
LikeLike
What is God’s definition of for being perfect?
3Nephi:12-48 “Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” [To be “perfect” is to rise or “ascend” in the Everlasting Covenant. For example, to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost is to become perfect in the 3rd estate. To be called and Chosen to condescend and save souls and to receive your calling and election made sure is to rise in the 4th estate and so on. We are to follow every step of perfection in the Everlasting Covenant. It does not mean that we do all the small duties of daily life perfectly. We are living in the flesh and are carnal in nature. We will continue to sin in this life and only by the grace of Christ are we made clean spritually. He was the only man to live a sinless life, which is part of His place in the Everlasting Covenant. The commandment to be perfect “even as I or your Father in Heaven is perfect,” is a commandment that points to a greater law. PR]
LikeLiked by 5 people
Are there different levels of exalting churches on the earth?… many people talk about how the scriptures point to telestial level church of Christ, then a Terrestrial level. That the Lord giving church organizations different names determines a change in a church living terrestrial principles to telestial. Is there any truth to this? [There are only two telestial churches. The Church of the Lamb, and the church of the devil. Anything else is peripheral. The Church of the Firstborn is within the Kingdom of God, which exists outside this world. People can be mortal that are members of such a church, but it exists outside mortality. The COTFB is active in the Heavenly Realm, the Terrestrial glory and above. People who organize themselves as a church in this world with that distinction are outside the bounds the Lord has set. PR]
LikeLiked by 2 people
Here’s quote from Joseph Smith, what do you think he meant by this?
“There is a distinction between the Church of God and the kingdom of God. The laws of the kingdom are not designed to affect our salvation hereafter. It is an entire, distinct and separate government. (Joseph Smith Papers Administrative Records, pg 128.) [The Church of God (Christ), and the Kingdom of God are separated and governed differently. The Church of this world is here to help with the process of salvation during mortality ( to ascend to the 3rd estate), and completely unnecessary in the next world. The Kingdom of God operates on a level that is far beyond the confines of the telestial world. PR]
LikeLiked by 2 people
What is the definition of priesthood?…. do women have priesthood? It’s common to hear that women hold the “power” of the priesthood but not the “authority” of the priesthood. Is there a difference between the two? [As I’ve written before, priesthood is analogous to our relationship with God. The more intimate the relationship, the more priesthood is bestowed. The “authority” is whatever the Lord commands you to do. To often Church authority and power is confused with real priesthood. Someone can be ordained by a priest to have priesthood, it doesn’t mean he will indeed have it. PR]
LikeLiked by 5 people
What makes someone worthy in the eyes of God?
I know some people that see themselves as unworthy because they struggle with sin. Others feel unworthy even though they dont have any kind of serious sins they are wrestling with, they feel as if they cant measure up to what the Lord wants.
How does someome know they are truly worthy or “accepted”/in good standing with God? Does someone have to be perfect? [In the purest sense, to be worthy is to be washed clean, bathed in fire, and “worthy” to stand in the presence of God. There are other less worthy definitions of worthiness. PR]
LikeLiked by 1 person
What level of worthiness does one need to exercise Gifts of the Spirit, baptism of fire? [That is according to the faith and repentance one exercises. In that process they become worthy. PR]
LikeLiked by 1 person
[Those who inherit this degree become like unto the Father, but this is not some sudden burst of power. It reads, “he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion.” One cannot be made anything without going through the process that requires such. The entire purpose of the Church of the Firstborn is to prepare them to go beneath all things that they may rise above all things and bring glory to their Father and save the souls of the House of Israel in this world and the next. PR]
When you say “go beneath all things” in the quote above are you speaking of the same thing as you were earlier when you stated: “To be called and Chosen to condescend and save souls and to receive your calling and election made sure is to rise in the 4th estate and so on. We are to follow every step of perfection in the Everlasting Covenant.”? [Yes. PR]
When we read in D&C 88:3-7 (cited below) that Jesus Christ “descended below all things” is this referring to a later greater (ultimate, perhaps) condescension in the Everlasting Covenant path? [I cannot comment on anything beyond the 4th estate, but you can take such questions to the Lord yourself. PR]
What does it mean to go beneath or descend below “all things”? [To condescend and put aside one’s glory, and then to carry your cross. PR]
Thanks in advance, PR, for any light you are allowed to share, and please direct me to the appropriate place if you have already discussed this elsewhere.
3 Wherefore, I now send upon you another aComforter, even upon you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of bpromise; which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is recorded in the testimony of John.
4 This Comforter is the apromise which I give unto you of beternal life, even the cglory of the celestial kingdom;
5 Which glory is that of the church of the aFirstborn, even of God, the holiest of all, through Jesus Christ his Son—
6 He that aascended up on high, as also he bdescended below all things, in that he ccomprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the dlight of truth;
7 Which truth shineth. This is the alight of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was bmade.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks so much for taking the time to consider and answer our questions. After I asked the Lord what it really means for someone like me to carry my cross, He led me to the following beautiful scripture from the JST, Matthew 16:25-29:
25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.
26 And now for a man to take up his cross, is to deny himself all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and keep my commandments.
27 Break not my commandments for to save your lives; for whosoever will save his life in this world, shall lose it in the world to come.
28 And whosoever will lose his life in this world, for my sake, shall find it in the world to come.
29 Therefore, forsake the world, and save your souls; for what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
LikeLiked by 1 person
What’s the difference between Knowledge and Wisdom? [I will give my simple answer. Knowledge is to know the answer. Wisdom is to know the application. PR]
LikeLiked by 1 person
What does it mean to have no more disposition to do evil?… when someone has their Baptism of Fire and Gift of the Holy Ghost, how can someone have no more evil disposition but still have temptations of the flesh? What is the difference? [When we are born again we receive a new heart, or in other words we are made clean. Leading up to that point in order to have a broken heart and contrite spirit we throw away our desires to do evil and embrace Christ. After this occurs, if we make poor choices and our hearts turn away we are left to the buffetting of Satan, which means we can step outside of the Spirit and follow forbidden paths. We certainly can cultivate a disposition to do evil, but after we are made clean, at least at that time we have no such desire. PR]
LikeLiked by 2 people
A couple of questions if you don’t mind!
1. As someone who has a “portion of the Spirit” with them constantly but not the Gift of the Holy Ghost yet, how do you get better at distinguishing your own thoughts from the promptings of the spirit? I have felt “constrained,” as it mentions in the scriptures when I get a prompting to do something, but sometimes I can’t differentiate between a push from the spirit and my own good intentions or anxieties.
I don’t really buy what the general authorities say on the topic (just do it if it’s good and figure it out later if it was a prompting). I don’t trust myself at all compared to God and I feel that many people with good intentions have made big mistakes. I want to eventually have confidence that when I get a prompting it’s really from him, and then I can carry it out with certainty so I’m trying to figure that out. [There is not a quick answer to this. It requires a careful process of development, but it can happen. My best answer is to read my book “How to Open Your Spiritual Eyes.” https://purerevelations.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/spiritual-eyes-open-final1.pdf PR] 2. What is it like having the Gift of the Holy Ghost compared to a portion of the Spirit? Do you hear a voice telling you his will instead of “feelings” as promptings, or what are the main differences? [Our ability to exercise the gifts of the Spirit are mostly the same before and after receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. They must still be nurtured and developed in faith. The biggest difference is that after you receive the GOTHG you are made clean and able, if the Lord allows it, to stand in His presence. Repentance (seeking the Lord and His holiness} is a lifetime pursuit. PR]
Thank you for your insight!
LikeLiked by 2 people
If one is born again spiritually, can they give the gift of the Holy Ghost if the Lord impresses upon them to do so? [They can only do it if the Lord explicitly directs them to do it. Usually, this is given to those who are witnesses of Him in a tangible way. PR]
LikeLike
What does it mean to “enter His rest”? [It means to have Eternal Life. PR]
LikeLike
Can one receive the Holy Spirit of Promise and still need to seek the Gift of the Holy Ghost? [The HSOP is what is needed to bring about the gift of the HG. Sometimes there is a lag time between the two, but not long. PR]
I saw in another post that some have believed they received the Gift of the Holy Ghost but it was only a baptism of fire. [That happened to me. PR]
Is the precious gift of faith the signal for the HSoP? And you must continue to develop in Christ before receiving the GotHG? [Most will not know when the HSOP is given. PR]
LikeLike
What Temple ordinances for the dead actually have the ability to offer any salvation for the dead (that is, if they accept the ordinance)? [Baptism for the dead. PR]
LikeLike
How would you describe the “fullness of the gospel”?
[It is the covenant we make with Christ and what the Lord did for us, pure and simple. PR]
LikeLike