Preparing for the Lord's Return
Aligning our will to God's through covenant.
The following is an address given in a Ward Sacrament meeting, a congregational service of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, delivered Sunday 12 January 2025.
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Last time I spoke, it was of the condition of idolatry as a last days sign which precedes the Lord’s return in glory:1
They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol…
I shared quotes from prophets and apostles that were no less than twenty, but as many as fifty years old, to demonstrate just how far ahead our seers had seen, and how far in advance the saints had been forewarned. I asserted that the world abounds with signs of the Lord’s coming, concluding with a quote from Elder Oaks,2 in which he asked what we would do if the day of His coming were tomorrow — and if we would do those things then, why not now?
But what do the seers see today. President Nelson has been emphatic as he has repeatedly declared that we live in the days of prophetic fulfilment. He has used plain and pleading language, such as I have never heard from a President of the Church. In his most recent address he declares:
Brothers and sisters, now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority.
— President Russell M. Nelson, The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again, Oct 2024
Not only has this declaration been oft repeated, it has been declared with an unprecedented sense of urgency. Less than six years ago President Nelson, speaking to those who had not sought to know the divinity of this work or who had distanced themselves from the Church, said:
I plead with you… [do] the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out.
—President Russell M. Nelson, Come, Follow Me, Apr 2019
Waking to the majesty3 and urgency of this moment we may find ourselves feeling dreadfully unprepared. How do we go from walking in our own way to having our will aligned with God’s such that He is our highest priority?
President Nelson assures us that:
Regular worship in the temple will help… In the house of the Lord, we focus on Jesus Christ. We learn of Him. We make covenants to follow Him. We come to know Him. As we keep our temple covenants, we gain greater access to the Lord’s strengthening power…
— President Russell M. Nelson, The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again, Oct 2024
The Covenant Path
Making covenants in the holy temple, and thereafter keeping them. This is how we align our will to the will of God and thereby prepare ourselves for the coming day of the Lord’s return. The Church website4 lists the five laws those participating in the presentation of the temple endowment, covenant to keep:
The Law of Obedience
The Law of Sacrifice
The Law of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The Law of Chastity
The Law of Consecration
My remarks will be confined to the first three covenants.
The temple endowment, its presentation and its covenants, represent a process of ascension which begins with our present fallen state and ends with our final admission back into the presence of the Father. President Nelson has often described this process of ascent as the covenant path. The depiction as a path is apt,5 suggesting the need to address each in order. These covenants are certainly made in order and I suspect they must also be kept in order.
By keep, we usually mean not break. But there is another aspect to keeping6 which more completely represents our covenantal obligation, that is to fulfil.7
A covenant may be likened to a clay vessel. The vessel must be made. The vessel thereafter must be kept from breakage. But the vessel itself, is of little inherent value if it remains empty. Only in being filled, is its power and utility realised. Likewise, the true power of our covenants does not lie merely in their remaining unbroken, but much more in their terms being fulfilled.
Participating in the ordinance of the endowment is not enough to leave one actually endowed. God first created all things spiritually, but His work of creation was not finished until it was also created temporally. Only then was it pronounced very good.8 What was first is now last,9 wherein the Lord’s work in us begins with the physical performances, ordinances, and rites of covenant making.
But these are only forms. It is only as we align our will to God’s with each successive covenant being fulfilled that we truly connect with the powers of heaven such that we become actually endowed with power from on high. Only once the physical rites are sealed by the ratifying witness of the Holy Spirit of Promise can the Lord’s work in us reach its final and glorious end. Then will the Lord be able to say of us as He said of His ancient servant Eliakim:
And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place…10
And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels… from the vessels of cups, [to] the vessels of flagons.
1. Law of Obedience
First is the covenant to keep the Law of Obedience, which is to obey God’s commandments. I am certain that no one here believes that they already obey all of the Lord’s commandments, but there is a sure way11 to know:
Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am;
A face to face visitation from the Saviour is surely further down the path than the fulfilment of the first covenant. Which suggests that actually keeping all His commandments may not be the point of this particular law. How could it be, we do not even know all His commandments yet. This law seems to be about our disposition to obey the Lord’s commandments. Every commandment we currently have, and every commandment He will reveal hereafter.12
What then, should we expect the fulfilment of this covenant to look like?
Nephi perhaps, can offer us the most accessible image of a true, covenant-keeping disciple. As he famously declared:
… I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
Nephi may not know all the Lord’s commandments yet, but he knows that whatever the Lord may command, it will be possible to do it. The Lord Himself will have prepared the way. What’s more, he makes no attempt to delay his obedience. He wants to obey, here and now.
Even when obedience means he must suffer the commission of capital offences13 against himself and his brethren — he obeys. Even when obedience means that the terrible burden of upholding the law upon Laban, with exactness and honour,14 falls upon his exceedingly young shoulders — he obeys. Even when obedience means railings, beatings, the loss of his possessions, hunger, thirst, fatigue, captivity, the loss of his brethren, and sorrow — Nephi says I must obey.15
How does this covenant prepare us for the coming of the Lord?
When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power.
— President Ezra Taft Benson, quoted in Donald L. Staheli, Obedience — Life’s Great Challenge, Ensign, May l998.
And oh, how we will need His power in the days ahead.
— President Russell M. Nelson, The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation, Oct 2021
If we are not actually seeking to learn His will and to be obedient, if we are disposed to trifle with the Lord’s commandments in any degree, then to that same degree are we limited in the part we may have in the particulars, promises, privileges, and powers of the remaining covenants of the Lord.16 Furthermore, President Nelson has warned:
The time is coming when those who do not obey the Lord will be separated from those who do (see Doctrine and Covenants 86:1–7).
— President Russell M. Nelson, The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming, Liahona, Apr 2020
2. Law of Sacrifice
Second is the covenant to keep the Law of Sacrifice. All blood previously required under this law has been satisfied by the great last sacrifice, made through the infinite atonement of Jesus Christ. The only acceptable offering now is that of a broken heart and contrite spirit.17
What should we expect the fulfilment of this covenant to look like?
For the ancient Hebrews the heart represented much more than love, it was the seat of the whole inner man — the core of being. Encompassing the intellect, emotions, moral character, and desires.18 It follows then, that this law must necessitate the breaking of all of these aspects of ourselves — our whole inner self, all desires, views, our whole identity, our very name and nature.
But breaking is also too inadequate a word. To break in pieces, to shatter, or to destroy19 are closer to the Hebrew meaning. Contrition also, means not only to be broken or bruised, but to experience crushing20 grief and sorrow.21
Is it any wonder that President Nelson has said:
Being of Israel is not for the faint of heart. To receive all the blessings that God has in store for Abraham’s seed, we can each expect… God [to] test us, as the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, by wrenching our very heartstrings.
— President Russell M. Nelson, Let God Prevail, Oct 2020, Footnote 18
In our natural state there will be many of the things, philosophies, and honours of this world which we desire.22 Maybe even long for. We might even love them. But no thing which is in or of the world is made of the kind of material which will survive the Lord’s Glory. And if the love of those things is in our hearts, neither will we.23 As John says:
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
… the world passeth away… but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Not only will the things of the world be of no utility in surviving it, they are of little value even while we remain in it. As President Nelson, attests:
… while the world insists that power, possessions, popularity, and pleasures of the flesh bring happiness, they do not! They cannot! What they do produce is nothing but a hollow substitute for “the blessed and happy state of those [who] keep the commandments of God.” The truth is that it is much more exhausting to seek happiness where you can never find it!
— President Russell M. Nelson, Overcome the World and Find Rest, Oct 2022
How does this covenant prepare us for the coming of the Lord?
Sacrifice is not a principle we can choose not to live. We can only choose what offering to make, and on which altar. We either sacrifice the things of the world on the altar of God, or we will, by default, sacrifice the things of God on the altars of the world. There is no third option.
But as we offer up our natural man on the altar, we prepare the ground of our hearts to receive that which will endure. The less of ourselves we hold back the more of us that can be made holy and without spot.24 But like the burial of the baptismal token, it ultimately requires complete immersion. As President Nelson states:
The Lord is gathering those who will choose to let God be the most important influence in their lives… As an essential prelude to the Second Coming…
— President Russell M. Nelson, Let God Prevail, Oct 2020
3. Law of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Third is the covenant to keep the Law of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is in essence:25
Be baptised in His name28
Be sanctified by the Holy Ghost
And endure to the end
There is a human tendency where, simply by knowing a problem, we believe we are no longer part of the problem. Having known the first principles and ordinances of the gospel since our earliest interactions with the Church, it may have left us with the sense, even if unconscious, that we have met the terms of this covenant already. With perhaps, the obvious exception of enduring to the end.
But the mere presence of this covenant at this stage of the path suggests that the fulfilment of this law is both higher and holier than we may have considered.
What then, should we expect the fulfilment of this covenant to look like?
Let us first consider faith, what should we expect faith to look like. In this regard, Mormon’s sermon may be of help:
… it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.
…wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.
The prophet Joseph confirms Mormon’s assertion:
Because faith is wanting, the fruits are. No man since the world was had faith without having something along with it… A man who has none of the gifts has no faith; and he deceives himself, if he supposes he has.
—Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 270
As well might we, with that ancient New Testament father, cry out Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.29
But faith is just the beginning, if this law is to be fulfilled we must also receive the Holy Ghost. By faith, Mormon says, we can receive the ministering of angels. Following our baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, Nephi says, we shall be able to speak with the tongue of angels.30 By faith we witness the working of miracles. By the Holy Ghost, Jesus says, we become the workers of them. In His name we cast out devils, heal the sick, open blind eyes, unstop deaf ears, and loose mute tongues.31
This is to say nothing of the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost, which works upon us such as to utterly transform us, making us new creatures in Christ. It may be this purifying process the apostle Parley P. Pratt describes:
The Holy Ghost… quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity. It develops beauty of person, form, and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.
— Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology, 1855
How does this covenant prepare us for the coming of the Lord?
President Nelson promises that:
… Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again… But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.
— President Russell M. Nelson, Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives, Apr 2018
Like sacrifice, we also cannot choose not to exercise faith. It is the principle of action in all intelligent beings. We can only choose what we will place our faith in. We can place it in ourselves, in personalities or political parties. We can place it in institutions, or philosophies, or social movements. Each of these will yield fruit after their kind. But only faith in Christ will yield the Holy Ghost and the fruits of the Spirit, which truly are delicious to the taste.
President Nelson is a true believer. He has faith in the promises of the Father to bestow the unspeakable Gift of the Holy Ghost. He has faith that the Holy Ghost will show us all things that we should do.32 He has faith that:
… as [we] choose to let God prevail in [our] lives, [we] will experience for [ourselves] that our God is “a God of miracles.”
— President Russell M. Nelson, Let God Prevail, Oct 2020
He has faith that the grace of God is sufficient for every meek, humble, and submissive soul, to make them perfect in Christ.33
The Gate
The promises connected to the keeping of this law are so profound, that we may be tempted to suppose that their fulfilment must lie far into the future of our post mortal lives. Nephi however, identifies it not as the end of the path, but as the gate34 which leads to the strait and narrow path.35
The covenant path to this point, has prepared us to pass both the gate and its keeper, but all is not done, Nephi proclaims. Now we must endure to the end. But to the end of what? Not so long ago, I would have presumed it was to the end of our mortal lives. But Nephi speaks of a much higher and holier end:36
And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.
Here we enter into an even more demanding path of devotion, after the example of the Son. Hungering and thirsting after righteousness and living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.37
The first Comforter, the Holy Ghost will be essential.38 Eventually, our journey will require another Comforter.3940 It will require the guidance and direction of the One who has walked it, in full, already. It is not only a possibility to receive these two Comforters in mortality, the fullness of times in which we live may render it an urgent need, as President Holland testifies:
I bear witness that when Christ comes, He needs to recognize us—not as nominal members… but as thoroughly committed, faithfully believing, covenant-keeping disciples. This is an urgent matter for all of us…
We need to believe in angels and miracles and the promises of the holy priesthood. We need to believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost… and the power of the pure love of Christ. We need to believe in revelation and prophets, seers, and revelators and President Russell M. Nelson. We need to believe that with prayer and pleading and personal righteousness, we really can ascend to “Mount Zion, … the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all.”
— President Jeffrey R. Holland, Motions of a Hidden Fire, Apr 2024
You may be minded to think that it is too early41 to speak of the Lord’s coming in this manner, that there are too many signs still awaiting fulfilment, that the Lord delayeth His coming until the end.42 Or perhaps, you may feel that you have procrastinated your preparation till it is everlastingly too late.43 President Nelson assures us that:
It is neither too early nor too late for you to become a devout disciple of Jesus Christ.
— President Russell M. Nelson, The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again, Oct 2024
The most prepared to abide the final revelation of Jesus you and I could ever be, is to have seen Him already. For each of us, individually, the day of His coming can be as soon as we can learn to part the veil. This is, and always has been, the primary purpose of the temple and its covenants — to prepare us to come into the presence of the Lord.
I plead with you to seek—prayerfully and consistently—to understand temple covenants and ordinances. Spiritual doors will open. You will learn how to part the veil… how to ask for God’s angels to attend you, and how better to receive direction from heaven.
— President Russell M. Nelson, The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation, Oct 2021
Beholding the Lord is not a blessing restricted to post mortality, nor is it an experience limited to a few spiritual elite. Speaking of the Kirtland temple, the Lord Himself declared:
For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.
Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments…
President Nelson states unequivocally that:
This significant promise applies to every dedicated temple today.
— President Russell M. Nelson, Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys, Apr 2024
Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple… the most crucial question we each must answer is this: To whom or to what will I give my life?
— President Russell M. Nelson, The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again, Oct 2024
To his own question, President Nelson answers with equal certainty:44
Come unto Christ and “offer your whole [soul]” to Him. This is the secret to a life of joy!
— President Russell M. Nelson, The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again, Oct 2024
Your brother in Christ,
The Quiet Dissident
In doing so I may have set a record for the number of times the word whore has been said from the pulpit. It was certainly a personal best.
What if the day of His coming were tomorrow? If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow—through our premature death or through His unexpected coming—what would we do today? What confessions would we make? What practices would we discontinue? What accounts would we settle? What forgivenesses would we extend? What testimonies would we bear? If we would do those things then, why not now? — Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Preparation for the Second Coming, Apr 2004
Do you see what is happening right before our eyes? I pray that we will not miss the majesty of this moment! The Lord is indeed hastening His work. Why are we building temples at such an unprecedented pace? Why? Because the Lord has instructed us to do so. The blessings of the temple help to gather Israel on both sides of the veil. These blessings also help to prepare a people who will help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord! — President Russell M. Nelson, The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again, Oct 2024
churchofjesuschrist.org — About the Temple Endowment
There is perhaps only one potential deficiency with this characterisation — that is if it leaves us with the impression that we somehow leave behind or outgrow earlier laws or covenants in our progression. They are cumulative, line upon line, each successive covenant providing the necessary foundation upon which the next must be built.
The Webster’s 1828 Dictionary gives us a more accurate picture of the meaning of keep as it is used in all restoration scripture. Point 13 is particularly relevant: To fulfil; to perform; as, to keep one’s word, promise or covenant.
I feel sometimes like lecturing men and women severely who enter into covenants without realizing the nature of the covenants they make, and who use little or no effort to fulfil them. — Brigham Young, Teachings of the Presidents, p. 303
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
D&C 131:5–5 — The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood. It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.
D&C 59:1, 4 — Behold, blessed, saith the Lord, are they who have come up unto this land with an eye single to my glory, according to my commandments… they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time—they that are faithful and diligent before me.
First, Laban falsely accuses Laman of robbery. False accusation under the Mosaic Law carried with it the penalty of the accused crime. Robbery, different from theft, carried with it the penalty of death. Second, Laban actually commits the crime of robbery, by using force to take their possessions. Third, Laban attempts to have them slain, another capital offence. Nephi recounts these crimes in his record (1 Nephi 4:11), but despite them he does not want to kill Laban. Under ordinary circumstances, Nephi’s willingness to abstain from exacting the justice he was due would be answered with a blessing on his head (D&C 98:23–32), but the Lord’s own purposes required that he forego this blessing for the sake of securing the means of preserving the whole Lehite nation (1 Nephi 4:12–14).
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Given the Law of Sacrifice and a Saviour will be provided, appears to be the covenant blessing associated with the fulfilment of the Law of Obedience. This appears to suggest that you are not even able to begin living the Law of Sacrifice until it is settled in your heart to be obedient. This is perhaps obvious in light of the nature of the only acceptable offering. The idea of a Saviour not being provided until after one keeps this law may be more puzzling, but its interesting to consider, especially in light of Mormon’s assertion that, if faith ceases, they remain as though there had been no redemption made (Moroni 7:35–38). I would argue that obedience is a critical element in differentiating faith from mere belief.
… and all else that the Lord may require. For time and simplicity’s sake, I have omitted this last part of the covenant expression.
Bible Hub — Shabar, break or broken
Bible Hub — Dakah, contrite
The prophet Joseph identified hearts set on the things of this world and the honours of men, as the primary condition which prevents the called from becoming chosen or elect before God (D&C 121:34–36). Until we enter into an elect or chosen state, the great and glorious promises of the gospel remain unconfirmed in us, and we remain in doubt of our personal standing before God.
Joseph Smith History 1:37 — For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of Hosts…
Made holy and without spot through the atonement of Jesus Christ is the covenant blessing associated with the fulfilment of the Law of Sacrifice.
There is more which constitutes the expression of the covenant to keep the Law of the Gospel, but out of caution to show the appropriate amount of care and restraint for sacred things, as well as the simple expediency of available time, I have limited the expression of this covenant to only these core elements.
Faith is typically considered as something roughly synonymous with belief, specifically, belief in the existence of God. James, the brother of Jesus, appears to suggest that faith is something much more: Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (James 2:19) The Lectures on Faith certainly attest that the idea that God exists is an essential element required before faith can exist. The remaining six lectures demonstrate that there is much more needed before faith reaches its final salvific potential.
The Hebrew word used to describe man’s repentance (shub) means to return, turn back, or restore. The necessarily work of the Law of Sacrifice breaks down and destroys our own desires, readying us for the Lord to put in us a new spirit, and make us new creatures. President Nelson describes repentance in this way: … when Jesus asks you and me to “repent,” He is inviting us to change our mind, our knowledge, our spirit—even the way we breathe. He is asking us to change the way we love, think, serve, spend our time, treat our [spouses], teach our children, and even care for our bodies. — President Russell M. Nelson, We Can Do Better and Be Better, Apr 2019
It is interesting to note that this covenant expression does not state baptism in water, but rather baptism in His name. I do not think this is incidental. King Benjamin to his people who had been born again, and who had entered into a covenant that they would be obedient, called them the children of Christ on account of this covenant. He then goes on to exhort these same covenant men and women that they should take upon them the name of Christ. (Mosiah 5:7–8). Baptism in water is essential and when done in witness of our willingness to keep His commandments, is itself a transformative experience. But it also points forward to a higher and holier immersion — immersion in the name, which is to say, nature and essential essence of Christ. Christ described Himself as meek and lowly of heart, it is this meekness and lowliness of heart which, Mormon says brings the Holy Ghost, the first Comforter (Moroni 8:25–26).
Made perfect, through the atonement of Jesus Christ is the covenant blessing associated with the fulfilment of the Law of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Curiously, in the liturgical representation of the covenant path, perfection is not the final end whose realisation is only possible in the far-off land. It is a mid-point in our path back into the presence of the Father. This appears to align with Moroni’s view (Moroni 10:32–33), where after being made perfect in Christ, he appears to allude to a trial in which we may be tempted to deny the power of Christ. If successfully resisted, one goes on to be sanctified in Christ.
What’s more, the liturgical placement of this covenant blessing occurs at the end of the first part of a three part space. It has been suggested (see this video) that the Saviour’s mountain sermon is not just a sermon over three chapters, but an encoded liturgical drama taking place over three parts. It is especially curious then, that at the end of the first part, the Saviour concludes with the words Be ye therefore perfect (Matthew 5:48).
Perfect in the modern meaning is something like flawless, without defect, or beyond possible improvement. In the cultural setting of the Latter-day Saints it has become equated with exaltation, or at a minimum, a post-resurrection state. Neither the Hebrew (tam) nor the Greek (telios) words rendered perfect in the KJV have this meaning. Both have reference to the character of man, and carry the meanings of whole, complete, mature, blameless, and upright.
Webster defines a gate as: A large door which gives entrance into a walled city, a castle, a temple, palace or other large edifice. It differs from door chiefly in being larger. Gate signifies both the opening or passage, and the frame of boards, planks or timber which closes the passage.
This describes a far more imposing structure than we had likely initially supposed. In light of this, the reason there are few who find it may shift from this being on account of its obscurity, to perhaps being on account of the demanding and rigorous spiritual work required to enter.
In the preparation of this talk I was unable to find any scriptural reference which explicitly linked the idea of till the end of your life with the specific phrase endure to the end. Which may suggest that the only way to appropriately interpret the end to which we are enduring is the end of the example of Christ. Perhaps the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). I am not certain of this yet, however, and mean to study this further.
The other Comforter spoken of is a subject of great interest, and perhaps understood by few of this generation. After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints… — Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 150
Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; and this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at when they had such glorious visions—Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who held communion with the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn.
— Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 151
D&C 88: 83 — He that seeketh me early shall find me, and shall not be forsaken.
The whole soul offering appears to have direct connection to the Law of Consecration, which is the consecration or yourself, time, talents, and all with which the Lord has or may bless you, for the building up of the kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion. Related to the Law of Sacrifice, which requires the heart and spirit, though distinct in that the Law of Consecration requires the whole soul, which is the spirit and the body (D&C 88:15).