"O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect.
Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness."
2 Nephi 9:13-14
Reading this makes me realize how much of a blessing forgetfulness and self-deception can be. Not saying that we should intentionally engage in either, really, but the fact that we have those capacities helps us to overcome our failings a little at a time. The idea of having a "perfect knowledge of all our guilt" sounds bad... and might be the exact definition of hell.
The idea of the resurrection is otherwise really amazingly awesome of course. Becoming incorruptible and immortal is beyond cool. No sickness, no death, no physical pain, no more temptation. Pretty ideal. So, the trick is to overcome this guilt stuff while we still can, so that we don't need to have a perfect knowledge of it later. Which means repentance. It won't haunt us then if we make it right now. (Although of course sometimes we beat ourselves up too much now. I don't think that will be a problem later.)
Today, let's get to work on the parts of ourselves that we don't want to be. Let's recognize that we can choose to change, and then let's make that effort and do it. It's hard, yes. Absolutely it is. The hardest thing that we can probably do... but what is more worthwhile than being better people now, and avoiding the pain and guilt of not changing for eternity? Let's work on it. We don't have to be perfect overnight. Let's be kinder, and more inclusive and loving with others. Let's stop the sinning and start acting like our best selves, until slowly and with work, we can become them. With God's help we can get there... and as long as we are working on that and going in the right direction, God will help us, and we will be able to wake up on resurrection morning with a perfect knowledge of our enjoyment, rather than our guilt. That sounds way better. :)
Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness."
2 Nephi 9:13-14
Reading this makes me realize how much of a blessing forgetfulness and self-deception can be. Not saying that we should intentionally engage in either, really, but the fact that we have those capacities helps us to overcome our failings a little at a time. The idea of having a "perfect knowledge of all our guilt" sounds bad... and might be the exact definition of hell.
The idea of the resurrection is otherwise really amazingly awesome of course. Becoming incorruptible and immortal is beyond cool. No sickness, no death, no physical pain, no more temptation. Pretty ideal. So, the trick is to overcome this guilt stuff while we still can, so that we don't need to have a perfect knowledge of it later. Which means repentance. It won't haunt us then if we make it right now. (Although of course sometimes we beat ourselves up too much now. I don't think that will be a problem later.)
Today, let's get to work on the parts of ourselves that we don't want to be. Let's recognize that we can choose to change, and then let's make that effort and do it. It's hard, yes. Absolutely it is. The hardest thing that we can probably do... but what is more worthwhile than being better people now, and avoiding the pain and guilt of not changing for eternity? Let's work on it. We don't have to be perfect overnight. Let's be kinder, and more inclusive and loving with others. Let's stop the sinning and start acting like our best selves, until slowly and with work, we can become them. With God's help we can get there... and as long as we are working on that and going in the right direction, God will help us, and we will be able to wake up on resurrection morning with a perfect knowledge of our enjoyment, rather than our guilt. That sounds way better. :)
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