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2014-05-00-ensign-eng

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shall have glory added upon theirheads for ever and ever.” 2Keeping our second estate dependson our making covenants with Godand faithfully performing the dutiesthey require of us. It takes faith inJesus Christ as our Savior to keepsacred covenants for a lifetime.Because Adam and Eve did fall, wehave temptation, trials, and death asour universal inheritance. However, ourloving Heavenly Father gave us the giftof His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, as ourSavior. That great gift and blessing ofthe Atonement of Jesus Christ brings auniversal inheritance: the promise ofthe Resurrection and the possibility ofeternal life to all who are born.The greatest of all the blessings ofGod, eternal life, will come to us onlyas we make covenants offered in thetrue Church of Jesus Christ by Hisauthorized servants. Because of theFall, we all need the cleansing effectsof baptism and the laying on of handsto receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.These ordinances must be performedby those who possess the proper24priesthood authority. Then, with thehelp of the Light of Christ and the HolyGhost, we can keep all the covenantswe make with God, especially thoseoffered in His temples. Only in thatway, and with that help, can anyoneclaim his or her rightful inheritance asa child of God in a family forever.To some listening to me, that mayseem a nearly hopeless dream.You have seen faithful parents sorrowover children who have rejectedor who have chosen to break theircovenants with God. But those parentscan take heart and hope from otherparental experiences.Alma’s son and King Mosiah’s sonsreturned from fierce rebellion againstthe covenants and the commandmentsof God. Alma the Younger saw his sonCorianton turn from gross sin to faithfulservice. The Book of Mormon alsorecords the miracle of the Lamanitesputting aside traditions of hatingrighteousness to covenanting to dieto maintain peace.An angel was sent to the youngAlma and the sons of Mosiah. Theangel came because of the faith andprayers of their fathers and of God’speople. From those examples of thepower of the Atonement working inhuman hearts, you can receive courageand comfort.The Lord has given us all the sourceof hope as we struggle to help thosewe love accept their eternal inheritance.He has made promises to usas we keep trying to gather peopleto Him, even when they resist Hisinvitation to do so. Their resistancesaddens Him, but He does not quit, norshould we. He sets the perfect examplefor us with His persistent love: “Andagain, how oft would I have gatheredyou as a hen gathereth her chickensunder her wings, yea, O ye people ofthe house of Israel, who have fallen;yea, O ye people of the house of Israel,ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye thathave fallen; yea, how oft would I havegathered you as a hen gathereth herchickens, and ye would not.” 3We can depend on that unfailingdesire of the Savior to bring all ofHeavenly Father’s spirit childrenback to their home with Him. Everyfaithful parent, grandparent, and greatgrandparentshares in that desire.Heavenly Father and the Savior areour perfect examples of what we canand must do. They never force righteousnessbecause righteousness mustbe chosen. They make righteousnessdiscernible to us, and They let us seethat its fruits are delicious.Every person born into the worldreceives the Light of Christ, whichhelps us see and feel what is right andwhat is wrong. God has sent mortalservants who can, by the Holy Ghost,help us recognize what He wouldhave us do and what He forbids. Godmakes it attractive to choose the rightby letting us feel the effects of ourchoices. If we choose the right, we

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