A question of motivation

[_bomgeography]

Eternal life with like minded people

What is required of people to get that?

Elder Uchtdorf seemed to say he viewed our exaltation as a free gift not obtained through works. He asked, "Why do any of these works if they don't change the result?" In responding to his own question he said that we do all these works out of gratitude for Christ's free gift. My question is what if you're not so overcome with gratitude that you want to do these works? Obviously some people are not. Why would they want to train themselves to feel more indebted or grateful?

Grace is a free gift and it is not obtained through your own merit. You must accept gods gift that's were many people fail to do. The accepting part is continual progression through the atonement (repentance and faith, trying to be like the person who gave you this free gift)

A positive attitude, gratitude like grace is a choice. You can choose to have or develop gratitude

As to why someone would develop gratitude is the same answer to your first question and the first ordnance and principle of the gospel faith. If you believe in the after life as taught by the gospel. Why would you not want to develop those qualities such as faith gratitude patience etc

[_kairos]

Elder Uchtdorf seemed to say he viewed our exaltation as a free gift not obtained through works. He asked, "Why do any of these works if they don't change the result?" In responding to his own question he said that we do all these works out of gratitude for Christ's free gift. My question is what if you're not so overcome with gratitude that you want to do these works? Obviously some people are not. Why would they want to train themselves to feel more indebted or grateful?[/quote]

Grace is a free gift and it is not obtained through your own merit. You must accept gods gift that's were many people fail to do. The accepting part is continual progression through the atonement (repentance and faith, trying to be like the person who gave you this free gift)

A positive attitude, gratitude like grace is a choice. You can choose to have or develop gratitude

As to why someone would develop gratitude is the same answer to your first question and the first ordnance and principle of the gospel faith. If you believe in the after life as taught by the gospel. Why would you not want to develop those qualities such as faith gratitude patience etc[/quote]

As a born again evangelical, my life before Christ was just nominal Christian living-go to church, try to be good, give a little of time and resources in service-just day to day ,no big deal. My born again experience was triggered (William James in Varieties of Religious Experiences cites hundreds) by a feeling of no peace, no joy, and a life of secret sin. Confronted with my sin and my need for a redeemer/savior I gave my life to Christ through a friend using the sinner's prayer. in an instance i was delivered from a habit of profanity, freed from sexual sin, motivated to read the Bible voraciously, serve my family, work with the homeless, participate in worship services with gusto and joy; give generously of $$ and talents and serve in my congregation; lead others to Christ. What really happened? as i look back, i stepped out in whatever little faith i had and repented of my sinful life, understood, believed and accepted the gift of Jesus as Son of God, and Christ's passion and death for me personally to receive eternal life- and i understood it all to be grace, nothing i did merited the gift i received that day in january, 1986. Decades later the holy spirit continues to motivate my life 24/7 and i serve others as a disciple of Jesus Christ unashamed. It's all grace and surrender to Jesus Christ as savior and lord of my life.

k

[_bomgeography]

Elder Uchtdorf seemed to say he viewed our exaltation as a free gift not obtained through works. He asked, "Why do any of these works if they don't change the result?" In responding to his own question he said that we do all these works out of gratitude for Christ's free gift. My question is what if you're not so overcome with gratitude that you want to do these works? Obviously some people are not. Why would they want to train themselves to feel more indebted or grateful?

Grace is a free gift and it is not obtained through your own merit. You must accept gods gift that's were many people fail to do. The accepting part is continual progression through the atonement (repentance and faith, trying to be like the person who gave you this free gift)

A positive attitude, gratitude like grace is a choice. You can choose to have or develop gratitude

As to why someone would develop gratitude is the same answer to your first question and the first ordnance and principle of the gospel faith. If you believe in the after life as taught by the gospel. Why would you not want to develop those qualities such as faith gratitude patience etc[/quote]

As a born again evangelical, my life before Christ was just nominal Christian living-go to church, try to be good, give a little of time and resources in service-just day to day ,no big deal. My born again experience was triggered (William James in Varieties of Religious Experiences cites hundreds) by a feeling of no peace, no joy, and a life of secret sin. Confronted with my sin and my need for a redeemer/savior I gave my life to Christ through a friend using the sinner's prayer. in an instance i was delivered from a habit of profanity, freed from sexual sin, motivated to read the Bible voraciously, serve my family, work with the homeless, participate in worship services with gusto and joy; give generously of $$ and talents and serve in my congregation; lead others to Christ. What really happened? as i look back, i stepped out in whatever little faith i had and repented of my sinful life, understood, believed and accepted the gift of Jesus as Son of God, and Christ's passion and death for me personally to receive eternal life- and i understood it all to be grace, nothing i did merited the gift i received that day in january, 1986. Decades later the holy spirit continues to motivate my life 24/7 and i serve others as a disciple of Jesus Christ unashamed. It's all grace and surrender to Jesus Christ as savior and lord of my life.

k[/quote]

Your story wether among evangelical christians or LDS members is not unique. A desire and faith will change any bodies life for the better.

[_Maxine Waters]

The accepting part is continual progression through the atonement (repentance and faith, trying to be like the person who gave you this free gift)

Perhaps that's the confusion. When I think of acceptance, I think of just two words, "I accept," then it's done. The acceptance that you're describing seems more like an eternal covenant where if you don't meet your terms of the contract, the free gift can be rescinded. I'm not sure how you can call that free. when it takes many years to do the work that is required to accept.

Can someone accept this free gift an hour before they die and get the same free gift of salvation? If so, why accept the burdens that are attached to such a gift early in life? Why not wait so you can keep your life that you have now and enjoy it?

What actually constitutes are person trying to live the commandments? Can anyone really say that they served the Lord with all their heart might, mind, and strength? What happened to the young ruler who refused to sell all he owned and give it to the poor? How many LDS have sold everything and given it to the poor? What happens to someone who only gave less than 100% effort and time? Was that just a waste of time and effort for them and will they be spewed out of the Lord's mouth like lukewarm water bound to inherit nothing? 100% effort seems a lot like perfection and by that definition nearly every saint is lukewarm. Who can ever say they are worthy of the Celestial kingdom?

[_bomgeography]

The accepting part is continual progression through the atonement (repentance and faith, trying to be like the person who gave you this free gift)

Perhaps that's the confusion. When I think of acceptance, I think of just two words, "I accept," then it's done. The acceptance that you're describing seems more like an eternal covenant where if you don't meet your terms of the contract, the free gift can be rescinded. I'm not sure how you can call that free. when it takes many years to do the work that is required to accept.

Can someone accept this free gift an hour before they die and get the same free gift of salvation? If so, why accept the burdens that are attached to such a gift early in life? Why not wait so you can keep your life that you have now and enjoy it?

What actually constitutes are person trying to live the commandments? Can anyone really say that they served the Lord with all their heart might, mind, and strength? What happened to the young ruler who refused to sell all he owned and give it to the poor? How many LDS have sold everything and given it to the poor? What happens to someone who only gave less than 100% effort and time? Was that just a waste of time and effort for them and will they be spewed out of the Lord's mouth like lukewarm water bound to inherit nothing? 100% effort seems a lot like perfection and by that definition nearly every saint is lukewarm. Who can ever say they are worthy of the Celestial kingdom?

I think the answer to this is two fold who is your master sin, yourself, or Jesus Christ. Who do you strive to serve yourself or your fellow brothers and sisters. Secondly the scriptures make it clear that the lord wants to see progression not digression. The lord wants us to be a better person the when we started.
Does the lord expect the same from someone who grew up in a crack addicted family versus someone who grew up in a loving well balanced LDS family. No the crack addict might might spend the majority of his life trying to overcome the demons in the envioroment that he grew up in. While the other person might have church callings with high demands and responsibilities.

In the parable of the talents Mathew 25 three people were given money.
One received 1 talent another two talents and another 5 talents. The one with 5 came back with 10 the one with 2 came back with 4. The one with one was afraid and did not TRY and get an Increase. quess which one got in trouble. The one who did not try who had no progression. The one who brought back 4 talents and the other who brought back 10recieved the same reward.
In the parable of the labourers Mathew 10 some worked the whole day some half a day and some at the end of the day but all received the same amount of money for their work.

In the parable of the vineyard some said they would work in the vineyard and did not and were dammed. Some at the beginning said they would not work and repented and returned to work in the vineyard and were rewarded.

These parables are very clear that the lord expects you to you reach your potential based on your talents and abilities and you will receive the same reward as any prophet living today and before you.

If you think you can live for yourself or sin and at the time of your death say that grace has changed you are sadly mistaken. Although the scriptures gives leeway for repentance near the end of ones life it does does not for death bed repentance for those who grew up in or were taught the gospel.

33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. (Alma 34)

Grace is a free gift because you didn't do anything to do deserve it and only you can rescind it. The atonement is the free gift that allows to be clean before your Heavenly Father. Clean from all the mistakes and sins you made free from living in a sick and evil world.

[_Maxine Waters]

These parables are very clear that the lord expects you to you reach your potential based on your talents and abilities

Can anyone say they reached their full potential based on their talents and abilities?

In the parable of the labourers Mathew 10 some worked the whole day some half a day and some at the end of the day but all received the same amount of money for their work.

So why go into work on time if you get the same reward by coming in late?

[_bomgeography]

These parables are very clear that the lord expects you to you reach your potential based on your talents and abilities

Can anyone say they reached their full potential based on their talents and abilities?

In the parable of the labourers Mathew 10 some worked the whole day some half a day and some at the end of the day but all received the same amount of money for their work.

So why go into work on time if you get the same reward by coming in late?

Yourself and god know if you are putting god first.

Technically you could serve another master most of your life and then try and switch.
But good luck trying to change. Forming lifelong bad habits ideas addictions, philosophies and the trying to change all that at the end of ones life seems like a very difficult a dum idea. besides you do not know when you will die. You could die tomorrow in a car accident etc. the scriptures are very adamant about procrastinating the day of repentance. Bad idea exahaltation is not worth chancing. The decision you make now will follow you for eternity

[_Maxine Waters]

Technically you could serve another master most of your life and then try and switch. But good luck trying to change. Forming lifelong bad habits ideas addictions, philosophies and the trying to change all that at the end of ones life seems like a very difficult a dum idea.

The workers who came later in the day in the parable of the laborers didn't seem to have any trouble with this. It was given to them through grace.

besides you do not know when you will die. You could die tomorrow in a car accident etc. the scriptures are very adamant about procrastinating the day of repentance. Bad idea exahaltation is not worth chancing. The decision you make now will follow you for eternity

So you have your family baptize you for the dead and do your temple work.

[_I have a question]

One of the worst motives and the scriptures bear this out. Is performances based living the standards solely to look good in front of other people.

see "Helping Hands"

The reality is that, regardless of your motives, if the action benefits others...who cares?
For instance, Mother Theresa used to take money from criminals, who donated it to either assuage their own guilt or to look good in the community. Mother Theresa didn't care, she put the money to very good use.

The Church takes donations regardless of the person's worthiness or motivations.

Do you need any more examples?

[Guest]

One of the worst motives and the scriptures bear this out. Is performances based living the standards solely to look good in front of other people.

see "Helping Hands"

The reality is that, regardless of your motives, if the action benefits others...who cares?
For instance, Mother Theresa used to take money from criminals, who donated it to either assuage their own guilt or to look good in the community. Mother Theresa didn't care, she put the money to very good use.

The Church takes donations regardless of the person's worthiness or motivations.

Do you need any more examples?

I say this in reference to the pharisees who on the outside were righteous and holy but were planning on killing and were successful at killing Christ.

If looking good in front of other people is another one of those motivating factors for humans in general it that leads to better things that is great. What Christ was warning about was living a completely double life. The public and private life being completely opposite from each other.