Hello friends and welcome back to Primarily Scripture. I am your host, Cindy Young, and this week I have special guest Paisley here with me and she is here in studio with me. We study come follow me and I make free worksheets every week to help you learn how to study the scriptures more effectively. So these are perfect for anybody who's new to studying the scriptures, or if you just want a few tips. You can find them online at primarilyscripture.com. Totally free. Head over there and pick those up. Alright, Paisley, this week we are in section 76. Do you remember what section 76 is about? Ooh, you might have to remind me. Alright, any time you are unsure of what a section is about, just open up your scriptures and look at the section heading, and it gives you a little bit of history. So it tells us here that this was a vision given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. They were translating the Bible and, they were looking at some verses that talked about judgment and resurrection, and they realized that there must be different ways that Heavenly Father rewards his children. And then they received this beautiful vision and they got to see the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and people who are in outer darkness. So this is where our understanding comes from for those degrees of glory, right here. Paul talks about them in the New Testament, but for details, we didn't have them before this, and so then they had this vision and now we have details about the degrees of glory, which is so fantastic. Now, if you want to study the degrees of glory in detail, you can use the Come Follow Me manual, and there's a chart in there that tells you all the different verses that go with each degree of glory. But that's way too much for us to put on this worksheet. And so we are just focused on the celestial kingdom because of course that's our goal. Right? Of course. Okay, On this worksheet, the very first study activity is called Find Action Words. Why would we want to find action words when we study the scriptures, Paisley? Action words are, what the people in the scriptures are doing, and what they are telling others to do, and the scriptures are for us, so we want to take that into our lives and implement it Awesome. In our lives. Yes. So if we find those action words, then it's kind of a to-do list for us. Right. Let's find the action words or the things that we need to do in order to inherit the celestial kingdom. Okay, so starting in verse 51, why don't you go ahead and read that and tell me if you find anything. Okay. 51 says, "they are they who received the testimony of Jesus and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial according to the commandment which he has given. Okay, so there are a couple in there. What did you find? Um, the first one that jumped out to me was received and then we have believed and baptized. Awesome. So received isn't enough by itself. That is a very important one, and I'm gonna circle it- received- but then what do they receive? What comes right after that? The testimony of Jesus. They received a testimony of Jesus. That's an important one. Oh, and then you also said, believed. They believed on his name. And what was the third one that you said? The third one I said was baptized."And were baptized." Very good. Okay, let's go on Verse 52 says "that by keeping the commandments, they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power." Okay, so I saw keeping the commandments in there. Switching colors because I'm fancy like that. Keep the commandments... and cleansed from all their sins... I love that one. Okay. And then what else is in there? Let's see. Um, I saw another receive, but this time it was the Holy Ghost. Yeah, so that's a great example of why we want to know what it is we're receiving. Receive by itself is a fun word to study and to think about. Right? Because it's not just something happening to you, but you choosing to bring it into your own heart. You accept it. Exactly, yes. So not only do you receive a testimony, but you also receive the Holy Ghost. So good. Alright. Let's go on to 53. What's there? It says, "and who overcome by faith and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true." Nice. What did you find there? Um, I really like the first one, the first line. Overcome by faith. Oh, so powerful. I love that one. I, and then after that, sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. What's the difference between receiving the Holy Spirit and being sealed by the Holy Spirit? Do you know? This is like. A hard question. I have not learned this yet. Okay, awesome. So let me tell you, being sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise is when the Holy Ghost approves of your actions. Think of a stamp of approval, like, yep, that's it. Good job. So you can receive the Holy Ghost and have the Holy Ghost with you, but not everything that you do is going to get that stamp of approval. But if you are making good choices consistently and following the Holy Ghost every time he's helping you, then he's gonna say, yep, stamp of approval. Good job, Paisley. Each of us can receive that stamp of approval and be sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. Awesome. I kind of wonder, thinking about that, how do you know if you've received that stamp of approval? How do you get that reassurance? Good question. Have you ever felt like you were doing the right thing? Felt like you were a good person in general? Yeah, I have too. Where I feel like, um... I don't know, it's weird because it's different from being boastful and proud, right? But just having that assurance in your heart of, yeah, I made a good choice today. I went to the temple, I read my scriptures. Oh good. I was patient when I had a really hard thing that happened and you can just kind of feel that peace. And one of the biggest ways I have felt that is I kind of feel that love from Heavenly Father where I just, kind of like a little hug. Just a little spiritual hug, like, yeah, good job. Not that I'm proud of myself or that I am being boastful, but that I feel, I feel loved, and that's my stamp of, of approval. Yes. I love that. Okay. The worksheet skips down to verse 62. Verse 62 says, "these shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever." Now, this isn't anything we need to do now, but what a cool promise that we get to dwell with heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It's very clear. There are other scriptures that are a little more vague of like, oh, you're in heaven. Some people just view it as sitting on a cloud, right? But this tells us specifically you are with God forever. So I love that verse, and I am going to highlight that in yellow because that is my goal. And I kinda love that it says that you dwell in the presence of God and Christ. Because whenever I think of the word dwell, like when people say, "oh, don't dwell on the past" or things like that, you're not just thinking like, oh, don't think about that. But you're really dwelling on it. You're really right. You're there in that moment. Yes. And while that might be taken in a negative connotation, this is taken in a positive connotation that you're really dwelling. With God in Christ that you're really there with them. Yeah. And you're present with them. Right. Not just that you get to see them, but you're living with them, that you're really with them. That is your life. Yeah. That is everything. I love that. Let's circle dwell. Whenever you come across a word like that, that you just really love and it touches your heart in a special way, circling that word not only is it a physical thing that you can do to remind yourself and help you think about it, but then the next time you come, you're going to realize, wait a minute, dwell was special to me the last time I read this. And so you'll be reminded of that.'Cause you won't have the same thoughts every time you read the scriptures. But making little notes like this will help you to remember them. Okay, let's skip to 69. Will you read that one? Yes."These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood." Okay, now this verse has a few things kind of hidden in it that I really love. First of all, I want to point out the word just."These are they who are just men." Does that mean it's only males who are going to be in heaven? No. No. Just can mean only. What does it mean besides that? Um, I like to kind of think of justice to where, um, if there is a just king like, like Heavenly Father, he rules with justice and mercy, but just in, in this scenario, the scriptures mean. Just that... like fair? Yeah. There we go. Yeah. That's the word I'm looking for. Yeah. So these are just men, honorable. Men, meaning men and women. But then the next line is so good!"Made perfect through Jesus." Have you ever thought that you'll never get to the celestial kingdom because you have to be perfect to get there? Yes. Now, there's one way to be perfect, and we will never get there on this earth. Never, ever, ever by ourselves. The only way we can do it is through Jesus. I love that one. Okay. But then the next line, talking about who Jesus is. Gives us something else. It's kind of hidden in there. Something else that we can do in order to get to the celestial kingdom. What's the next line? What does it say? After made perfect through Jesus? It says "the mediator of the new covenant." Which reminds me that making covenants is something that is required to be in the celestial kingdom. And yes, Jesus Christ is the mediator, helping us as we keep our covenants. But baptism is required to get to the celestial kingdom, and guess what? So are temple covenants. Okay, verse 70 is the last one on the worksheet. Can you read that one? Yes. These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all." Excellent. Our bodies will be celestial with glory like Heavenly Father. So these are fantastic promises that we get if we live this way. Here is a question on the worksheet. It says, what can you do to help you prepare to live a celestial lifestyle? Do you have any ideas? If these are the things that we need to do in order to get to the celestial kingdom, then what can we do in order to be prepared for that? I think that there's a lot of things that all of us can do, you know, um, remembering to repent every day and try to be 1% better every day, but also I think that it's kind of a personal thing for you, too. That you should go and pray to your Heavenly Father about. He can help you know what you can work on, and try to do better at to help you get to that celestial lifestyle. Excellent. Yes, I agree. Because I don't know exactly what you need. I don't know what other people need. All I can do is focus on myself, right? So it would be weird for me to sit here and tell you, "this is what you need to do to be better." But what we just read, these action words can be a guide to help you figure out what it is you need to do. Are you feeling like you have a strong testimony? If not, then start there because a testimony of Jesus Christ is the absolute most important thing that you will ever have, ever, ever, ever. It's pretty big. Yeah. A testimony is the most important thing. So if you need to receive a testimony and believe on the name of Jesus Christ, absolutely start there. But then whatever is next will still fall in line with these things. For instance, keeping your covenants is really broad. Right. Like any good thing that you do can fall within keeping your covenants. And after praying, you might feel like, oh, I need to read my scriptures more, or I need to be better about praying. I need to go to the temple more. But it will fall within one of these things. We found that list just by looking for action words. Super easy. It's such an easy way to make a plan is by looking for those action words. And if you want to do this with your family, little kids, big kids, adults, anybody can look for action words. And little kids will find things that are like, oh, I need to be baptized. That are more simplistic, but still totally relevant for them and their level. And then older kids like us, right, will find different things. And as we pray about it, the spirit can help testify to you of what else you can do in order to prepare for that celestial lifestyle. Now I'm gonna close with a quote from the prophet because I love President Nelson! And his talk- do you remember when he gave the talk "Think Celestial?" Yes. So good. This is one of the things that he said."The very things that will make your mortal life the best it can be are exactly the same things that will make your life throughout all eternity the best that it can be." So as we do these things now, we really will be preparing for the celestial kingdom and your life will be better now and your life will be better than. I'm so grateful for the scriptures! I'm so grateful that Joseph Smith received this vision so that we could learn these things. This is something that no other church has the understanding of. Nobody else knows this because they didn't have the prophet. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is God's church on the earth, and I am so grateful to be a part of it. I love the scriptures. But no matter how much I love them, you still have to go read them. Listening to me talk isn't good enough. There are a few more study tips on here for you, things that you can do to deepen your understanding and to take your scripture study to the next level. So go read your scriptures and I'll see you next time. Thanks for being here, Paisley. You're welcome. Bye! Bye. Thanks for tuning into Primarily Scripture with Cindy Young. Don't forget you can subscribe to the newsletter and download free worksheets on the website, primarily scripture.com. And if you like the channel, be sure to subscribe, like, share, and leave a review. See you next time. not only is it a... I just, my voice cracked. Did you hear that? That was fun.