Preparing for a gathering

Joseph often talked about preparation - whether it was to prepare for the world to come, or to prepare to have the veil rent in the temple, or to meet God when you die. The supposition is that in this world we all have a lot to work on and so we must prepare. We need to be tried like gold. 

Here’s a good quote from Joseph about this: 

“Whatever principle of intelligence we attain to in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.  And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much more the advantage in the world to come.”

I think this statement can be equally applied to our situation, right now, that the better we prepare ourselves to gather the more advantage we’ll have when it’s time. We must qualify beforehand. Said another way: 

Whatever principle of intelligence [and charity] we attain to [before we gather], it will [carry] with us in the [gathering].  And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence [and charity before we gather] through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much more the advantage [when it’s time].

But this doesn’t happen all at once or overnight. As we commit to reconciling ourselves to Gods voice through our conscience, we make small gains that accumulate over time, until we are a completely different person than we were before. 

I like this quote as well:

“When you climb a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all of the principles of exaltation.  But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them.  It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave.”

Pruning is coming. The more we can submit to pruning now the less painful it will be later. We must submit to the pruning of our character, ability to have and maintain good relationships, and be a peace-maker. May we recognize our need to improve, to begin the climb now, and prepare. 

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