Before the world was created, Heavenly Father created a way for each of his spirit children to come to earth to receive a body and to learn for ourselves how to choose good over evil and to gain power over every form of evil. The Savior is central to the Father’s plan, insomuch that all who sin that repent of their sins, and keep His commandments may ascend to receive a fulness of the Father’s glory (intelligence) and sovereign authority and power to do good.

Jesus Christ was sent to earth to fulfill this mission, as the Savior of the world. He was born on earth of Mary, not by the will of the flesh, nor by the will of man, but by the will of God. The word of God was made flesh, in Christ. He is the true light, which lighteth every man who cometh into the world, and John at the baptism of Jesus, and many others since the beginning, unto this day, have seen and born witness to his glory. And all who receive Jesus Christ, and believe on his name, to them he gives power to become true Sons of God. (See JST John 1: 1-34)

One of the commandments that God has given to his covenant people, through prophets in every dispensation, is to feast daily upon the words of Christ. His word teaches us all things that we must do to receive eternal life, or to become like Christ and our Father in heaven.

In Hosea 4:6 we learn what happens to those who fail to feast upon the words of Christ: “My people are destroyed for lack of (redeeming) knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”

Here we see how important it is that we come to fully understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. After Moses was taken up to heaven by the Lord, the Lord commanded Joshua to cross the river Jordan with the hosts of Israel, to inherit the land of promise, a land that was inhabited by the Hittites, a mighty people that Israel feared.

In Joshua’s first meeting with the Lord, as Israel’s new prophet, the Lord promised Joshua that no man would be able to stand before him, for as the Lord was with Moses, so would he be with Joshua. The Lord commanded Joshua to be strong and of good courage; and to divide the promised land unto his people for an inheritance—even as the Lord promised unto their fathers.

The Lord said further to him, “I will not fail or forsake thee all the days of your life.” This promise was conditioned upon Joshua being strong and courageous to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses commanded Israel, and to turn not from the right hand or the left hand of the law. The Lord told Joshua that the law was not to ever depart out of his mouth and that he was to  meditate therein day and night, so that he could observe to do according to all that was written in the law. If he would so do, then the Lord would prosper Joshua and give him good success. (See Joshua Chapter 1)

The Lord further promised that he would give to Israel great cities, which they would not have to build themselves, and they would receive houses that were full of all good things, which they would not have to buy with money or build themselves. They would also receive great wells that were already dug, which would flow with pure water; and they would receive vineyards and olive trees that they did not plant themselves.

The Lord then warned Israel about these prosperous circumstance in which they would soon find themselves, and admonished them to beware, lest in their prosperity they forget the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, where they had served as bondmen to Pharaoh for 400 years. The Lord further warned Joshua that if Israel were to follow after the God’s of neighboring nations, they would be destroyed from off the face of the earth.

Thus, God commanded Israel, through Joshua, that the whole of Israel must also know the book of the law. Only through knowledge of the Lord’s commandments, statutes, testimonies, and judgements, which were written in the law, could Israel remain free and prosperous from generation to generation.

With this inheritance of a land flowing with milk and honey, Joshua was to teach the people to not to follow after the false ways of neighboring nations, which bordered Israel and to teach parents in Israel to diligently teach their children the Lord’s commandments, laws, statutes, judgements, testimonies, and covenants.

They were to talk about them in their homes, and when walking by the way, and before they go to bed at night, and when they arose each morning. God’s word was to become so bound to their hearts and souls, that it would be to them as signs upon their hands and frontlets between their eyes.

His word was also to be written upon the posts of their houses, and on their gates. And so long as they would remember the Lord from generation to generation, and all that he did for them, and his laws and commandments, Israel would prosper, and no enemy would gain power over them.

Thus, they were to keep in remembrance forever the testimonies of the many signs and wonders, great and sore, that the Lord afflicted upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon his household, with all of Israel bearing witness; and of how the Lord brought Israel out from the bondage of Egypt with a mighty hand.

If they would remember these testimonies of the Lord bringing them forth from bondage and prospering them, and if they would keep the Lord’s commandments, laws, statutes, and judgements, then God would preserve and prosper Israel from generation to generation, and no enemy would gain power over them. (See Deuteronomy, chapter 6.)

The laws of Moses prepared Israel to receive Jesus Christ, who was the Lord of the Old Testament, and the long awaited Messiah who appeared in the flesh in New Testament times. He taught the gospel of salvation to those of his day, again teaching how to choose good over evil and to walk justly and in love and peace with all men. He commanded his disciples to write and make a record of the things that he taught (his gospel) and that Israel was to feast upon the words of Christ daily.

Paul wrote of apostasy and perilous times of the last days when men would forsake the gospel of Jesus Christ, and would become evil men and seducers. They would wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived, and causing God’s people to suffer persecutions.

Paul admonished, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Paul taught that all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, and that in them the man of God may be perfected and throughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:1-17).

In our day the Lord has commanded, “Seek not riches but for wisdom, that the mysteries of God may be unfolded unto you, insomuch that you receive eternal life. Build upon my rock, which is my gospel; study my word until you obtain all which the Lord shall reveal in this generation.

The words of Jesus Christ are the word of the Lord, the will of the Lord, the mind of the Lord, the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation. Therefore, pray always and feast upon the words of Christ. In this way, we will be made ready with our lamps trimmed and burning with the oil of light and truth, at the coming of the Bridegroom—who will come quickly.

If we do not feast upon the words of Christ, then the law of the gospel will not be written upon our hearts. Thus, we will reject the light and truth that is in his word. If this is the course we take, then we will be removed out of our place, and he will reject and forget us and our children, insomuch that those things that we were sent to earth to do by God, will be given to another.

It isn’t enough to go to church once a week and then come home and become so occupied by the world that we do not hunger and thirst after the Lord’s righteousness continually. Rather, we must feast upon the words of Christ daily in meekness and with a desire to continue to change (repent) and come more fully unto Christ, until we receive of his fulness. We are commanded to also teach our children to do the same, insomuch that we and they come to stand firmly in our place and do the will of him who sent us to earth and thereby fulfill our earthly mission!

The Lord promises to give to all men his light, truth, and power unto salvation, as fast as they are willing and able to receive more. Those who seek him always, will further their ascension in grace minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day, until they receive the fulness of Christ.