Second-class Saints.

I gave this talk in sacrament meeting yesterday.

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I address my remarks today to the second-class Saints. You know who you are. The ones who show up, pay your tithing, pretty much do everything right – or at least don’t do anything wrong – who don’t expect the biggest reward in the hereafter, or really to amount to much here and now. You’re not impressive, you’re not obviously talented like a half-dozen members of the ward you could name. You expect to maybe be kind-of happy in the hereafter, but obviously you’re not going to end up receiving all that the Father hath. You’re just not Celestial material.

For everyone who identifies with what I just said, I have one word:

REPENT.

Repent of what?

Of not believing Jesus when He says that He can save you and bring you to where He is.

I’m saddened when I see members who have a solid testimony of the Restoration and the Book of Mormon, of modern prophets and the spirit of Elijah, who understand the Plan of Salvation inside and out… and yet insist on believing that it’s all meant for, you know, other people. Not me.

Listen to the words of Jesus, and see if you can hear some footnote that says, “except me.”

From the New Testament:

Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 8:12 “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

1st John 1:7: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

1st John 1:9 “If we confess our sins,s he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1st John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God: that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name OF THE Son of God.”

Revelation 3:21: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

Here are some from the Book of Mormon:

2 Nephi 26: 24-28 “He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.
“Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.
“Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
“Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.
“Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.”

2 Nephi 26:33 “And he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.”

2 Nephi 31:20 “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

Are you sensing a theme yet? Here are some from the Doctrine & Covenants:

D&C 6:13 “If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation.”

D&C 59:23 “But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.”

D&C 78:22 “And he that is a faithful and wise steward shall inherit all things. Amen.”

I understand. I get it. I have felt beyond the full grasp of redeeming love many times, not because of some dire unforgivable sin, but simply because I’m just “non Celestial material.”

But you and I are not somehow different from all the other people Jesus saves who are both Saints and sinners. None of us are “Celestial material.” If we were, we wouldn’t need a Savior. And our Savior is not so powerless that He just can’t quite save you or me.

Here are some remarks from Elder Kearon from this most recent General Conference (and if this is what we have to expect from Elder Kearon going forward, he will quickly become my favorite apostle at General Conference):

“My friends, my fellow disciples on the road of mortal life, our Father’s beautiful plan, even His “fabulous” plan, is designed to bring you home, not to keep you out. No one has built a roadblock and stationed someone there to turn you around and send you away. In fact, it is the exact opposite. God is in relentless pursuit of you. He “wants all of His children to choose to return to Him,” and He employs every possible measure to bring you back.”
…
“The intent of the Father’s great plan of happiness is your happiness, right here, right now, and in the eternities. It is not to prevent your happiness and cause you instead worry and fear.
“The intent of the Father’s plan of redemption is in fact your redemption, your being rescued through the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ, freed from the captivity of sin and death. It is not to leave you as you are.
“The intent of the Father’s plan of mercy is to extend mercy as you turn back to Him and honour your covenant of fidelity to Him. It is not to deny mercy and inflict pain and sorrow.
“The intent of the Father’s plan of salvation is in fact your salvation in the celestial kingdom of glory as you receive “the testimony of Jesus” and offer your whole soul to Him. It is not to keep you out.”
…
“If you are prone to worry that you will never measure up, or that the loving reach of Christ’s infinite Atonement mercifully covers everyone else but not you, then you misunderstand. Infinite means infinite. Infinite covers you and those you love.”
…
“Are there things we need to do, commandments to keep, aspects of our natures to change? Yes. But with His grace, those are within our reach, not beyond our grasp.”

Brothers and sisters, we are not called upon to be perfect in this life. We are not called upon to be “Celestial material.” we ARE called to have faith in Jesus – to trust Him, and be loyal to Him – and to rely wholly upon not our own merits, but the merits of He who is mighty to save.