Embracing the Plan of Salvation
Insights from Elder Patrick Kearon
It is September, and next month is the general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a good time to review the talks from the April 2024 general conference. So, I enlisted Grok from X.ai to help me.
In the April 2024 General Conference, Elder Patrick Kearon, newly called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, offered profound insights into God's intent for His children through the Plan of Salvation. His talk, "God’s Intent Is to Bring You Home," serves as a beacon of hope and understanding, illuminating the divine purpose behind our mortal journey.
The Divine Design of the Plan
Elder Kearon emphasized that our loving Father in Heaven created this earth specifically for our growth and redemption:
Creation for Our Experience: "Our loving Father oversaw the Creation of this very earth for the express purpose of providing an opportunity for you and for me to have the stretching and refining experiences of mortality." This underscores the purposefulness of our life's challenges.
The Role of Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ's mission was to provide an example and atone for us. Elder Kearon noted, "He sent His precious Beloved Son to this fallen world to live the full range of the human experience, to provide an example for the rest of His children to follow, and to atone and redeem."
The Plan's Intentions
Elder Kearon broke down the Father's plan into components that reflect His desire for our eternal happiness:
Redemption: "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." Here, he aligns with Alma's teachings in Alma 11:40-41 about the redemption through Christ.
Mercy: "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." This mirrors the Lord's teaching in Doctrine and Covenants 58:42-43 about the principles of repentance and forgiveness.
Salvation: "The intent of the Father’s plan of salvation is in fact your salvation in the celestial kingdom of glory." This echoes the Savior's own words in John 14:2-3, promising to prepare a place for us.
The Savior's Role in Our Return
Elder Kearon beautifully illustrated Christ's inclusivity and unconditional love:
Unconditional Love: "He did not cast away the woman with the issue of blood; He did not recoil from the leper; He did not reject the woman taken in adultery." This reflects Christ's teachings in Matthew 9:36, where He is moved with compassion for the multitude.
The Rending of the Veil: When Jesus died, "the veil of the temple was rent in twain," symbolizing open access to God for all, as described in Matthew 27:51. Elder Kearon teaches us that Christ's atonement has made this possible.
Personal Application and Hope
From Elder Kearon's message, we learn:
Daily Covenant Living: To live daily in accordance with the covenants we've made, understanding that every step towards Christ, no matter how small, is progress towards our eternal home.
Hope in Christ: "The Father’s design, His plan, His purpose, His intent, His wish, and His hope are all to heal you, all to give you peace, all to bring you, and those you love, home." This message is a balm for those feeling lost or far from God, mirroring the promise in Isaiah 1:18 of God's willingness to reason with us.
In conclusion, Elder Kearon's talk invites us to see our life's journey not as a random occurrence but as a meticulously planned path back to our Heavenly Father. By embracing the principles of redemption, mercy, and salvation through Jesus Christ, we can find joy and purpose in our daily lives, knowing that God's intent is to bring us home. This message, filled with hope and love, resonates with the teachings of other Apostles and scriptures, reminding us that our spiritual destination is not just about reaching an end but about the journey of becoming like Christ.
