The Purpose of Our Probation
Teacher – What is the purpose of our probation?
Student – To prove ourselves to God and show God we will do what God says?
Teacher – Very close and again it would seem to be the case, however, obedience is not the reason we are here. We are here to “learn from our own experience to distinguish good from evil” and “to prepare to meet God”.
There are many prophets who didn’t go along with what God proposed after they had passed their probation, (for example Exodus 9:14). To successfully complete the probation period, we must clearly understand what we are being tested on, or we will fail the test.
Do you remember near the beginning of our discussion when we pointed out that Redemption can only be brought about on conditions of Repentance while we are in our probation? (Alma 42:13) But then we also pointed out that children under the age of 8 years were not in their probation and so Redemption for them was not conditional on repentance, (Moro. 8:8-25, D&C 29:46-49). Well, we didn’t point out another group mentioned in the same verses. Those who are not under the law.
“For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing—” - Moro. 8:22
There are a number of points in this verse that apply to those who have received the promise of exaltation. The first point is that Mormon is telling his son Moroni that those who are “not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent”. When applied to those who receive the promise of exaltation, we quickly realize that not only are they not being condemned, but they are being exalted! And without being condemned, they cannot repent.
But how can this possibly be? In another book, we will discuss “The Final Repentance”, but for now let’s look at the second point Mormon makes to his son Moroni. “The power of redemption comes on all them that have no law”. This point is of little use without the information that Paul generously gave to the Galatians;
“16. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made… And this I say...the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. ...
18. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. ...
21. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” – Gal. 3:16-25 (Read the whole chapter which addresses this subject.)
If the Law is our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ and the promise of God, then it is no longer needed when we have received the promise. At that point, we are no longer under the schoolmaster or law. So, Mormon point’s out that redemption comes to children and those who are not under the law is referring in both instances to those who are not currently in their probationary state.
There is a significant difference between those who have not yet entered their probation and those who have Endured to the End of their probation. This difference is primarily based on the knowledge gained in the process.
Remember that Adam and Eve took the fruit of the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil which sent them into the probationary state. They had become as the Gods knowing good from evil. But they had not yet proven which part they would choose if they were left to themselves, (outside God’s presence or influence). Would they choose the Good or would they choose the Evil?
Initially the answer was unknown. However, having gone through their probation and testing they proved that they would consistently, (but not necessarily perfectly), choose the Good over the Evil. After they show that they will consistently choose good rather than evil, God gives his solemn promise that they will be exalted which ends the probation or trial period.
They are then brought back into His presence and redeemed from the fall. This all happens while still in mortality as exemplified by the brother of Jared:
“11. And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak?
12. And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.
13. And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.” - Ether 3:11-13
If the probationary period is a time to prepare to meet God, and a person prepares and then meets God, then that person has completed their probation, even if they do it in mortality. Their trial has ended, they are redeemed from the fall and brought back into God’s presence.
The focus of our probation should then be to live the good or righteous life. If we want to pass our probation quickly, then we need to: Research and gain KNOWLEDGE about our OPTIONs and the CONSEQUENCES of those options. Weigh the options on the scale of MORALITY (good vs evil) until we have a firm DESIRE for one of the options. Then exercise our ABILITY to CHOSE by acting on our decisions. If we choose the good, then we will show God that it is important for us to do good and be moral, even when it is difficult.
We can speed up this process by learning to recognize, receive and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. It will teach you all things. It will teach you so that you know for yourself.
Periods of Testing
Be aware that there are times in our lives when the Holy Ghost must withdraw and leave us to ourselves so that we can prove to God and ourselves what we will do when left to our own devices. This experiences can be difficult and long, but if you realize what is happening and what you need to do, then you can take your test quickly and the spirit will immediately return.
During these testing periods, you are left to yourself to apply the correct principles you have already learned. You must weigh your decision carefully using the true principles you have received and know and do the best you can. Realize that the pass or fail point is not really what you do, but why you do it.
After the trial, you are able to learn again from the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
A word to the wise in helping you through these dark nights,
Charity NEVER faileth…
Life after Our Probation
Student – What happens after the probation period is successfully completed?
Teacher – They have come full circle and returned again into God’s presence but this time they are as the Gods having gained a physical body and the means by which to control that body. They have learned from their own experience to distinguish between Good and Evil. They will be exalted, and because they have been redeemed from the fall, and are no longer in their probationary or practice state, they can no longer rely on the atonement of Christ to cover their sins on conditions of repentance.
Instead, they must suffer for their own actions by being delivered over to the buffetings of Satan and be destroyed in the flesh. In addition, they like every God, cannot commit the unpardonable sin.
“26. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man marry a wife according to my word, and they are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, according to mine appointment, and he or she shall commit any sin or transgression of the new and everlasting covenant whatever, and all manner of blasphemies, and if they commit no murder wherein they shed innocent blood, yet they shall come forth in the first resurrection, and enter into their exaltation; but they shall be destroyed in the flesh, and shall be delivered unto the buffetings of Satan unto the day of redemption, saith the Lord God.
27. The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be forgiven in the world nor out of the world, is in that ye commit murder wherein ye shed innocent blood, and assent unto my death, after ye have received my new and everlasting covenant, saith the Lord God; and he that abideth not this law can in nowise enter into my glory, but shall be damned, saith the Lord.” - D&C 132:26-27
Bruce R. McConkie provides his opinion on the promises given in these verses:
“Making one’s calling and election sure comes after and grows out of celestial marriage. Eternal life does not and cannot exist for a man or a woman alone, because in its very nature it consists of the continuation of the family unit in eternity. Thus the revelation on marriage speaks both of celestial marriage (in which the conditional promises of eternal life are given) and of making one’s calling and election sure (in which the unconditional promises of eternal life are given) in one and the same sentence—which sentence also says that those who commit sins (except ‘murder whereby to shed innocent blood’) after being sealed up unto eternal life shall still gain exaltation. This is the language: ‘Then’—that is, after their calling and election has been made sure—[D&C 132:19–20 cited]. ...
But suppose such persons become disaffected and the spirit of repentance leaves them—which is a seldom and an almost unheard of eventuality—still, what then? The answer is—and the revelations and teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith so recite!—they must then pay the penalty of their own sins, for the blood of Christ will not cleanse them. Or if they commit murder or adultery, they lose their promised inheritance because these sins are exempt from the sealing promises. Or if they commit the unpardonable sin, they become sons of perdition.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:342–43.)
Paul taught this to the Hebrews when he wrote the following:
"1. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3. And this will we do, if God permit.
4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6. If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” – Heb. 6:1-6
To some, the above doctrine may seem terrifying and ominous! Some might even wonder who would ever seek such a blessing?!? To this we respond, progression always leads to greater responsibility, but with it we gain greater joy, peace, love and happiness. That being said, the fear you may be experiencing results from a lack of knowledge.
People who have come this far have already received their Calling and Election made sure. They have built on the rock from which they cannot fall.
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:” - 2 Peter 1:10
“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” - Helaman 5:12
“Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall.” - D&C 50:44
If the scriptures are true, then there is a rock on which if you build, you “cannot and shall never fall”. These and other scriptures tell us that those who build on this rock are outside the power and influence of the devil so much so that he “shall have no power over you.”
If they are true, and if we learn how to build on this rock then there is no fear in progressing to the point when the blood of Christ will not clean us from our sins.
We encourage you to simply be aware of and not afraid of these doctrines so that when you come to this point of progression you are open to learn and understand it clearly.
When you understand the truth, there is very little to fear. A person who crosses this boundary does so because of who they are and who they have become in the probation process. It is actually a goal of the atonement when properly understood and taught.
The First thing concept we considered in this book is, “When does the Probation Begin”. We concluded that it begins when we begin to become accountable.
The question we are asked in the probation period is, “What will we do with the power we receive through our bodies?” This is answered each day in our actions and choices. We either desire good or evil.
As our freedom grows, so to must our responsibility and accountability until we are completely free, totally responsible and ultimately accountable for our actions.
In addition, unless we go through this probationary process successfully in this life or the next, we will never become Gods. We have ample time to complete our probation prior to our resurrection.
It is essential that we “Endure to the End” of our probation or we will not receive the inheritance we expect and desire.
A successful probation cannot end until we accept the New and Everlasting Covenant as spelled out in D&C 132:26-27, (which supersedes all previous covenants and remains from everlasting to everlasting), in which we are promised exaltation on the condition that we will henceforth suffer for our own actions and never commit the unpardonable sin. If we are not willing to accept the conditions of this New and Everlasting Covenant, then, we have not accepted the promise of exaltation which is dependant upon these conditions. If we intend to become a God now or ever, we must eventually be willing to accept the New and Everlasting covenant with all its conditions. These conditions along with the reasoning behind these conditions will be discussed in greater detail in the coming book, “The Atonement of Jesus Christ” by Elliaison.
Another question that must inevitably be asked is, “How can it possibly be that a person cannot repent anymore once they complete the probationary period?”
This is also answered in detail in the book, “The Atonement of Jesus Christ” by Elliaison under the chapter heading, “The Final Repentance” in which we discuss the only true sin on which all other sins are rooted and how we are able to overcome all sin in one act of repentance thereby becoming perfect. We clearly show that perfection has been misunderstood making it impossible to accomplish in this life or the next. But correctly understanding perfection as taught by Christ explains both what we must do to be perfect and why the scriptures tell us that Jesus was not the only person to achieve perfection in mortality.
For now, we hope that you will consider the ideas we have discussed here. Determine for yourself how or if they apply to you. We hope that by understanding the probation of man, you will have a better road map for spiritual success. We hope that these thoughts and ideas are as life impacting for you as they were for us.
May God grant you the humility required to have the spirit of peace, love and wisdom to guide you successfully through your probation.
We share these things with you, in the name of our friend, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Spend more time on how people can take other’s agency. Student asks, they still have the ability to choose because they can chose to die.
How is agency actually taken, teller didn’t chose to give life or give money. Their range of choices was taken from the and they were forced to chose between two options that they wouldn’t have chosen if their will was not impeded.
Daniel and Lions den = Long term forced against will vs philipant choice to lie.
At the end, - You have a lot more questions that are not covered in this book but which will be covered in a future book.