Gps for the Soul: Navigation to Salvation

By Steven Harrison

A Scripturally based Guide to Your Spiritual Health and Salvation in these Latter days of Tribulation. Fullness of the Gospel Explained.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499078879

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Copyright © 2014, 2015 by Steven Harrison.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version), © 1983 by the Zondervan Corporation.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2014917470

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-4990-7888-6

                Softcover        978-1-4990-7889-3

                eBook             978-1-4990-7887-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 11/03/2015

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Basic Principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Chapter 1 Man’s Eternal Purpose

• Creation of Earth and Man

• Fatherhood of God

• Pre-Mortal Life with God

• Our Chosen Savior, Jesus Christ

• Agency of Man

• Parents of the Human Race

Chapter 2 Man Not Left Alone

• The Holy Ghost

• Communication between God and Man

Chapter 3 Heritage of Jesus Christ

• Pre-Mortal Life

• Mortal Life

• The Mission of Jesus Christ

• Atonement of Our Lord and Savior

• Jesus Christ Established His Church

• Organization of Christ’s Church

• Authority from God

Chapter 4 Basic Principles Taught

• Faith in Jesus Christ

• Faith

• Repentance

• Baptism by Immersion

• All May Hear the Gospel

• Gift of the Holy Ghost

• Gifts of the Spirit

Chapter 5 The Sabbath—a Day of Rest

• History of the Sabbath

• The Sabbath and Its Purpose

Chapter 6 The Sacrament

• A Reminder and Renewal of Covenants

• How Christ Instructed and Administered

Chapter 7 Apostasy from Jesus Christ’s Church

Chapter 8 A Restoration Foretold

• Twelve Tribes of Israel

• The Scattering of Israel

• The Lost Ten Tribes

• A Remnant of Israel

• The Gathering of Israel

• The Restoration of Israel

Chapter 9 As a Real Man Thinketh

• Moral Cleanliness and Freedom

• Whom Do Ye Serve?—Overcoming Adversity

• Spiritual Minded and Living a Christ-Like Life

Chapter 10 Fulfilling Our Purpose as a Family

• Responsibilities as Parents

• Man’s Duty to His Family and God

• Sacred Calling—a Daughter of God

• Some of the Most Elect—Our Youth

Chapter 11 Discerning the Signs of the Times

• Events Preceding the Second Coming

• God’s Covenant People

• The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Chapter 12 The Millennium and Beyond

• Post-Mortal World

• Last Judgment

• Exaltation

Extra Information and Reading

• The Godhead

• Personal Testimony

Acknowledgments

My eternal companion has always encouraged me to pursue my desires. Over the past two years, she has sacrificed much of our time while I was preparing and writing this book. My wife has also been a major contributor in putting GPS for the Soul together. I am very grateful for her and for family members and wonderful friends that have influenced me. Most of all I am grateful for my testimony of Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. It is my personal testimony that has strengthened me through the most difficult life experiences.

Introduction

Basic Principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

There are many laws or commandments given to us to do our best to abide. It can seem overwhelming and hard to follow them all, but two of the greatest commandments teach us and help us to follow them.

We are surrounded and bombarded by things that lead us away from God and into the hands of the adversary in these latter days. If we hold on to the rod that leads us to the tree of life, we can escape the paths of darkness and not wander to and fro as waves in the sea. It is by grasping onto the rod that leads us on the straight path to good fruit, light, peace, and true happiness.

In this book you will find basic principles from the Bible about the Gospel of Jesus Christ that may have gone unnoticed or overlooked. It is through His Gospel we learn our purpose here upon the earth. Also that the mysteries of God are not only taught to us individually by reading but given by the Spirit of God, who truly teaches us all things that the natural man/woman can’t conceive but the spiritual man/woman receives as they are prepared to listen.

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Chapter 1

Man’s Eternal Purpose

Creation of Earth and Man

As we begin our discovery of who we are, questions arise: Where did we come from? Why are we here? What is our purpose? Where do we go after this life? There are many similar questions on the hearts and minds of most of us living on the earth. We should begin with the obvious that most of us can agree on.

We are brought into this world that was made for the use and benefit of man. This brings me to the idea that there is something that exists much bigger or greater than the natural man, even a Supreme Creator. Everything about this earth, above the earth, upon the earth, below this earth, and its position in the Celestial skies, along with other planets and billions of stars, a moon and a sun, galaxies, and all others are in perfect motion and order. This teaches me that it is true; there is a God a Supreme Being.

Some say that everything exists as it does because of the Big Bang. If the Big Bang did occur, I’m sure that God used his power to do so and used the matter to form his creations, such as this earth. With everything you see, take time to be still and notice all the varieties of animals, fish, birds, and insects; the creeks, rivers, lakes, and oceans; the landscapes around the world, such as mountains, hills, plains, forests, jungles, and deserts; the plants, trees, fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, seedlings, and harvest; the clouds and the rain; and, not to forget, the moon and the stars to give us some light by night and the sun to give us light and warmth by day. All things being in their season and made in the complex order testifies to me that God did create all things.

It is far-reaching for the natural man or mind to conceive how he did it, but it is a witness before my eyes every day that he did.

(Genesis 1; Psalms 104; John 1:1–14; Acts 17:23–29)

Fatherhood of God

God has all power and knows all things. The scriptures tell us that we are made in his image. God has a body that looks like ours, but is a glorified celestial body. He is perfect whereas man is subject to natural laws and has imperfections. God is full of love, mercy, truth, and power. We are his greatest creation and are literally his offspring as the scriptures testify. God desires that all his children return to him.

(Genesis 1:26-27; Numbers 16:22, 27:16; Psalms 82:6; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Zechariah 12:1; Romans 8:16-17, 29; Hebrews 12:9; James 2:26)

Pre-Mortal Life with God

We learn from the scriptures and by the Holy Ghost, which teaches us line upon line as we are willing to receive it, that we existed before our mortal birth. We do not remember our pre-mortal life; however, God, our Heavenly Father, has revealed to us these truths to help us understand our purpose and his plan for us.

We are literally his children and lived with him before our mortal birth. Our bodies were spiritually created first in his image. We are all different and unique individuals even within the same earthly family. All siblings from day one are unique in their physical bodies and also in their individual spirits created in the heavens. Each of us has our own identity, talents, and personality.

(Numbers 16:22, 27:16; Proverbs 8; Isaiah 42:1, 42:5, 44:2, 44:24; Jeremiah 1:5; 1 Corinthians 15:44, 15:49)

God chose what dispensation or time on earth we would be born to help us learn what we personally needed and would do the most good (Acts 17:26). He has not forgotten who we are and our potential. Our Heavenly Parents provided us a glorious celestial home. Similarly, we as parents provide a home for our children here on earth. However, there is a time when the children need to progress on their own. After we have been able to teach them all that we can, there is a time when it is necessary for them to be tested and gain experience to grow as adults.

Our Heavenly Parents love us and desire for us to grow spiritually and gain knowledge for our good. Heavenly Father presented his plan in Heaven to us concerning our life here on this earth. We are in this world to be tested and have a veil covering our memory of our celestial home that we could have the freedom to choose good or evil, being away from his presence. Our spiritual bodies naturally seek and hunger for truth and light, while within our flesh; the natural man is prone to fall.

Through our faith and not because we remember details of our pre-mortal life, we could and hopefully would obey him. God gives us the ability to recognize truth when we hear it, feel it, or see it. We also learned that, because of this mortal body we would receive, all of us would sin. A Savior would be provided that we could be forgiven as we repented and overcame our sins. We could be worthy to return home to our glorious celestial home, a place without pain, sorrow, and afflictions. This is so that we may receive a fullness of joy. The scriptures tell us that we were so excited and happy after we heard God’s plan, we shouted for joy.

(Job 32:8, 38:4–7; Isaiah 46:10; Luke 22:22; John 18:3 Romans 9:11; Ephesians 1:4, 1:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 11:1, 11:3, 11:6; 1 Peter 1:2, 1:3, 1:12, 1:18–25).

Our Chosen Savior, Jesus Christ

In the grand council in Heaven, the Plan of Salvation was presented to the congregation. Because we needed a Savior to help us return home, our Heavenly Father must have surely asked, Whom shall I send? Two of our brothers spoke up and offered to help us. Our eldest Brother, Jehovah / Jesus Christ surely said, Here am I. Send me. He was willing to give his life for us and said, Father, thine will be done and the glory be thine forever. Satan/Lucifer on the other hand said, Behold, here am I, send me. I will do it. Wherefore give me thine honor.

Under Jehovah’s plan, we would have freedom to choose, and the glory to be given to our Heavenly Father, but under Satan’s plan, we would be forced to do all his will and the glory would be his. After listening to both sons speak, Heavenly Father obviously chose the first (Luke 22:22; John 17:3–5, 17:21).

Jehovah / Jesus Christ was chosen and Satan became very angry and rebelled. He despised and hated that he was not chosen. It seemed to me that Satan must have always or for some time sat on the fence or edge, choosing good or evil. Perhaps he had, in his disposition or self, a rebellious spirit.

Because of his rebellion and anger, he fought against Jehovah and all of us who accepted God’s plan and Jehovah as our Savior. All the spirits that followed Satan were cast out from the presence of God—one-third of all the spirits in heaven. Satan and his followers were denied the privilege of receiving mortal bodies and were cast down to earth as spirits. They tempt us every day to do things in word or in action that is against and not pleasing to our Heavenly Father (Isaiah 14:12–15; Luke 10:17-18, John 7:16–18, 7:28–29, 7:33; Acts 2:23; Romans 11:2; 1 Timothy 5:21; Jude 1:6, 1:9; Revelation 12:4, 12:7–9, 12:12–13, 12:17).

There is a continuation of that war, a spiritual war here on earth. Satan knows who we are (children of God) and despises us for he knows of our worth to God and our purpose on earth, and he will do everything in his power to have us not return home to our Heavenly Father.

Satan has had a lot of practice over these thousands of years doing what he does best, but we have the ability and power to rise above the tempters and overcome. We know that, because we have mortal bodies here on earth, we chose to follow God and Jesus Christ. We chose the right and were privileged to receive our mortal body. As we continue to choose good over evil on earth, we can return to our Celestial home, in joy beyond measure.

(Psalms 24:1; Luke 10:16–22; John 5; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 John 4; Revelation 2).

Agency of Man

From the beginning of pre-mortal life, we had power or freedom to choose. By choosing to follow Christ and our desire to leave the presence of God for a moment to learn and grow without literally being with him, but with faith in Jesus Christ and being led by the Holy Spirit, we knew we would not be left alone.

We would have the opportunity to be guided in our life, depending on how we use