u/Right_One_78

I have found there is a widespread misunderstanding about what being "saved" means. So, I would like to address that topic.

Saved means to be put beyond the reach of your enemies, The enemies of mankind are death and sin. ie delivered from sin and from spiritual death.

We are saved from sin by the Atonement and saved from death by the resurrection. If we are still able to die and to sin, then we have not yet been saved. Until the resurrection, no one is saved. But, we can feel the effects of the promise of salvation while in this life. If we repent and turn away from our sins, then we have been promised that we will be saved and we can feel that in our hearts. But, this is contingent on us remaining faithful and repenting whenever we sin. We must endure until the end. (Matthew 24:13) The only thing required of us to recieve this salvation is to call upon His name, ie to repent. (Romans 10:13)

Hell is the English translation of the Hebrew word Sheol, which is the abode of the dead, where the spirits of the dead await the resurrection. Sheol is divided into two parts: Paradise and Prison. Everyone goes to Hell, even Jesus went to Hell. He broke open the gates of Hell making the resurrection possible. Those that do not repent while in this life will suffer in Hell. But that suffering exists for the sole purpose of saving the unrepented.

>1 Corinthians 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Even the wicked that suffer a loss and are burned by the fires of Hell will be saved eventually. The fires exist to help us let go of our sins. Only after we have let go of our sins and caled upon His name can the Atonement of Jesus Christ take affect on us and save us from our sins.

>2 Maccabees 12:46 It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.

We know that everyone will be resurrected and that the resurrection is ony possible after sin has been destoryed.

>1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Everyone will eventually be saved from Hell, this is given by the grace of God. But, after everyone has been resurrected, we will stand before God to be judged based on our works.

>Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

The standard for Heaven and Eternal life is very high, which is why only a few will enter in. (Matthew 7:14) When Jesus was asked by the rich ruler, "what must I do to have Eternal life?" Jesus's response was to keep the commandments, ie works. (Matthew 19:16–22) Jesus didn't say baptism was necessary for salvation from Hell, but He did say it was necessary to enter Heaven. (John 3:5)

We are saved from Hell by grace through faith and we are saved to Heaven by works. We must learn to live and think like God in order to live in His presence.

In 3 Nephi, Jesus tells us about the restoration of the gospel in the latter days:

>3 Nephi 16:7 Behold, because of their belief in me, saith the Father, and because of the unbelief of you, O house of Israel, in the latter day shall the truth come unto the Gentiles, that the fulness of these things shall be made known unto them.

The truth was made known to Joseph so that the fullness of the gospel could be made known to the Gentiles ie us. Who has the fullness of the gospel? Only us that have received it through Joseph Smith. No other church has it.

So, then what is being said in verse 10?

>3 Nephi 16:10 And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.

This is Jesus Christ, Himself, prophesying that the church in the latter days will fall into apostasy and we will lose the truths that He restored. The church will no longer be counted among His people. The church will be guilty of lies, hypocrisy, murders, priestcrafts, whoredoms and Secret combinations to hide their sins and deceive the people. But, just because the church as a whole is under condemnation doesn't mean we as individuals can't repent and seek to be corrected so that we can be numbered among His people. There are many to whom the truth is hidden because they dont know where to find it. Because there are secret combinations and lies and deceits, it will be very difficult for even those that are righteous and seek God to find the truth. The sins and lies of the wicked within the church hide the truth from the eyes of many who would accept it otherwise.

>3 Nephi 16:13 But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel.

The Parable of the Nobleman given in D&C 101 tells us this same thing and tells us when this apostasy was to occur. The parable is given "that you may know my will concerning the redemption of Zion."

>47 And while they were yet laying the foundation thereof, they began to say among themselves: And what need hath my lord of this tower?

While the church was still being established the servants would ignore the counsels of God because they sought material gain.

>51 And the enemy came by night, and broke down the hedge; and the servants of the nobleman arose and were affrighted, and fled; and the enemy destroyed their works, and broke down the olive trees.

The servants of the Lord were no longer to be found among the church. The enemy drove them off. This would lead to a great evil being done among them and the enemy building up their own watchtowers to watch over the church.

>55 And the lord of the vineyard said unto one of his servants: Go and gather together the residue of my servants, and take all the strength of mine house, which are my warriors, my young men, and they that are of middle age also among all my servants, who are the strength of mine house, save those only whom I have appointed to tarry;
56 And go ye straightway unto the land of my vineyard, and redeem my vineyard; for it is mine; I have bought it with money.
57 Therefore, get ye straightway unto my land; break down the walls of mine enemies; throw down their tower, and scatter their watchmen.

The Lord will redeem His church and those that within the church that repent of the wicked traditions, such as polygamy, which took away from the original gospel taught through Joseph. Joseph taught that the promised land was the Heartland of America and that the blessings of this land were confined to that specific geographical area. And that it was required of us to keep God's commandments or the land would be taken away.

>Jacob 2:29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.
Ether 2:10 For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off.

The doctrines have been altered significantly since the time of Joseph. What Joseph taught was the doctrine he was given by Jesus Christ. The ENTIRE official doctrine of the church was removed from scripture, ie the Lectures on Faith. The nature of the Godhead, Law of monogamy, the plan of salvation/progression between kingdoms, tithing, the word of wisdom, are all taught much differently. The things Joseph taught were treated lightly as if he didn't know what he was talking about and the unbelievers inserted their own opinions thinking they knew better. All is not well in Zion and the Lord has commanded us to repent and to remember the commandments given in the Book of Mormon and to believe and follow then. There are good and bad among all groups, there are many extremely righteous people within the church, but there are also the Lord's enemies which are set up in their watchtowers to guard their version of events within the church.

The Church will return to the Heartland at the time is is redeemed.

>D&C 101:58 And inasmuch as they gather together against you, avenge me of mine enemies, that by and by I may come with the residue of mine house and possess the land.

This is how the redemption of Zion, ie the church. is described, Zion is His, but is full of a great evil that hides the truth.

The William Clayton Nauvoo journals are now in the possession of Jeremy Hoop. They do not show Joseph practicing polygamy. Jeremy Hoop will be releasing videos that go over these journals in the near future.

The William clayton journals are being released.