Heavenly Gift

An offer made directly from the Lord, often through a new gospel dispensation, with Heaven’s intent to bestow the fullness of the gospel and priesthood upon a generation. This fullness includes an expanding scriptural canon, revelation, Heavenly visitors, and prophetic power, as well as all blessings and sealing power necessary for fullness of salvation and exaltation.¹ It has been offered by the Lord more often than it has been welcomed and accepted by mankind. This is reflected in the Lord’s lament, You people… of the house of Israel, how often I’ve gathered you as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings and how often I’ve guided you! Again, how often I’ve tried to gather you as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! You people of the house of Israel who have fallen, O house of Israel who live at Jerusalem as well as you that have fallen: how often I would have gathered you as a hen gathers her chicks, but you refused! You people of the house of Israel whom I’ve spared, how often I will gather you as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, if you repent and return to Me with all your heart! But if not, O house of Israel, your dwelling places will become desolate until the time when the covenant to your fathers is kept (3 Nephi 4:9 CE). The Lord’s offer can only be accepted on the condition of obedience and faith. When the fullness is accepted, people live in peace and happiness: They had all things in common, so there weren’t any rich or poor people, enslaved or free people, but they were all given their freedom and allowed to share in the heavenly gift (4 Nephi 1:1 CE). Because of people’s faith He has shown Himself to the world and glorified the Father’s name and prepared a way so that others could share in the heavenly gift (Ether 5:2 CE). When the fullness is refused (by mankind not complying with the conditions of the covenant), the opportunity to establish a Heavenly order and Zion is lost.²