The words of eternal life are the path of life, or the process of obtaining a more abundant life.1 The process of eternal life consists of an unbroken chain of continuous growth and improvement. The defining quality of the words of eternal life is not what they are (because they can consist of anything), or where they come from (because though they come from God, they can come through anything or anyone), but what they result in, which is improvement. All good things come from and are found in Jesus Christ, and it is important to understand that the words of eternal life include the set of ideas that improve, spanning all domains. Applying this definition makes it exceptionally easy to recognize, obtain, implement, and even generate the words of eternal life. Each person can imagine the ideal state of themselves, others, and the world, and each has the capacity to devise actions they can take to bring all things closer to their potential. It also makes evident how far from God most professed Christians are, as they artificially separate improvement from their practice of religion.2
Any idea that leads to improvement over the present state of a person is part of the words of eternal life to them. The words of eternal life cause improvement from how a person, situation, or thing is toward how it could be. The words of eternal life include everything that makes anything better than it is—even if it isn’t purported to be from God, and even if it does not pertain to “religious” contexts. To turn away from opportunities for improvement is to turn away from God, as improvement comes from and leads to him.3
We are surrounded at all times and in all places with opportunities to make things better than they are. In fact, opportunities for improvement are so numerous that the only way to ensure that you are paying attention to and prioritizing them is to explicitly capture, rank, and work on them.4 Without intentionally addressing opportunities for improvement, you can guarantee that you are living your life with less joy, less meaning, and greater exposure to unnecessary suffering than God intended.
The Lord has promised to give the faithful the continual guidance needed to guide them directly in the path to him.5 The words he provides are “living,”6 or continuously flowing. They do not end.7 One of the strongest indications of our current relationship with God is the incidence of improving ideas, whether new or recalled from before.8
Those who find themselves with insufficient instruction from God ought to immediately and honestly examine their heed and diligence to him,9 as he has indicated that this will not be the case with those who live up to what he has already provided.10 The more you follow the instructions God has given us, the more instructions he will give you.11 The rate at which you improve is the rate at which you draw nearer to the Father.12 All able-minded adults have a sense of discernment that enables them to perceive the actions available to them and the relative value of each.13 The more you live up to the best you know and the more you seek to learn, the more God will teach you.
Until you live up to the best that you know, you should not expect greater opportunities.14 It is only to those who are making the best use of what they have that God gives more.15 Living up to what God has taught you thus far is essential to being prepared to notice, receive, and follow additional instructions he will send.16 The word of God you live up to will illuminate the next steps in obtaining more of the word of God.17 You will see what lies beyond your present position only as you become the best person you can be.18 If you reach for what lies beyond the improvements of which you already know, you will fall behind where you presently are.19
Incessantly ask God what he would do in your place, and unfailingly do it.20 Search out and live what is best. Make everything as good as it can be, starting with yourself and your family, and flowing out through your entire sphere of influence.
It is only to those who are living up to their understanding of how Jesus would live in their place that the Lord reveals more about himself.21 The Lord will make available more of his word to those who live up to what they know,1368 even if it requires sending some person into their lives who can provide it.1369 Often, these opportunities are missed1370 by those who assume that what they are looking for will come in some other way.1371
Footnotes
- 1. ...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) ↩
- 2. And the whole world lieth in sin, and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin. And by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me. For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin. And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me. And by this you may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the whole world groaneth under sin and darkness even now. (D&C 84:49-53) ↩
- 3. Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light. And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation. (D&C 93:31) ↩
- 4. A framework for doing this is provided in the author’s book Joy on Purpose. ↩
- 5. Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man. (D&C 84:85) ↩
- 6. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10) ↩
- 7. And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come, and there is no end to my works, neither to my words. (Moses 1:38) ...truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound. (D&C 88:66) ↩
- 8. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26) ↩
- 9. [God grants his word] unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him. (Alma 12:9) ↩
- 10. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14) ↩
- 11. And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day. Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey; Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions. And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual. For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land. And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise. O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever. (Alma 37:40-46) ↩
- 12. I am the Lord thy God; and I give unto you this commandment—that no man shall come unto the Father but by me or by my word, which is my law, saith the Lord. (D&C 132:12) ↩
- 13. And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life. For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit. And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father. (D&C 84:43-47) ↩
- 14. For they do not forsake their sins, and their wicked ways, the pride of their hearts, and their covetousness, and all their detestable things, and observe the words of wisdom and eternal life which I have given unto them. (D&C 98:20) ↩
- 15. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. (Matthew 25:29) ↩
- 16. And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God. For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith. (D&C 98:11-12) ↩
- 17. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105) ↩
- 18. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: (Proverbs 6:23) ↩
- 19. For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have. (2 Nephi 28:30) ↩
- 20. “...feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” (2 Nephi 32:3) Words is a Hebraistic idiom that means much more than the English translation. This scripture would be clearer if “example” were used in place of “words.” ↩
- 21. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23) ↩