Resurrection and Works

"But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord." - Helaman 14:17

The resurrection is vital to our salvation from physical death. Without it we would have an end when we die. Because of it, death is merely a step in the process and we are brought before God to be judged of our works and we will live forever in that glory which our works merit. It isn't because our works were wonderful, but Christ paid the debt. As we accept his atonement it is a powerful force to change us into the person he would have us be. It also cleanses us by removing the stain of sin. This allows us to be in the presence of God.

So then how do our works really come into play? It is through our obedience to the commandments of God that accept the atoning sacrifice of his Son. We are commanded to offer a broken heart and a contrite spirit. We must acknowledge our faults and our dependence on the Savior to overcome them. It is in this attitude that we must approach our Father for forgiveness of sins. Our willing and natural obedience is then a manifestation of the change which has taken place in our heart.

Decline

"For [Nephi] had been forth among the people who were in the land northward, and did preach the word of God unto them, and did prophesy many things unto them; And they did reject all his words, insomuch that he could not stay among them, but returned again unto the land of his nativity. And seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gadianton robbers filling the judgment-seats—having usurped the power and authority of the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright before him; doing no justice unto the children of men; Condemning the righteous because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because of their money; and moreover to be held in office at the head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world, and, moreover, that they might the more easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills— Now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites, in the space of not many years ..." - Helaman 7:2-6

We read that the Nephites turned to wickedness "in the space of not many years." I wonder how similar their degeneration was to our society. It seems that people have been drifting for a long time without realizing it. Now, there are many who do not realize the significance of the issues we face. Things are presented in a distorted fashion. Many who stand for good and truth are deemed as ignorant, intolerant, and disrespectful.