The Mystery of Godliness

When traveling through Greece, the apostle Paul observed men worshipping God on an altar that had an inscription that said, "To the unknown God." Paul said, "For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." (Acts 17:23)

As we observe how God is worshipped throughout the world, this statement remains true today, as it did two millennial ago. Many do not understand God and who he is. Even some members of the Church do not understand the God they supposedly worship. Sad, but true.

It was a young 14 year old boy in a sacred grove of trees that opened the door for us to know our Heavenly Father, to know that he is real, tangible and approachable.

I don't fully comprehend how our Father in Heaven can have a personal relationship with each of his children, but he can and does. It is our responsibility to keep that relationship open and alive. We hold the key that unlocks the door to "the mystery of Godliness."

What is the Mystery of Godliness, and how does it apply to us?

Bruce R. McConkie calls it "the deepest and most profound doctrine of the gospel." If this is the case, then what do we know and understand about this doctrine. He goes on to say, "It is the first principle of revealed religion, and a great cornerstone upon which all else rests, the foundation for all of the doctrines of salvation."

A mystery, so the dictionary says, is "something beyond human comprehension." Defining the word from a theological standpoint, it says a mystery is "an article of faith beyond human comprehension, as the doctrine of the Trinity."

How apt this illustration is! If there was ever something beyond human comprehension, it is the sectarian doctrine of the Trinity.

But we are duty-bound to learn all that God has revealed about himself and his everlasting gospel. If we are to gain eternal life we must come to know the Great God and his Only Begotten, whom he sent into the world. And this probationary estate is the appointed time to begin to know God, and to learn his laws, and thereby to start the process of becoming like him. If we do not so begin we shall never receive the promised reward.

As members of the Church, we are in a position to comprehend all mysteries, to understand all doctrine, and eventually to know all things. These high levels of intelligence are reached only through faith and obedience and righteousness. A person who relies on the intellect alone and who does not keep the commandments can never, worlds without end, comprehend the mystery of godliness.

In what is considered the "great intercessory prayer" offered by the Savior, he said in part "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." 

Joseph Smith said "I advise you all to go on to perfection and search deeper and deeper into the mysteries of Godliness." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 364) It is a commandment for us to know and learn the mysteries of Godliness. Where can we learn? In the temple. The temple is the only place on this earth that we can come to know "the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." It is in the temple that all three members of the Godhead can be revealed to us. It is there that they visit with their covenant children.

There is also another element of this temple reunion with the Gods that reveal the mysteries of Godliness, and that is performing and serving God's children through the sacred ordinances. As King Benjamin taught, "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

In other words, as we perform services for God's children, we are serving and worshipping God. We are coming closer to knowing Him. And who should we be serving? We should be serving our kindred spirits. Our hearts are to be turned to them, and them to us. If not, this earth life will be totally wasted. 

Asked about the spirit world, the Prophet Joseph spoke about disembodied spirits: "Enveloped in flaming fire, they are not far from us, and know . . . our thoughts, feelings, and emotions and are often pained therewith." And they likewise often rejoice therewith. They "are not idle spectators." Somehow there are laws that enable them to have some influence upon us and we upon them. In the temple these laws are fulfilled. Parley P. Pratt taught that, for the pure in heart, when we receive communication from "kindred spirits, . . . spirit communes with spirit, thought meets thought, soul blends with soul, in all the raptures of mutual, pure, and eternal love." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith)

So our goal of knowing the mysteries of Godliness is not one that we attempt alone or by ourselves. It is a family affair. As we work to exalt our family members on both sides of the veil, we come to know God and His life. We come closer and closer to living the type of life that God lives. As we do so, we unlock the door of the mysteries of Godliness.

That is why our kindred spirits are so involved and interested in our lives and our temple participation. For they cannot be saved without us, and we cannot be saved without them.

I personally have a lot of work to do to get my own life ready to live the type of life that God lives, but I have come to realize that I have a lot of help from unseen family members to accomplish this goal. They are always there.

So, as a beautiful family, let us work together to unlock the mysteries of Godliness.

Love, Dad