"Sometimes this awakening to God comes as a loud alarm when we least expect it, awakening us to the realization that a spiritual intruder could harm us or take the things most precious to us." p. 57-58
THEY AWOKE
"...they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word..." Alma 5:7
"The spiritual awakening will come to every son and daughter of God, by our own choice here on earth or after this life when the awakening can no longer be delayed." p. 58
President Russell M. Nelson: "When you begin to catch even a glimpse of how your Heavenly Father sees you and what He is counting on you to do for Him, your life will never be the same." p. 59
THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION
"This was not just any plan. This was the greatest, the grandest, the kindest, the most loving, the most generous, the ultimate Plan ever created, known as the plan of salvation, the plan of mercy, the plan of happiness, and ... the plan of redemption." p. 59
PREMORTAL COUNCIL
"Just as we do no remember the day we were born, we have no memory of our premortal life." p. 60
"Korihor flattered the people, telling them that they did not need a Christ, an Atonement, or a remission of their sins because 'whatsoever a man did was no crime.'" p. 61
"In ways we don't fully understand, our spiritual growth there in the premortal world influences who we are here." p. 61
OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
"As participants in the premortal world, we rejoiced that the firstborn of the Father, Jesus Christ, would be our Redeemer." p. 61
"The approach to our lives changes as we awaken to God spiritually and truly believe in Him, the Savior of all mankind, and in the plan of redemption. We live our lives differently as we believe the quiet whisperings reminding us of who we really are and how valiantly we supported our Father's plan in the premortal world. Commandments that once seemed confining are no longer a burden but a blessing in helping us find our way home." p. 61-62
"Our ultimate objective is to become more like our Father in Heaven." p. 62
LANCE
Lance decided he'd start to get to know the Savior by spending more time in the scriptures, but he wanted to study so he could actually "know" something not just study to say he did it. He is tired of being a "checklist disciple". Just the other day, he was reading about premortal life. He was reading about the Council in Heaven and began to contemplate the idea that he chose the plan that Heavenly Father created. He chose to follow Jesus and had faith in Jesus all the way from the beginning. Lance thought about that and that wave of warmth and light came over him again. He thought, "I was a good guy before I came to earth. I made good choices way back then, and I can probably make good choices here, too." Lance felt a glimmer of hope that his pornography habit, his struggle with relationships, being honest and allowing others to get on his nerves did not have to define his life. He wrote in his journal, "It's been a long time since I have felt like I can conquer this stuff that has been weighing me down for months (years even). Today I was reminded that I already know how to choose good things. I have been doing it for a long time."
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