TG Mortality 32 - D&C 50

The topical guide for Mortality pulls us into this section of the Doctrine and covenants with verse 5. 

"But blessed are they who are faithful and endure, whether in life or in death, for they shall inherit eternal life."

Going forward a full verse offers what is obviously a counterpoise -

"But wo unto them that are deceivers and hypocrites, for, thus saith the Lord, I will bring them to judgment."

If we spiral further outward to contemplate the immediate context we come upon a brief guide to the judgment for those who have found the truth, embraced the good news of the gospel and become members of God's kingdom on earth. 

As members of the church we have become they who "profess my name" (v. 4). There are risks associated with so professing.  Some who so profess become "deceivers and hypocrites" (v. 6).  They introduce "abominations" into the church (v. 4). They may honestly have started well, but somewhere on the road they have been "overcome of the world" (v. 8). Their ultimate fate is to be "detected and cut off" (v. 8) and to be brought to judgment (v. 6).  For reasons of his own, God has some face that fate in this life and some in the next (v. 8). 

On the other hand, "they who are faithful and endure" (v. 5) will inherit eternal life.  Some of them may even get deceived by the hypocrites, which allows Satan's power into their life for a time (v. 7).  But "such shall be reclaimed" (v. 7).  Again, for his own purposes, God will do the reclaiming on this side of death or on the other (v. 5). 

If we spiral out even further we find the contrast between those who inherit eternal life and those who are cut off and brought to judgment is embedded in a long passage dedicated to teaching members of the infant church how to discern and deal with the many varieties of spiritual manifestations common along the American frontier in the 1830's.

In response to the restoration, there has been a quickening of the tempo of activity in the unseen world's attempts to influence our own.  There are "spirits which have gone abroad in the earth".  Some of course are angelic helps from God, but others are "false spirits...deceiving the world" (v.2).  By means of spiritual manifestations of his own (v.3) or those of other false spirits, Satan has targeted the church with two goals - first, to deceive, and then to  overthrow (v. 3).

In their ignorance and lack of experience, members of the church had been deceived and confused by some of the manifestations they had run into.  The had received spirits "could not understand" and "received them to be of God" (v. 15).  God then gives some guidelines and rules.  Spiritual manifestations which are from God

• bring understanding, edification and rejoicing and not confusion (v. 15, 22-23).  They bring light and not darkness (v. 22-25).
• help the church in their mission to proclaim the truth (v. 14, 17).
• testify in such a way that those who hear it are led towards accepting the gospel (v. 19, 21).

It is made clear that the saints are not helpless recipients of spiritual manifestations, but have been given guidelines and power (accessible through prayer, to be used with humility) to know the nature of the spirits that try to influence them and to banish those whose influence is not wholesome.

The Lord then turns our focus from the attention grabbing world of showy spiritual manifestations to the slow, steady (but no less spiritual) disciplines of the kingdom - visiting and strengthening and encouraging one another, being diligent in our callings, putting our trust in the lord, growing in grace and knowledge, becoming more aware of the Savior's presence among us, learning to build upon his rock, seeking his face, watching for his coming and making ourselves ready for it.