Who among the inhabitants of earth seeks eternal life? People spend billions on processes and pills to prolong their mortal life. To what end we might ask? How can the life and death of a single person in the history of the world proclaim to offer desire a desire common to the human race? Are there sufficient reasons to believe that he lived and died as the scriptures record? Even time and history are measure by reference to his birth and death and yet his name is often used with consummate disrespect among those who give him little or no heed.
Questions We May Wonder About
If God the Father is all-powerful why couldn't he through his omnipotence waive or forgive the effects of sin. Why the need for an offering, sacrifice or atonement? Why couldn't he conquer death and sin by merely speaking? Traditional Christian theologians and religious philosophers through the ages have claimed that God created everything by speaking. Why not solve the issues of sin and death by such power? Did Jesus have to die as a sacrifice, or was there some other way?
The answer seems clear. If God is an unchanging God of truth, a being of laws and order and not a whimsical being then the sacrifice of Christ could not be avoided. Jesus was foreordained as the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev 13:8, 1 Peter 1:19-20
The name of Jesus is known among practically all nations and has been for thousands of years. He is the only person that promised that physical death will be overcome. Has any other religious leader made such a promise? Jesus stands alone as the only person, professing divine sonship and power over death. The fruits of his teachings and the other scriptures provide good evidence that his life was unique.
Understanding the reasons why Jesus had to die is to seek knowledge of principles that are eternal in nature. These cannot be errant scriptural exegesis or the conclusions of religious philosophers and scholars following their own interpretations of biblical canons. It shouldn't be a mystery or something that needs to be debated among those who profess to be his disciples.
Did truth spring into existence six thousand years ago by a bemused God, uncertain of what else to do after eons of doing nothing in the void of an endless cosmos of which he was the sole occupant? Such was the reasoning of men, clergy and philosophers as they formed their doctrinal foundations at Nicaea and other ecumenical councils.
We can imagine that there will be many mysteries yet to be explained in the world to come, but why the Savior had to die has been revealed with so that we might live with greater purpose and desire to believe and follow. The concepts of justice and mercy have been explained with clarity in the Book of Mormon and other Latter-day revelations.
We are subject to mortal limitations and may not fully comprehend the concept of an infinite sacrifices like our Savior's atonement, but we can understand the principles by which it was necessary and that eternal laws and unchanging truth are the foundation. Jesus is the TRUTH, the way and the life.
For mankind to experience the suffering that life on earth brings, and the fact that there was suffering and a sacrifice made by the Son of God, this would seem to dictate a compelling reason on the part of God the Father. It wouldn't be a whimsical act, but would be some element of eternal immutable truth, the eternal principles by which he governs and reigns in the heavens.
Did truth spring into existence six thousand years ago by a bemused God, uncertain of what else to do after eons of doing nothing in the void of an endless cosmos of which he was the sole occupant? Such was the reasoning of men, clergy and philosophers as they formed their doctrinal foundations at Nicaea and other ecumenical councils.
We can imagine that there will be many mysteries yet to be explained in the world to come, but why the Savior had to die has been revealed with so that we might live with greater purpose and desire to believe and follow. The concepts of justice and mercy have been explained with clarity in the Book of Mormon and other Latter-day revelations.
We are subject to mortal limitations and may not fully comprehend the concept of an infinite sacrifices like our Savior's atonement, but we can understand the principles by which it was necessary and that eternal laws and unchanging truth are the foundation. Jesus is the TRUTH, the way and the life.
For mankind to experience the suffering that life on earth brings, and the fact that there was suffering and a sacrifice made by the Son of God, this would seem to dictate a compelling reason on the part of God the Father. It wouldn't be a whimsical act, but would be some element of eternal immutable truth, the eternal principles by which he governs and reigns in the heavens.
Eternal truth is the body of laws and principles by which all things exist. What laws that would require the sacrifice of a holy being to save others? If no eternal immutable laws existed to explain this event, then what else but a whim would be the reason.
How do principles of divine justice and mercy reconcile on an eternal scale if biblical teachers claim sin only began to exist in the earth 6000 years ago? Was the concept of justice a new thing just beginning to exist at that time? Do we not have laws that we deem just and necessary to maintain order in society? What about in the infinite heavens?
The Garden of Eden
What really took place in the Garden of Eden?
If God did not want Adam and Eve to have a choice to fall, why did he place the fruit of death within their grasp, calling it the knowledge of good and evil? Religious philosophers cannot answer this question. They do attempt to explain it but their conclusions lack logic and reason. After Adam and Eve had partaken, the Gods, the scripture says, stated that man had become as one of them to know good and evil.
Was God's intent and plan for mankind to live forever in a state of innocent paradise? If this was the case then it would make Christ a "plan B" or a back up plan for mankind's salvation? The viewpoints accepted by sectarian Bible scholars and their reasoning seem to support this. Their conclusion would lead us to believe that Adam and Eve along with Satan actually messed up God's original plan.
Much if not all of historical Christianity has adopted the idea that Adam's transgression was a mistake or even a rebellion. The New Testament teaches that Jesus was foreordained to be the Savior of the world. Would not the fall as well also be foreordained? Our becoming mortals was part of God's plan otherwise there would be no salvation through Jesus Christ.
It is a fairly simple conclusion that Adam and Eve's decision to partake of the fruit would be necessary for a plan of salvation to be implemented. It is evident that the whole story of Eden and what Adam and Eve knew about their existence is not in the Bible.
Adam was not created in a fallen state for a reason. He had to fall in order for salvation to come. The earth and creation of man was not a random event nor was Adam's choice unanticipated by God. The freedom to choose was given to Adam and Eve and they became mortal to bring the salvation of Jesus Christ to earth.
Our first parents and we ourselves lived with God before the earth was created in a pre-mortal life. Many preparations for this life were made at that time. It was then that Jesus was foreordained to be our Savior.
Adam and Eve were chosen for the purpose of being the first to inhabit the earth. Through an event dependent on their agency or freedom of choice, man fell from the paradise in the Garden of Eden. Exposure to the knowledge of good and evil was the result and the only way they could exercise free will, also known as moral agency. This is the concept that we can choose and then be accountable for those choices.
The knowledge of good and evil was received by partaking of one fruit on the same tree, not two trees in separate gardens. It was not designated as an evil tree, simply one that had consequences associated with partaking from it. The consequences were designed by God to allow for mankind to fall into mortality so agency could be given to them. They would then have the opportunity to receive salvation and exaltation through the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ.
Neither the creation or the placement of the tree were random events. The availability of this option and partaking in an act of self directed choice was designed by God to advance the human condition not to condemn it.
God used Satan to advance his purposes by enticing Eve. Would a loving God really condemn humanity for all eternity because of what two individuals did? Did they frustrate the plan of the Almighty? Orthodox theologian/philosophers have taught this for almost 2000 years.
The fall, however, brings an essential opportunity to gain experience through making choices and learning from the consequences. It is not condemnatory in nature. The method of redemption was in place before the fall took place.
Without this life and its experiences, we would not receive the experiential knowledge or the physical body necessary for full spiritual development. It is through this mortal life that God gives mankind the opportunity to develop their intellect, gain experience and make choices that have real eternal consequences. All things take place under the umbrella of grace provided by Jesus Christ as creator, his atonement and the perfect justice of his and our Almighty Father.
The Purpose of Mortality
How then do the injustices of mortal life reconcile to a loving God? Here we see the importance of moral agency or our individual opportunity to choose. When Adam fell the record states "man has become as one of us", in that he now was able to know the moral choices associated with good and evil. He became like God in that respect.
If God did not want Adam and Eve to have a choice to fall, why did he place the fruit of death within their grasp, calling it the knowledge of good and evil? Religious philosophers cannot answer this question. They do attempt to explain it but their conclusions lack logic and reason. After Adam and Eve had partaken, the Gods, the scripture says, stated that man had become as one of them to know good and evil.
Was God's intent and plan for mankind to live forever in a state of innocent paradise? If this was the case then it would make Christ a "plan B" or a back up plan for mankind's salvation? The viewpoints accepted by sectarian Bible scholars and their reasoning seem to support this. Their conclusion would lead us to believe that Adam and Eve along with Satan actually messed up God's original plan.
Much if not all of historical Christianity has adopted the idea that Adam's transgression was a mistake or even a rebellion. The New Testament teaches that Jesus was foreordained to be the Savior of the world. Would not the fall as well also be foreordained? Our becoming mortals was part of God's plan otherwise there would be no salvation through Jesus Christ.
It is a fairly simple conclusion that Adam and Eve's decision to partake of the fruit would be necessary for a plan of salvation to be implemented. It is evident that the whole story of Eden and what Adam and Eve knew about their existence is not in the Bible.
Adam was not created in a fallen state for a reason. He had to fall in order for salvation to come. The earth and creation of man was not a random event nor was Adam's choice unanticipated by God. The freedom to choose was given to Adam and Eve and they became mortal to bring the salvation of Jesus Christ to earth.
Our first parents and we ourselves lived with God before the earth was created in a pre-mortal life. Many preparations for this life were made at that time. It was then that Jesus was foreordained to be our Savior.
Adam and Eve were chosen for the purpose of being the first to inhabit the earth. Through an event dependent on their agency or freedom of choice, man fell from the paradise in the Garden of Eden. Exposure to the knowledge of good and evil was the result and the only way they could exercise free will, also known as moral agency. This is the concept that we can choose and then be accountable for those choices.
Neither the creation or the placement of the tree were random events. The availability of this option and partaking in an act of self directed choice was designed by God to advance the human condition not to condemn it.
God used Satan to advance his purposes by enticing Eve. Would a loving God really condemn humanity for all eternity because of what two individuals did? Did they frustrate the plan of the Almighty? Orthodox theologian/philosophers have taught this for almost 2000 years.
The fall, however, brings an essential opportunity to gain experience through making choices and learning from the consequences. It is not condemnatory in nature. The method of redemption was in place before the fall took place.
Without this life and its experiences, we would not receive the experiential knowledge or the physical body necessary for full spiritual development. It is through this mortal life that God gives mankind the opportunity to develop their intellect, gain experience and make choices that have real eternal consequences. All things take place under the umbrella of grace provided by Jesus Christ as creator, his atonement and the perfect justice of his and our Almighty Father.
The Purpose of Mortality
Imperfection, suffering and many random injustices exist in this physical world. It is through these afflictions and oppositions that choices are manifest and made. The panorama of choices and their consequences covers the spectrum of human existence. From as good as we can be as humans, to as evil and corrupted as one might imagine, exercising all manner of abusive behavior and inflicting their evil on others.
How then do the injustices of mortal life reconcile to a loving God? Here we see the importance of moral agency or our individual opportunity to choose. When Adam fell the record states "man has become as one of us", in that he now was able to know the moral choices associated with good and evil. He became like God in that respect.
The result of having freedom to act and to not have our choices infringed upon by God is that evil seemingly has all the opportunity to manifest itself as it desires. The collective weight inflicted and suffering caused by individual sin and poor choices is tremendous on all affected parties. There would be no freedom without opposition of the negative vices to the positive virtues.
This creation and mortal existence attest to the nature of God's plan for us. If he is a being of order and reason, this creation and existence cannot be a random act of a whimsical nature or some type of experimental project.
With the amount of suffering inflicted by evil and the injustice that is present here, God can only be doing one of two things. He is either compelled by some reasoning or law to do it or he created the world and man because he gets some satisfaction from mortal suffering.
There must be an eternal purpose for having a physical body and facing the challenges and opposition that exist in mortality. We must be here to learn and accomplish something of immense importance that could not be done in any other way.
With the amount of suffering inflicted by evil and the injustice that is present here, God can only be doing one of two things. He is either compelled by some reasoning or law to do it or he created the world and man because he gets some satisfaction from mortal suffering.
There must be an eternal purpose for having a physical body and facing the challenges and opposition that exist in mortality. We must be here to learn and accomplish something of immense importance that could not be done in any other way.
While Adam had an immortal body not subject to death before his fall, his existence was not the fullness of God's eternal plan. Through Adam’s fall and the foreordained resurrection of Jesus Christ, Adam’s body and that of all his posterity would be redeemed and perfected to a state of glory that was not achieved at his creation in the garden.
The power of the Savior's atonement brings an increase of spiritual power to us as resurrected beings. It first required a descent into a temporary mortality by which our eternal spirit would become associated with a physical body. A place where difficulties, sin and opposition existed, including mortal death.
Death and sin were consequences of Adam's choice, they were consequential and not punitive as some have concluded. God made provisions to overcome both of them before Adam ever took one step in the Garden or the first bite of the fruit.
During our mortality we are subject to the temptations of the adversary. Satan's punishment was and is that he was cast out of the pre-mortal heaven and will forever remain without a body or a chance to be resurrected. He was cast out of the pre-mortal realm to the earth for his rebellion against the concept of man being responsible for his own choices. Death releases us from his dominion and temptations. Because of our Redeemer, sin and the sting of death are eliminated and Satan is overcome.
Without this mortal life and the opposing forces and choices that are part of it, we could not progress in ways our Father in Heaven intended. Here on earth we have a comprehensive opportunity to learn and experience good and evil. Which we follow is our choice. This life is a necessary step for eternal happiness. Here on earth we learn many important things as we form family relationships, experience the consequences of our choices and undergo a vast variety of opposition.
This life is a time for developing and living by faith and proving our moral agency by our choices in an environment of freedom from immediate consequences. Adam did not die physically on the spot when he partook of the tree. He was given a lifetime to repent and learn and began to have children in that same environment.
Even though all sin will be punished and righteousness rewarded, we are not punished the second we commit sin or rewarded the moment we do good. This would incline us away from any negative consequence and faith would be nullified.
The means to overcome the spiritual death that Adam and Eve suffered in the garden was immediately implemented. They were taught about salvation through their Savior and Redeemer who was chosen when they were in the pre-mortal life. They also learned the principles of repentance and salvation and taught them to their children. The Holy Ghost was also present in their lives.
The power of the Savior's atonement brings an increase of spiritual power to us as resurrected beings. It first required a descent into a temporary mortality by which our eternal spirit would become associated with a physical body. A place where difficulties, sin and opposition existed, including mortal death.
Death and sin were consequences of Adam's choice, they were consequential and not punitive as some have concluded. God made provisions to overcome both of them before Adam ever took one step in the Garden or the first bite of the fruit.
During our mortality we are subject to the temptations of the adversary. Satan's punishment was and is that he was cast out of the pre-mortal heaven and will forever remain without a body or a chance to be resurrected. He was cast out of the pre-mortal realm to the earth for his rebellion against the concept of man being responsible for his own choices. Death releases us from his dominion and temptations. Because of our Redeemer, sin and the sting of death are eliminated and Satan is overcome.
Without this mortal life and the opposing forces and choices that are part of it, we could not progress in ways our Father in Heaven intended. Here on earth we have a comprehensive opportunity to learn and experience good and evil. Which we follow is our choice. This life is a necessary step for eternal happiness. Here on earth we learn many important things as we form family relationships, experience the consequences of our choices and undergo a vast variety of opposition.
This life is a time for developing and living by faith and proving our moral agency by our choices in an environment of freedom from immediate consequences. Adam did not die physically on the spot when he partook of the tree. He was given a lifetime to repent and learn and began to have children in that same environment.
Even though all sin will be punished and righteousness rewarded, we are not punished the second we commit sin or rewarded the moment we do good. This would incline us away from any negative consequence and faith would be nullified.
The means to overcome the spiritual death that Adam and Eve suffered in the garden was immediately implemented. They were taught about salvation through their Savior and Redeemer who was chosen when they were in the pre-mortal life. They also learned the principles of repentance and salvation and taught them to their children. The Holy Ghost was also present in their lives.
Eternal Truth and the Laws of Justice and Mercy
God's sovereignty is according to the eternal truth which he upholds. God is holy because he obeys all truth. If this were not the case the alternative is a to be directed by whims of uncertain design or consequence of a non eternal nature.
Theologians and many biblical scholars have suggested based on their interpretation of scripture that God does things for his own pleasure or randomly. Some which would include the causing of suffering in his creations. Such should not be considered to be the case.
Theologians and many biblical scholars have suggested based on their interpretation of scripture that God does things for his own pleasure or randomly. Some which would include the causing of suffering in his creations. Such should not be considered to be the case.
My purpose here is not to consider every aspect of the divine justice and eternal law because I do not know them. The point to be made is that the death of Jesus was required, not by a whimsical Father acting out of a random act of a world gone wrong, but by a working of eternal truth implemented by the Father.
This message is to look at the obvious reasons why the demands of justice are so powerful and that they must coexist independently with God. Why would he allow the death of his only begotten if there was any way he could avoid it. He was not sacrificing Jesus to himself as is taught by modern theologians based on classic theism. If he made the law he could change it, but he didn't and can't.
God abides by the truth. Truth is comprised of all eternal laws, principles and facts. Theses laws are dictated by inexorable or immutable sources of perfect justice that govern the heavens and are the framework of eternal truth. He does not create truth or eternal laws. Just as He has always existed so too have they. He is therefore a God of truth.
The importance of understanding the basis of perfect justice and eternal law is that chaos would exist if they did not. Eternal laws are the foundation for the moral laws that God has given us. If they did not exist there would be no basis for sin or condemnation or goodness and righteousness. They have been given to man in the form of commandments. Sin is the violation of these eternal spiritual laws and principles. If the consequences of sin were allowed to continue unbounded, chaos would take over the universe.
Through prophets like Moses and in other scriptural teachings man is taught something of the laws of heaven and the difference between good and evil. No mortal person is capable of keeping them all and thus we sin. To overcome sin and its effects requires a redeeming power. That power is the atonement of Jesus Christ. He is the only one that ever lived the law perfectly and was qualified to be our redeemer.
Neither the laws of justice, spiritual death or physical death held power over him because of his perfect obedience and godhood. He was subject to mortal death as the son of a mortal woman but held power over it in a way we do not fully comprehend.
God exists in the midst of good and evil and intended for us to know it. If such opposition did not exist, there would be no knowledge or understanding, no moral agency or free will, because there would be no opportunity to choose anything. There would be nothing to experience and therefore no purpose for existence. There would be no need of creation.
To to make choices and learn the difference between good and evil are key purposes for coming to earth. Jesus died to give us that freedom and opportunity. Because of him our poor choices do not need to condemn or destroy us or cause us unnecessary suffering.
Truth cannot change or it would cease to be truth. If as a loving God, he held such power, then the concept of allowing any person to suffer, or to use death or sacrifice in order to have mercy would be unnecessary and extreme, if not whimsical. Under the justice of eternal laws, mercy can only be brought about by fulfillment of the penalties associated with the broken laws. If this were not the case, God would not be perfectly just.
Jesus as our Savior
God the Father saves us from the punishment of sin and exercises mercy through the laws which he upholds. These laws allow for an innocent and sinless being to suffer the penalties on behalf of those who break the laws. In the case of man, the measure of suffering necessary to redeem him required that God send his son as the only begotten in the flesh.
Jesus was a being of infinite capacity, he was a God because of his Father and yet born of a mortal mother, and therefore able to live or die as he chose. Because he lived a perfect life he was free from the demands of justice and therefore able to offer himself for us in the form of a vicarious sacrifice and satisfy the demands of justice that otherwise would require our punishment.
God the Father allowed the suffering and death of Christ and met the demands of eternal justice for our sins. Christ willingly accepted this mandate of the Father. He suffered to a degree that we will not comprehend in this lifetime. Neither do we yet fully understand the interaction of these laws which I have tried to describe yet they must exist in order for such sacrifice to be required.
This message is to look at the obvious reasons why the demands of justice are so powerful and that they must coexist independently with God. Why would he allow the death of his only begotten if there was any way he could avoid it. He was not sacrificing Jesus to himself as is taught by modern theologians based on classic theism. If he made the law he could change it, but he didn't and can't.
God abides by the truth. Truth is comprised of all eternal laws, principles and facts. Theses laws are dictated by inexorable or immutable sources of perfect justice that govern the heavens and are the framework of eternal truth. He does not create truth or eternal laws. Just as He has always existed so too have they. He is therefore a God of truth.
The importance of understanding the basis of perfect justice and eternal law is that chaos would exist if they did not. Eternal laws are the foundation for the moral laws that God has given us. If they did not exist there would be no basis for sin or condemnation or goodness and righteousness. They have been given to man in the form of commandments. Sin is the violation of these eternal spiritual laws and principles. If the consequences of sin were allowed to continue unbounded, chaos would take over the universe.
Through prophets like Moses and in other scriptural teachings man is taught something of the laws of heaven and the difference between good and evil. No mortal person is capable of keeping them all and thus we sin. To overcome sin and its effects requires a redeeming power. That power is the atonement of Jesus Christ. He is the only one that ever lived the law perfectly and was qualified to be our redeemer.
Neither the laws of justice, spiritual death or physical death held power over him because of his perfect obedience and godhood. He was subject to mortal death as the son of a mortal woman but held power over it in a way we do not fully comprehend.
God exists in the midst of good and evil and intended for us to know it. If such opposition did not exist, there would be no knowledge or understanding, no moral agency or free will, because there would be no opportunity to choose anything. There would be nothing to experience and therefore no purpose for existence. There would be no need of creation.
To to make choices and learn the difference between good and evil are key purposes for coming to earth. Jesus died to give us that freedom and opportunity. Because of him our poor choices do not need to condemn or destroy us or cause us unnecessary suffering.
Truth cannot change or it would cease to be truth. If as a loving God, he held such power, then the concept of allowing any person to suffer, or to use death or sacrifice in order to have mercy would be unnecessary and extreme, if not whimsical. Under the justice of eternal laws, mercy can only be brought about by fulfillment of the penalties associated with the broken laws. If this were not the case, God would not be perfectly just.
Jesus as our Savior
God the Father saves us from the punishment of sin and exercises mercy through the laws which he upholds. These laws allow for an innocent and sinless being to suffer the penalties on behalf of those who break the laws. In the case of man, the measure of suffering necessary to redeem him required that God send his son as the only begotten in the flesh.
Jesus was a being of infinite capacity, he was a God because of his Father and yet born of a mortal mother, and therefore able to live or die as he chose. Because he lived a perfect life he was free from the demands of justice and therefore able to offer himself for us in the form of a vicarious sacrifice and satisfy the demands of justice that otherwise would require our punishment.
God the Father allowed the suffering and death of Christ and met the demands of eternal justice for our sins. Christ willingly accepted this mandate of the Father. He suffered to a degree that we will not comprehend in this lifetime. Neither do we yet fully understand the interaction of these laws which I have tried to describe yet they must exist in order for such sacrifice to be required.
Why did Jesus have to die? The eternal plan requires that the spirit sons and daughters of exalted parents, which is who we are to experience a physical creation with mortal life. By means of a perfect redemption, which includes a physical resurrection, we will receive eternal stations of glory according to how we loved and served God. Do we accept the offering? Do we willingly repent of our sins and express obedience to his laws? At a future time we will understand the full importance of passing through the tribulation of mortality with the opportunity to make choices.
Judgement and Accountability
Every person born on the earth will stand before God to give an accounting of their life and acknowledge his justice or receive his mercy and forgiveness. Before they are judged each person will be given a just opportunity to know what Jesus did.
Those who choose to follow God by repenting of their sins and accepting Christ and his covenants will not suffer the penalty for their sins. They will receive an eternal reward that includes joy and happiness and eternal family relationships.
Those who reject the commandments and ignore his sacrifice subject themselves to the justice of the law and the penalties associated therewith and forgo the mercy that would have been available to them. They will suffer for their own sins and will not be able to have eternal life in His presence. They will be "saved" but not exalted. Eternal life for them will be more than they had in mortality but short of what was available to them. The Father constantly extends the invitation to come unto him and repent as he desires that all partake of his mercy knowing that justice cannot be denied.
Judgement and Accountability
Every person born on the earth will stand before God to give an accounting of their life and acknowledge his justice or receive his mercy and forgiveness. Before they are judged each person will be given a just opportunity to know what Jesus did.
Those who choose to follow God by repenting of their sins and accepting Christ and his covenants will not suffer the penalty for their sins. They will receive an eternal reward that includes joy and happiness and eternal family relationships.
Those who reject the commandments and ignore his sacrifice subject themselves to the justice of the law and the penalties associated therewith and forgo the mercy that would have been available to them. They will suffer for their own sins and will not be able to have eternal life in His presence. They will be "saved" but not exalted. Eternal life for them will be more than they had in mortality but short of what was available to them. The Father constantly extends the invitation to come unto him and repent as he desires that all partake of his mercy knowing that justice cannot be denied.
I have experienced personally the effects of Christ's mercy and know it has power to lift every burden and remove the effects of sin and suffering from us as individuals. It is life eternal, to know the only true God and his son Jesus Christ. To know how they love each other and us and what they have done to bring about this marvelous gift on which we might have a perfect brightness of hope.
For more reading on the Atonement:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1985/04/the-purifying-power-of-gethsemane?lang=eng