My latest Ah Ha moment while reading my scriptures

So, for those of you who read my blog and are not LDS, here is a little background.  We believe that we are eternal beings in the sense that God created and gave an image to our spirits (and bodies) but that are intelligence was not created but always present (ie, eternal) and we believe that our time here on earth is a probationary state where we are given hardships and obstacles to try our faith and allow us to choose and come to God of our own volition through the covenants we make here on earth and the patience and endurance in keeping the covenants and commandments we made with God.  We believe that after we are resurrected we will be judged by our own works and put in a degree of glory where we will be the most comfortable.  We believe there are three degrees of glory and outer darkness (hell). We believe that if one reaches the highest degree of glory (an opportunity given to every individual) then they have met their birthright as God's children and available to inherit the blessings of their father in becoming like him, Gods and Goddesses of their own accord, bound by the same laws of truth, charity, justice, etc that God follows.

Well here was my ah ha moment that as somewhat humbling as well.  I was thinking what it would be like to live again with my Heavenly Father and with my brother, Jesus Christ and how I would feel eternally indebted to my Lord for his sacrifice in being a mediator for me to return home to my Father.  Being of a carnal (and therefore selfish mindset) I was thinking how my Lord would always hold a higher realm of respect and blessings as he accomplished here on earth what no one else could, but that lead me to question what I know about Eternal glory.  If I am to be considered an equal to my Lord and Father, then I will be an equal.  Meaning while I can still be respectful, reverent and praising of the sacrifice and love given to me, I in turn will be an equal with extreme divinity.  This lead to the thought that it didn't seem fair someone like Jesus Christ who endured more during this earth life than any other person ever had to endure would be considered my equal when what I have gone through, while difficult, is nothing in comparison to the trials and sacrifice he endured.  Then this thought came to me of the parable of the servants given talents.  One man received 1, another 2, and the last 5.  We are given the responsibility of a load based on what we are capable of handling.  The more capable we are, the more responsibility we are given (as seen in the parable with the servant who was given 5 talents, then that of the 1 who squandered his), but look at the servant who was given 2.  Just as the 5 was doubled, so did the servant with 2 double his. 

Here is my Ah-Ha moment.  likening this parable to me: Jesus was the servant with 5 talents, taking on the responsibility he could carry, and while I carry 2 and not 5, I am still just as diligent in trying to make my master happy by increasing what he has given me rather than  squander it as the 1 did.  This all goes full circle for me as I think back to all the learning I have received on the love God bestows on each of us.  He entire purpose of sending us to earth, allowing us the opportunity to grow is to the end, live with him again.  He is our Father and we his children and has set up the church in a way that we may all operate to the best of our ability, carrying  and magnifying the talents we are given to not only get ourselves to our divine birthright, but to help our fellow brothers and sisters (humanity) in achieving that very goal with us. 

This truth that I stumbled upon exemplifies the very essence of God's love.  God is never the one to tempt us, our carnal bodies pull us to temptation, God grants us spiritual gifts and guidance to overcome these temptations.  Only love and God, and when we are judged it is based on our own works rather than the wrath of an angry God.  He is bound by justice to hold us to our choices, but has also given us he own son to act as the law of mercy in allowing us to atone of our sins through the perfected sacrifice our Lord gave to us.

I love my church, in that I know who I am and why I am here.  I love my church as I know I am an eternal being as I strive daily to reach that potential.  I love my church as I am given an opportunity to be forgiven for my many mistakes and sins as I am no where near a perfect person.  I love my church as I know the God I worship is a kind, loving Father who desires my presence in living with him as we work together as a unit in and through God to be restored to our natural and divine birthright.