Institute

• Tonight I'm extremely grateful for Institute. (Wow, when I wrote that sentence I realised I've been attending Institute for 10 years now!). Institute (religious classes set for college-aged students) is a wonderful way to discuss the scriptures in depth. At the moment I'm studying, 'Doctrines of the Gospel', and 'The Pearl of Great Price'. I love how the classes make you think about things. Like tonight in the PGP class we were discussing Adam and Eve. I personally LOVE Eve (and Adam). But with Eve I marvel how much of a choice spirit she was in the pre-earth life to be chosen and to accept a position in which her name would be had for good and bad (mainly bad by misunderstanding people) throughout the world's entire history. And then to be in the Garden of Eden and to make a decision to transgress. I'm absolutely certain that with her amazing spirit, to make a choice like that would have been hard. But I love how she saw the fruit not only as something that looked good to eat, but as something 'to make one wise'. I love that! I love that she wanted to be wise. And I love how she rejoiced after they had been sent out of the garden because of the many blessings they received, like children! Now, please don't get me wrong, she still transgressed - but their was something greater that would come because of it. It gave us the opportunity to come to earth, and with a fantastic plan by Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ had been chosen already to redeem us all. Now isn't that wonderful news we can all be grateful for! Also, tonight, we read the following quote by President Brigham Young, "Every person who desires and strives to be a saint is closely watched by fallen spirits that came here when Lucifer fell, and by the Spirits of wicked persons who have been here in tabernacles and departed from them. ...Those spirits are never idle; they are watching every person who wishes to do right, and are continually propmting them to do wrong". (Journal of Discourses, 7:239). - Have you ever considered the number of spirits trying to tempt us to do wrong here on earth? I always figured that one-third of the hosts of heaven was a lot, must be billions (well there's 6 billion people in the world right now). But now I have to add on all those spirits from people who came to earth and weren't good as well. ...And, because we're in the last days, that means we certainly have a LOT of spirits trying against us! .... It's pretty awesome then that we have a loving God whose purpose is the eternal life of every man, and pretty much that with God ANYTHING is possible - including conquering the billions of spirits who may want to take you and me on in a spiritual battle! ... So you see, tonight I got the opportunity to think a little institute, and to enjoy a lot of great discussion based on the scriptures. I love Institute!