William J Bohn

The Beatitudes William J Bohn

Arguably the greatest sermon in Christian theology, the Sermon on the Mount is prefaced by the Beatitudes. While The Beatitudes: From Poor in Heart to Pure in Heart has been written with a Mormon audience in mind, because no single study by General Authorities or LDS writers has addressed these seminal verses in depth, Jesus intended the principles set forth in the Beatitudes for all who profess faith in Him. The Beatitudes are to the new testament of Christ what the Ten Commandments were to the old testament of Jehovah, both given by the same Supreme Being. With the Beatitudes, the Savior elevated the Ten Commandments at the heart of the law of Moses from a person's outward behavior to the spiritual attitudes for living the law of Christ. Therefore, they begin with the new sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit: the Old Testament fire that consumed an animal became the baptism of fire through the Holy Spirit that consumes the natural man with each of us, empowering men and women to fulfill the measure of their creation-to become perfect even as our Savior and our Father in heaven are perfect (see 3 Ne 12:48). The cadence of the Beatitudes echoes heavenly music, complete with a poetic text straight from the lips of God that creates an ascending crescendo, encouraging the disciple of Christ to hold fast to the iron rod as it leads forward to the tree of life and a celestial reunion with the Savior and Heavenly Father. By introducing the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon before the ancient temple at Bountiful, the Beatitudes act like the principal motif of a Bach fugue which anticipates the entire gospel and is repeated in various prophetic voices throughout the scriptural oratorio. The Beatitudes: From Poor in Heart to Pure in Heart makes the case that, rather than being singular, inspiring precepts, the Beatitudes delineate a step-by-step plan of progression for living the principles of life eternal as fully as possible in mortality and for returning to dwell with heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for ever and ever. After years of studying and teaching the Beatitudes, I find all of the patterns mentioned above and more in the verses introducing the great Sermon. Studying them can absorb our attention, stretch our minds, give us a practical plan for progressing in righteousness, help us displace the corrupted genes of the natural man with the DNA of spiritually-mindedness. Most of all, studying them will humble us with gratitude for our Savior who not only atoned for our sins, but also loves us so much that He has shown us how to bring His Atonement into our lives with faith in every step toward proximate perfectness in mortality and ultimate perfection in eternity. The last chapter of the book delves into the vital substratum of the Beatitudes, attendant to hungering and thirsting after righteousness, namely to seek learning by study and also by faith. Spiritual progression and learning according to the Lord's plan go hand-in-glove. Knowing truth forms the basis for lasting freedom. The Beatitudes: From Poor in Heart to Pure in Heart is intended as the second of a three-volume series surveying the vision of the Savior has given us of discipleship. The first and third volumes, both in preparation, address respectively The Principle of Vision in the Scriptures and Matthew 25, in the latter of which He taught His Apostles two parables and a similitudes in which He outlined a panoramic vision of righteous and unrighteous discipleship. I view the book as a resource tool; it is somewhat scholarly and mostly devotional, aimed at teachers and others interested in exploring these vital scriptures. Numerous scriptural references and quotes from the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve, and other General Authorities of the Church are included, though this book does not represent official positions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I take full responsibility for its content.