Psalm 118:22 The Head Stone of the Corner

17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord

18 The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord:

20 This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter

21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

Christ is the cornerstone of the gate through which Eternal Life is obtained. Without Him, the gate collapses; the Plan of Salvation ceases to exist and we are all condemned to Eternal darkness. Because he takes on the burden of holding  up that gate, however, everyone shall have a chance to pass through it. Even those who once denied that the cornerstone was needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Samuel 2:2 - No Rock Like Our God

2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

One of the most interesting aspects of this verse is that it is said in the middle of a prayer. It comes across as preaching, yet in actuality, it is praise. It is recognition of His support for His people. He is the rock, and he cannot be substituted with anyone else. He is the only way.

Deuteronomy 32:15 - Esteeming the Rock of Salvation

4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgement: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right he is

15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.

17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

19 And when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters

Deuteronomy 32:4 explains that "the Rock" is the Rock because he is perfect. He is unchanging. He is the foundation upon which all should be built. The chapter then goes on to explain the laziness of the Lord's people and their unwillingness to worship God and find truth. The Lord stirs up His anger against them and they are no longer given the chance to know Him.
What do we learn from this? Eternal law is unchanging. Just because we wish one thing was a different way, that doesn't mean the other is done exactly the same.

Alma 5:34 - Drink of the Bread & Waters of Life Freely

34 Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink the bread and the waters of life freely.

2 Nephi 9 tells us that there is no price to partaking of Christ's Atonement (2 Ne 9:50-51).  His Atonement is a gift. Furthermore, it is incorruptible. It will not rust or lose its value over time, but rather is totally consistent. It works the same as it did yesterday and will continue to work the same tomorrow. The only thing he requires of us is that we accept the gift (come unto him) and obey his commandments.

Revelations 2:17 - I give to eat of the hidden manna

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

John 6:35 - The Bread of Life

35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

 In the Topical Guide under Bread of Life, it's suggested that readers "See also Sacrament." By declaring himself the bread of life, Christ is essentially saying that through him, all men can be sustained. Christ's Atoning sacrifice enabled the salvation of every human being that has ever lived. In a sense, he nourishes the soul, providing strength to resist temptation and healing from sin.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

 Heavenly Father's will is that Christ overcome death, enabling the resurrection for all, and that he provide a means by which everyone can return to live with Him again someday,

Moses 6:52 - Turn, Hearken, Believe, Repent, be Baptized, Receive

52 And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and heaken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you. 

In Verse 52, Enoch outlines the process by which we can be saved and cleansed. We must turn unto Heavenly Father and hear Him. Then we must believe and ask forgiveness, and then be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Having done those things, we then receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

55 And the Lord spake unto Adam, saying: And the Lord spake unto Adam, saying: Inasmuch as thy children are conceived in sin, even so when they begin to grow up, sin conceiveth in their hearts, and they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good.

57 Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge who shall come in the meridian of time.

Teach it unto your children. What an awesome and epic responsibility. It's a daunting task, even for me, and I'm not even married, let alone have kids! I find it interesting when Enoch states that "sin conceiveth in their hearts." Because we are born in sin, we can not abandon sin, no matter how hard we might try. As human beings, sin is in our hearts. It blossoms and blooms and captivates, and it is our individual and collective responsibility to ensure that it does not consume us. How? Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, His only begotten.