Righteousness can only be acquired through learning more about and living more like Jesus. In order to become more righteous, you have to sacrifice whatever would preclude you from learning more about and living more like Jesus. This sacrifice for God is often spoken of as buying righteousness from God. The Lord counsels us to:
...buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18, ASV)
The sacrifice required to obtain a garment of light must occur during this life.2 For example, in the parable of the Ten Virgins, the Lord explains how the groom’s arrival marks the point when it is too late to purchase more oil for the virgins’ lamps needed to go out to meet him (see Matthew 25:1-13). At another time, the Lord elaborated on this parable, stating that those who will be able to abide his presence are those who have sought for, received, and lived more information about him (see D&C 45:56-59).
The work required to purchase a garment of light can’t be performed after this life.3 The condition to abide with God after this life is to have reconciled yourself to him in this life.4 You cannot remain in God’s presence without remaining reconciled to him. If you have not received and implemented all that was available prior to that event, you are not prepared to receive what can only come from the presence of the Master.
The trials that yield the garment of light do not exist in heaven.1708 Only in this life do you have access to the situations and people that can help you learn more about and live more like Jesus. These situations and people provide constant opportunities to learn more about Jesus, constant feedback on the value of your present character, and the opportunity to recover from mistakes.
Footnotes
- 1. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit....I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit....Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love....Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. (John 15:2, 5, 8-10, 14) ↩
- 2. And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God; therefore I say unto you the time shall come, yea, and it shall be at the last day, that he who is filthy shall remain in his filthiness. (Alma 7:21) ↩
- 3. For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. (Alma 34:32) ↩
- 4. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned....If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:6, 10) ↩