”And thus being called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach his commandments unto the children of men, that they also might enter into his rest” (LDS Alma 13:6)
When Alma teaches about the holy order of God, he explains that high priests are called with a holy calling, ordained with a holy ordinance and take upon themselves this high priesthood (see LDS Alma 13:8).
The holy calling is a calling which comes before the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God. They are called on account of their having demonstrated exceeding faith and good works when they had been left for themselves to choose good or evil. Because they had chosen good, and shown that they will soften their hearts and receive the holy spirit as their guide, they are called with this holy calling (see LDS Alma 13:3-4).
This holy calling, which is given before the foundation of the world, carries with it a preparatory redemption for those called with this holy calling.
What is a preparatory redemption?
When the brother of Jared sees the Lord, he is told he is redeemed from the fall (see LDS Ether 3:13). Which makes sense because the fall separated man from God. So when man is brought back into God’s presence, man is, at that point, redeemed from the fall.
If redemption, or to be redeemed is to be brought back into the presence of God, or to see God face to face, what is a preparatory redemption? Perhaps another way this may be asked is, what does being redeemed from the fall prepare a person to do?
If someone is redeemed from the fall by being brought back into the presence of God, such a person knows by his own experience what it takes to be prepared to meet God. He is qualified to teach others how to prepare to meet God. At that point, the whole purpose of their ministry is to prepare others that they also might “enter into his rest”.
A priest after this holy order of God, is sanctified by the Spirit and their garments are made white through the blood of the lamb. They are made pure and spotless before God and enter into the presence of the Lord their God (see LDS Alma 13:11-12).
Moses is an example of such a high priest of this order.
“For without this [high priesthood] no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live. Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God; But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his danger was kindled against them, swore that they should not eenter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.” (LDS D&C 84:23-25)
After Moses saw and spoke with God face to face, he sought diligently to teach the people that the people might see God face to face for themselves. His whole desire is to sanctify people that they might also see God as he has. This is the purpose of true commandments. Commandments that are really from God will prepare a person to meet God face to face in a glorious reunion.
The laws of men may require people to comply with and accept standards that contradict the commandments of God. Receiving such standards of men as a personal guide can condemn a person before God. Likewise in contrast, receiving the standards of God as personal guide might leave a person to be condemned by men for failing to comply with the standards of men.
Simply being obedient to any set of rules, regulations and laws that men might come up with for various reasons, some good and some not, may do nothing to prepare a person to meet God. Obedience is a noble virtue. But obedience to men is not the same thing as obedience to God. Being obedient to men, will prepare a person to stand guiltless before those men. But it may leave a person guilty before God. In fact, God may require a person to behave in a way that brings the condemnation and judgment of men. Yet being condemned by men may be precisely what a person needs to be prepared to meet God.
Without the teachings of someone with this high priesthood, no one can truly be prepared to see God and live. What then are the true commandments which prepare a person to meet God? Who is authorized to say what these commandments are? What experience must they have which qualifies them to know that keeping these commandments surely will prepare a person to see God?