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“Faith, Hope, and Charity: The ‘Three Principal Rounds’ of the Ladder of Heavenly Ascent”

“Faith, Hope, and Charity: The ‘Three Principal Rounds’ of the Ladder of Heavenly Ascent”

Last updated on: September 7, 2020 at 10:55 pm by Dan Peterson

“Faith, Hope, and Charity: The ‘Three Principal Rounds’ of the Ladder of Heavenly Ascent” 2020-09-07T22:55:33-06:00 Dan Peterson

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This ladder appears in an icon from the Monastery of St. Catherine, in the Sinai Peninsula.
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A new article — this one by Jeffrey M. Bradshaw — has appeared in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship:

“Faith, Hope, and Charity: The “Three Principal Rounds” of the Ladder of Heavenly Ascent”

Abstract: This chapter argues that “the scriptural triad of faith, hope, and charity should be understood as something more than a general set of personal attributes that must be developed in order for disciples to become like Christ. Instead, as part of the ‘guarded tradition the Apostle’ [Paul] that is transmitted to readers in 1 Corinthians and elsewhere in scripture, these terms have been used to describe a distinct progression of ‘stages in a Christian’s earthly experience.’ The three stages that correlate to faith, hope, and charity were described by Joseph Smith as the ‘three principal rounds’ of a ladder of heavenly ascent. Each round marks a chief juncture in priesthood ordinances and on the pathway to eternal life.”

[Editor’s Note: Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article is reprinted here as a service to the LDS community. Original pagination and page numbers have necessarily changed, and movement of figures for pagination purposes may have altered some footnote numbering. Otherwise the reprint has the same content as the original.

See Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, “Faith, Hope, and Charity: The ‘Three Principal Rounds’ of the Ladder of Heavenly Ascent,” in “To Seek the Law of the Lord”: Essays in Honor of John W. Welch, ed. Paul Y. Hoskisson and Daniel C. Peterson (Orem, UT: The Interpreter Foundation, 2017), 59–112. Further information at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/to-seek-the-law-of-the-lord-essays-in-honor-of-john-w-welch-2/.

***

I’m not sure that I haven’t already posted this link, but I don’t have time right now to check. So, just to be sure:

Book of Moses Insights #19: The Teachings of Enoch: “By the Spirit Ye Are Justified” (Moses 6:60, 63, 65–66)

***

I know that I’ve already published this link. But what the heck. It’s an article of mine that appears in the current issue of the Ensign:

“The Book of Mormon and the Descent into Dissent”

I’ve encountered essentially no response to it. Not even insults and denunciations from The Obsessive and Predictable Usual Suspects. So it occurs to me that I should probably share the article yet again.

***

Some of you, I expect, will enjoy this:

“Video: President Nelson turns 96 this week. Here’s a glimpse of his fast-paced ministry, historic leadership”

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September 7, 2020

Revision 4.20 “Some Similarities between the Qur’an and Latter-day Saint Scripture” (Part 3)

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September 7, 2020 Regarding the Young/Dumb at BYU, and Watermelons

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