My Way or the Highway?

As a physician, it is my job to make lifestyle and medication recommendations. Occasionally, a patient may disagree with or outright refuse some or all of my recommendations. Some doctors, when faced with this dilemma, take the "my way or the highway" attitude. That is, if the patient doesn't accept 100% of their recommendation, then they feel justified in discontinuing any further therapeutic efforts. They may "discharge the patient from their practice" or "fire the patient".

An emergency physician may ask the patient to sign a "against medical advice form" before leaving the emergency department. While, there will aways be a few patients who leave the ED AMA, I have never agreed with the "my way or the highway" attitute. I have always felt that if I can convince the patient to comply with at least one recommendation or take one of three indicated medications; one is usually better than none.

While there are legitimate reasons for firing a patient, God has promised us that He will never fire us from his clinical practice. God is the the Greatest Physician, He is the Physician of physicians who has given us a wealth of lifestyle and behavior recommendations. But, similar to medical practice, our Heavenly Father wants us to as happy and blessed as we will allow ourselves to be. That is precisely why Jesus Christ taught that, "In my father's house are many mansions."

Mainstream Christianity defines eternity in terms of heaven and hell. Joseph Smith restored the truth that while all of God's children, through Christ, may be saved; heaven has differing rewards based on the level of law and obedience we were willing to receive.

In D&C 88, God is revealing additional details about the three degrees of heaven that Paul discussed in 1 Cor 15:40. Jesus Christ told Joseph Smith in verse 32, "And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received."

Irenius in "against Heresies" quoted Papias: "As the presbyters say, then, those who are deemed worthy of an abode in heaven shall go there, others shall enjoy the delights of Paradise, and others shall possess the splendour of the city; (The new Jerusalem on earth) for everywhere the Saviour will be seen, according as they shall be worthy who see Him. But that there is this distinction between the habitation of those who produce an hundred-fold, and that of those who produce sixty-fold, and that of those who produce thirty-fold; for the first will be taken up into the heavens, the second class will dwell in Paradise, and the last will inhabit the city; and that on this account the Lord said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions:” for all things belong to God, who supplies all with a suitable dwelling-place, even as His word says, that a share is given to all by the Father, according as each one is or shall be worthy. And this is the couch in which they shall recline who feast, being invited to the wedding. The presbyters, the disciples of the apostles, say that this is the gradation and arrangement of those who are saved, and that they advance through steps of this nature; and that, moreover, they ascend through the Spirit to the Son, and through the Son to the Father; and that in due time the Son will yield up His work to the Father."

In my estimation, heaven to not so much a physical separation but like the hospital has doctors, nurses, and techs. We all work together,  but there are certain responsibilities reserved for the doctors.  Nurses and techs are an invaluable part of the healthcare team.  Most nurses find great joy in their choosen career, and have no desire to be the doctor. But like nurses and techs, there may be responsibilities, those of a lesser glory are not permitted to do (world's without end). In life, some techs decide to go back to school and become a nurse.  Some nurses choose to go back to school and become NPs, PAs, or even MDs.  However, in God's plan we are warned, there is no going back to school in the next life.  Scripture warns, "do not procrastinate", "today is the day for men to perform our labors".   Gods university (temple) has open enrollment, but the decision to attend medical school is now. Jesus Christ invites all to get all the education we can and lay up in store our treasures in heaven.