3 Nephi 24

I’ll send a messenger to get you ready for me. Then, when you’re ready, the Lord [Jesus] will suddenly appear in his temple. But who will ever be ready for him, when you think about it? That’s like being ready for cremation. Because he will burn up the worst part of your natures. You have lots of experience with pricey metal. So you know how fire separates. That’s what God’s fire does to people. They need that before their sacrifices are valid.

He’ll purge out occultists, womanizers, slanderers, stingy bosses, and hermitish self-contained non-sharers. I’m God and I share everything, except a few secrets. So do the same. And if you think I’m being demanding, just realize how patient I’ve been just to allow you to live this long. I think I’ve cooled my heels quite a bit for you.

You’ve drifted since the day you were born. Even before then, if we count your genetic presence in your parents before even conception. Come back to me and I’ll come back to you.

How’s that? you say.

I say, can you rob God? (It’s a rhetorical question. The answer is “no.”) Well, you’ve robbed me, every one of you.

How? you ask.

Because you’re like dogs. I gave you a steak and all I ask for is the bone back. In other words, start putting some cash back in the church bank account. I’ve given you all you have. Don’t stiff me the little payback I ask. You do it and—voila!—I bless you even more. Throw a little into my treasury and yours will start to burst at the seams. I’ll also shield you from your foes, stop drought, and make sure your fruit doesn’t fall off the tree before picking season. And as a bonus, every country will say how nice you are.

Next: You’ve backtalked me.

How? you ask.

Because you say you get nothing from going to church, let alone from fasting and praying, which you don’t even have to travel for. You say cheaters get all the breaks and stuck-ups get the glory.

I say that I’m keeping a book on all of you. You have plates to scratch on. But I have stars to write with. And all your names are written there, along with a logbook of your behavior. Better behavior = brighter stars. And you see how few of those there are.

I don’t wear jewelry, but I decorate with it. The universe is my jewel-studded living room. I only want the brightest gems.

You peel your eyes and you’ll start to see who’s actually good and bad in their hearts and their deeds.