Jesus taught a gospel of radical inclusion and love. How awesome would it be if we all internalized Jesus’ invitation to become one with him and each other! The gospel of radical inclusion is a continual hope for humanity. If only everyone understood the scope and awe of it! The gospel of radical inclusion is part of the ongoing restoration of Christ’s gospel to the world.

In the beginning before we were physically born, each of us lived with our heavenly parents as a spirit child of God. The gospel of radical inclusion begins there. We each belong with and are loved by our Heavenly Parents. We were each (and still are) part of God’s family. Everyone who is born on earth chose to follow Jesus. We are already loved and we already belong.

Our Heavenly Parents chose Jesus to be the creator and savior of the world. Each of us is born in the image of Jesus. Each of us is human. Each of us is born with the light of Christ within us so that we can know good from evil. Each of us is a child of Jesus. There are many ways in which we are his children. We are the children of Jesus in that we were physically made in his image…in other words we are human. No one is excluded. We are all his children regardless of sex, gender, race, ability, nationality, or circumstances with which we were born into. We are all children of Jesus in that we will all be remade and resurrected one day after the resurrected image of his immortal body thereby becoming an immortal human. We are inherently his children. He is the great creator Jehovah who made humanity and the entire world. He died for the sins of all of humanity and will resurrect all of humanity at the last day. He freely offers his love and invites us to eternally connect with him. Ultimately we are all connected. We came from God and we all will return home to God. We belong with them. Jesus has chosen every human being. We can also choose him by following his example and making covenants with him.

In choosing Jesus, no one is excluded. Every person will have the opportunity to come to know him and choose him if they desire. The gospel of radical inclusion reaches beyond time and space. It doesn’t matter when or where a person lived their life. If they did not have an opportunity to learn about and connect with Jesus, they will be given an opportunity in the next life before the final judgement and resurrection. The gospel of Jesus offers redemption to all of humanity.

• 1 Peter 3:19-20, The gospel of Jesus was preached to disobedient spirits in the spirit world after his death on the cross.
• 1 Peter 4:5-6, Jesus is the judge and the savior of both the living and the dead. The gospel of Jesus is preached to the dead so that they might live in his divine light and love.
• 1 Corinthians 15:29, Ancient Christians were baptized vicariously for their ancestors who had died granting them the ability to accept a physical baptismal covenant with Jesus. Vicarious work is central to the gospel of Jesus and Jesus died vicariously (or in our behalf) for our sins.

During his earthly ministry, Jesus taught a gospel of radical inclusion. Samaritan’s were considered by the Jews as less righteous or less chosen. In the widespread socioreligious order throughout this time period, women were also considered to be lesser than men. However, Jesus talked with the Samaritan woman at the well who was also considered a sinner. She was an outcast from her local Samaritan society to the extent that she drew water from the well by herself. On the socioreligious ladder, she was at the bottom of the bottom of the bottom. Yet, Jesus chose her who was a social outcast and a sinner to be his first missionary to declare to the city that he was the Messiah.

Jesus also taught parables of radical love and inclusion during his ministry. He taught the parable of the “Good Samaritan” who loved more and did more good than those at the top of the Jewish socioreligious order. He taught the parable of the prodigal son who returned. He taught the parable of the lost sheep and the shepherd who left the other ninety and nine to go and bring back the one sheep that was lost. He taught the parable of the lost coin that was found. He taught the parable of the leaven bread and the salt where the entire bread and the entire meal was to be valued and saved rather than to eat just salt or yeast by themselves. Jesus taught the parable of the wedding feast where all were invited to come and celebrate “both bad and good.” In another feast parable about the great feast table in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus told a story about a master who sent his servants out to bring in everyone that they could find including the poor, maimed, blind, and even strangers they met on the road. Everyone was invited and welcome to come and feast at the Lord’s table.

Jesus said that in his Father’s house there were many rooms (sometimes translated as mansions). God’s kingdom is a kingdom of many glories that includes everyone. Those who choose to fully unite with Jesus and become divine beings of love will be clothed with the resurrected glory of a celestial body. Others will be resurrected to another degree of glory, but all are included and are a part of God’s kingdom of many glories. The God of love does not exclude connection with anyone. God invites connection because that is what love is. Everyone on earth will be transformed into a being of divine love to the degree that they love God and love others. Love is a promise and a commitment that endures when all other things fail. It endures through pain, doubt, and even betrayal. God’s love never fails. There is room enough for everyone in God’s house and at God’s table who desires to be there. No one is excluded from the feast. No one is outcast who desires to be there and to feast on God’s love. All like the prodigal son are welcome home.

Jesus taught a gospel of radical inclusion. This inclusion extends even to our enemies and those that hate us. Jesus taught that we are to pray for and bless our enemies. We are to do to others that which we would have done to us. We are to forgive those that betray us. Even as the thieves on the cross mocked Jesus, he said that today they would be with him in paradise. God’s promise is that at the last day, we will all see the miracles that God has done in each of our lives. We will all see eye-to-eye. We will all understand one another fully and completely when Zion is fully reestablished and all of humanity on earth and in heaven are reunited.

The New Testament teaches us that we are all one body in Christ. We are all needed. No part of the body is supposed to cast off another part. No part of the body is more important. Only united together with all of our unique differences are we complete and whole as one body. The Book of Mormon teaches that we are to mourn with those that mourn. When one of us suffers, we all suffer. When one of us rejoices, we are all blessed.

The baptismal covenant is a covenant of love. In baptism we promise to keep the commandments. The greatest commandments are to love God and love each other. The baptismal covenant is really a covenant and a promise of love. We bind ourselves with love to God and the congregation of saints. We choose to become united as one in love. We are ritualistically reborn as new beings committed to divine light and love. The gift of the Holy Spirit is a promise and a reminder to keep this love. After being reborn we are then nursed with the loving word of God and the sacrament of Christ’s body which feeds our souls. Each week as we remember Christ’s suffering on the cross and the love that he has for us, the remembering recommits our souls to love him and each other so that we might have his spirit to be with us. In other words, in remembering the love of Jesus we are transformed. We change our spirit to be like his. We adopt his mind and his ways of thinking. We adopt his heart and his ways of loving. His might and his strength become a part of us so that our love becomes unfailing. Remembering Jesus and his sacrifice of love transforms us bit by bit into divine beings of love and inclusion.

In the Book of 3rd Nephi in the Book of Mormon, the resurrected Jesus visited the Nephite peoples. He invited them all to come and feel the scars of his crucifixion. He healed their sick and taught the people his gospel. He told them that even as he had invited them all to him, they should exclude no one. All who desired to worship were to be included. He prayed for the people several times. Angels came down from heaven and ministered to the peoples’ children encircling them with divine light. Jesus prayed the great intercessory prayer with the people. He prayed that in the same way that he is united and is one with the Father, that the people would also be united and be one with him. As Jesus prayed, the people were purified with God’s love. They were filled with heaven’s love and temporarily transformed into beings who radiated divine love and light.

Today, we live in the latter times. We live in an age of restoration and revelation. We find ourselves in a fallen world. There is so much suffering. There is inequality. Social and socio-religious hierarchies still exist. Groups of people remain excluded, outcast, and betrayed. The purpose of life is to learn how to love more deeply, purely, and in a more holy and divine way. We cannot achieve that purpose and grow our love to be able to endure through pain, suffering, and even at times some betrayal without also encountering those things in life. We need a fallen world to learn how to love in a more divine way. We need to learn how to love even when we, those around us, those in our religious community, and the world itself are broken. Jesus is our example in all things including how to love purely, divinely, and eternally. His religious community and religous leaders sought his death. Even his close friends betrayed and denied him. Yet through it all, he continued to love and he even died for all of us. The power of his love extends into the depths of hell to rescue us if we will but make the connection.

As followers of Jesus prepare for his return to earth there is so much work to do. When Jesus returns he will mend the divisions that exist between us. He will unite all of Christianity and unite humble believers in God everywhere. He will unite all Christain churches along with Jews, other believers in God, and even the heathen (non-believers) who have love in their hearts. His return will bring about peace on earth. We are not yet ready for his return and must purge the prejudice that exists within us and within our religious communities which prevents us from growing in love. The latter-day work involves restoration, gathering, and revelation in order to heal the wounds of the world. Our work is to overcome religious elitism and pride. It is to overcome racism. It is to ensure that every person has a voice and a place within the body or church of Christ. Room is to be made for voices that have been silenced so that they can be elevated. When there is inequality or prejudice that comes from church leaders or church members, it does not come from the Lord.

For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.

2 Nephi 26:33

The scriptures are full of examples of the “chosen people of God” who pridefully elevated themselves above others. The scriptures are full of examples of prophets who erred and were in need of correction. The apostles argued who was the greatest among themselves as they sought to establish their own socio-religious heiarchy. Judas betrayed Jesus. Peter cut off the ear of the soldier in an attempt to protect Jesus from being taken by soldiers. Jesus rebuked Peter with the miracle of healing the soldier’s ear. After Jesus was taken, Peter denied the Savior who he loved and wept bitterly for having denied him. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. He sent her to tell the apostles that he had been resurrected, but they did not believe her in part because she was a woman. The prophets and the saints who bind themselves to Jesus are far from perfect. They may not even be the best examples of love. The prophet Jacob in the Book of Mormon taught his people that the Lamanites who did not have the scriptures were more righteous than they were in honoring their wives and daughters. Jesus is about radical inclusion. All those that wish to bind themselves to him in love are welcome despite their flaws and errors in love. Jesus’ purpose is to help us grow more perfectly in divine love and sometimes the people that are in most need of that are those within the religious community that are trying to follow him. Sometimes our quest to be good is twisted into us wanting to be “the best” which then leads to us moving towards a socio-religious herarchy (just like the apostles at the last supper asked who was the best). This desire to “be good” twisted into wanting to “be the best” risks excluding others rather than moving us towards a truly inclusive and loving interconnection. Fortunately, Jesus doesn’t give up on us.

Where do we go from here?

As latter-day Saints of Jesus, we have a great work to do both within and without our religious communities. Much of this work is not new. It includes:

• Acknowledge past errors and disavow errant doctrines and teachings so that social and religious healing can occur within the church. Without this, the wounds of yesterday that we pretend did not happen will continue to pain us tomorrow. Jesus’ ministry was to teach a higher and holier way of being and of loving. Fear of dismantling errant doctrines and teachings was an obstacle to people accepting him then as much as it is today. A living church is one that adapts, moves, grows, and heals. It is not one that is written on immovable stone tablets that must never be changed, but is written on the fleshy pages of the heart. If we cannot fully repent and acknowledge the errors of past church leaders and members, then we have not fully moved forward and healed.
• Reinterpret what it means to be the people and church of God. Religious elitism creates walls and boundaries rather than bridges. Love is about bridges. Religious elitism is counter to the gospel of radical inclusion and love. Religious elitism causes us to turn inwards to protect our built up hierarchies rather than turn outwards in love. We need to get off of our Rameumptom tower if we think we are the only true followers and community of God. We need to stop the “them” and “us” language. We need to stop speaking of “the world” as something we need to avoid and protect ourselves from. We errantly intermingle the concepts of “sin” and “other people” which leads to exclusionary language when we talk about “the world.” This language risks leading us to doing the exact opposite of what Jesus did. We may forget that God so loved “the world” that he sent his son to die for it. If God so loved the world (all of humanity), then so should we. To love the world is to follow Christ’s example and intermingle with sinners (we are all sinners). Religious elitism has wounded my own family and extended family. It causes people to feel excluded. We are all sinners and fall short. We all need God’s love to sustain us. Let us have holy envy and seek to point out and incorporate the good that we see in others rather than exclude others in order to protect ourselves from the bad that we think we see in them. Before we seek to pull out the sliver in others’ eyes, we must first pull out the beam in our eyes.
• Elevate the voices of women within the church. Until every member is valued and honored equally, we will not have become what we could be as a united body in Christ. We need the ideas, voices, hearts, eyes, hands, and feet of women within all parts of the church organization. We handicap the organization if we exclude the potential contributions of half of its members.
• Expand the charitable work of the church and its members. Often the members are so consumed with their church duties and their families, that they don’t have time to partner with other churches and charitable organizations to relieve suffering in the world. Members are not intermingling with other believers as well as they could. To be a “peculiar people” isn’t to isolate ourselves but to intermingle with others. The salt and the yeast that Jesus spoke of do not serve their purpose if they are eaten alone and not mixed in with the flour and the rest of the meal. The purpose of tithing expressed in Malachi is to bring bread into God’s house to relieve the suffering of the poor. Individual members and the church as a whole can do more to serve those outside the church as well.
• Continue to combat systemic racism and “othering” within the members of the church. Many church members in the United States put the politics of their party above the teachings of Jesus. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was that they were a wealthy community that did not offer charity to the poor. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah had nothing to do with homosexuality but with maintaining their wealth at all costs. This included the establishment of exclusionary borders enforced by dehumanization, human exploitation, oppression, and physical abuse (including sexual abuse and humiliation) of those who entered their cities. In Isaiah chapter 1, the Lord called Sodom and Gomorrah to stop the hypocritical and vain religious sacrifices for show and to repent and “relieve the oppressed and care for the fatherless and the widow.” In Isaiah chapter 3, the Lord calls the cities to no longer focus on their wealthy clothes and jewelry but to help the poor. The evil pride in their society was reinforced by corrupt politics. Ezekiel chapter 16 states, “Behold this was was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination (conspiracy to strengthen evil doers) before me.” The pride of Sodom is also mentioned in Zephaniah chapter 2. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah parallels the Great and Spacious building in Lehi’s dream and the state of the Nephite nation as it was corrupted by secret political combinations that reinforced and protected the wicked rulers and judges before Christ’s birth. Let us not be like Sodom who self elevated and excluded. Let us seek to include and connect with others following the golden rule to share our time and many spiritual (and physical) blessings of wealth.
• Be more inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community within the church. Isaiah chapter 55 and 56 state that the Lord’s ways are higher than our ways. It then proceeds to state how the Lord is a life giver. Then it goes into the sins of the ancient religious community in excluding new converts so that they feel “lesser than” and excluding sexual minorities who were not allowed to participate in temple worship. The Lord counseled the community to include the new convert and not to think that they are lesser because they were converted rather than born into the covenant. The Lord also counseled sexual minorities who were not able to participate in the Abrahamic covenant to directly raise seed or children. These sexual minorities were also not allowed to participate in the temple because they were considered ritualistically unwhole. However the Lord reminded his people that his ways are higher than our ways. “For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for ALL people. The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, besides those that are gathered unto him.” For a commentary on this passage and others that apply to Jesus’ love for LGBTQIA+ individuals, please refer to my article on Jesus loves everyone (yes everyone).

The restoration, revelation, and gathering in the latter days is intended to expand the tent of Zion. It is intended to prepare us for Jesus’ return and our future life in God’s kingdom of many glories. It is intended to prepare us to become one with Jesus and each other as we grow into divine beings who follow the great commandments of love. The final passage in the Book of Mormon contains an admonition to enlarge the borders of Zion forever that the covenant of Israel may be fulfilled and to come unto Christ and become holy through the commandment of love. Moroni’s final farewell then looks forward to the time when we shall be reunited at the feet of Jesus, who is the great Jehovah of all humanity.

The gospel of radical inclusion is quite remarkable! Afterall, what is more inclusive and loving than the admonition to pray for, bless, and love our enemies who despitefully use, betray, and persecute us? Our hearts are to be continually open to the possibility of loving connection with God and others until our love is perfected and refined to be able to endure beyond the pain and suffering of life. Charity is the primary defining attribute of divine beings. Charity never fails and endures even when all else fails.

We came from God and we will return to God. We are all connected through God’s love. The gospel of Jesus is a gospel that celebrates each person. It celebrates the diversity and the unique divine gift within every person. It is a gospel of radical love, inclusion, and transformation that invites us all to become one with God and each other in binding covenants of love that overcome the pain, sorrow, and sins of our fallen condition in a mortal and imperfect world. It is a gospel that promises future peace, healing, and eternal connection. The work of Israel is not complete until everyone is in the tent of Zion, everyone is seated at God’s table, and all of humanity is gathered into God’s kingdom of many glories.