The Robe of Righteousness

The-Righteous-Robe-Katerberg

10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath ^aclothed me with the ^bgarments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.  (Isaiah 61:10)

33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy ^arighteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine ^benemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.   (2 Nephi 4:33

I recently read of a man who had a near death experience.  In his understanding, he was taken up into heaven.  He described following a heavenly being who was wearing a beautiful sparkling robe made of some kind of heavenly material.  As that person walked the robe spoke of that person's righteous deeds and this man was able to know and understand all of the righteous acts of this individual throughout eternity. 

What a beautiful description of the robes of righteousness described in the scriptures.   It is an interesting thought that our daily decisions and deeds are weaving our heavenly garment what ever that may be. 

The ultimate "robe of righteousness" is that covering given to us by the Lord.  The Savior's own righteousness has brought about the atonement for all mankind.  If we allow it, we can be covered by that robe and that covering will bring us back into the presence of God. 

2 Nephi 9:14

14 Wherefore, we shall have a ^aperfect ^bknowledge of all our ^cguilt, and our ^duncleanness, and our ^enakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their ^frighteousness, being ^gclothed with ^hpurity, yea, even with the ⁱrobe of righteousness.

Doctrine and Covenants 29:12

12 And again, verily, verily, I say unto you, and it hath gone forth in a firm decree, by the will of the Father, that mine ^aapostles, the Twelve which were with me in my ministry at Jerusalem, shall stand at my right hand at the day of my coming in a pillar of ^bfire, being clothed with robes of righteousness, with crowns upon their heads, in ^cglory even as I am, to ^djudge the whole house of Israel, even as many as have loved me and kept my commandments, and none else.

Doctrine and Covenants 109:76

76 That our garments may be pure, that we may be clothed upon with ^arobes of ^brighteousness, with palms in our hands, and ^ccrowns of glory upon our heads, and reap eternal ^djoy for all our ^esufferings.

The Importance of Calling Upon God....

Alma Baptizes in the Waters of Mormon, Walter Rane

12 And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart.  (Mosiah 18:12)

It is easy to go about our labors in the church with good intent but under our own strength and power.  We desire to serve but are busy and become habitual in our routines, forgetting to call upon God before we endeavor to perform our labors in the kingdom.  We miss out when we do this.  We accomplish good but we leave so many blessings untouched for both ourselves and others.  The experience of having the spirit poured out upon us and those we serve is a choice blessing.  It is also a great blessing to be able to do our work with holiness of heart unimpeded by our ever present natural man. 

9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul. (2 Ne. 32:9)

10 Nevertheless Alma ^alabored much in the spirit, ^bwrestling with God in ^cmighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance. (Alma 8:10)

15 Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.  (Isaiah 32:15)