I thought this book was a wonderful repositioning of grace and Jesus’s atonement compared to some LDS perspectives which think we have to earn our exhalation. “I figured that immortality was free, but eternal life had to be earned. Now I realize both are free (DC 6:14; 14:7), but eternal life must be received by faith in Christ, which included covenants and the ordinances that evidence those covenants” (157). I didn’t always understand how grace could be free and also that it must be received by faith, but the idea that it is already all taken care of is beautiful.
One idea that I really liked was different levels of motivation that Wilcox discussed. He suggested that the highest level of motivation is a friend, giving more meaning to Jesus yelling his disciples that He is their friend. “The Lord sometimes referees to Joseph as His servant (DC 1:17). At other times He called him His son (DC 121:7) and His friend (DC 93:45). No doubt even the Prophet and his associates were progressing through the levels of motivation. Servants are required to work. Sons are expected to work. However, friends work because they want to” (172).