Begging for a Remission of Your Sins

Jared on July 19th, 2008 in Born Again, Doctrine of Christ, Holy Ghost, Jesus Christ, Repentance, Sanctification

Have you begged the Lord for a remission of your sins?

First, a definition of the word “beg” may be helpful to set aside any emotional response we may have to the word. Some among us may feel offended by this word thinking that God would never require His sons and daughters, the elect; those holding the priesthood, those who have made scared covenants in the temples, to beg.

Beg: To ask earnestly; to beseech; to entreat or supplicate with humility. From American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828

The title of this post, Begging for a Remission of Your Sins, is taken from the account of King Benjamin teaching his people the message delivered to him by an angel from God (This would be a great way to start a talk, using an angel for source material).

Before going any further I think it’s important to have an idea of just who King Benjamin and his people were. King Benjamin’s people are described as being “highly favored people of the Lord” because they were “diligent in keeping the commandments”.[1] Certainly this highly favored group of former day Saints could recount many instances of service and sacrifice on their part in behalf of the Lord’s work. These people were very much like church members are today. They attended their meetings, donated of their time and substance, served one another in the church and raised their families up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Included in this group of people were church leaders, the equivalent of today’s Prophets, Apostles, Stake Presidents, Patriarchs, Bishops, Relief Society Presidents, High Councilman and so forth.[2]

Now, with this background in mind note what happens to this group of highly favored people of the Lord. At the conclusion of King Benjamin’s remarks “they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them”. Mosiah 4:1

The fear they experienced wasn’t the kind of fear that causes one to cower before an adversary. It was a different kind of fear, “they viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth”. For the first time they understood, by the power of the Holy Ghost, what it really means to be a fallen being, living in a fallen world! They immediately knew what to do, with one voice they cried aloud:

O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.

And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them. Mosiah 4:2-3

I bear witness to the reality of this account as recorded in the Book of Mormon. I can do so because I have experienced it myself. Jesus Christ is not only the Savior of the world; He is an individual Savior as well. Go here for my testimony.

I pray that all who read this post will have a renewed determination to fulfill their baptism covenant, if not already received, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and a remission of your sins. If you have already received this gift, then I hope both you and I can retain a remission of our sins and be brought back into the presence of God.

A word of caution, these things are not to be trifled with. The gifts of God cannot be demanded. Enos, in my opinion, didn’t receive a remission of his sins because he prayed all day long; he received this gift because God intended to give it to him. The scriptural account says: “the words which I had often heard my father speak…sunk deep into my heart… And my soul hungered… Enos 1:3 – 4. This was an invitation for Enos to approach the Lord in mighty prayer which enabled him to pray as he did.

Conclusion

King Benjamin and his people were very good at keeping the commandments. They were close to the Lord, had a temple, and had many manifestation of the Holy Ghost. However, as the account makes clear, they had not been born again and received a remission of their sins. In this scriptural account, receiving the gift of Holy Ghost, and receiving a remission of sins by fire and the Holy Ghost, or in other words to be born again, can be separate and distinct events.

[1] Mosiah 1:11 & 13.

[2] Words of Mormon 1:15-18.

Comments

Spektator
Posted on 20th July, 2008

Jared,

I found your blog through the Mormon Blogs for the first time this morning. I want to add my testimony of the power and majesty of the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. It is truly a magnificent experience and one that all believers of Christ should seek.

“…if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen.” Mormon 7:10

I think it is important to note that, in the case of the people of King Benjamin, it was not until AFTER their baptism of fire that they were given this guidance:

“…For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate…”
2 Nephi 31: 17-18

So baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost is the gate to the strait and narrow path to eternal life. I find the symbolism of a gate in reference to this baptism as significant. It is an entry point where we begin, not the culmination of a long life of seeking the will of the Lord.

There are four places I have found that define the gospel in terms of either ‘baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost’ (D&C 33:11-12, D&C 39:6) or ’sanctification” (3 Nephi 27:20-21, D&C 76:40-42). Given these scriptures, I would suggest that the baptism by fire is how we become sanctified. It is how our sins are purged from us or how we are cleansed from sin. It is, according to Moroni, a condition by which we are numbered with the church:

“And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.” Moroni 6:4

Could you imagine what this church of Christ in our times would be like if all were ‘baptized by fire’ before they were admitted?

The stories of Nephi, the people of King Benjamin, Enos, Alma, the 300 Lamanites from the Book of Mormon all teach us that the baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost is both a requirement for membership in His Kingdom and a source of indescribable joy and peace.

tk
Posted on 20th July, 2008

Thank you for your post. I know what you have written is true because I had the same experience as both you and King Benjamin describe,”..the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come…”

Thank you for the reminder, which I will use as I take the sacrement today.

Jared
Posted on 20th July, 2008

Spektator-thoughtful comment. Thanks for the details you provided and a link to your site. I’m looking forward to spending some time there.

Jared
Posted on 20th July, 2008

tk-thanks for coming by and sharing you testimony of this important gospel principle.

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