Recently I was pondering the importance of the Holy Ghost when the following words came into my mind: “The Holy Ghost is to our spirits what the sun is to the earth.” I was a little surprised at first, but the more I thought about it the more instructive it became.
The Earth without the Sun
I’m not well educated in earth science but I think I would be safe in saying that without the sun the earth would be a dead planet. I remember studying the importance of photosynthesis to life on the earth. Plants utilize energy from sun light to make oxygen. Without oxygen where would we be? How about the water cycle? Without the sun there would be no water cycle. I think it is safe to say that the earth without the sun would be a very different place than we currently know.
Our Spirits without the Holy Ghost
The scriptures teach that because of the fall of Adam we are spiritually dead.
…for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual. Helaman 14:16
Spiritual death is real and we are all recipients of this “gift”, it is part of the great plan of happiness. In order to ascend we must first descend (D&C 88:6). To be spiritually dead means many things, but the most telling is that we are “enemies to God” (Mosiah 3:19).
Without the Holy Ghost we are fallen beings, spiritually dead, and therefore enemies to God.
Our Spirits with the Gift of the Holy Ghost
As members of the church we have been baptized for the remission of sins, and confirmed by the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost (Act 2:38). Those who diligently seek for the gift of the Holy Ghost will find Him, and will eventually be “born again”. To be born again means we are no longer spiritually dead. We are made alive in Christ because we are partakers of the blessings of the atonement. And like all newborns we can mature and become like our parent. As sons and daughters of Christ we mature to become like Him.
Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost
The process to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost begins when we’re baptized and confirmed. The question then becomes, “what do I need to do to receive this promised gift of the Holy Ghost?” Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost doesn’t happen automatically, no more than garden produce begins to grow just because the sun rises.
Following are a few things I’ve learned that are essential to fulfill our baptismal covenant and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost:
1. Desire. This is number one on my list because the scripture and common sense teach that we must desire something before we can hope to receive it. In my opinion, desire both precedes, and follows faith. We receive blessings according to our desires (Ether 3:2).
It appears to me that many church members are casual in their desire for the gift of the Holy Ghost. If this is the case, then I fear the Lord will withhold this gift until we hunger and thirst for it (3 Nephi 12:6, Jarom 1:4).
2. Accept and understand our fallen nature. Until we accept and understand we are fallen beings, we will lack the desire to come unto Christ with the faith necessary to be born again. The Book of Mormon teaches the idea that it takes a revelation from God for church members to understand that in spite of our efforts to keep the commandments we are still fallen beings until we receive a remission of our sins (Mosiah 4:2-3).[1]
3. Cry unto the Lord in mighty prayer. Pray to the Lord that you can offer up this kind of prayer-mighty prayer. I believe prayer of this kind is inspired of the Lord. I don’t believe we can do this on our own. Enos said:
And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul… Enos 1:4
This kind of prayer, because it is a gift from the Lord, opens the heavens and allows us to commune with our Heavenly Father on a level that is beyond human capacity.
Summary
We are fallen beings living in a fallen world, therefore we are enemies to God until we change and become true followers of Christ. As baptized church members we have the right to receive the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, if we diligently seek for this gift. As we strife to keep the commandments and be true followers of Christ we will eventually receive a remission of our sins and thus be born again, becoming sons and daughters of Christ.
[1] King Benjamin’s people are described as being “highly favored people of the Lord” because they were “diligent in keeping the commandments” (Mosiah 1:11 & 13). 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 (Words of Mormon 1:15-18).
Spektator
Posted on 27th August, 2008
Jared,
While Alma and the people of King Benjamin are two examples of the righteous being blessed with the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, there are also examples in the Book of Mormon of people who were either fighting against God (Alma) or not identified as righteous (300 Lamanites in Helaman chapter 5). It seems that the Lord can pick anyone who meets His needs to receive this rebirth.
The bible also carries this contrast as one looks at the experience of Cornelius, who had been fasting for 4 days. Saul, on the other hand, gets visited in the middle of a trip to persecute the followers of Christ.
While the righteous have the examples of Enos, we must recognize that God may call an Alma to meet his needs also.
Jared
Posted on 27th August, 2008
Spektator-thanks for your comment. I agree 100%. I marvel at the variety of ways the Lord uses to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children.
spektator
Posted on 28th August, 2008
I caught your post on the topic on mormonmatters. I know from earlier discussion that you and I share some perspective on the importance of second baptism. Unfortunately, the prevailing wisdom of the church seems to point to this baptism being the result of imperceptibe changes over a lifetime of righteous living.
I do have a couple questions for you
What is, in your mind, the potential impact of the lack of focus on this by the church?
What are the personal implications of accepting the idea of the baptism of fire being a long process?
Jared
Posted on 28th August, 2008
Spektator-great questions.
From my perspective I reflect on the scripture where we’re taught the Savior doesn’t employee any servants there (the gate) for certain aspects of our relationship with Him (2 Nep 9:41). When a member of the church offers up a broken heart and a contrite spirit to the Lord then the Lord extends the blessings of the atonement to some degree (2 Nep 2:7). This, I believe is being born again, by receiving the 2nd baptism of fire. I’ve experienced this, but didn’t entirely understand the doctrine at the time.
I have mixed reactions to the lack of focus on this. I wish the GA would talk more about it. Yet, I feel that too much attention on this doctrine can lead to frustration for church members.
When I think about how the Book of Mormon prophets/writers describe their experiences I think those who receive this blessing are given a gift to be able to access Heavenly Father in mighty prayer, which makes it possible to receive the 2nd baptism. I really wonder if a person can one day decide their going to seek for this blessing, and then set up some plan to obtain it in a specific time period. It may be crisis driven-meaning a person needs to have a life crisis of some kind to drive them to their knees.
My experience with the 2nd baptism was crisis driven so that is the way I think about it. I would like to learn from others who have experienced this gift and learn what brought it about in their life.
Teaching that it is a long process for most members is a save position to take for the GA. I leave it in their hands. The Book of Mormon seems to teach both dramatic and progressive access to this blessing. The Lord provides the GA’s with the inspiration to fulfill their callings, but I am also responsible to the Lord to appropriately bear testimony of my experience with these things.
There is a lot to be said on this subject.
Spektator
Posted on 28th August, 2008
Approaching the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, as defined in 2 Nephi 2:7, is found in several places which are pertinent to our development of a relationship with Christ. In Moroni 6, the same phrase is used as a prerequisite to membership in His church through being “received unto baptism and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost.”
It states in 3 Nephi 12:1 that it is Christ, himself, that will baptize us with fire and the Holy Ghost for a remission of our sins. I have come to believe that the call to repent and come unto me is a call to be sanctified by that same dual baptism.
I have often marveled at the promise found in D&C 88:68 relative to this sanctification:
“Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.”
Jared, I, too, base my belief on personal experience. Many years ago, I found myself in a crisis. Seeking the Lord with a heavy heart, I was blessed with the most extraordinary experience of my entire life. I felt as though I had been washed clean and had the most incredible joy and peace come to me. This lasted for days after my encounter.
It was not for many years that I was able to discern what had happened to me. I now can speak with some limited understanding of what is meant in the scriptures regarding this type of experience. If people could truly understand what joy could be had, there would me a lot more striving to reach for that promise. As such, I believe that most members are being shortchanged by the current watered down version.
In a broader sense, if the gospel is indeed defined in terms of the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost (D&C 33:11-12, D&C 39:6), then I believe the change being preached from the podium at general conference is tantamount to rejecting the gospel.
I am sure that I am taking this further than you can absorb. I have worked to bring some structure to all the scriptural references regarding the gospel, baptism, the church, and the Gentiles. I can’t see any other way that the scriptures fit together. Of course, your mileage may vary…
Delirious
Posted on 29th August, 2008
Sorry to bother you, but I can’t get the address to email mormonblogs.org to add my blog to the list. Not sure why, but when I click on the “email us” it won’t let me. Do you happen to have the email address? Thanks!
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