Worthiness is a Process (the gospel is here to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable)
Worthiness is a word that is used often in Mormon circles. For example, worthiness interviews are conducted in every stake, ward, and branch in the church. The purpose is to determine if an individual is worthy to:
1. Obtain a temple recommend
The Savior Could There Do No Mighty Work…He Marvelled at Their Unbelief
The Savior while in mortality drew many people after Him because of the mighty works he did. However, in his home town of Nazareth the scriptures teach something different occurred there:
Seeking the Holy Ghost in Times of Peace, and Trouble
Almost exactly two years ago I wrote my first post on this blog. Since then, I have read hundreds of post and comments from other LDS blogs, and written over a hundred posts myself. My main emphasis has been to write about the Holy Ghost.
As church members we’re taught that acquiring the gift of the Holy Ghost is the most important thing we can do.[1] Some readers might not agree with this statement, saying that coming to Christ is more important. If that is true, how would you answer this question: “How can we come to Christ without the Holy Ghost?”
Experience the Gospel Instead of Just Intellectualizing It
The doctrine of Christ, as revealed in the Book of Mormon, teaches church members how to experience the gospel; not just learning it for the sake of understanding.
The gospel is experienced when we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is more important to experience the gospel than it is to understand it. When we experience the gospel we understand it on a whole different level as compared to study alone.
What I've just said may sound like I've got things backwards; after all, doesn't one need to understand the gospel before they experience it? Yes, there needs to be some basic understanding of the gospel. The following definition from Preach My Gospel, page 5, explains what one needs to know.
Keeping the Commandments without Making Covenants has no Power to Sanctify
For those who have made covenants to follow Christ there is a simple plan that needs to be obeyed in order to realize the promised blessings. The following scripture clearly describes the plan and promise:
Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. 3 Nephi 27:20
Desperately Seeking the Holy Ghost
In the Bloggernacle a writer needs to have a good title to get noticed in the aggregators. It's also a good idea to have something worthwhile to say. I think I've got both. I hope you'll hang in there for a few minutes and read what I've have to say. There is a 1 to 5 star rating system at the end. After reading this, please rate how meaningful of a read it was to you.
For this post I've decided to be less formal. I'm going use my experiences in life to illustrate the workings of the Spirit. I'd like to discuss sacred things with you, like I would with a loved one.
Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost
Authority Restored
The restoration of the gospel through the prophet Joseph Smith restored many things that had been lost from the earth. The authority to baptize and confer the gift of the Holy Ghost was among things lost. John the Baptist, now a resurrected man, restored the authority to baptize and confer the gift of the Holy Ghost when he laid his hands on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (JS-History 1:67-74).
There are many blessings associated with receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Joseph Smith wrote about the change he and Oliver experienced immediately after receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost:
Classic Talk: The Gift of the Holy Ghost: What Every Member Should Know
Boyd K. Packer, “The Gift of the Holy Ghost: What Every Member Should Know,” Ensign, Aug 2006, 46–52. Click here to go to the churches website for this article. Highlighting is mine.
From an address given on June 24, 2003, at a seminar for new mission presidents, Missionary Training Center, Provo, Utah.
For What Doth It Profit A Man If A Gift Is Bestowed Upon Him, And He Receive Not The Gift?
Our Heavenly Father has revealed that it is His work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39). In other words, to make it possible for each of us to become as He is-a God. The promise continues-He will give us all that He hath (D&C 84:38).
Heavenly Father's plan is to give us power, the unimaginable power to create worlds without end (Moses 1:4, 33) and to possess knowledge, all knowledge such that there is not anything save we'll know it (2 Nephi 9:20).
A Few Thoughts on My One Year Anniversary in the Bloggernacle
I've cruised, posted, and written in the Bloggernacle for one year. It's been an interesting experience.
My initial goal in coming to the Bloggernacle was to mingle with LDS who are seeking to fulfill their baptismal covenant by receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. I assumed that with the vastness of the internet's reach I'd find multiple sites where church members discussed things of the Spirit and shared spiritual experiences in a meaningful way. However, I quickly learned that most LDS who post and comment in the Bloggernacle have other priorities.
LDS author James Farrell observed:
Pages
Recent Posts
- Exercising Faith When Dealing With Health Problems—My Ten Year Journey
- Friday Quiz: The Purpose of the Atonement
- Friday Quiz: It Is By Grace That We Are Saved, After All We Can Do
- Worthiness is a Process (the gospel is here to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable)
- Friday Quiz: Does the Book of Mormon support the Biblical account of the flood?
- Friday Quiz: Basic Gospel Doctrine Question (I’ll bet you’ll be surprised by the answer)
- Listening, Two Way Prayer–For the Intellectual Mormon Too
- Friday Quiz: Book of Mormon Question–Men Who Would Be Kings
Recent Comments
- Jared on Are God’s Promises Being Realized in Your Life?
- Adam Valdez on Are God’s Promises Being Realized in Your Life?
- Jack on Exercising Faith When Dealing With Health Problems—My Ten Year Journey
- Jared on Exercising Faith When Dealing With Health Problems—My Ten Year Journey
- Christina on Exercising Faith When Dealing With Health Problems—My Ten Year Journey
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