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).
Just as a journey of a thousand miles beings with the first step the path to exaltation has a point of beginning. Joseph Smith had this in mind when he said:
"When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top and so it is with the principles of the Gospel - you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation." (Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 348)
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:
"Many [LDS] today carry a secret: We do not love what we have been commanded to love. We do not love what is holy. Although we might reverence things that are deemed holy - the temple, for example, and the scriptures, and the Sabbath - we do not love them. Not really. Not with our whole souls." The Holy Secret, James Farrell
The apostle John on this subject said:
Resisting the Holy Ghost—LDS Style
The gift of the Holy Ghost is available to those who enter into the waters of baptism and are confirmed members of the Lord’s church. In order to actually receive this gift one must hunger and thirst for it. Without the ordinance of baptism, by one having authority, the gift of the Holy Ghost is not available.
The prophet Joseph Smith touched on this subject. He explained the difference between the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost:
The Holy Ghost is to Our Spirits What the Sun is to the Earth
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
Conservative, Liberal, and Intellectual Mormons
The Bible teaches the gospel net gathereth of every kind, in other words, the Lord sure has a lot of variety in His church. This is true of the Bloggernacle. We're a diverse group; a microcosm of early 21st century American Mormons.
For most of my church life I've thought of members as being either active or inactive. Now I view members as being liberal vs. conservative Mormons, Iron Rod vs. Liahona Mormons, and the latest is new order Mormons. And then there are subsets in each category. I'm not going to get into the details of the various notions behind the designations. In keeping with the KISS principle I'll say that there are three main groups of church members based on their descriptions of themselves: conservative, liberal, and intellectual.
The church has always had diversity in its members. The standard works provides an interesting cast of characters to help us understand just how wide and deep the diversity of God's children is. Whether we look at Lehi's family or a thousand years of Jewish and Nephite history we encounter diversity and variety.
We are the Gathered of the Last Dispensation
Begging for a Remission of Your Sins
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 sacred 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).
An Invitation to Bloggernaclist to Participate in a Miracle
As I've cruised the Bloggernacle over the last eight months, I've been impressed by those who write and comment in the various blogs. Most are faithful, testimony bearing Latter Day Saints, who have done much to build up the Kingdom.
Nearly all Bloggernaclist have had their faith challenged to one degree or another by an array of historical/doctrinal problems that have come to light. A few have left the church, yet still exhibit a love for the gospel, but most are settled in their faith and are waiting for further light and knowledge. However, their view of the church and church leaders has experienced a "paradigm shift".
President and Sister Monson on “Promptings”
This weekend members of the church have the privilege of hearing from the Lord's chosen leaders for this day and time. Each of them has certainly invested a great deal of effort in prayer and preparation as they have selected their various messages to present in conference.
Wisdom would suggest that we as listeners should also invest in prayer and preparation to hear their messages. One way to do this would be to invite the Holy Ghost to be with the speakers and with us as a listener.
Embracing Our Individual & Unique Gift of the Holy Ghost
I’ve felt a desire to share some sacred experiences the Lord has given me. My whole purpose in sharing these experiences is to testify of Jesus Christ and the reality of the atonement. I hope by testifying of these things others will be strengthened spiritually and will be motivated to follow the Savior with full purpose of heart and receive all that He has for them.
The greatest concern I have is that those who read about my experiences will expect to receive the exact same experience in their life. I’m not sure it works that way. I think we need to explore our own unique gift of the Holy Ghost and learn how grow in it.
My ward leaders told me that after I was baptized I would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. I was nine years old and believed what they said. My dad was not a member and my mother was inactive, but both of them, at the urging of our ward leaders took me to the Salt Lake Tabernacle to be baptized.
There were about 30 or 40 people there. We were told to wait until my name was called. As we set there someone announced that the ordinance of baptism was sacred and that everyone there should have pure thoughts. In a few minutes a man entered the font and several young people were baptized. I immediately became concerned by what I saw. My thoughts were not about the Holy Ghost but about what happened when the newly baptized person exited the font. The wet white gown clung to them and revealed a lot of anatomy. I determined then and there that when my turn came I wasn't going to reveal myself.
An Invitation from the Father and the Son: First and Second Comforter
We learn from the Savior about love, and the relationships that can be ours with the Father and the Son, if we really love them.
21 The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]
22 Judas, not Iscariot, asked Him, Lord, how is it that You will reveal Yourself [make Yourself real] to us and not to the world?
23 Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.