LDS Alive in Christ

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I first became acquainted with the Bloggernacle in the summer of 2007. My initial hope in coming to the internet was to mingle with LDS who were diligently seeking to draw near unto God. I had assumed that with the vastness of the internet’s reach, I’d find sites where church members were excited about the plan of salvation and were making progress in the things of the Spirit. I thought I would find church members testifying of the blessings they experienced as they focused on the doctrine of Christ (faith in Jesus Chris, repentance, baptism, and seeking the gift of the Holy Ghost).

I did find some excellent LDS internet sites where they write essays on doctrine, defend the church, and do missionary work. These members possess strong vibrant testimonies, I’m grateful for them, they stood out from those that revel in the precepts of men (2 Nephi 28:26).

But where are those members who are like Alma, and the four sons of Mosiah, Enos, Abish, Aminadab, Mormon, Moroni, and the brother of Jared, to name a few?

I’ve had enough experience with things of the Spirit to know there are church members like them. I think it would be wonderful to be able to communicate and learn from them. Maybe I was naive in what I’ve hoped for. If so, at least I tried. So, what does one do?

I’ve decided to write a book. I’m writing for those who desire to embrace the Lord’s “great plan of redemption”. I am not writing as a church leader, a gospel scholar or for a profit motive. I’m writing based on my experience with the Savior, not just what I hope for or believe in.

We live in a day of unparalleled prosperity. Unfortunately, prosperity can be an enemy to spirituality (Helaman 12:1-3). 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

There is a significant change that takes place in the heart when one progresses from reverencing the Lord to loving him. I believe the days of ease and prosperity we have known in recent decades has made it difficult for some church members to be in the world but not of it.

The apostle John on this subject said:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15

I additionally believe the days of ease and prosperity are ending. It appears the chastening hand of the Lord is beginning to be manifest on the gentile nations. As the woes of the last days increase, out of necessity, many church members described by Farrel, will turn to the Lord because of the difficulties visited upon them.

I’m writing a book for those who, as Farrel says, reverence the Lord but haven’t grown to really love him. What is the difference between those who reverence and those who love the Lord? This question can be answered by understanding the difference between possessing a testimony and being converted. Both testimony and conversion come from the Holy Ghost. A testimony comes to those who prayerfully seek the truth. Conversion comes to those who possess a testimony and forge ahead keeping the commandments and receive the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught:

“After baptism in water, legal administrators lay their hands upon a repentant person and say: ‘Receive the Holy Ghost.’ This gives him the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is the right to the constant companionship of that member of the Godhead based on faithfulness. Either then or later, depending upon the individual’s personal worthiness, the Holy Ghost comes. The baptized person becomes a new creature. He is baptized with fire, sin and evil are burned out of his soul, and he is born again.” New Witness for the Articles of Faith (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co. 1985), p. 291.

There are two baptisms church member must receive in order to fulfill the purpose of the baptism ordinance: the baptism of water and the baptism by fire. The purpose of the book is to help create a better understanding of these two baptisms so member’s confidence will wax strong in the presence of God, and the Holy Ghost can be their constant companion.

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Note: the book is currently in a first draft stage. I will be adding to and making changes until it is complete. I feel it is far enough along to invite those interested to begin reading. I hope to receive comments and advice from interested readers. 

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As I see it, the world we have known for the last few decades is in the midst of change. The prosperity Americans have grown accustomed to appears to be in jeopardy. The “portent of stormy weather” is gathering momentum. Some are saying that an era of economic depression like the 1930’s could visit this generation.

On top of the economic challenges, the tension of domestic and international politics creates a climate of uncertainty and fear. Americans don’t trust one another or their elected officials like they used too.

Internationally, some observers are saying that the power and influence of the American Empire is ebbing, and the dawn of the Chinese Empire is emerging. Some of our elected officials are even saying the Constitution is antiquated and the source of our present day difficulty. There are other voices advocating one world government and one world currency.

These kind of things shouldn’t surprise church members, we have the scriptures and have been given the “signs of the times” to help us recognize and prepare for the difficulties of the last days. The scriptures teach the importance of preparation saying, “gird up your loins, that you may be the children of light, and that day shall not overtake you as a thief” (D&C 106:5).

The biblical term, “gird up your loins” means to prepare. Many church members see the necessity of temporal preparation and are stocking up. This is important, but we also need to be spiritually prepared. The scripture above uses the term “children of light.” To qualify as “children of light” more preparation is needed than storing food, water, and other necessities of life. To be “children of light” requires the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

The Book of Mormon teaches that prosperity can be the enemy of spirituality (receiving the Holy Ghost) (Helaman 12:2). In prosperous times, like we have experienced in recent decades, it is easy to forget the Lord; some even harden their hearts. The Lord describes this human weakness, saying, “In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel…” (D&C 101:8). When we’re slow to hear to the voice of the Lord in prosperous times, he in turn is slow to answer our prayers in the day of our trouble (D&C 101:7).

We don’t know when the second coming of Christ is, but we do know the prophesied events that will precede his coming. Many of them are being fulfilled in this generation. As more prophesies are fulfilled the pressures will increase, church members who have “treated lightly” the Lord’s counsel will, out of necessity, bow the knee and earnestly seek the Lord (Mosiah 21:14, Mormon 5:22-24).

I know something about the experience of returning to the Lord after treating lightly his counsel. I’ve decided to write a few things that I’ve learned over the last forty-five years with the hope it will benefit others.

I’m not only writing for those who are returning to the Lord, but for anyone who wants to draw nearer to the Lord. There is a scripture that I have tried to apply in my life, with success I might add, that sums up what I have in mind.

Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers. D&C 112:10

We have a choice, if we’re not as close to the Lord as we would like to be, we can continue as we are living; below our privilege. Or we can choose to draw nearer to the Lord and have greater access to the things of the Spirit.

This book is dedicated to LDS church members who desire to gird up their loins and be children of light by having greater access to the things of the Spirit.

My motivation for writing is not academic, a calling, or monetary. The things I am writing about are based on personal experience. I know of these things myself. I know that God answers prayer, forgives sin, is no respecter of persons, extends the gift of the Holy Ghost with the attending gifts of the spirit to all those who love him and keep his commandments, and those that seeketh so to do.

Writing a book isn’t easy. It’s even more difficult when you don’t have all the resources to do a first rate job because you’re doing it alone. As will soon be obvious to those who read from this internet book, I am not a polished writer. With that in mind, I welcome your suggestions. If you see something you think needs fixing, please let me know.

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Click here for the Table of Contents

God is Love, and You are a Beloved Son or Daughter

The prophets teach that each of us lived in the Father’s presence at one time.  We also know that we left his presence to be tried and tested in mortality. We further know that we can return to his presence by means of the plan of salvation.

These basic teachings are summed up in a short, but very meaningful scripture:

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Moses 1:39

From this verse I learn that I am a beloved son of God. You and I, and everyone else is the primary focus of God the Father.  We are his work and glory! We’re numero uno in his eyes! I could go on about this for many pages, but I won’t.  I hope that you understand this basic principle of the gospel and accept it without reservation. If for some reason you don’t, I hope you will make a study of this subject. Maybe you could meet with someone you trust and discuss your concerns and questions.

I remember hearing about a boy who had been diagnosed with cancer. A while later, his father died in a plane crash. One morning, he tearfully asked his mother, “Does God hate me?”  Experiences like this can blind some to the love of God. They conclude that a loving God wouldn’t permit this kind of suffering,  pain, and grief.

When circumstances like this combine against our faith and peace a battle erupts in our soul, the outcome has eternal significance.  The time for preparation is past as we are thrust into a war that is waged in the inner sanctums of our heart and mind. These are the  battles we came to mortality to experience( D&C 122). The outcome can take us to greater spiritual heights or defeat and crush our faith.

Returning to Our Father is Like Climbing a Mountain

In my minds eye, I view our experiences in mortality like ascending a mountain. We start in the valley and make our way to the foothills before we encounter any serious challenges. Until now the gradual climb has been fun, but now the ascent requires more effort and some are beginning to take side paths.  Not all who climb continue to climb, it is difficult and some chose to delay or ignore the allure of the inviting peaks. It is easy to plateau in our discipleship, especially when everything is going well where we’re at. This is when we begin to forget the Lord and take side paths that we can mistake for climbing towards the peaks. These side paths have many destination but none of them offer the rewards of climbing towards the peaks. Some of side paths are dangerous to those who entangle themselves in the pleasures of the mountain.

The peaks represent those things the Lord would have us obtain: faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, testimony, church callings, gospel knowledge, and manifestations of the Spirit. The side paths represent the struggles we allow ourselves to wander into. This occurs because we’re not staying focused on moving steadily towards fulfilling our baptismal covenant of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We need to keep our eyes riveted on the purpose for which we are members of the church so that when trials and temptations come on us, we’ll have the wisdom and strength to avoid taking side paths and busy ourselves in things like learning, but never coming to a knowledge of the truth, idling away our time, or indulging in the things of the world and flesh that create chains of bondage.

For those who wander the Lord’s provided the gift of repentance which allows us to get back in the climb towards the peaks. We need to hear the Savior, his lament is that, “my blood shall not cleanse them if they hear me not”. We need to hear the Lord and move towards Him by climbing steadily towards the peaks.

The scriptures are our map and compass. The church is our outfitter, and the living prophets are our guides. Those who heed the prophets and continue to ascend can periodically turn and view the vista behind them and feel a sense of accomplishment at how far they’ve come. As they continue to climb and arrive at the top they feel a rush of accomplishment and growth. However, they soon become aware that there are towering peaks before them that need to be climbed. They know if they leave theses unclimbed they’ll be missing out on experience, experience that they need and should not put off.

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Elder Uchtdorf asked the men of the church: “Are we as priesthood holders living below our privileges when it comes to the sacred power, gifts, and blessings that are our opportunity and right as bearers of God’s priesthood?” Dieter F. Uchtdorf, April Priesthood Meeting 2011

I hope all members of the church took notice of Elder Uchtdorf’s concerns about the men of the church. He is telling the men of the church that we’re not experiencing all the sacred powers that God wants us to have. He went on to say: “Brethren, we are faced with a choice. We can be satisfied with a diminished experience as priesthood bearers and settle for experiences far below our privileges. Or we can partake of an abundant feast of spiritual opportunity and universal priesthood blessings.”

Living below the spiritual possibilities the Lord has for his followers isn’t just a problem for the men. Elder Neal A. Maxwell used the image of a fruit-ladened tree to illustrate how both men and women of the church live below their privileges:

“Happily, many of us have already picked and been greatly nourished by the low-hanging fruit from the gospel tree. Yet, on the higher branches, much fruit still remains, unreached for and unplucked.” Neal Maxwell; Whom the Lord Loveth P 7-8.

I equate the low-hanging fruit with the basic activity many active members enjoy.  I believe this level of commitment is settling for sacred power and gifts far below our privilege. The abundant feast of spiritual opportunity is found in the unplucked fruit on the higher branches. The low-hanging fruit is nourishing, meeting our basic needs, while the fruit on the higher branches is where the abundant feast of sacred powers and gifts are obtained.

Church members have a choice to make. We can be satisfied with diminished sacred experiences. Or we can exercise faith and reach for the fruit representing an abundant feast of sacred experiences. Unless we exercise faith, we leave the Lord powerless to bless us as he desires.

The Book of Mormon provides the answers to what the higher hanging fruit is and how to pluck it. The choice before each of us is—are we interested in reaching for the higher-hanging fruit?

What I Hope to Accomplish

I hope this book will motivate those who read it to reach for the higher-hanging fruit. I have reached forth, plucked some of the higher-hanging fruit, and experienced part of the feast. I continue to reach for more. The purpose of this book is to suggest what church members can do to live up to their privileges and obtain the sacred powers, gifts and blessings that are available to them. All church members can have a living and vibrant testimony that will create in them a desire to reach for the higher-hanging fruit. This desire can lead to full conversion, and the Lord teaches, “when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

Sacred Experiences

Writing a book with the goal of inspiring LDS church members to reach for the higher-hanging fruit requires  more than having an understanding of gospel principles. I believe it requires having sacred experiences as well, otherwise it is an academic exercise.

Sharing sacred experiences is an important part of the Lord’s way to increase faith in his followers. The Book of Mormon illustrates this principle. Consider the examples of Alma and the four sons of Mosiah, they often testified of sacred experiences to open the hearts of those they taught.

Sacred experiences need to be shared, but shared in meekness, always remembering, “that which cometh from above is sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit” (D&C 63:64). I hope that what I’ve written will measure up to that inspired counsel in the eyes of my readers, and more importantly, in the eyes of the Lord.

Having said that, I’m concerned that some readers will get the idea that they should have the same experiences as I relate.  I don’t think it works that way. The message of the scriptures and this book is to point out the unique path the Lord would have each individual travel. From there, it is in the hands of the Lord how he will manifest the things of the Spirit to each of us individually.

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