We are All Obedient. It is Simply a Matter of Whom We Obey

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We are All Obedient. It is Simply a Matter of Whom We Obey

I read this statement recently and found it full of meaning (it would make a good bumper sticker).

Good and Evil

In Mormon theology we learn that all things good come from God, and all things evil come from satan . As members of the church we should be interested in determining what is good and what is evil, then choose the good. We’re taught, if we faithfully do this,  we’ll inherit a place in the celestial kingdom.

Determining Good from Evil Isn’t Always Easy

Determining good and evil is easy according to Moroni. I’ve struggled to understand this teaching and have found it hard to apply as I’ve tried to determine good from evil in various situations. Sometimes good and evil can not be discerned. The prophet Joseph Smith learned this lesson when the Lord said,

…you cannot always judge the righteous…you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous...D&C 10:37

Detractors have used the Mark Hofmann episode to cast doubt on the brethren’s inspiration because they didn’t detect Hofmann evil agenda when they met with him. Those who are students of the scriptures didn’t buy into this criticism. The Lord also said,

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14

It’s possible the Lord wanted to deal with Hofmann in His own way instead of inspiring church leaders to avoid him.

I’ve learned to never read a scripture in isolation. I always try to find a companion scripture to balance understanding.

Most Things are a Mixture of Good and Evil or are Neither

Good and evil are before us everyday. Those who keep up on local, national, and international news can be overwhelmed with the evil reported. However, there is good all around us but isn’t reported by the news as often. Be assured the good in the world far exceeds the evil.

I like to go to movies; however I never watch R rated movies. I figure most movies are a mixture of good and evil because the writers and producers of movies intentionally portray their ideals of good versus evil. In recent years my wife and I have walked out of a few movies because they were offensive. The most recent was, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan. It seems humor contains the most offensive material nowadays. The current Batman serial is typical of our entertainment having a strong message about good and evil, where good always prevails after an epic struggle.

The discussion about movies could serve as a metaphor for business, politics, and other aspects of each of our lives.

Good and evil choices don’t exist in everything. Some areas of our lives are free of decisions regarding good and evil; what model of car to buy or style of home to live in, are examples.

That Which Persuadeth

I think Moroni‘s (Moroni 7) main message to followers of Christ pertains to good and evil that has power to persuade. He defines good, as that which persuades men to believe in Christ. And he defines evil as that which persuades men to disbelieve in Christ. It’s the power to persuade that we can judge with a “perfect knowledge“. We know when we’re being persuaded. Observing good and evil as portrayed in a movie may or may not have persuasive power, it depends on the person. If it persuades you towards evil then you know what to do–walk out. If, on the other hand, it persuades you towards good, it is edifying. What’s true for a movie can be true in other areas of our life. We can embrace those things that are edifying and walk out on those things that are not.

Summary

The title of this post, We are All Obedient. It is Simply a Matter of Whom We Obey, conveys the idea of obedience to either God or satan. We have all been obedient to both at one time or another. Church members have been given the opportunity to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. When this gift is received we have heightened capacity to see and participate in good, and eschew evil.

Elder Ballard asked church members to have a presence on the internet that persuaded men to believe in Christ. How are we doing? I think we have come a long way, but there is room for improvement. In my opinion too much time is spent exploring topics that make me think we are looking beyond the mark. Elder Quentin L. Cook put it much better than I can:

Today there is a tendency among some of us to “look beyond the mark” rather than to maintain a testimony of gospel basics. We do this when we substitute the philosophies of men for gospel truths….

Some people seem to be embarrassed by the simplicity of the Savior’s message. They want to add complexity and even obscurity to the truth to make it more intellectually challenging or more compatible with current academic trends…. Some in their spiritual immaturity attempt to appear sophisticated and intellectual. Instead of accepting revelation, they want to dissect it and add dimensions and variations of meaning that distort its beautiful truths. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has pointed out, “The Jewish people … rejected the gospel, in part because it lacked adequate intellectual embroidery.” We look beyond the mark when we refuse to accept simple gospel truths for what they are.

For additional information this topic go here and here

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My Heart Burns Within Me When I Read These Words

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1 O THAT I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!

2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.

3 But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.

4 I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.

5 Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience.

6 Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?

7 Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth?

8 For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.

Alma 29:1-8

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An Angel or a God, What’s it Going to Be Bro?

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The prophet Joseph Smith taught:

In the resurrection, some are raised to be angels, others are raised to become Gods. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 312).

The difference between an angel and a God is explained, in part, in this verse of scripture:

…[some] are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory. For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged… D&C 132:16 – 17

The Lord loves all of His children! That is a given. The real question is: do we love the lord? If we love Him, then we will keep His commandments so that we can receive, “all that my Father hath” and be raised to become Gods.

We’re invited to enter the Father’s Kingdom and be as He is. He wants to give us power, but we must show that we are worthy to receive power. To determine our worthiness we must be tried and proven.

Following is a list of twelve ways we can be prepared to be raised to become Gods:

1. Can we discern the things of the Spirit? 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

2. Will we follow the Spirit? D&C 84:47 And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.

3. Will we repent? 2 Nephi 30:2 …for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent…

4. Will we receive the ordinances of salvation? D&C 84:20-21 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.

5. Will we receive the Holy Ghost? 2 Nephi 31:13 …I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ…then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost…

6. Will we seek earnestly for the gifts of the Spirit? D&C 46:8 …that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts…

7. Will we follow the Lord’s prophet? D&C 1:38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

8. Will we work out our salvation? 2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself … he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

9. Will we feast upon the words of Christ? 2 Nephi 31:20 …press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ…

10. Will we love and serve our fellow man? John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

11. Will we come unto Christ and be converted? 3 Nephi 9:20 …And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost…at the time of their conversion…

12. Will we endure to the end? 3 Nephi 15:9 …endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.

There are many ways we can prepare to be raised in the resurrection to become Gods. I’ve mentioned a few. Please add to my list.

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Are You in Tune with the Spirit? Three Ways to Verify Your Sources

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The scripture teach that we are all influenced by “the Spirit/spirit”, but which one? Maybe this should be called the dichotomy of the spirit. Here is an example from the scriptures:

…the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit which was not of the LORD troubled him. 1 Samuel 16:14 JST

Saul, who was the Lords’ choice for king, when the children of Israel were determined to have a king, lost the Spirit of the Lord and acquired an evil spirit instead. How did this happen to Saul? The short answer is he stopped listening to the Lord’s prophet.

Nephi’s teachings about prayer also points out the dichotomy of the spirit we experience in mortality:

…For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. 2 Nephi 32:8

If we listen to the prophet Nephi and pray as we should, then we will be harkening to the Spirit of the Lord, and resisting the evil spirit.

Where do evil spirit reside? A scripture in Mosiah provides one answer:

And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men. Mosiah 3:6

How do we avoid evil spirits?

…that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils… seek ye earnestly the best gifts… they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do… D&C 46:7-9

Spiritual gifts are the key to avoiding evil spirits.

Conclusion:

To be in tune with the Spirit of the Lord:

1. Follow the Lord’s living prophets
2. Pray Earnestly
3. Seek the gifts of the Spirit


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What is a Spiritual Experience? Have You Experienced One?

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Latter Day Saints talk about Spiritual Experiences. I’m going to attempt to define what constitutes an experience with the Spirit. My source material will be the scriptures, the living Prophets, and my own experience.

I think the most basic concept we need to understand is that we are the children of God and that we lived in the Spirit world with Him before we were born into this world.

Another basic concept is that Heavenly Father’s Spirit fills the immensity of space (D&C 88:12). Heavenly Father (my favorite name for God) can only be in one place at a time, but His Spirit is everywhere. The scriptures refer to this ubiquitous Spirit as the light of Christ (D&C 88:7). We also know that all mankind has a portion of the light of Christ born with them; it is part of us, our conscience (D&C 84:46). The light of Christ is not a person but an influence like sunlight or gravity. The light of Christ entices mankind to do good, and will lead an obedient individual to the Holy Ghost.

The next basic concept is the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is a Spirit, in other words, a man who does not currently have a body of flesh and bone. He, like Heavenly Father can only be in one place at a time, but by utilizing the light of Christ he is able to exercise His power wherever needed in space and time. The Holy Ghost can manifest his powers as he chooses. Faith appears to be the only prerequisite, and faith can exist as a gift with or without church affiliation (Matt. 8:5-13).

With these basic concepts in mind we can now consider what a Spiritual Experience is. The light of Christ is part of us, and manifest its influence via our conscience, that is, our basic sense of right or wrong. At this level, all mankind have had an experience with the Spirit.

The work of the Holy Ghost is to lead mankind to Christ. He testifies of the Father and the Son and leads those who will to all truth, but “few there be that find it” (3 Nephi 14:14). In addition, He is the source of the gifts of the Spirit and we are taught that everyone is given a gift of the Spirit (D&C 46:11). At this level all mankind throughout the world apparently have experienced the Holy Ghost, and may be unaware of it.

Another aspect of the Holy Ghost is called the Gift of the Holy Ghost. To experience this level of the Holy Ghost an individual must be baptized by one having authority. Then according to our pre-mortal promises and covenants, and our desires in this life, we can experience many kinds of manifestations of the Spirit. If we will diligently seek to fulfill our baptism covenant we will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and experience conversion, also referred to as being “born again”. The scriptures also use the term Comforter, or first Comforter to refer to the manifestations of the Holy Ghost for those who are progressing in things of the Spirit. At the highest level of Spiritual experiences a follower of Christ can receive another Comforter, this is know as the Second Comforter (John 14:23).

All mankind have experienced the Spirit, but haven’t always known it. There are many levels of Spiritual experiences. Members of the restored church who diligently seek the Holy Ghost have the opportunity to receive manifestations of the Spirit at a level where they know the gospel is true and are thereby entitled to testify they know the gospel is true (John 7:17). It would be just as disingenuous to say you believe when you know, as it would be to say you know when you believe.

Those members of the church whose experiences with the Spirit are at a level where they feel uncomfortable using the word “know” should use words that are natural and comfortable for them when they share their testimonies.

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Would You Help with a Research Project?

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I am gathering sources where LDS church leaders have shared Spiritual experiences. I would greatly appreciate it if you would provide a link or a copy of such material. This would include talks you’ve heard in local meetings, in general conference, as well as those you know about from other sources, those found in books, journals, diaries, magazines, and etc.

After reviewing those things gathered they will be made available on this blog for all to review and enjoy.

My email address is: [email protected]

If you prefer you can use the comment section below.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Jared

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Brigham Young’s Thought on Relating Spiritual Experiences

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Brigham Young said:

It is always peculiarly interesting to me to hear the Saints tell their experience. It is to me one of the best of sermons to hear men and women relate to each other how the Lord has wrought upon their understanding, and brought them into the path of truth, life, and salvation. I would rather hear men tell their own experience, and testify that Joseph was a Prophet of the Lord, and that the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and other revelations of God, are true; that they know it by the gift and power of God; that they have conversed with angels, have had the power of the Holy Ghost upon them giving them visions and revelations, than hear any other kind of preaching that ever saluted my ears. JD 1:90-91

How to do you feel about his thought?

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An Invitation to Bloggernaclist to Participate in a Miracle

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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”.

A few Bloggernaclist have communicated their struggle with the appetites of the flesh and appear to be entangled in sin.

Wherever we’re at on the continuum of faith, we can take the “next step” as a follower of Christ. The next step might be different for each of us, that isn’t the important part, but taking the next step is important if we’re determined to be “perfected in Christ”. The means each of us employs in taking the next step is similar; we need to surrender the natural man, and in doing so we’ll gain access to the divine nature. We know that the natural man is an enemy of God. Giving up the natural man isn’t easy, but it can be done, a piece at a time, if necessary.

The natural man that each of us inherits because of our flesh is on display 24/7, so it’s easy to observe in others and even in ourselves-when we’re willing to look. The Book of Mormon specifically identifies those qualities and characteristics of the natural man, and teaches us how to access the things of the spirit so we can put them off.

According to the scriptures there are many things we can do to please God, but some things are more pleasing to Him than others. I’m certain the number one thing we can do to please God is to seek diligently to put off the natural man through the atonement of Christ. The steps to doing this, as taught by Nephi, in his final message in the Book of Mormon follow.

Nephi calls these steps the Doctrine of Christ (2 Nephi 31:11-13, 17-21):

1. repent

2. be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son

3. the Father will give the Holy Ghost if we will

a. follow the Son with full purpose of heart

b. acting no hypocrisy and no deception

c. have real intent

d. take upon us the name of Christ

4. then cometh a remission of sins by fire and the Holy Ghost

5. then ye are in the strait and narrow path to eternal life

6. rely wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save

7. press forward with steadfastness in Christ

8. love God and all men

9. feast upon the words of Christ

10. endure to the end

Based on my experience, as one makes progress through these steps, continuing repentance is necessary, each step of the way.

Where are you in the process of coming to Christ as taught by the prophet Nephi? What is the next step you need to make?

I invited you to participate in a miracle. I wasn’t jesting; miracles accompany those who diligently apply the doctrine of Christ. I know this by my own experience (go here) and testify to the truth of these things. The Lord most often speaks to us in our minds and hearts, but not always. There are many other ways the Lord can communicate with us. He can use the ministering of angels (seen or unseen), visions, dreams, and the spoken word, to name a few. Don’t be surprised if these kinds of miracles are made available to you as you move through these steps.

Posted in Doctrine of Christ, Holy Ghost, Jesus Christ, Repentance, Sanctification, Things of the Spirit | Leave a comment

Friday Quiz: How to Avoid Deception

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Have you ever been deceived? Have you put your confidence in something or someone only to be disappointed? Have you suffered disappointment when the promises made by your employer never materialized? Have you ever purchased a fancy new electronics device that turned out to have more in common with fruit, than electronics, when it turned into a lemon?

There are many ways to be deceived. Some deceptions can turn out to be educational, and may even be worth the tuition; however, certain kinds of deception can be devastating.

The Lord has warned us about deception. To verify this statement, type the word deceive in a scripture search engine that uses all word forms. I came up with 125 hits. This is a subject worthy of our attention.

The best remedy for avoiding deception, according to the Lord, may be surprising to some who are reading this post. Think about it for a moment before you click the following link. See if you can come up with the remedy the Lord provides to help us avoid deception. The scriptures teach “…beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived”…write your answer down before clicking here.

Are you surprised? In my next post I’ll attempt to explore this subject in some detail.

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President and Sister Monson on “Promptings”

Posted on by Jared

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.

This morning as I read the Church News online I came across a comment President Monson shared about “promptings”. As I read the following comment I couldn’t help but think that “promptings” come from or through the gift of Holy Ghost and are the one thing that makes us different from all other churches. Without the gift of the Holy Ghost we would be an institution of men and women upholding high moral ideals, but would have no claim to the things of the spirit, but we do have the gifts and powers as the Lord revealed:

…I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments… whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same. D & C 1: 17 & 38

President Monson related the following:

I don’t know what prompts others, but I know what prompts me. When I get a feeling that I need to be somewhere and be doing something, whether it sounds plausible to me or not, I go. And I find that the thought came because the Lord knew that He didn’t need to give Brother Monson a lot of advance notice. It makes me feel so good inside to think that I would get the call, or the inspiration, that the Lord knows who I am and that He knows that I will go.


President Monson explained that sometimes promptings come to his wife, Frances Johnson Monson. She has encouraged him to make many visits to people in need, and has accompanied him on those visits, as she did one day when they were busy with other activities. Sister Monson told him that they should leave immediately and go to a local hospital to visit an acquaintance. They arrived just in time for President Monson to offer words of comfort to his acquaintance and administer to him before the man passed away.

President Monson said he is blessed as he reaches out to bless others. He learns and is edified in every encounter… LDS Church News April 5, 2008, P. 5.

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