Recognizing Answers To Prayer

Posted on by Jared

The purpose of prayer is to access things of the spirit. We are repeatedly taught in the scripture that the Lord will answer our prayers. Receiving and recognizing answers to our prayers is the topic of this post.

Like many of you reading this post, I have had many prayers answered.[1] Therefore, I am familiar with the workings of the spirit. It takes time and experience to grow in our ability to recognize answers. Based on my experiences, most prayers are answered by the subtle workings of the spirit.[2] However, these soft, delicate answers can be misinterpreted.[3] The solution to this problem is to cry unto the Lord for help, asking to know his will and avoid mistakes. Notice the use of the word “cry”[4]. If you think that crying unto the Lord is a little over the top, then I suggest you read more carefully from the scriptures. The scriptures portray the prophets frequenting “crying unto the Lord” to gain answers to their prayers.

I believe the Lord is anxious to answer our prayers and to teach us of His ways, however, we are required to obey the law upon which blessings are predicated.

There are many ways to improve our ability to receive and recognize answers to our prayers. I would like to offer the following ideas that I believe are essential to opening the channels of communication between ourselves and Heavenly Father.

1. Believe what the Lord says about prayer.

Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers. D&C112:10

This scripture and many like it reveal the Lord’s attitude about prayer. We reveal our attitude about prayer when we seek to obtain an answer from the Lord. Are we willing to pay the price? Remember, to believe means that we choose to disregard our unbelief.

2. You don’t need to be perfect to obtain an answer to prayer.

I think the leading reason/excuse for not accomplishing number 1 is that we get stuck on the idea that we need to be better than we are in order to obtain an answer from the Lord. If our need is great enough we’ll quickly forget about our “worthiness” and plead with the Lord for what we need. On the other hand, if our need isn’t of the highest magnitude many of us will simply copout after a few prayers with the thought rolling around in our head that the Lord won’t answer my prayers because _______ (fill in the blank). The blank is usually filled in with some sin we dredge up. In my opinion, this is a manifestation of our spiritual anemia.

3. Be persistent to obtain an answer to prayer.

Once in a while a prayer is answered before we’re finished asking. But most of the time we need to wait on the Lord. Waiting on the Lord is not passive, it entails diligence. Diligence in asking, and diligence in being patient. Elder Richard G. Scott said “Were we to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, we would become weak…”[5] I believe many members of the church are not persistent and patient in their prayers. They develop the habit of praying a few times over the desires of there heart and then moving on with the attitude of, “whatever happens must be the Lord’s will”.

I’d like to suggest a way of seeking after a blessing that manifest diligence in asking and being patient. We’re taught in the Book of Mormon that we should pray three times a day. I think this means we should make the time, even if it’s only for a few minutes, to formerly knee before the Lord and ask for what we desire. After doing this for a period of time then we need to evaluate our feelings. Have you felt that the Lord is encouraging you in your prayer? If yes, then continue until you obtain an answer. I prayed everyday, three times a day, for 350+ days for a blessing. I started in early March and my prayer was answered in Feb, nearly a year later. The only reason I kept asking that long was due to the feeling in my heart and mind that what I was praying about was pleasing to the Lord. It was easy and enjoyable to pray for what I desired. The answer came in a dream.

If after praying for a period of time, if you feel nothing, then consider fasting. Plead with the Lord for help. This brings us to number 4.

4. Do what lies in your power to obtain the blessing you’re seeking after.

Fasting and “crying unto the Lord”[6] for the desires of our heart is the way the Book of Mormon prophets approached the Lord.[7] This brings us to number 5.

5. Listen and watch.

In some situations the Lord may prompt you to do something before answering your prayer. Maybe there is something that needs to be  repented of, or maybe you need to apologize to someone, or maybe you need to be faithful in a trial. It’s important to listen to your thoughts and feelings. This is where a journal is important. Record your thoughts and feelings and then follow through on them. I have learned that early in the morning, as I’m waking up or shortly after getting up-when my mind is clear, is when inspiration can best flow.

Watch for “packets of help”. These come in many forms but usually through the help or intervention of someone else. Be watchful, watch for serendipitous experiences, chance meetings with someone, or a comment you may hear from an unexpected source. There are many means the Lord uses to answer our prayers.

6. Read and study about prayer from the scriptures, Ensign Magazine, and books.

The Book of Mormon teaches its readers how to pray. I suggest going through the Book of Mormon and study the topic of prayer. This can be accomplished by using a computer to search words and phrases related to prayer.

I really enjoy reading about how prayers are answered. The Ensign magazine publishes a section called, Latter-Day Voices (formerly Mormon Journal) where members contribute special experience they had with the Lord. Reading these experiences increases faith.

My favorite book on prayer is, “Receiving Answers to Our Prayers”, by Gene R. Cook.

7. Seek to know God and His Son Jesus Christ by inviting the Holy Ghost to be your companion.

Out of all the things we can pray for this is the most important. However, the pressing needs of mortality are always before us, but the time must come where each of us puts the Lord first and we diligently seek to know Him.

I titled this blog, LDS Alive in Christ, with the hope of helping all who come here to realize the importance of fulfilling their baptism covenant by obtaining the gift of the Holy Ghost, and by so doing being made, “alive in Christ.”

Elder Ballard says it this way:

“… life eternal is predicated upon our own individual, personal knowledge of our Father in Heaven and His Holy Son. Simply knowing about them is not enough. We must have personal, spiritual experiences to anchor us. These come through seeking them in the same intense, single-minded way that a hungry person seeks food.” Feasting at the Lord’s Table- Ensign, May 1996, 80; M. Russell Ballard

8. Unanswered Prayers

The Lord has made it clear “there is an opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11). This includes prayer. Click here to view “Why Won’t God Answer my Prayers”.

I would feel remiss if I didn’t share my testimony regarding the power of prayer. I know from my own experience that prayer can be a real power in our lives. The Lord has heard and answered my prayers on issues large and small. He has manifested Himself through these answers to the extent that belief in prayer is swallowed up by knowledge. I know that God answers prayers, nothing doubting.

 If you would like to leave a comment or thought, click here.

[1] Before proceeding, I want to acknowledge that on a few occasions I have made mistakes interrupting the workings of the spirit. I would think this is true for everyone, from the prophets to the average church member, like me. This has caused me concern, but I’ve concluded that we are like children learning to walk. What child has ever learned to walk without falling? So it is with us in learning to recognize things of the spirit. We need to become like a child if we want to learn to receive answers to our prayers. The Lord never promised we would be error free.
[2] But not all, I have also had prayers answered in “obvious” ways; the answer was given so powerfully that I thought these kinds of experiences were reserved for church leaders at the highest levels of the church. I now know what the Lord means when he says he is “no respecter of persons” (Act 10:34-35).

[3] …promptings of the Spirit are so subtle and so quiet that sometimes it is very, very difficult to know whether an answer is “yes” or “no.” Sometimes it’s very difficult to know whether you have been spoken to by the Spirit or not….the Spirit usually speaks in feelings, thoughts, ideas, and impressions. The voice of the Spirit is still and small, and if we’re looking for something more, or if we’re not being very quiet and attentive, we’ll likely miss the answer when it comes. “Receiving Answers to Our Prayers”, Gene R. Cook, P. 94.

[4] The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines “cry”: To call importunately; to utter a loud voice, by way of earnest request or prayer.

[5] BYU Campus Education Week August 21, 2007, Elder Richard G. Scott

[6] I had 25 hits in the Book of Mormon when I entered, “cry unto the Lord” in a computer search. Note: I checked the option, “use all word forms” in the software I used-“The Scriptures”, available through the church distribution center.

[7] See Omni 1:26, Alma 6:6, 17:3, 28:6, 30:2, 3 Nephi 27:1, 4 Nephi 1:12.

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Blessings and Cursings

Posted on by Jared

When church members make covenants, it means something. Keeping covenants brings blessings, trifling with or not keeping covenants can result in cursings.

The following is from a book written by Blaine M. Yorgason, I Need Thee Every Hour, pages 106-110. Highlighting is mine.

Blessings and Cursings

Perhaps if we clearly understood the nature of sin, we would be more anxious to have it purged from our souls and left in the wake of our increasing spirituality. To do that, however, we must also understand the nature of blessings and curses, and the relationship between the two.

Brigham Young declared, “There is one principle I would like to have the Latter-day Saints perfectly understand-that is, of blessings and cursings” (Journal of Discourses, 18:262).

The Law of Blessings

With this principle in mind that both blessings and cursings exist we must remember that any blessing we obtain is based on our obedience to a specific law of God. As the Lord explained to Joseph Smith, “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (D&C 130:20-21).

For example, those who pay their tithing will not be burned at the Lord’s coming (D&C 64:23), and those who keep the Word of Wisdom are promised that they will have “health in their navel and marrow to their bones; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And . . . the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them” (D&C 89:18-21).

As these examples show, all God’s laws have specific blessings attached to them, and these blessings come to those who obey. This is the law of blessings.

The Law of Curses

Frequently the Lord has spoken to His prophets concerning curses, which are judgments, or consequences, that follow disobedience (Moses 7:9, 16; Joshua 8:34; Proverbs 3:33; Jeremiah 11:3). Through Joseph Smith the Lord declared to us, “Hearken and hear, O ye my people, saith the Lord and your God, ye whom I delight to bless with the greatest of all blessings, ye that hear me; and ye that hear me not will I curse, that have professed my name, with the heaviest of all cursings” (D&C 41:1; italics mine).

Brigham Young taught, “We read that war, pestilence, plagues, famine, etc., will be visited upon the inhabitants of the earth; but if distress through the judgement of God comes upon this people, it will be because the majority have turned away from the Lord. Let the majority of the people turn away from the Holy Commandments which the Lord has delivered to us, and cease to hold the balance of power in the Church, and we may expect the judgments of God to come upon us; but while six-tenths or three-fourths of this people will keep the commandments of God, the curse and judgements of the Almighty will never come upon them, though we will have trials of various kinds, and the elements to contend with-natural and spiritual elements” (Journal of Discourses, 18:262; italics mine).

Besides blessings, God’s laws also have curses attached to them, which arbitrarily fall upon those who choose to disobey. Mormon declares that “repentance is unto them that are under condemnation and under the curse  of a broken law“ (Moroni 8:24; italics mine), and Malachi proclaims, “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:7-11; italics mine).

According to Malachi, three things bring this particular curse upon a member of the house of Israel: (1) going away from, or not living, God’s ordinances, which would include baptismal and temple covenants; (2) robbing God by not paying an honest tithe; and (3) not offering up a broken heart and a contrite spirit (3 Nephi 9:20; D&C 59:8). If we are guilty of any one of these three categories of sin (and it is interesting that all of them have to do with sincere temple worship), then we will be cursed by something called “the devourer,” which according to Malachi has power to destabilize and even destroy our economic lives.

How is the curse removed? By returning to the Lord in all three areas-by repenting. Then the Lord (and only He) will rebuke the devourer, and the curse will be ended or removed so that God can pour out blessings upon us. Otherwise the curse must apparently run its course to a full end, whatever that means, and until then the blessings are withheld.

This is especially significant in light of the Lord’s word to Joseph Smith concerning those who have been endowed in His holy temples: “If you build a house unto my name, and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath which I make unto you, neither fulfil the promises which ye expect at my hands, saith the Lord. For instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings, wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your follies, and by all your abominations, which you practice before me, saith the Lord” (D&C 124:47-48; italics mine).

Since both of these scriptures regarding curses pertain to integrity in temple worship, the conclusion is inescapable that whenever the Lord’s people have had access to the blessings of the priesthood as administered within the holy temples, and have not lived up to all they have covenanted to do therein, then with their sins they have brought upon themselves cursings rather than blessings, which curses bring upon them wrath, indignation, and the judgments of God.

Thus, curses are placed upon people by their own actions as a consequence of their sins and can be removed only by their enduring the curse until it has fully ended, or through the redemptive power of the Savior, which comes through total and sincere repentance (Galatians 3:13).

 

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Using the Book of Mormon to Commune with God

Posted on by Jared

My goal as a blogger is to write about those things that will help each of us draw nearer to the lord. The Lord said, “draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you.” With that image in mind I would like to discuss a few thoughts on the Book of Mormon.

At the end of this post is a link to an incredible experience that I hope you will take the time to read.

The Book of Mormon is a gift from God to aid us on our mortal journey. It is a gift with a promise. Those who have received a testimony of the Book of Mormon by the power of the Holy Ghost know what I mean.

Not only can we receive a testimony by the power of God regarding the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, we can employee this book of scripture to refresh our testimony throughout our lives. The Book of Mormon has a spirit about it. This means we can draw nearer to God just by reading from it. I think this is true with any of the books in our standard works, but the Book of Mormon stands preeminent.

When trouble of any sort finds us we can turn to reading from the Book of Mormon, coupled with prayer and find a spiritual uplift. As we draw nearer to God by reading and praying we find ourselves elevated above our cares, concerns, and problems to the extent that from our enlightened prospective we might conclude that things are not as bad as we’d thought.

I’m convinced that when we arrive at the other side of the veil and look back at those things God provided to help us through our mortal probation, we’ll be profoundly thankful for the Book of Mormon, and possibly experience some remorse for having not done more with the Book of Mormon, and less with “toys”.

I hope each of us can take a lesson from the life of Marion G. Romney. He had the attitude (faith) that by reading from the pages of the Book of Mormon he was able to commune with the Lord. He was seeking an answer from God about providing a priesthood blessing to his wife Ida. Go here

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The Philosophies of Men Mingled with Scripture

Posted on by Jared

With a new year, I find myself reflecting on years past and future. As I do so, I realize that the year immediately before me is the most important year of my life. This is so because the decisions I make this year will either help or hinder my goal to be a true follower of Christ.

As I look about me, and observe my fellow followers of Christ at church, and in the bloggernacle, I am both inspired and concerned. I am inspired by many who successfully navigate the challenges of mortality by taking the Holy Spirit as their guide. They hunger and thirst after righteousness and are blessed with the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Others, cause me concern because their focus is to mingle the scriptures with the philosophies of men. The cost for this can be the loss of or the less frequent companionship of the Holy Ghost.

This isn’t a new phenomenon, the Book of Mormon describes this common condition among the Nephites saying:

And there are many among us who have many revelations, for they are not all stiffnecked.  And as many as are not stiffnecked and have faith, have communion with the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men, according to their faith. Jarom 1:4

Those who attempt to mingle the precepts of men and the gospel of Christ are sooner or later going to be rewarded with bitter fruit, “for behold, after ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long, will ye bring forth evil fruit…and deny…the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy Spirit…? I beseech of you in the words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of day, harden not your hearts.” Jacob 6

We have been taught that the Gentiles will ultimately deny Christ, the Book of Mormon, and the modern day prophets (2 Nephi 28:32 & D&C 45:28-29). While the Lord’s arm of mercy is extended to the Gentiles, I hope many will repent and come unto Him with full purpose of heart.

 If you would like to leave a comment or thought, click here.

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What is the Most Important Thing a Church Member Can do in this Life?

Posted on by Jared

When we fail to recognize those things that are of greater value and mistakenly pursue something of lesser value, we slow our progress and miss the greater blessings. There is a saying that brings this principle into focus:

“There are many who struggle and climb and finally reach the top of the ladder, only to find that it is leaning against the wrong wall.” 

Those who desire to be nearer to God need to make sure they are placing their ladder on the correct wall. Heavenly Father has given us prophets to help insure that we struggle and climb up the ladder that will take us to the correct destination.  Hear their counsel: 

“Now, if you have the Holy Ghost with you—and every one ought to have—I can say unto you that there is no greater gift, there is no greater blessing, there is no greater testimony given to any man on earth.” Wilford Woodruff, Deseret Weekly, April 6, 1889, 451.

“The greatest gift that a person can have in mortality, without any exception, is the gift of the Holy Ghost…”  Sermons and Writings of Bruce R. McConkie, Page 350.

“There is no greater blessing that can come into our lives than … the companionship of the Holy Spirit” Gordon B Hinckley, (Boston Massachusetts Regional Conference, 22 Apr. 1995).”

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half—that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost”.  History of the Church, 5:499

I hope all who read this will be persuaded that, without any question whatsoever, acquiring the companionship of the Holy Ghost should be the first order of business for every member of the church. Just to make sure that we’re on the same page, I’ll provide another quote. It is one of my favorite:

“Fundamentally, all gospel teachings and activities are centered on coming unto Christ by receiving the Holy Ghost in our lives.” David A. Bednar, “Receive the Holy Ghost”, Ensign, Nov. 2010, 94–98 

The Book of Mormon can be thought of as a handbook on how to acquire the companionship of the Holy Ghost. The “how to” doctrine is woven throughout the pages of the Book of Mormon. One example taught by the Savior explains:

Now this is the commandment: 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)

One of the most powerful declarations found in the Book of Mormon about the value of having the Holy Ghost occurred when the apostles the Savior called, prayed for that which they most desired:

And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.  3 Nephi 19:9

This is a surprising request. It seems so out of place considering they were in the presence of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. They could have asked for anything, yet they knew precisely what they needed. They knelt down to pray and ask the Father for the Holy Ghost. They understood that out of all the things they could ask for, the Holy Ghost was the most important.

I hope church members will understand the importance of coming to Christ by diligently seeking for the Holy Ghost.   

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Posted in Book: Alive in Christ, Holy Ghost | 2 Comments

So Long President Monson

Posted on by Jared

President Monson can be remembered as a prophet. There are many examples of his prophetic gift. One account, among many, that stands out in my mind is the Methvin family.

In 1974, Christal Methvin , a 10-year-old dying of cancer, wanted a blessing from a General Authority. She looked at the pictures of all the General Authories and selected Thomas Monson. With the faith of a child she and her family asked Heavenly Father that apostle Thomas Monson come to give her a blessing. Her prayers brought about changes to Elder Monson Stake assignment. No one in Salt Lake knew about Christal, but the Lord did. Inspiration began to flow. President Benson told Elder Monson he felt impressed to send him to Shreveport Louisiana Stake.

When Elder Monson arrived for his assignment he learned about Christal for the first time. He was told that he would need to travel over 100 miles round trip to give her a blessing. He looked the schedule over and couldn’t find a way to do it. He suggested to local leaders that they pray for her in the Stake meeting and left it at that. However, the Lord had other plans.

Elder Monson gave an account of what happen in Oct 1975 General Conference saying,

“When the word was communicated to the Methvin family, there was understanding but a trace of disappointment as well. Hadn’t the Lord heard their prayers? Hadn’t he provided that Brother Monson would come to Shreveport? Again the family prayed, asking for a final favor—that their precious Christal would realize her desire.

At the very moment the Methvin family knelt in prayer, the clock in the stake center showed the time to be 7:45. The leadership meeting had been inspirational. I was sorting my notes, preparing to step to the pulpit, when I heard a voice speak to my spirit. The message was brief, the words familiar: “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:14.) My notes became a blur. My thoughts turned to a tiny girl in need of a blessing. The decision was made. The meeting schedule was altered.”

This is an example of how the Lord, when He desires, intervenes and guides his church leaders to carry out His will.

Elder Monson continues,

“I shall ever remember and never forget that early-morning journey to a heaven the Methvin family calls home. I have been in hallowed places—even holy houses—but never have I felt more strongly the presence of the Lord than in the Methvin home. Christal looked so tiny lying peacefully on such a large bed. The room was bright and cheerful. The sunshine from the east window filled the bedroom with light as the Lord filled our hearts with love.

The family surrounded Christal’s bedside. I gazed down at a child who was too ill to rise—almost too weak to speak. Her illness had now rendered her sightless. So strong was the spirit that I fell to my knees, took her frail hand in mine, and said simply, “Christal, I am here.” She parted her lips and whispered, “Brother Monson, I just knew you would come.” I looked around the room. No one was standing. Each was on bended knee. A blessing was given. A faint smile crossed Christal’s face. Her whispered “thank you” provided an appropriate benediction. Quietly, each filed from the room.

Four days later, on Thursday, as Church members in Shreveport joined their faith with the Methvin family and Christal’s name was remembered in a special prayer to a kind and loving Heavenly Father, the pure spirit of Christal Methvin left its disease-ravaged body and entered the paradise of God.”

“The Master did indeed utter those words, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” 

I know these are the words he spoke to the throng gathered on the coast of Judea by the waters of Jordan—for I have read them.

I know these are the words he spoke to an apostle on assignment in Shreveport, Louisiana—for I heard them.”

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The Power of Hate Frustrates the Power of the Priesthood

Posted on by Jared

At the end of World War II, Ezra Taft Benson and Fred W. Babbel went to Europe with church welfare supplies. They experienced many miracles which Brother Babbel recorded and then published.

The following account details a remarkable healing and a heart rending failure of love that prevented the healing of a child.

Elder Babbel said: [In late autumn 1946 I gave a talk in the sacrament meeting of the South London Branch] As I was speaking, I had the keen realization that unlimited power was surging through my being. … Little wonder, therefore, that afterwards when I was asked to to bless two of the members present, I felt that there was no limit to the blessing each could receive.

The first of these was a sister in her seventh month of pregnancy who had been bleeding so profusely that both she and her husband feared she might lose the baby prematurely. As I confirmed the annointing, I again felt the tremendous surge of power I have mentioned, and I knew that she would be healed from that very moment. (She later confirmed that she was immediately healed.)

The second person was a three-year-old from Scotland. He had been a deaf mute since birth. Now his parents had brought him to London for a special blessing. One of the brethren anointed his head with oil, and as I placed my hands upon his head to seal the anointing and to give him a blessing, I felt that the Lord’s power was present in such abundance that there was no question about his being healed instantly. Before I could say a word, I was told by the Spirit, “This young boy could be healed this very night if his parents would lose the hatred which they have in their hearts.” I was decidedly shocked and troubled, because I had never before met his family and did not want to question their attitude. But I was restrained from sealing the anointing. After a moment’s pause, I removed my hands from the boy’s head and said to his parents, “What is it that you hate so deeply?” They looked startled. Then the husband said, “We can’t tell you.” “I don’t need to know,” I replied, “but as I placed my hands upon your son’s head, I was assured that he might be healed this very night and be restored to you whole if you will only lose the hatred which you have in your hearts. After some troubled glances back and forth between the couple, the husband again spoke. “Well, if that is the case,” he said, “our son will have to go through life as he is, because we won’t give up our hating!” I felt that I had been prevented from pronouncing a blessing that might have resulted in the salvation of the entire family. [Fredrick W. Babbel, On Wings of Faith, pp.160, 161]

Note: This book is a worthwhile read. It documents the hand of the Lord blessing people as apostle Ezra Taft Benson and Fredrick Babbel traveled Europe at the end of WWII. I checked with Salt Lake County Library and it is available there as well as on Ebay.

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“My Blood Shall Not Cleanse Them If They Hear Me Not”

Posted on by Jared

The Lord’s work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Apparently, even for a God, His work is not without its difficulties. Consider the following verse of scripture:

…they will not repent…the cup of mine indignation is full; for behold, my blood shall not cleanse them if they hear me not. D&C 29:17

When the Lord says “they will not repent” because “they hear me not” He is speaking to members of the church by way of command, and by way of invitation to those who do not belong to the church. The Savior seems to be lamenting: saying in essence, “I died for you and you won’t hear me. My sacrifice, My blood, My suffering won’t cleanse you unless you hear Me and repent.”

The Lord also says that “the cup of my indignation is full”. This conveys the idea that the Lord is angry with those “who hear me not”. In another verse of scripture we learn more about this from the perspective of God the Father:

Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son. Alma 33:16

This verse is an attention grabber! It makes us think more deeply about what the Lord wants us to understand. What is it we’re missing? The Lord answers this question saying we don’t understand the mercies made available to us because of the atonement.

I used to think these verses of scripture didn’t apply to members of the church. After all, church members take the sacrament each week, serve in callings, and work hard at keeping the commandments. Aren’t we’re basically in a perpetual state of repentance?

I’m going to point out one thing I think is vitally important for each of us to make sure we understand. The following verse explains what I have in mind.

And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. 2 Nephi 25:26

I believe we need to focus our attention on understanding what a remission of our sins means. I believe this is what the Lord is referring to. We are baptized by water for a remission of our sins, but we don’t receive a remission of our sins until we’re baptized by the Spirit.

The “mercies which the Lord has bestowed upon us” is found when we receive a remission of our sins.

I typed the words: “remission of sins” in my scripture search software and the results are shown below:

Old Testament              0

New Testament            9

Book of Mormon        28

D& C                              19

Pearl of Great Price     3

The doctrine of “remission of sins” is taught over and over in the scripture, especially in the Book of Mormon. For the who desire to be followers of Christ this important doctrine needs to be studied, pondered, and prayed about.

The purpose of this post is to start you thinking about this topic if you haven’t given it the attention it deserves.

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Posted in Doctrine of Christ, Forgiveness | 1 Comment

“…Ye Ask Not, Neither Do Ye Knock; Wherefore Ye are Not Brought into the Light…”

Posted on by Jared

If we desire to learn the gospel of Jesus Christ we need to study it like we would any other subject. The familiar process of reading, attending class, writing, and discussing will allow us to acquire information. However, there is a difference between information and understanding. Information is to understanding, what an acorn is to an Oak tree.

Years ago I attended a series of lectures where the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, the Bible, and the Book of Mormon were discussed. I later learned that some of the scholars who lectured were agnostic. This surprised me. I was hard pressed to understand how someone could spend their life studying these subjects and never experience the things of the spirit.

Since then I’ve come to understand that the gospel net gathereth of every kind. The gospel and the church are attractive in many ways. Some individuals are drawn to the message of the restoration, others by those who proclaim the gospel, some are intrigued by the doctrine and or history, and still others are drawn to the culture and the social aspects, while some find the moral and ethical principles to their liking.

Whatever our initial reason or interest is in the phenomena of Mormonism, there comes a time when our acorn of information needs to be transformed into understanding. The scripture teach there is only one way this can be done:

And he said: Go and tell this people-Hear ye indeed, but they understood not; and see ye indeed, but they perceived not. 2 Nephi 16:9

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. 1 Corinthians 2:14

Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark. 2 Nephi 32:4

Those who “ask and knock” receive a testimony, a transforming experience. Often these experiences change the recipients’ life to the extent that when they encounter obstacles to their faith they will chose faith over reason.

The Book of Mormon recounts the transformation of individuals and even groups of people because of asking and knocking. Nephi prayed and his heart was softened so that he believed the words of his father Lehi (1 Nephi 2:16). Enos says he received a remission of his sins after a “wrestle” with the Lord (Enos 1:2). King Benjamin and members of the Nephi church experienced a mighty change of heart at their “general conference” (Mosiah 5:2). Lehi and Nephi in prison with hundreds of others experience an out pouring of the spirit. They are all converted (Helaman 5:21-52).

Asking and knocking doesn’t generally create a dramatic spiritual experience. Most followers of Christ receive transforming experiences that distils upon their souls as the “dews from heaven”. This kind of transforming experience “descends upon the recipient as gently and almost imperceptibly as the moisture of dew descends upon the earth”.

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Posted in Mighty Prayer, Prayer | Leave a comment

Have You Been Inoculated So You Can Stand Against The Opposition That Is Upon Us?

Posted on by Jared

Mormons have been warned from the time of Joseph Smith that they would need to be able to stand steadfast when opposition visited. In the early days of the church opposition manifest itself in many ways. Church history chronicles how the saints dealt with opposition in their day. The Book of Mormon repeatedly portrays the kind of opposition Nephite church members encountered. One example that is applicable in our day is found in Mosiah 29 where “many of the rising generation…did not believe the tradition of their fathers…And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened. “

In our day, some of our young people (and old as well) are leaving church activity and hardening their hearts. They have their reasons just as the people at the time of Alma had. Mormons honor personal agency, therefore we should respect the decisions of those who decide to abandon their faith. However, some of those who leave then choose to destroy the faith of others and create dissension in the church, just as dissenters did in the days of Alma.

In 1978, nearly 40 years ago, Elder Neal A. Maxwell  spoke at BYU and warned students and faculty about what we experiencing today:

“Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters; in the months and years ahead, events will require of each member that he or she decide whether or not he or she will follow the First Presidency.”

The purpose of this post is to help those who sincerely desire to know what to do as the mighty winds of opposition press in on their faith. As Elder Maxwell said, each of us will be required to decide whether or not we will follow the First Presidency.

My experience is that the Book of Mormon is the key to knowing what to do. In Helaman 5:12 we read: 

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

This verse teaches that we must build our foundation on the rock of our Redeemer, if we do, we will be safe. How does one do that? Once again, the Book of Mormon shows the way. Read how Enos did it. The answer is found in four short verses.

2 And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.
3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.
4 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; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.
5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

The key isn’t praying all day and into the night unless the Spirit aids you. The key is in wrestling and crying unto the Lord in mighty prayer for your own soul. The answer may not come by a voice speaking to you. It didn’t for me. My answer came after wrestling and crying unto the Lord for about two weeks. When the answer came it was unmistakable and inoculated me against all the challenges of our day. That was 45 years ago. In that time, I have read extensively and understand all the challenges church history and doctrine can bring to bear on a church members testimony.

I may not like some of things about the church and some of the teachings of the First Presidency, I might not even like them personally, but I know Jesus Christ is the head of the church. He works through imperfect mortals to do His work. He is also my friend. 

Keep your eyes on and align your hearts with the First Presidency. Seek to have an Enos like experience. If it be God’s will, you can have an Enos like experience, if not, He will provide you with the kind of experience that is suited for you. The channels of communication at some level can will opened to you, so that your faith will be sustained when mighty storms, horrific winds and rain are pounding your faith with gale force, threatening your spiritual well being.  

I hope you will decide to give your all to know for yourself that Jesus Christ is the head of the church and works through his chosen servants.

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Posted in Agency, Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ | 2 Comments