Apply First Principles, Repeat As Needed

The fourth Article of Faith states that, “We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.” This is often followed by an admonition to “endure to the end” (see, for example, 2 Nephi 31: 13 – 16). While baptism and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost are ordinances that we receive just once in life, gaining faith and repenting are repeated experiences in life. It may be, however, that a process that is defined by the four steps identified in the fourth Article of Faith may be repeated throughout life as part of the command to endure to the end. Let’s consider each step, in turn.

First, faith is evidence or assurance of things that are unseen, yet true, that build hope for eternal life through Jesus Christ.[1] Faith is not something that we conjure up within ourselves in a manner like the little train who got over the mountain by chanting, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can …” Faith is a gift given through the Spirit.[2] Faith is given as a result of our choice to believe the word of God and to act upon it. It is in this sense that faith is a principle of action. We are free to choose what we believe and how we will act based upon our chosen beliefs. When we believe that which is true, and act upon it, we are blessed with evidence or assurance, through the Spirit, of the truth. This will inevitably build hope for eternal life through Jesus Christ.

So, step one is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Or, stated another way, step one is to believe the word of God, act upon it, have the Spirit confirm that we are in harmony with truth, and have an increase in our hope for eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Second, repentance is learning. To repent is to rethink ones previous view or understanding. It includes sorrow because of the changed view. The steps that follow from repentance are not, themselves, repentance. Rather, these are things we do because we have repented.[3] For example, when we realize that an activity in our life is taking us further from the Lord, we repent and change the behavior. When we realize that we have offended a person we repent and apologize or make restitution. To repent is to learn the error of our ways. To change, apologize, or make restitution follows from repentance (learning of our error).

Thus, step two is to repent. Or, stated another way, step two is to always be willing to learn when our views or beliefs are incorrect or incomplete. When we truly repent, the things we learn will inevitably lead to changes in our behavior. We may also feel a need to repair damage from past behavior that we now understand to have been out of harmony with the word of the Lord.

Third, baptism is an ordinance that teaches us of death and resurrection.[4] Death and resurrection are essential to the forgiveness of sin. Our “body of sin” dies and is buried so that we are freed from sin through the resurrection of Jesus.[5] Yet, in the eternities we will inherit the kingdom for which we have demonstrated ourselves to be suited.[6] Thus, it is not sufficient to merely recognize that we have sinned. We must recognize the sin and then change so that the sin is no longer something we desire. Then, that part of us that desired the sin is dead and, through the resurrection, we become eternally alive. While death and resurrection, ultimately, only happen once, we can let the sinful appetites of the flesh be crucified and buried with Jesus and rise in a newness of spiritual life. Similarly, while we are only baptized once, this process can happen repeatedly throughout our life.

The third step, then, is baptism. Or, stated another way, the third step is to allow each part of us that desires sin to die and be made spiritually alive again through Jesus Christ so that we can, ultimately, rise in the resurrection a perfected being who can live in the presence of God.

Fourth, the Holy Ghost bears record of the Father and the Son and “will show unto you all things what ye should do.”[7] The “gift” of the Holy Ghost can be interpreted in at least two ways. In one sense the Holy Ghost is a gift given to us by God.[8] Alternatively, the “gift” of the Holy Ghost could refer to the things that the scriptures promise will be given to us by the Holy Ghost. In either case, what an amazing gift this is. We have been promised a member of the godhead who will personally show us what we should do. I emphasize the word “should” to make the point that the Holy Ghost will not make all of our decisions. Rather, the Holy Ghost will show us the things that are correct and necessary to do in order to return to God’s presence. He will comfort us and encourage us and build within us the hope of eternal life with the Father through the atonement of the Son.

The fourth step is, finally, to receive the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Or, in other words, having once had hands laid upon our head, confirming us a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, and having been told to “receive the Holy Ghost,” step four is to be guided, taught and comforted by the Holy Ghost.

Based upon these observations we might conclude that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel define a process that we must follow repeatedly throughout our lives. The process is that we learn and believe the word of God and change our behavior because of what we learn (faith). Often the things that we learn will show us that our past understanding has been incorrect or incomplete (repentance). At times this process will be painful. It may even feel like parts of our selves have to die before we can be made spiritually alive and are filled with the Holy Ghost (baptism). When we live according to the world of God, the Holy Ghost will teach us that we are doing what we should do to return to our Father in Heaven through faith in the Only Begotten Son (the gift of the Holy Ghost). Following this process will give us a foundation of faith to follow it again.

So, apply the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. Repeat as needed until clean.

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[1] See Hebrews 11: 1 (including the JST), Alma 32: 21, and Ether 12: 6 for support of this assertion.

[2] See 1 Corinthians 12: 4, 9.

[3] See, for example, Ezekiel 18: 30 where we are told to repent and turn from transgressions. The word “and” indicates that we first repent and then do something because we have repented. Another example is given in 1 Nephi 18: 20 where Nephi’s brothers repentedandloosed his bands.

[4] See D&C 128: 12 and Romans 6: 4.

[5] See Romans 6: 6-7.

[6] See Romans 6: 16 and D&C 88: 28-29.

[7] See 2 Nephi 32: 5, 2 Nephi 31: 18 and D&C 20: 27.

[8] See Acts 5:32.

This I Know ...

Often in our LDS tradition we talk of the things we “know.” But, from time to time I wonder what it means to “know” a thing. For example, I have a brother who I claim to know. Yet, despite a lifetime of experience, beginning with us living in the same home and continuing with very regular contact, there is much I do not know about him. It is true that I know his name and his outward appearance. I know some of his likes or dislikes. I even how to push his buttons, so to speak, if I want to play the part of the tormenting older brother again. The reality is, though, there is much that I do not know about his inner feelings, hopes, and dreams as well as experiences he has had when I have not been present. 

Just recently I learned something about an experience my brother had in high school that I had not known before. Does this new story invalidate my claim to know my brother? Not in the least. What I knew before, I still know. Now, I just know him a little better, in a little more detail.

Another example of “knowing” a thing is the classic story of the blind men and the elephant. This story is found in Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and other traditions. There is a version by John Godfrey Saxe that I will quote in part:

It was six men of Indostan

To learning much inclined, 

Who went to see the Elephant

(Though all of them were blind), 

That each by observation 

Might satisfy his mind.

In subsequent verses we learn that these six men each touched a different part of the elephant. Each declared their discovery that an elephant was like: a wall, a spear, a snake, a tree, a fan, or a rope. The concluding verses close the story:

And so these men of Indostan

Disputed loud and long, 

Each in his own opinion 

Exceeding stiff and strong, 

Though each was partly in the right, 

And all were in the wrong! 

So, oft in theologic wars 

The disputants, I ween, 

Rail on in utter ignorance 

Of what each other mean, 

And prate about an Elephant 

Not one of them has seen! 

Often we experience a religious principle, teaching or doctrine and feel that we know something about it. Just like my claim to know my brother, there is real substance to our sincere knowledge of religious principles. But, like the blind men and the elephant, our view of a particular principle may be limited to just one facet or aspect. What we know may be correct, as far as it goes, but may not be complete. Many disagreements are born of “testimony” that is correct, even supported by the witness of the Spirit, yet incomplete.

Similar to me knowing my brother, or the blind men knowing about an elephant, I claim to know four things that we refer to as the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel. And I have, in fact, learned something about each of these four. I know their names, some basic descriptions, a few anecdotes based upon experience, and have even felt the confirmation of the Spirit that these principles and ordinances are of God. At times I have even been tempted to feel that I know these things well enough to get bored when they come up, yet again, in a talk or a lesson. After all, I have attended over 2,300 sacrament meetings and Sunday School classes, 1,800 priesthood lessons, 700 seminary classes, as well as innumerable family home evenings, stake conferences and general conferences where these first four principles and ordinances have been discussed. I have never found a reason to doubt these four things. In fact, as I mentioned, I have often felt the warm reassurance of the Holy Ghost that these things are true.

Yet, there is much I do not yet know. This is an important start to further learning. One of the greatest obstacles to learning is the thought that we already know enough. If, on the other hand, we realize that we are like one of the blind men and that there are more aspects of the elephant to experience, then we can continue to learn. In fact, once all the blind men experience the entire elephant, their disagreements will likely be resolved. 

One of the best learning experiences I have had is to set aside what I think I know and turn to the scriptures to see what they really teach about a principle or ordinance. Often I find that my past understanding is basically correct, yet incomplete. Always I find that the scriptures teach about Jesus Christ. I learn more about Him every time I search the scriptures. In subsequent posts I will share some of what I have learned. I hope you will accept these contemplations as just one blind man's views of Jesus Christ.