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.
[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.
No comments:
Post a Comment