How Do I Walk the Path Back to God?

Recently, I wrote about the existence of a path back to God that is taught by Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and in the temple endowment. (You can read about that here.) It is one thing to know the steps of the path, and another to actually walk the path. I want to share an approach to walking the path that has been very helpful to me in my experience. This approach may seem surprising at first. Yet, once you know that God wants to have you return to Him, of your own desire and without any compulsion, this approach makes a lot of sense. It is as simple as asking God to give you what He has offered, but will not force you to receive.

Here are the principles that comprise the path back (References are in the previous post.)

• Faith that comes by hearing the word of God, through the testimony of the servants of God
• Repentance
• Baptism, the channel and key by which the Holy Ghost will be administered
• The Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, by the principle of righteousness
• Knowledge of the doctrines of the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment
• The Doctrine of Election - being sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise
• Receive the Second Comforter - no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself
• Jesus Christ will manifest the Father to us

It has been my experience that we can review our progress along the path by carefully considering each step of the path. For example, if I have heard, and recognized, the testimony of a true servant of God then I can act in faith on that testimony. Then, I repent. Repentance is ongoing as we learn how the things we do are in error, we change and come to know God better and feel the joy of our redemption through Jesus Christ (See Alma 37:8-9 and this past post about repentance). The next step is baptism, and I received that when I was eight years old. Receiving the Holy Ghost is supposed to follow baptism. If I am not sure about having received the Holy Ghost, then how can I proceed?

We can pray about it. And, I want to suggest an approach to prayer. The process that I am suggesting here is not something to be done lightly. When we approach the Lord in prayer it should be sincere. You might consider fasting, going to a special place (a favorite room in the home, a grove of trees, a place in the mountains, the temple, or anywhere that you know you can feel the Spirit), and pray with real intent. The conversation with the Lord includes prayerfully asking:

1. Have I received the Holy Ghost?
2. If not, will you give me the Holy Ghost?
3. If not yet, what lack I yet?

The first question is based upon the Savior's observation that the Lamanites "were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not." (3 Ne 9:29) it is possible that we can receive the Holy Ghost and not know it, or not recognize it as such. If we have received it, then when we ask this question the Lord will bring to our mind when and how it happened. If it has not yet happened, it may be that some study of the scriptures will be needed in order to receive the answer to this question. Thus, at first, the answer may be silence accompanied by hope that you will receive an answer in response to the next two questions. 

The second question is the one that exercises our agency to ask the Lord to give the gift that He has offered through His servants. If a gift, like the Holy Ghost, is offered through Joseph Smith, or the many other prophets in the scriptures, we can ask for it in faith. The answer to this question may be powerful, or it may be silence. Just listen and gratefully accept the response. If the response is silence, or a peaceful feeling of "not yet," don't be discouraged. By asking in faith you have set in motion the experiences that will ultimately lead to receiving, or recognizing that you have received, the Holy Ghost.

The third question, if asked with real intent, leads to learning. And, sometimes, what we learn requires significant change (repentance) in our lives. It is likely that after asking the third question we will need to spend some time searching and studying in the scriptures, the temple, and in continued prayer. I have found, though, that the Lord always answers if we are willing to learn and change. Usually our learning includes the observation that we do not merit the gift we seek, but He wants to give it anyway because of His love for us. We just need to obey the promptings that come as a result of asking this question, even when it is difficult. Remember, the rich young man who asked this question (see Matt 19:20) found the answer very challenging. We, too, may be stretched and challenged as the Lord asks us to sacrifice and offer our all to Him.

You may use different words when you pray. It will be your unique conversation with the Lord. It has been my experience, though, that this process has been an essential part of each step of my journey along this path. And, when it works for each of the early steps, it gives real confidence and faith that it will work for all of the steps.

The Lord has revealed through His servants the things that He would like to give to us. We can ask for those things with faith that we will receive. Because He honors the agency that He has given to us, He will not force these things upon us. But, when we ask and seek in this manner, He will give all that He has promised. Remember His process and promise in D&C 93:1 -

  1 VERILY, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am;

We cannot just casually ask for gifts that the Lord wants to give. When we ask for gifts and then ask "what lack I yet?" we must be ready to act on what He tells us. The process involves repenting, coming to Christ, calling on His name and obeying his voice as He gives us commandments. When we do this we will be able to walk the path back to Him and, ultimately, see His face and know that He is.

Is There a Path Back to God?

I have been hiking in the mountains of Utah for almost 20 years. There are so many beautiful trails, summits, lakes, and valleys that I love to share with others. My favorite type of hike is to get to the summit of a peak. Some peaks have well defined trails to the top (if you know where the trail starts) and others require a little creative route finding. Often, people will ask me how to get to the top of a particular mountain peak. It is a lot easier to describe a route that I have actually walked than it is to describe one I have never tried myself.

There is an analogy to be made. Many people are struggling with information about the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or about its members and leaders. People come across descriptions of claimed problems with the history or behavior of the leaders or members and feel that their faith is challenged. The analogy I want to draw is that the core of the faith that we received through Joseph Smith is well defined. It defines a path back into the presence of God. Much of the criticism of the church or its members is like arguing about whether the path could exist based upon the behavior of people who may have talked about the path, walked only a portion of the path, tried other paths, made claims that the path is different than we thought, or even claim that no path exists.

Joseph Smith described seeing the Father and the Son (see Joseph Smith - History 1: 17). He also enjoyed the ministering of angels, such as Moroni (see Joseph Smith - History 1:30-33) or, together with Oliver Cowdery, John the Baptist (see D&C 13:1). He and Sidney Rigdon saw a vision of Jesus Christ and the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (see D&C 76:14). Joseph's ministry and teachings are based upon the claim that the heavens are open and that revelation of God is available to us living in mortality. And, Joseph did not require us to merely take his testimony as sufficient. He taught that "... God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them, for the day must come when no man need say to his neighbor, Know ye that Lord; for all shall know Him (TPJS, pg. 149)."

Joseph walked a path that leads through personal revelation and the ministering of angels back to the knowledge of God. And, he then taught us how to walk the path. In a sermon given in June of 1839 (See TPJS, pp. 148-151) Joseph Smith described the path as including the following elements:

• Faith that comes by hearing the word of God, through the testimony of the servants of God
• Repentance
• Baptism, the channel and key by which the Holy Ghost will be administered
• The Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, by the principle of righteousness
• Knowledge of the doctrines of the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment
• The Doctrine of Election - being sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise
• Receive the Second Comforter - no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself
• Jesus Christ will manifest the Father to us

This path is a remarkable thing. Imagine the possibility that each of us could walk the path and be reconnected to our Father in Heaven again. It seems to me that the best way to test the teachings of Joseph Smith is to get busy walking the path he described. If the path takes me to where I enjoy forgiveness of sin, the Holy Ghost in my life, knowledge of Jesus Christ, and a reunion with my Father, then I know the Lord for myself and I know that Joseph Smith taught a correct path.

It turns out that the Book of Mormon also teaches this path. The book opens with Lehi seeing a vision of God in just the sixth verse of the first chapter (see 1 Nephi 1:6). The message, throughout the Book of Mormon, is that the heavens are open and revelation is available through the ministering of angels, the power of the Holy Ghost, and through open vision and the voice of God. Nephi is a great example of someone who walked this path. Here are examples, from the life of Nephi, of every step of the path that has been described by Joseph Smith:

• Faith - Nephi hears his father's teaching and seeks his own witness (1 Nephi 2:16)
• Repentance - Nephi taught based upon revelation and experience (2 Nephi 13:31)
• Baptism - Nephi saw baptism of Jesus and His reception of the Holy Ghost (1 Nephi 11:27)
• Gift of the Holy Ghost - The power by which Lehi taught and Nephi learned (1 Nephi 10:17)
• Resurrection and Judgment - Jacob taught it as part of the plan (2 Nephi 9:22)
• Election - Nephi taught that we may have the promise of eternal life (2 Nephi 31:20)
• Second Comforter - Nephi heard the voice of the Son (2 Nephi 31:12) and promised that Christ will manifest himself unto us in the flesh (2 Nephi 32:6)
• Father is manifest - Nephi was taught by the voice of the Father (2 Nephi 31:15)

Nephi made it clear that this path is the one given by God and that the Doctrine of Christ is the way; and that there is no other name than Christ given under heaven whereby a man can be saved in the Kingdom of God (2 Nephi 31:21).

Later, while creating his abridgment of the Nephite records, Mormon found this record of Nephi to be choice and pleasing and made it the basis for the remainder of his own record (see Words of Mormon 1:3-5). In fact, there are examples of every aspect of the path taught in the balance of the Book of Mormon. It is worth taking the time to search out the examples that are there and to convince yourself that this path is taught repeatedly through the Book of Mormon.

Joseph Smith provided us with an additional description of this path back to the Father. Describing what he taught on May 4, 1842 (TPJS, pg. 237), Joseph said:

Wednesday, 4. - I spent the day in the upper part of the store, that is in my private office * * * in council with General James Adams, of Springfield, Patriarch Hyrum Smith, Bishops Newel K. Whitney and George Miller, and President Brigham Young and Elders Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards, instructing them in the principles and order of the Priesthood, attending to washings, anointings, endowments and the communication of keys pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood, and so on to the highest order of the Melchizedek Priesthood, setting forth the order pertaining to the Ancient of Days, and all those plans and principles by which any one is enabled to secure the fullness of those blessing which have been prepared for the Church of the Firstborn, and come up and abide in the presence of the Eloheim in the eternal worlds. In this council was instituted the ancient order of things for the first time in these last days. And the communications I made to this council were of things spiritual, and to be received only by the spiritual minded: and there was nothing made known to these men but what will be made known to all the Saints of the last days, so soon as they are prepared to receive, and a proper place is prepared to communicate them, even to the weakest of the Saints; therefore let the Saints be diligent in building the Temple, and all houses which they have been, or shall hereafter be, commanded of God to build; and wait their time with patience in all meekness, faith, perseverance unto the end, knowing assuredly that all these things referred to in this council are always governed by the principle of revelation. (May 4, 1842.) DHC 5:1-2.

Again, Joseph is teaching how to come into the presence of God. And, he is assuring us that all of these things are available to all of the saints as soon as we are prepared to receive them.

Many people spend a lot of time debating whether the path that has been described could exist in a church that is comprised of people who make mistakes. Whether it be individual foibles or something as doctrinally important as the ordination of people of African descent to the priesthood, these are issues that are peripheral to the core claim that there is a path back to God. These may be significant issues, but they are not the central message of the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They relate to the people who have attempted to live the Gospel. If the path actually leads back to God then, eventually, we will understand the answers to all of the other concerns.

If the fulness of the Gospel was given by Christ to the Nephites, then we should be able to follow that path, too. It seems to me that the best way to test the claim is to try to walk the path. There are many recognizable waypoints on the path that serve as signposts that we are on the right path (see related thoughts here). We can watch for those to know that we are headed in the right direction, even if we aren't at the end of the path yet. This is, after all, a journey of faith. If the path actually brings us to have faith, to repent, to be baptized, to receive the Holy Ghost, to gain a knowledge of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and as our Redeemer and, through Him, to a knowledge of the Father, then the other stuff will work itself out. If the path does not bring these things, then the other stuff doesn't really matter.

The church is like a hospital where every member is part of a huge effort for the patients to treat the patients. It is remarkable how much good can come out of this kind of effort. It is not surprising that it will occasionally disappoint us, and maybe even break our hearts. But the real message is not the church, rather the church is where the real message is taught. Don't get caught up in the debate about whether the weakness of church members undermines the message of the church. Rather, start walking the path and see where it leads. I will tell you, from my experience, that the views are spectacular from this particular path!







* Just a note of appreciation to a great thinker that helped to focus my thoughts. This post is inspired by the "Parable of the Diamond," by Hugh Nibley. I have posted it here before.

Don't Miss the Real Point

It is possible to be very busy trying to do all the right things and, yet, to miss the real point of what we are in mortality to do. We can read the scriptures, diligently, every day. We can attend our meetings every week, without fail. We can be excellent and reliable in our callings. We can participate in the temple on a very regular basis. And, yet, we can still not feel the joy of the Gospel. We may even feel sad and discouraged that we are not doing more of what we tell ourselves we must do.

Remember the question to Jesus about the greatest commandment? His answer, recorded in Matthew 22, is:

  37 ... Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
  38 This is the first and great commandment.
  39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
  40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

It is easy to get caught up in all the things that we tend to treat as if they were a "law" to us. When it comes right down to it, though, all of the things that we do should be for the purpose of coming to love God and others better.

Consider scripture study. Speaking of the words given through His prophet, the Lord tell us in D&C 18:

  34 These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and not of man;
  35 For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them;
  36 Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words.

The Lord has assured us that we can hear His voice and come to know Him as we search the scriptures and receive inspiration and revelation through the power of the Holy Ghost.

In addition, we come to know the Lord through the temple. Shortly after the dedication of the Kirtland temple, the Lord appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and said, in D&C 110:

  7 For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.

We have these wonderful assurances that we can come to know God through the scriptures and the temple. When we come to know Him, we realize how deeply He loves us. And, "We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 19)

When we come to know God we inevitably feel His love for us. His love transforms us and teaches us how to love others. This is the process by which we become possessed of Charity. Recall Moroni 7:

  47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

Notice the grammar. Charity is the pure love of Christ. It is not clear whether charity is Christ's love for us, our love for Christ, or our Christ-like love for others. In fact, though, it may be all three. We come to know Christ through prayer, scripture study, temple worship, serving others, etc. When we come to know Him, we feel his pure love. We feel our sins forgiven and our hearts changed through the power of the atonement. Then we are possessed of that aspect of charity that is His pure love for us. Then we love Him because He first loved us. And, we are possessed of the aspect of charity that is our pure love for Christ. Finally, I believe that an essential consequence of genuinely coming to know God is that we love others in a more pure manner. Thus, we learn to be possessed of that aspect of charity that is the Christ-like love for others.

What a shame it would be to be busy doing good things but to miss the point. The point is to know God and to be transformed by His love. Then, we have peace and can love others in a manner that will bring them to Christ. We don't have to do everything that is on everyones list of good things to do. All we need to do is know and love God and love His children. At the end of the day ask yourself, "Have I shared the pure love of Christ with somebody today." If you have, then sleep well in His peace.

Jesus Christ and Love

I would like to share a few thoughts about the purpose of mortality and the role of Jesus Christ in our journey through mortality. Of course, this will not be a comprehensive coverage, just a few basic ideas strung together in a way that I hope may be helpful.

Our Purpose

Our existence predates mortality when we lived as spirit beings in the presence of God. We came from God’s presence and we belong in God’s presence. I cannot believe that we would have accepted the experience of mortality without a good understanding that in passing through the veil of forgetfulness, there would be a way back.

We understand that, through the fall of mankind, there is a need for a Savior. Paul expressed it in this simple phrase in 1 Corinthians 15:

  22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

It seems easier to understand how all participate in death through Adam then to understand the part about being made alive in Christ. Adam and Eve fell and became subject to death. Thus, all of their children, us, became subject to death. Somehow, through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection we all will rise from death. We do not understand the mechanism now, but the day will come when we will see that it is true. We will see that because of Jesus’ resurrection, we will all resurrect. 

There is a purpose to our journey in mortality. We find in Moses 6:

  55 And the Lord spake unto Adam, saying: Inasmuch as thy children are conceived in sin, even so when they begin to grow up, sin conceiveth in their hearts, and they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good.

We came into mortality understanding that we would taste the bitterness of sin, pain, disappointment, and failure. We did not come here to sin. Rather, we came into mortality knowing that sin and heartache would be part of our experience. I think we were much like a missionary who has been called but not yet departed. The missionary knows in some intellectual sense that the mission will be hard. But, it is only in the experience that the learning takes place. We have chosen to experience the bitter in mortality as part of our learning to prize the good. We knew that, in some ways, parents, friends, church members or leaders, and others would fail us. We knew that we would fall prey to the lies of the adversary and fall into sin. And, we knew that a Savior would be provided so that we could recover from these experiences and learn from them.

Lehi taught these ideas to his family when he said in 2 Nephi 2:

  25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

From the Fall Comes Joy

The most remarkable thing about the fall is that, despite sin and sorrow, it is actually the source of joy in life. Adam and Eve explained this in Moses 5:

  10 And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.

  11 And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.

How do we have joy in this life? The answer is repentance. There are many possible definitions of repentance that have been discussed over the years. But, the scriptures give a definition that is very encouraging.  

When giving the brass plates, and other records, to his son, Alma described the value of scriptures. He says to Helaman in Alma 37:

 9 Yea, I say unto you, were it not for these things that these records do contain, which are on these plates, Ammon and his brethren could not have convinced so many thousands of the Lamanites of the incorrect tradition of their fathers; yea, these records and their words brought them unto repentance; that is, they brought them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer.

Notice the effect of the records, they convince people of the incorrect traditions of their fathers. Or, as Alma expressed in verse 8, the scriptures (which contain the words of Christ) convince us of the error of our ways. Alma says that when we see the error of our ways, or the incorrect traditions of our fathers, we are brought to repentance. Notice that verse nine says “repentance; that is ...” so that what comes next is a definition of repentance. And, the definition of repentance is to gain knowledge of the Lord our God and to rejoice in Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Thus, repentance is coming to a knowledge of God which causes us to rejoice in Jesus Christ as our Redeemer. 

When we learn that something in our life is in error, or an incorrect tradition, we change. In that moment of recognition we have repented. The repentance is both a cause and a consequence of learning more about God. And, Jesus Christ is the source of redemption and strength to make the change we see is necessary. That brings joy.

I had a sacred experience in the temple that taught be something about the bitterness of sin and the joy of repentance. As the endowment session began, I found my mind filled with all of the weakness, sin, mistakes and failures of my life. It was discouraging and caused me to feel lost and hopeless. I could not quite understand why these things were flooding in to my mind. As I felt ready to give up any hope of being clean and worthy to return to God a thought occurred to me. I felt that I should be patient and watch what was being presented. I looked up and realized that we were to the point in the creation story where Adam and Eve had fallen and were being cast out of God’s presence. I realized that they were the prototype of what I was feeling. And, as the rest of the endowment was presented I realized that I was being taught the path back to God’s presence. I realized that it was in, and through, Jesus Christ that my sins could be forgiven and that I could return to God. By the end of the endowment session I was filled with hope and with the love of God. I knew my sins were forgiven.

In this experience I came to know for myself the truth of what is taught in Ether 12:

  27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Learn Through the Spirit of Jesus Christ

So, how do we learn about Jesus Christ and find our way back to God? It starts with the Spirit of Christ that is given to every person ever born into mortality. We read in D&C 84:

  45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

  46 And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.

  47 And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.

Notice that the Spirit of Jesus Christ is truth, light and the word of the Lord to us. It gives light to everyone but only enlightens those who hearken to the Spirit of Christ. As taught in Moroni 7, the Spirit, or Light, of Christ is the means of knowing good from evil. Everything that brings feelings of peace, joy, belief in Christ and love is from Jesus Christ and is of God. When we feel fear, loneliness, contention and a lack of belief, it is from the adversary. This sounds so simple, and yet it is the way the Lord has given us to find the truth and the messengers that God has promised to us so that we can find our way back to Him. The Spirit is all around us. All you have to do is listen. 

Learn Through Messengers

The Spirit of Christ will help us to identify the true servants of the Lord who are sent to teach and guide us. True messengers teach us how to approach the Lord ourselves. They do not stand between us and God. Rather, they teach us how to approach God and receive our own revelation. Notice these key verses from the oath and covenant of the priesthood in D&C 84:

  36 For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;

  37 And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;

  38 And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.

The Spirit of Jesus Christ helps us to recognize the Lord’s servants and to follow their teachings. Through that we come to Jesus Christ and receive the Holy Ghost.

Sacrifice Leads to the Holy Ghost

When we come to an awareness of our fallen state we experience a broken heart. Our heart is broken by the recognition that our sins and weakness would forever keep us separated from God. We realize that we cannot merit salvation based on our own effort. No matter how hard we try to obey commandments, we come up short. With that broken heart our spirit become contrite and we come to Jesus Christ through baptism. The consequence of the decision to repent and be baptized is receiving the Holy Ghost. A great example of the Holy Ghost in action is in 3 Ne 9:

  20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.

It gives me hope to know that these Lamanites had a remarkable experience and yet did not realize that they had been baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost. We, too, can be baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost and not realize it. We must actively seek to know about the work of the Holy Ghost in our lives. 

Agency is Always Honored

God will not force knowledge upon us. He gave us our agency and He honors that agency. He waits for us to desire learning and revelation enough to ask and seek for it. As we read in Matt 7 (JST):

  7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

  17 What man among you, having a son, and he shall be standing out, and shall say, Father, open thy house that I may come in and sup with thee, will not say, Come in, my son; for mine is thine, and thine is mine?

The Lord commands us to ask, seek and knock. In order to help us understand, he gives us a comparison to a mortal father who would respond to his son’s plea for help. How much more, then, can we trust our Eternal Father to respond when we ask?

Examples of Asking

The scriptures give several examples of the type of questions we might bring to God. For example,

Lamoni’s father asked “... if there is a God ... wilt thou make thyself known to me?”

Alma cried out “O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me ...”

Benjamin’s people prayed “O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins and our hearts may be purified.”

And, in further instruction to us, we are told in D&C 18:18 to “Ask the Father in my name, in faith believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men.”

Thus, we can pray to know that God is there. We can pray for the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. We can pray to know that our sins are forgiven. And, we can pray to receive the Holy Ghost and to know all things that the Lord would have us know.

Maybe one of the greatest things we can pray for is love. In Moroni 7: 48 we are told, “Wherefore, ... pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ ... “ As we come to know Christ we will, inevitably, be filled with His love. 

A few years ago I came to the realization that I knew about Jesus Christ, but that I did not know Him. I could tell the Sunday School stories and describe His mission. But, I did not feel the love and appreciation that I knew I should. So, I began to pray to know Jesus Christ in a personal way. I searched the scriptures for stories that would help me to know Jesus Christ. And, the Holy Ghost began to testify to me of Christ through the stories and teachings in the scriptures.

One day I approached the temple with a prayer to better know Christ. There is a promise in D&C 110 that He will manifest Himself in mercy to His people in the temple. And, in a great tender mercy, I received a very clear and sure witness, through the Holy Ghost, during the presentation of one of the symbols that is surely linked to Jesus Christ, of His reality and His love for me. I was overwhelmed by the power of the spiritual witness in that experience in the temple.

The next day I went up into Rock Canyon to pray and ponder on what I had felt. And, while praying about the experience in the temple I was surrounded by a warmth and love that is more powerful than I had ever felt. I now know the reality of Jesus Christ, His power to forgive sin, His love for me, and His ability to teach me to love.

Love

The influence of Jesus Christ is love. As John said in 1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.” And, because of His love for us, we learn how to love one another. Paul taught us about how to treat each other in Eph 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” The surest evidence of the power of Jesus Christ is in the love that we can share with each other. After all, we are, by nature, not always the most loving people. When we are patient, forgiving, and loving with each other, we are experiencing the pure influence of Jesus Christ. 

I really like this summary in 1 John 3:18-24, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. ... Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”

In mortality we learn that we are loved by God, even though we have not earned it. We should love others, even though they have not earned it. 

Learning to Pray

Often in life we are confronted with challenges or crises that cause us to fall to our knees and seek the peace and comfort that we hope will come from the Lord. At such times, though, we often don't know how to disentangle our own thoughts from the answers that come through the Holy Spirit. Then we are left wondering whether we have had our prayers answered, or not. And, at times when we are seeking guidance, we are not sure what answers we may be receiving.

Let me offer an insight from electronics. There is something called a signal-to-noise ratio. I first experienced this while driving across Nevada in a car with an old analog radio dial. The tuning display was not very accurate and it could be difficult to find the station you wanted to listen to. We would leave the Salt Lake City area on the way home from college and listen to KSL radio as we drove into the salt flats and the desert. At first the radio signal was easy to hear and easy to tune in. We could enjoy music or news broadcasts. Then, as the miles accumulated, we would hear roughly equal parts static (noise) and radio station (signal). Finally, the signal would get so weak that all we could hear was static. In fact, it became impossible to find KSL, if you were not already listening to it, when the signal was weak on that old radio with a knob for tuning. When the signal-to-noise ratio is high we can lock on to a strong signal because it dwarfs the static. When the signal-to-noise ratio is low, like when we are distant, it can be very difficult to tune in to the radio signal through the static. But, over time, I learned just where on the dial to find KSL, even when the signal was weak.

Life is noisy. The Spirit is a still, small signal that whispers through the noisy static of life. It is important to learn how to tune in to the Spirit even when the noise of life's challenges makes it difficult. The time to really learn to hear the voice of the Spirit is not during difficult times, but in times of peace and quiet and the spiritual signal-to-noise ratio is high. Then, we are prepared for the times in life that seem filled with static. I would like to suggest an approach to prayer in order to learn to hear the voice of the Spirit. Then, we will be better prepared for those times when we really need to be able to tune in to the Spirit through life's difficulties.

Pray to know the truth of the teachings of the prophets. Here are three examples:

Oliver Cowdery met Joseph Smith and heard the message of the restoration. It seems that he prayed to know if these things were true. The Lord said to Oliver (in section 6:22-23), "cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things. Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?"

Nephi heard his father begin to cry repentance in Jerusalem and saw the people turn against his father. It seems that Nephi struggled to know the truth of the words of his father. He says (in 1 Nephi 2:16), "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers."

Regarding the Book of Mormon, Moroni invites us (in Moroni 10:4-5) to, "ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."  

Notice the result of praying and asking God about the truth of His words. It is peace to your mind, a softened heart, and an increased ability to believe. And, by this you will know the truth. This is accomplished through the power of the Holy Ghost. This is an experiment that can be repeated as often as we like. Choose any principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Ask God if it is true, with real intent to accept and act upon the answer, and you will find that you will feel peace in your soul and a softened heart with an increased ability to believe. This is the voice of the Holy Spirit. Repeat this often enough and you will have a strong testimony of all of the principles of the Gospel and, importantly, you will know how to tune in to the voice of the Spirit in time of need.

Prayer is as simple as, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find." Let me just expand that to say, ASK God to manifest the truth of the words of His prophets and you will receive peace and a softened heart that will increase your ability to believe. SEEK in the words of the scriptures and you will find the next principle to ask about. Repeating this simple process during times of relative quiet will increase your ability to tune in to the voice of the Spirit in times of need.

Can I Have Joy ... Now?

I have been thinking a lot, lately, about the nature of happiness or joy. I have wondered if either of these can truly be had now, or if they are only available in some future time, place, or condition? I want to share a few thoughts with you that have been meaningful to me. Some of these come from scripture, others can be compared to scripture to see if they hold up. Ultimately, the Light of Christ and Holy Ghost are our guide for discovering truth.

First, consider what Lehi taught his family, in 2 Nephi 2:

  24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.
  25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.  

I believe that we are to have joy. But, are we to have joy right now, sometime later, or can we even have it in this life?

Trusting the teaching of Lehi that we are to have joy, consider how the Psalmist adds some insight when he says in Psalm 146:

  5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:

In this verse, the timing is a little less ambiguous. It says that a person IS happy WHEN their hope is in the Lord God. It seems, then, that if we can obtain a hope in our Lord God, then we can BE happy.

I recently read a book, "Light in the Wilderness," by BYU Religion professor Catherine Thomas. She compares our journey through life to the journeys in the wilderness of the Jaredites, Lehi and his family, and others who seek after a paradise or a promised land. She says: 

The Fall, as well as all things that pertain to the Fall, have somehow played into the Divine intention of Man's joy, not just in some distant, otherworld future, but now. Yes, Man was created to have a joy alive in himself even as he travels through straitened circumstances. Part of the purpose of the mortal probation is to turn Man's distracted consciousness from the outer world to the inner recesses of joy, to a Paradise, happier far."

Another book that I have read is, "The Power of Now," by Eckhart Tolle. Tolle had a moment of deep spiritual insight during a time when he was depressed and despondent. He found life overwhelming and  found himself saying, "I can't live with myself!" Then, in a moment of insight, he asked, "Who is the 'I' and who is 'Myself' that 'I' can't live with?" He was overcome with calm and felt the closeness of God. He realized that the "I" was the part of him that is connected to God. We might call it the Divine Spirit that is within us. He also realized that the "Myself" is the endless dialogue within our mind that is influenced by the outward influences we experience in life. We sometimes torture ourselves with memories of the past and we imagine a future that does not exist, yet causes us great worry. Tolle realized in that critical moment that, in reality, all we have is now. When we quiet the inner voice, and really live in the now, without reliving the past or inventing the future, we can feel the presence of God more clearly and we can feel joy. Here are a few quotes from Tolle:

The Now is precious. There was never a time when your life was not Now, nor will there ever be. ... What you think of as the past is a memory trace, stored in the mind, of a former Now. ... The future is an imagined Now. ... Realize that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life. ... The present moment is sometimes unacceptable, unpleasant or awful. ... If you find your here and now intolerable and it makes you unhappy you have three options: remove yourself from the situation, change it, or accept it totally. ... When the future comes, it comes as the Now. ... You cannot have the good without the bad. ... Pleasure is always derived from something outside you, whereas joy arises from within. ... Now

I have found that one of the greatest blessings of the atonement of Jesus Christ is the power He has to help us be healed from past hurts or offenses so that we can move forward from the past. We can leave those things in the past because what really matters is who we ARE now. We are not defined by past actions, whether successes or failures. Rather, we ARE the person we become as we learn lessons from past successes or failures. The miracle of the atonement is that Jesus Christ heals us of the pain caused by sin, sickness, or sadness. He makes it possible to live, now, at peace because we have come to know Him.

Likewise, as we come to know the love Jesus has for us, we also come to know that God has a plan for us. And, we learn to leave the future in God's hands. This is not to say that we don't plan, learn, grow, or prepare for the future. Sometimes the best use of Now is to invest in the future. Rather, we don't spend our energy in the now worrying about things that have not happened yet, and may never happen. If we live well Now, we will be ready for whatever Now we face as we live God's plan.

Finally, today I listened to President Uchtdorf, in his recent October conference talk called, "Of Regrets and Resolutions." He gives similar counsel to what I have related above. Joy and happiness are to be had now. He says:

So often we get caught up in the illusion that there is something just beyond our reach that would bring us happiness: a better family situation, a better financial situation, or the end of a challenging trial.  

The older we get, the more we look back and realize that external circumstances don’t really matter or determine our happiness. 

We do matter. We determine our happiness. 

You and I are ultimately in charge of our own happiness. ... 

We shouldn’t wait to be happy until we reach some future point, only to discover that happiness was already available—all the time! Life is not meant to be appreciated only in retrospect. “This is the day which the Lord hath made … ,” the Psalmist wrote. “Rejoice and be glad in it.” [1] 

Brothers and sisters, no matter our circumstances, no matter our challenges or trials, there is something in each day to embrace and cherish. There is something in each day that can bring gratitude and joy if only we will see and appreciate it. 

Perhaps we should be looking less with our eyes and more with our hearts. I love the quote: “One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.” [2] 

We are commanded “to give thanks in all things.” [3] So isn’t it better to see with our eyes and hearts even the small things we can be thankful for, rather than magnifying the negative in our current condition?  

The Lord has promised, “He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold.” [4] 

Brothers and sisters, with the bountiful blessings of our Heavenly Father, His generous plan of salvation, the supernal truths of the restored gospel, and the many beauties of this mortal journey, “have we not reason to rejoice?” [5]

Let us resolve to be happy, regardless of our circumstances.

I find that these insights have brought peace and joy into my life. I have found that when I give my full attention to what is happening now, I enjoy it more. I hope that some of these thoughts can be of help to you as you ponder how they might fit into your life and your search to know God.




_______________________________________

[1]  Psalm 118:24.
[2]  Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince, trans. Richard Howard (2000), 63.
[3]  Mosiah 26:39; see also Doctrine and Covenants 59:7.
[4]  Doctrine and Covenants 78:19.
[5]  Alma 26:35.

Is It Enough that Others Have Feasted?

With yesterday being Thanksgiving day, when we enjoyed a wonderful feast, this quote from Parley P. Pratt seems particularly appropriate. The core of this quote is the question of, "Is it sufficient to read of others who have enjoyed a feast, or do we need to feast for ourselves?"

The scriptures command you to covet earnestly the best gifts; but more especially the spirit of prophecy. Paul prays that you may be enriched with the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God. James says, “If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.” Again, Jesus Christ declairs, that no man knows either him or his father, except it be revealed to him. He also declares that “to know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, is life eternal.” Consequently all who enjoy eternal life must know God by revelation to themselves. ...

The scriptures are given for the very purpose of inviting and encouraging men to come unto the great fountain of light and truth where they may enjoy all the blessings which are recorded in them, as having been enjoyed by the Ancients. And those who are contented to enjoy the history of blessings instead of the blessings themselves, may be compared to a man on a desolate island who has nothing to eat or to drink. But while he is famishing, and ready to perish with hunger and thirst he pulls a book from his pocket which contains the history of a feast of things once enjoyed by his forefathers. He reads with rapture of delight of the delicious meets, the rich viands, the sweet fruits and sparkling wines which were spread upon the plentious board, and of the joys of those who feasted freely there. But these recollections only serve to whet his apetite, and to increase his cravings after food. In the anguish of hopeless despair, he exclaims: O that I were at my father’s house, O that I too might partake of the feast. At this moment a messenger appears before him in the attitude of an instructor, and kindly offers to relieve him. With a sudden ray of hope springing in his bosom and with an emploring look of confidence he enquires; what must I do to be saved from hunger and thirst and to feast as did my fathers? O friend, save or I perish. 

But judge his feelings of disappointment and anguish when he is gravely told by his instructor that he does not need food as his fathers did. That it was only given to them because they had no sacred record, no history of the past to feast their souls upon, but now the cannon of feasting is complete, the record is full, he need not eat as they did, nor drink as they did; but to read the history of their feasting and to believe it and rejoice in it would answer the same purpose, and that it was wicked and even presumptious to desire or ask any food other than that which the reading of their record afforded him. In short, that they had the feast and he had the history of it, which amounted to the same thing; and he must therefore be content. 

With these instructions he strives to restrain his apetite, he condemns himself a hundred times for feeling hungry and a thirst; the keener his desires for food and drink, the closer he pursues his study of the history of the feasting. He reads it over and over again, he commits it to memory, he presses it with fervor to his heart, he kisses it with reverence, he lays it for a pillow when he sleeps, and awakes but to read a new. But still finds no relief; in spite of himself his soul hungers and thirsts for food, such as his parents enjoyed and he pines out a wretched existence. But reading still the history of the past he discovers at last that he had overlooked an important sentence; a sentence which informs him that he must partake of the food for himself as they did for themselves or starve to death; and at the same time a messenger arrives with food, and wine in plenty, and kindly invites him to eat and drink; nay, says he, my instructor told me that this history was all the food I need, that it was enough for me to read and believe that my fathers ate that it was all the same as to eat myself. But says the kind instructor, that man was a deceiver, he has imposed upon you. Does not common sense teach you; does not experience teach you, and does not the history itself teach you that you must feast as well as they, or perish forever. The poor starving man is at last brought to his senses and is prevailed on to eat and drink and live. His spirits are then renewed, his soul is satisfied, and he looks with astonishment and wonder upon his former absurdity and that of his teacher and is surprised to think that such foolish ideas should have ever entered the human mind. 

So is the man, who, led by the vain traditions and precepts of men is made to believe that the gifts of revelation, vision, the ministry of angels, and prophecy, and all the keys of knowledge which the ancients did enjoy, are not now needed, or to be enjoyed; but that the Bible which contains the history of them is all that is necessary. 

O ye hungry, famishing souls who have thus been deceived, rouse from your slumbers, break off the shackles of your minds, burst through the thick darkness and gloom of ages with which you are surrounded, and emerge forth into the light and liberty of the gospel, that you may enjoy those great and glorious privileges which have been hid from ages and generations; but which are again made manifest in these last days, for the restoration of all things spoken by the prophets. * 

Elder Pratt was speaking to those who would reject the restored gospel based upon their belief that they had all they needed of revelation through reading ancient stories of God's revelations in the Bible. Could we fall into this trap today? Do we read of the spiritual feast during Joseph Smith's time and feel that reading those stories are sufficient for us? Do we read the scriptures of the restoration and feel satisfied with a broader array of testimonies of feasting? Or, do the added testimonies build within us the faith to feast for ourselves?

Joseph Smith taught, “God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them, for the day must come when no man need say to his neighbor, Know ye the Lord; for all shall know Him … from the least to the greatest [see Jeremiah 31:34].” ** If we ask to be taught by the power of the Holy Ghost, seek in the scriptures, and knock in the temple, we can each enjoy a personal feast as we come to know the Lord for ourself.




*      Taken from Essential Parley P. Pratt, Chapter 8, http://signaturebookslibrary.org/?p=14732
**    History of the Church, 3:380; from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on June 27, 1839, in Commerce, Illinois; reported by Willard Richards.

Easter and 3 Nephi

I have been teaching a freshman Book of Mormon class this year. This semester has been the second half of the book (Alma 30 to the end). I have loved the opportunity to study and teach from this remarkable book of scripture. For Easter, I want to share an insight from this semester. The key to this insight is that Jesus' ministry among the Nephites and Lamanites can be thought of as a type from which we can learn how to approach the Savior. I will not review every detail, but I will give an outline that may prompt some ideas as you study these remarkable chapters in 3rd Nephi for yourself.

The following is a brief outline of the series of events and teaching during this visit of the Savior:

• Jesus defines His doctrine, given to Him by His Father. It is, in essence, to believe, repent, be baptized and receive the record of the Father through the Holy Ghost. (See 3 Nephi 11:32-39, also note that this topic is elaborated upon in 2 Nephi 31-32.)
• We are commanded to accept and follow this doctrine as we become as a little child (See 3 Nephi 11:37-38)
• Chapter 12 starts with beatitudes (3 Nephi 12:2-11). Imagine these statements like two cities on a road to a destination. For example, "Blessed are those who pass through Filmore for they shall see St. George." Notice that these cities identify I-15 heading south from Provo or Salt Lake. The cities of Filmore and St. George are not the entire route. But, by driving through Filmore and on to St. George you will be traveling along Interstate 15 going south. Along the way, you will pass through towns like Meadow, Beaver, Parowan and Cedar City. Similarly, if we follow the statement, "Blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God," we will not just suddenly be pure in heart and see God. We must become pure in heart through repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost. Then we must do things, like attend the temple with the promise that the Lord is there, and we will see Him (See Psalms 24:3-4 and 3 D&C 97:16). In essence, we can use the scriptures to see how each beatitude defines a path by observing what it is that brings us to the state of being and how that leads to the promised blessing. All of the promised blessings are associated with being where God is.
• After teaching us of the characteristics (ways of being) that we should have, Jesus teaches that our motivation for action is at least as important as our actual obedience of the commandments (see 3 Nephi 12:19-45). For example, not only must we not kill, we must not get angry. Not only must we not commit adultery, we must not lust. In other words, our motivations and desires that precede action must come into alignment with the Lord's teachings.
• In 3 Nephi 13, Jesus turns to a new theme. In this chapter he teaches us to be motivated by our relationship with the Father, rather than looking to the approbation of others for approval. For example, we should do our alms (acts of service or giving) out of love for the Father and His children, not to be seen of others as a good person (3 Nephi 13:1-4). Similarly, we should fast in secret as a way of reaching out to the Father rather than looking miserable and hungry in order to be seen fasting by others (3 Nephi 13:16-18). This entire chapter focuses us on doing what we do in service of the Father and approaching the Father appropriately in prayer. We must seek for a relationship with the Father such that our self-worth comes from Him, not from putting on a show for the approval of others around us.
• Chapter 14 includes the command to ask, seek and knock (see 3 Nephi 14:7-11). I do not think that these are three words that all mean ask. Let me illustrate with a very short story. I go to an are of an old city where homes are surrounded by walls and yards are entered through doors in the walls. I am looking for a feast but cannot seem to find the location of the feast. I ask someone how to find the address. They indicate that I should go up three streets, turn right, then take the second left. The home I am seeking is on the right side of the street. Now, I have asked and found out where the home is and how to get there. Am I there yet? No. Now I need to seek. Along the way I may forget whether it was two streets and then three or three streets followed by two after the turn. In other words, I may need to ask again. After successfully seeking out the house, I knock at the door in the wall around the yard and am admitted to the feast. Thus, we must ask, seek and knock, to obtain what the Lord offers.
• Chapters 15 and 16 contain teachings about "other sheep." The decedents of Lehi find that they are the "other sheep" Jesus spoke of to his disciples in Jerusalem. But, those disciples never learned of Lehi's family because they never asked after Jesus told them about the other sheep. So, the Father told Jesus to say no more (3 Nephi 15:17-21). Next, Jesus explained that he had yet other sheep (3 Nephi 16:1-3). Now, those who were listening had just been told that the disciples in Jerusalem never learned about the other sheep because they did not ask. Then after explaining this, Jesus said there are yet other sheep (hint, hint, hint) and by the end of chapter 16 nobody asked about them. So, Jesus said, "I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words ..." (3 Nephi 17:2). He taught them to ask, seek and knock. He told them about how the disciples at Jerusalem didn't learn because they didn't ask. Then he gave them something to ask about, and they didn't ask. It seems that the people were not ready to learn about Jesus' sheep (the family of Israel).
• Jesus does not just leave in disappointment. Rather, He was filled with compassion and healed all of the sick or afflicted among them (3 Nephi 17:6-9). Then he asked for all their little children to be brought and he stood in their midst and prayed for all the people using words that cannot be written. Imagine the joy of this experience! These people witnessed the miracles that Jesus performed in mortality, and more.
• In Chapter 18 Jesus institutes the sacrament, commands the people to pray, to be a light to the world, and to teach others of Jesus Christ. He gave the disciples the power to give the Holy Ghost. and then ascended into Heaven. These things He did to prepare the people for what would happen the next day, and beyond.
• Those who were there the first day went home to gather everyone else to the temple for the return of Jesus the next day. In the morning the disciples taught what Jesus had taught the day before. Then all were baptized and received the Holy Ghost. Thus prepared, Jesus returned and stood in their midst. Everyone kneeled down and prayed. Jesus moved off a little way and prayed thanking the Father for giving these people, whom He had chosen, the Holy Ghost (3 Nephi 19:20). Then, returning He finds that they are praying as directed by the Spirit and they are coming to have the same countenance as Jesus. He went a little way off again and thanked the Father for purifying these people (3 Nephi 19:28). Finally, he prays to the Father that these may all be one with Him and the Father. After observing them again, He prays using words that cannot be recorded (this reminds me of things in the temple that are too sacred to speak or record).
• In 3 Nephi 20:10 he says that people are ready and he will finish the commandment of the Father that he could not complete back in chapter 17 when He saw that the people were not ready. We can learn great lessons from this sequence. The things that happen in chapters 17, 18 and 19 are hints at the things that need to happen in our own lives for us to be ready to be taught about the covenant of the Father with Israel. That is the topic of chapters 20-26 which cover the rest of Jesus' teachings during this visit.

Let me give a more concise review of these items in sequence:

• Jesus' teaching begin with the doctrine of Christ.
• We begin as little children, but He will teach us to grow up to be part of the family of Israel.
• Jesus teaches us the characteristics we should have.
• Jesus teaches us that our motivations and thoughts matter as much as our actions.
• He commands us to ask, seek and knock.
• He begins to teach about Israel by discussing the "other sheep." But, he finds that the people are not ready to learn of the covent between the Father and His People. So, Jesus prepares the people.
• Jesus heals sickness and affliction, gathers the little children, prays for the people, and gives power to give the Holy Ghost. Then He departs.
• More people believe the witness of those who saw Jesus and are gathered together.
• The disciples teach the words of Jesus, baptize and the Holy Ghost falls on the people.
• Jesus returns. He observes the people and prays to thank the Father for giving the Holy Ghost. Jesus observes the people again and prays to thank the Father for purifying the people. Jesus observes the people again and prays to ask the Father that they might all be unified and one, just as Jesus and the Father are one.
• With the people thus prepared, Jesus teaches them of the covenant of the Father with Israel. A discussion of chapters 20-26 is a topic for another time, but it is very important. The ultimate outcome of this teaching is a zion-like society by the end of 3 Nephi. 

I have felt the voice of the Spirit often as I have studied 3 Nephi this semester. I love this record of a personal ministry of the risen Lord. This scripture is a compelling witness that the death and resurrection that we celebrate on Easter is real. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that He lives and His work continues. The events of 3 Nephi point the way for us to come unto Christ and become one with Him and the Father.

The Key of the Ministering of Angels

The Aaronic priesthood is often described as the "preparatory priesthood." Often, the preparation is thought of as young men being prepared for the Melchizedek priesthood. While this is appropriate and leads to many good insights about the service a young man renders while holding the Aaronic priesthood, the words "preparatory priesthood" are not found in scripture. Rather, we find in D&C 84: 26-27, "[The Aaronic] priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel; Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments ..."

Notice that the keys held by the Aaronic priesthood include the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel, including the gospel of repentance, baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments. Thus, holding the key of the preparatory gospel makes the Aaronic priesthood a preparatory priesthood. In other words, rather than the focus being on the preparation of young men for the Melchizedek priesthood, the focus is on the Aaronic priesthood holding the keys that prepare members of the church for the higher blessings available through the Melchizedek priesthood.

While the preparatory gospel seems familiar, I have long wondered about the key of the ministering of Angels. The scriptures contain many stories of literal appearances of angels. Yet, when I was a young holder of the Aaronic priesthood I never saw an angel. In addition, I was unsure of how the key of the ministering of angels worked. In a wonderful talk called, "The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament," (General Conference, October 1998) Elder Dallin H. Oaks explains:

But the ministering of angels can also be unseen. Angelic messages can be delivered by a voice or merely by thoughts or feelings communicated to the mind. President John Taylor described “the action of the angels, or messengers of God, upon our minds, so that the heart can conceive … revelations from the eternal world” (Gospel Kingdom, sel. G. Homer Durham [1987], 31). 

Nephi described three manifestations of the ministering of angels when he reminded his rebellious brothers that (1) they had “seen an angel,” (2) they had “heard his voice from time to time,” and (3) also that an angel had “spoken unto [them] in a still small voice” though they were “past feeling” and “could not feel his words” (1 Ne. 17:45). The scriptures contain many other statements that angels are sent to teach the gospel and bring men to Christ (see Heb. 1:14; Alma 39:19; Moro. 7:25, 29, 31–32; D&C 20:35). Most angelic communications are felt or heard rather than seen. 

How does the Aaronic Priesthood hold the key to the ministering of angels? The answer is the same as for the Spirit of the Lord. 

In general, the blessings of spiritual companionship and communication are only available to those who are clean. As explained earlier, through the Aaronic Priesthood ordinances of baptism and the sacrament, we are cleansed of our sins and promised that if we keep our covenants we will always have His Spirit to be with us. I believe that promise not only refers to the Holy Ghost but also to the ministering of angels, for “angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ” (2 Ne. 32:3). So it is that those who hold the Aaronic Priesthood open the door for all Church members who worthily partake of the sacrament to enjoy the companionship of the Spirit of the Lord and the ministering of angels. 

I love this insight. We become clean as we begin to exercise faith sufficient to repent of our sins and, as a result of baptism, enjoy the blessings of the gift of the Holy Ghost in our lives. Thus, it seems that the key of the ministering of angels is intertwined with the key of the preparatory gospel because it is by receiving the preparatory gospel that we begin to receive the guidance of angels who speak by the power of the Holy Ghost. What a remarkable blessing it is to know that our Father in Heaven loves us enough to provide guidance through the power of the Holy Ghost, including angels who speak by that power. As Alma said in Alma 32:

  23 And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned.

This promise is to all men, women and children. Those who are clean, or become clean through the preparatory gospel, receive God's word through angels working by the power of the Holy Ghost. And, as Nephi taught his brothers, that will include angels speaking by a still small voice. With time, that voice may grow into a voice that is heard, or even the literal appearance of angels. But, even if we don't literally see angels, there is great peace in knowing that we can be guided by the "still small voice" of angels speaking by the power of the Holy Ghost. I am very grateful for the the preparatory gospel and for the ministering of angels.

Believe in Christ, Believe the Book of Mormon

I noticed something interesting in Moroni 10:

  4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. (emphasis added)

Moroni includes "having faith in Christ" in the recipe for having the truth of the Book of Mormon manifest by the power of the Holy Ghost. If we take this verse at face value it would seem that having faith in Christ is a prerequisite for the revelation of the Holy Ghost regarding the truth of the Book of Mormon. And, we hear the message of Christ in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

The Bible was written and sent to all people to convince the world that salvation is in and through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As is said in John 20:

  31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is for, "the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations." It testifies that the God of the Old Testament lived in mortality as the Jesus of the New Testament. Nephi asserts, in 2 Nephi 33, that those who believe in Christ will believe the truth of the Book of Mormon.

  10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.

It seems that, as always, Jesus Christ should be the focus. We do not seek a testimony of the Book of Mormon for the book's sake. We seek it because the Book of Mormon teaches of Christ. We believe in the Book of Mormon because it increases our belief in Jesus Christ. In fact, the truth of the Book of Mormon is manifest by the power of the Holy Ghost because it is the role of the Holy Ghost to witness of the Father and the Son (see 2 Nephi 31:18).

Do I Know Jesus Christ?

My journey to know Jesus Christ has been very similar to the hike we took together in an earlier post.  I have been blessed with an ever-increasing amount of light from my Father in Heaven.  As the light grows brighter I have been able to appreciate more of the detail and beauty of the gospel message.  But, rather than just tell you of my journey, let me ask a series of questions and share some thoughts that will allow us to walk together towards knowing the Savior.

In all our experiences in life there are the things that we do and then there are the things that we feel.  We learn in our minds by the choices we make about the activities we participate in, the people we associate with, and the study in which we engage.  We learn in our hearts as we contemplate the feelings that accompany our life experience.  It is when the message received in our mind is confirmed by the feelings of the heart that we experience revelation.

For example, do you remember your earliest days of learning the gospel?  It may have been your parents, a friend, or missionaries that introduced you to the gospel message.  What caused you to accept their message?  Were you somehow impressed by the goodness radiating from those who taught you?  Did you see the blessings of obedience in their lives?  Do you remember how you felt as you heard the gospel message?  Did it sound good and uplifting and thrill your soul?  Did you hope that it could be true?  If you answered “yes” to any of these questions then you have experienced the Spirit of Jesus Christ reminding your spirit of what we knew in the premortal world.[1]

After we hear the gospel we begin to have hope of eternal life through the redemption and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We also come to know that our lives are not in harmony with all of the teachings of the gospel.  So, we begin to repent and call upon God for forgiveness.  Have you ever felt the weight of knowing that something in your life is not in harmony with God’s teachings?  Have you felt that burden lifted as you repented and moved on living in a little better harmony with the gospel?  Repentance and forgiveness bring joy and relief from the burden of sin.

Many of us were baptized at a young age and may not remember that day.  Fortunately, we have the opportunity to attend baptisms of friends and family members.  Once we are twelve years old we have the blessing of doing baptisms for the dead.  Whether it was at your baptism or at any other baptism, have you ever felt the spirit whisper of the cleansing power of the Savior?  Not long ago I had the privilege of going to the temple with the young women from our ward.  One of these young women brought the name of her grandfather to be baptized and confirmed in the temple.  I got to baptize this young woman’s father in behalf of her grandfather as she looked on.  Our eyes filled with tears as we felt the gratitude of her grandfather from the other side of the veil.  The spirit whispered and we were uplifted.

Following faith, repentance and baptism we are promised the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Often we hear in talks of dramatic stories where the Holy Ghost directs someone to leave a dangerous situation.  These are great stories of blessing to those who experienced them.  But, we are not promised that we will be saved from all danger by the Holy Ghost.  Rather, we are promised by Jesus Christ that the Holy Ghost “shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” and “he shall testify of me.”[2]

Have you ever been reading your scriptures and had a verse grab your attention?  Have you ever stopped to ponder that verse and felt it speak to your heart?  Have you ever looked for similar verses and had your understanding of a gospel principle confirmed and expanded?  These are all done by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Do you remember hearing a talk or a lesson and feeling challenged to make a change in something you were doing or not doing?  Did you feel that your life could be brought into better alignment with the teachings of the Gospel?  Did you feel a little closer to God because of that effort to change?  This is part of enduring to the end.

The atonement provides more than just the power to erase the stains of sin.  It also offers us the chance to become better than we currently are.  It is the power of change in our lives.  Once we have forsaken the worst of our sins, Jesus Christ is still the power that allows us to grow and progress toward our Father in Heaven.  It is only through Jesus Christ that we can approach the Father.

In the temple we learn the way back into the presence of our Father in Heaven.  The temple is, itself, a great symbol of Jesus Christ.  If we will approach the temple as if we are approaching the Savior we will be refined and purified through our temple worship.  We will be taught of how we are literally transformed and prepared in all ways to enter the presence of God. 

Have you ever felt a little closer to God in the temple?  Have you ever had a principle of the gospel become clear as you pondered the symbols in the temple?  Have you ever felt the cares of the world left behind and your soul lifted as you participated in temple ordinances?  It is in the priesthood ordinances that we find the key to the knowledge of God.[3]  These flashes of insight are an important part of the Lord’s promise to manifest Himself to His people in mercy in His house.[4]

Would you like to see Jesus Christ?  Have you ever done something kind for someone else and felt your own burdens become easier to bear?  Have ever served another person and felt your love and care for them grow beyond what you expected?  Have you ever put someone else’s needs ahead of your own and been surprised at the deep impact this can have?  When we serve those around us we are in the service of Jesus Christ and we see Him in the service of others.

Jesus said:[5]

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

We can be where the Savior is if we will serve Him by serving our brothers and sisters.

Were you able to answer “yes” to any of the questions I asked?  If you did then you have felt the quiet whisperings of the Spirit in those situations I asked about.  In fact, you are much like the Lamanites spoken of by Jesus Christ who “were baptized with fire and with the holy Chost, and they knew it not.”[6]  If in reading this post you have been reminded of past spiritual experiences I would ask Alma’s question, “Can you feel so now?”[7]

Each week as we partake of the sacrament we have the opportunity to turn our minds to Jesus Christ.  I have found a question that is of great help to me.  The question is, “when is the last time I felt the Spirit in my life?”  If I have not felt, and acknowledged feeling, the spirit since the last time I partook of the sacrament then I know there is something out of line with the gospel in my life.  I can prayerfully ask what I need to do and my loving Father in Heaven will bring to my mind that which I need to work on next.  Remember the question, “When is the last time I felt and acknowledged feeling the Spirit?”

Remember that we are, in fact, eternal spirit beings living in mortality in order to become like our Father in Heaven.  We were born into mortality as infants that could not walk, talk, feed ourselves, or even understand the loving language of our parents.  But, over time and with effort we learn and progress to become adults. 

Similarly, when we are born again we are as spiritual infants.  The language of the spirit feels good but we do not yet understand it in full.  The language of the spirit is quiet and is best heard while we are praying, serving others, reading the scriptures or worshiping in the temple.  These are the things we should be doing because they are things that will bring us closer to Jesus Christ.  By following the gospel path we will grow and progress in the things of the Spirit to the end that we may return to live with our Father in Heaven.  Sometimes the path seems difficult.  I believe, though, that there is no challenge that we may face in this life that cannot be overcome through the power of Jesus Christ.[8] 

At the end of the hike I described, we raised our hands in celebration of reaching the summit in the full light of the rising sun. I look forward to the day when, through the Savior’s guidance and mercy, we will raise our hands in the joy of the full light of God’s presence. That is the greatest destination we can work towards. It is only in and through the light of Jesus Christ that we can find our way to our Father in Heaven.

---

[1] See D&C 84:

  44 For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.

  45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

  46 And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.

  47 And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.

[2] See John 14: 26, 15:26

[3] See D&C 84:

  19 And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.

  20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.

  21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;

  22 For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.

[4] See D&C 110:

  7 For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.

[5] See John 12: 25-26

[6] See 3 Nephi 9: 20

[7] See Alma 5: 26

[8] See Ether 12:

  27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.