I've heard it said before (from someone who claimed to be a former member of the Church and a former bishop) that what we call the Holy Ghost is nothing more than an emotional response.
NOT SO!!
Yes, the Holy Ghost does produce a fruit that inspires emotion (see Galatians 5:22), but to feel these emotions and to truly know the Spirit of God are two different things. What great joy the Spirit brings, but even when emotions don't run strong, what a wonderful thing it is to recognize the presence of the Holy Ghost!
Of course, the only way to know the Holy Ghost is to listen to God's word and obey it. As we hear the "whisperings of the Spirit" and disregard them, they become quieter to us, but as we truly listen to them and follow them it becomes easier for us to do the same in the future.
I know that I need the Holy Ghost to guide me. I rely on the Spirit to guide me and give me the "tongue of angels" (2 Nephi 31:14, 32:2-3, 33:1) as I speak to others. I know that I have spoken words that were inspired at the very moment. One of the most interesting things to me is when I'm inspired to not say something, either because the listener wasn't ready or perhaps because what I was going to say was wrong.
I think many people don't realize that, having been baptized and confirmed, they can speak with the tongue of angels. It's a wonderful gift that we truly need in order to serve God.
Last thoughts for now:
The Holy Ghost is real. It is my responsibility to obey the charge given to me when I was confirmed and "receive the Holy Ghost." The Spirit of God testifies of truth, teaches us, comforts us, and guides us. And, as a bonus, it will often bring the best of emotional responses.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
A Different Testimony
I love bearing my testimony of Christ, the Chuch, the prophets, and the Book of Mormon. Aside from my "regular" testimony, I realized two things as a missionary that while not as directly spiritual are nonetheless evidence that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of God:
1. There is almost unbelievable opposition to the Church. That might not seem to indicate that the Church is good and true, but consider the opposition's viewpoint. Against whom does Satan fight? Against whom will he inspire others to fight?
2. The restored Gospel is being preached by immature 19- and 20-year-olds, and the Church is actually growing! Really, missionaries are almost kids. I know because I was one! Yeah, some are pretty mature (I thought I was, for my age), but how mature and wise can a person be at 20 years old? By all rights, such young missionaries should have crippled the Church years ago. Instead, those with "ears to hear" are baptized by the thousands.
Last thoughts for now:
These two ideas are not vital to my testimony, but they strengthen it at least to some degree. However, nothing beats the witness of the Holy Ghost.
1. There is almost unbelievable opposition to the Church. That might not seem to indicate that the Church is good and true, but consider the opposition's viewpoint. Against whom does Satan fight? Against whom will he inspire others to fight?
2. The restored Gospel is being preached by immature 19- and 20-year-olds, and the Church is actually growing! Really, missionaries are almost kids. I know because I was one! Yeah, some are pretty mature (I thought I was, for my age), but how mature and wise can a person be at 20 years old? By all rights, such young missionaries should have crippled the Church years ago. Instead, those with "ears to hear" are baptized by the thousands.
Last thoughts for now:
These two ideas are not vital to my testimony, but they strengthen it at least to some degree. However, nothing beats the witness of the Holy Ghost.
Same Old, Same Old
Sometimes people complain that they always hear the same thing in church, or they don't want to watch General Conference because "they always say the same stuff". I've known people who didn't see the need to read scripture more than once.
Well, yes, we do hear the same thing over and over again. I know of five reasons why:
1. Each time we receive a particular message, we may learn more if we invite the Holy Ghost's influence and have readied ourselves by practicing more basic principles. Many people have had the experience of learning something new from a passage of scripture they've read multiple times before. We hear things repeated because there is deeper knowledge to gain.
2. Simply hearing the truth from the prophets will bring us the Holy Ghost and ready us for personal revelation on any topic. Many people have listened to a witness of Christ and received personal revelation for something that is important but unrelated to what is being spoken.
3. We haven't really listened yet. So often we hear the standard answers: pray, read your scriptures, go to church. Are we doing these things? I tend to think I'm a good person, but I know that I have often forgotten to pray in the morning and I sometimes struggle to read my scriptures. (It's been pretty bad recently. I wake up early and go to work, leaving the house at 6:00 am at the latest. I haven't made it a habit recently to read my scriptures in the morning, and then I don't get to them later. Then, in my Gospel Doctrine class, I know I don't have as much to contribute because I haven't done enough studying.) Anyway, we hear things repeated because we often haven't obeyed yet.
4. There are other people listening who haven't heard it yet. So many people are only hearing the restored Gospel for the first time. We can be patient as they are enlightened by glorious truth, particularly since it's still good for us.
5. Repetition reinforces ideas. Truth ought to be reinforced in our lives (especially to counteract the falsehoods that come to us over and over again).
Beyond that, we actually do hear some new things in General Conference sometimes, and it can be thrilling. I should give a list of my favorite conference talks some time.
Last thoughts for now:
It's okay to hear a good thing again. Heavenly Father knows what He's doing.
Well, yes, we do hear the same thing over and over again. I know of five reasons why:
1. Each time we receive a particular message, we may learn more if we invite the Holy Ghost's influence and have readied ourselves by practicing more basic principles. Many people have had the experience of learning something new from a passage of scripture they've read multiple times before. We hear things repeated because there is deeper knowledge to gain.
2. Simply hearing the truth from the prophets will bring us the Holy Ghost and ready us for personal revelation on any topic. Many people have listened to a witness of Christ and received personal revelation for something that is important but unrelated to what is being spoken.
3. We haven't really listened yet. So often we hear the standard answers: pray, read your scriptures, go to church. Are we doing these things? I tend to think I'm a good person, but I know that I have often forgotten to pray in the morning and I sometimes struggle to read my scriptures. (It's been pretty bad recently. I wake up early and go to work, leaving the house at 6:00 am at the latest. I haven't made it a habit recently to read my scriptures in the morning, and then I don't get to them later. Then, in my Gospel Doctrine class, I know I don't have as much to contribute because I haven't done enough studying.) Anyway, we hear things repeated because we often haven't obeyed yet.
4. There are other people listening who haven't heard it yet. So many people are only hearing the restored Gospel for the first time. We can be patient as they are enlightened by glorious truth, particularly since it's still good for us.
5. Repetition reinforces ideas. Truth ought to be reinforced in our lives (especially to counteract the falsehoods that come to us over and over again).
Beyond that, we actually do hear some new things in General Conference sometimes, and it can be thrilling. I should give a list of my favorite conference talks some time.
Last thoughts for now:
It's okay to hear a good thing again. Heavenly Father knows what He's doing.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
To Respectfully Disagree
It is okay to disagree!
People get so wrapped up in trying to convince others to believe the same thing they do. We absolutely should stand up for what is right and true, but people are free to believe whatever they want. They are free even if what they believe is downright stupid and wrong, and demonstrably so. To respectfully disagree with others gives them the opportunity (should they want to take it) to think through your ideas and voluntarily accept or reject them. Too often, people lose their sense of decency and respect in their discourse. Then, conversation becomes contention, which leaves no room for the influence of the Holy Ghost. At that point, there's no use in any further discussion.
It's okay to simply say, "I disagree." State the truth, and leave it at that.
As a side note, some people use the phrase "agree to disagree". That actually kind of irritates me; it makes me think of something like this:
Bob: "All right. When we go in there, I'm going to say one thing and you'll say another. We'll make sure to disagree."
Susan: "Agreed."
Last thoughts for now:
The Golden Rule is key here. We're all struggling through life and eternity, and we ought to show charity for others, even when we disagree.
People get so wrapped up in trying to convince others to believe the same thing they do. We absolutely should stand up for what is right and true, but people are free to believe whatever they want. They are free even if what they believe is downright stupid and wrong, and demonstrably so. To respectfully disagree with others gives them the opportunity (should they want to take it) to think through your ideas and voluntarily accept or reject them. Too often, people lose their sense of decency and respect in their discourse. Then, conversation becomes contention, which leaves no room for the influence of the Holy Ghost. At that point, there's no use in any further discussion.
It's okay to simply say, "I disagree." State the truth, and leave it at that.
As a side note, some people use the phrase "agree to disagree". That actually kind of irritates me; it makes me think of something like this:
Bob: "All right. When we go in there, I'm going to say one thing and you'll say another. We'll make sure to disagree."
Susan: "Agreed."
Last thoughts for now:
The Golden Rule is key here. We're all struggling through life and eternity, and we ought to show charity for others, even when we disagree.
Joy of Fatherhood
At Snow College, I was an assistant ward clerk for a while. One day, while we were waiting for a meeting to start, Bishop Cragun shared a thought with us. I don't think he particularly intended to teach anything with his words, but they have stayed with me. He was speaking of one of his children and one of their activities (I believe it was wrestling). He said that he had wrestled when he was younger, but it was more fun to watch his children do it.
I remember coming to a strange realization myself. I remember echoing others' thoughts that children are entertained by the simplest things. Then, one day as I watched my own daughter, I saw the other side of it: I'm entertained when she does the simplest things. I love hearing her speak. I love watching her learn. She is endlessly entertaining.
Those who achieve the highest degree of exaltation do so specifically because they will exercise the greatest power: procreation. The greatest joy beings can have is found in watching our children and helping them to grow.
Last thoughts for now:
After personal righteousness, my greatest concern is for my family. I look forward to having more children and raising them to love life and live truth.
I remember coming to a strange realization myself. I remember echoing others' thoughts that children are entertained by the simplest things. Then, one day as I watched my own daughter, I saw the other side of it: I'm entertained when she does the simplest things. I love hearing her speak. I love watching her learn. She is endlessly entertaining.
Those who achieve the highest degree of exaltation do so specifically because they will exercise the greatest power: procreation. The greatest joy beings can have is found in watching our children and helping them to grow.
Last thoughts for now:
After personal righteousness, my greatest concern is for my family. I look forward to having more children and raising them to love life and live truth.
Paradise and Prison
I've never been certain about the barrier between Spirit Prison and Paradise. Is it two different locations, with an actual barrier or separation that keeps those who have not accepted the Gospel from those who have? Or is it just a distinction between two states of being? We certainly live in heaven or hell right now depending on what kind of people we are.
I tend to think it's probably an actual separation. When Christ was in the Sprirt World for three days, He only visited the righteous, that is, those who had truly accepted Him. But a commonly held perception of Hell combined with a distinct feature of temples gives me cause to wonder.
Many people with Christian backgrounds are told that "Hell" is a fiery, hot place, and that "Heaven" is in the clouds. The Church makes specific efforts to build temples such that fonts for proxy baptisms are located underground. Theory: the barrier between Paradise and Prison is the surface of the earth. The core of the earth is molten; anywhere under the surface is obviously dark. I think it would suffice as a place to let people suffer the pains of their own sins. When baptisms and confirmations are perfomed for the dead, the spirits would pass through the barrier in temples.
The bridging of the barrier also occurred simultaneously with the rupturing of the earth's surface (see 3 Nephi 8:18).
One might say that the classic version of "Hell" is of no importance, and I would say they're probably right. However, bits of truth, like pieces of a shattered mirror, can be found all over. Take Masonic symbols, for example.
One might also say that the location of temple baptismal fonts is just symbolic, and maybe it is. That's a lot of work for the sake of a single symbol, though, particularly when baptism already carries a lot of symbolism anyway. What symbolic meaning is really added?
Last thoughts for now:
I don't know of any prophetic statement that directly adresses this topic. It remains uncertain to me.
I tend to think it's probably an actual separation. When Christ was in the Sprirt World for three days, He only visited the righteous, that is, those who had truly accepted Him. But a commonly held perception of Hell combined with a distinct feature of temples gives me cause to wonder.
Many people with Christian backgrounds are told that "Hell" is a fiery, hot place, and that "Heaven" is in the clouds. The Church makes specific efforts to build temples such that fonts for proxy baptisms are located underground. Theory: the barrier between Paradise and Prison is the surface of the earth. The core of the earth is molten; anywhere under the surface is obviously dark. I think it would suffice as a place to let people suffer the pains of their own sins. When baptisms and confirmations are perfomed for the dead, the spirits would pass through the barrier in temples.
The bridging of the barrier also occurred simultaneously with the rupturing of the earth's surface (see 3 Nephi 8:18).
One might say that the classic version of "Hell" is of no importance, and I would say they're probably right. However, bits of truth, like pieces of a shattered mirror, can be found all over. Take Masonic symbols, for example.
One might also say that the location of temple baptismal fonts is just symbolic, and maybe it is. That's a lot of work for the sake of a single symbol, though, particularly when baptism already carries a lot of symbolism anyway. What symbolic meaning is really added?
Last thoughts for now:
I don't know of any prophetic statement that directly adresses this topic. It remains uncertain to me.
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