An article I wrote in Bountiful, Utah, in late December 1986 and published in the January 1987 issue of Die Lange Zeit. This message was based on a talk I gave on Sunday, December 28, 1986, in the final sacrament meeting of the year in the Bountiful Twentieth Ward, Bountiful Utah South Stake. I was serving at the time as the second counselor in the bishopric.
The Prophet Mormon spent fifty years of his adult life in reviewing, selecting, abridging, and summarizing a thousand years of Nephite records. It must have been a glorious experience. At the same time he witnessed the sad destruction of his people.
As he came to the closing moments of his own life, knowing that soon he would stand before his Maker to answer for the unique mission that had been his, what were the final thoughts running through his mind? What was the final message he wanted to leave as he closed his record? What would be the last thing he would choose to say to those of us who lived in our day?
Of all the things he might have chosen to write, his final message was a simple one:
“Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record [the Book of Mormon] but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record [the Holy Bible] shall come from the Gentiles unto you.
“For behold, this [the Book of Mormon] is written for the intent that ye may believe that [the Bible]; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.
“And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen” (Mormon 7:8–10).
This brief closing message is in a nutshell the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ: have faith in Christ, repent of our sins, be baptized, first with water and then with the Holy Ghost, and endure in faith to the end. If we do these things, it shall be well with us in the day of judgment. It is the very same message heralded by the angel at the first coming of Jesus: “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10).
The Prophet Joseph Smith said it in another way: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it” (Teachings, 121).
On another occasion the Prophet declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father” (D&C 76:22–23).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie’s final testimony, borne less than two weeks before his death, was especially moving to any who heard it:
“As pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself independent of any other person.
“I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears.
“But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way” (Ensign, May 1985, 11).
Showing posts with label Holy Ghost. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holy Ghost. Show all posts
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Saturday, July 5, 2008
49. The Holy Ghost
A talk given by Michael Cleverly on Sunday, August 9, 1981, about a month before he turned eight and was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. The talk was given in the Primary of the Bountiful Twentieth Ward, Bountiful Utah South Stake, and was printed in the September 1981 issue of the Family Journal.
Today I’m going to talk about the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. It tells about the Holy Ghost in the first Article of Faith:
“We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”
And also it tells about the Holy Ghost in the fourth Article of Faith:
“We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
When we are confirmed, Heavenly Father’s promise is that the Holy Ghost will be with us as long as we are righteous. Before we are baptized the Holy Ghost isn’t always with us.
I’m going to tell a story about Wilford Woodruff. One night when Wilford Woodruff was staying over at someone’s house, the Spirit—I mean the Holy Ghost—told him to go move his buggy. He could have rolled over and went back to sleep, but Wilford Woodruff had learned that when the Holy Ghost tells you to do something you’d better do it. So he got up and moved his buggy. A minute later after he moved it, a tree crashed where they buggy had been. If he hadn’t moved it like the Holy Ghost told him to, the buggy would have been smashed.
I know these things are true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Today I’m going to talk about the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. It tells about the Holy Ghost in the first Article of Faith:
“We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”
And also it tells about the Holy Ghost in the fourth Article of Faith:
“We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
When we are confirmed, Heavenly Father’s promise is that the Holy Ghost will be with us as long as we are righteous. Before we are baptized the Holy Ghost isn’t always with us.
I’m going to tell a story about Wilford Woodruff. One night when Wilford Woodruff was staying over at someone’s house, the Spirit—I mean the Holy Ghost—told him to go move his buggy. He could have rolled over and went back to sleep, but Wilford Woodruff had learned that when the Holy Ghost tells you to do something you’d better do it. So he got up and moved his buggy. A minute later after he moved it, a tree crashed where they buggy had been. If he hadn’t moved it like the Holy Ghost told him to, the buggy would have been smashed.
I know these things are true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
35. Seek the Spirit
An account from my missionary journal of a talk I gave in a zone conference in the Jardim Botânico chapel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Tuesday, July 29, 1969, while I was serving in the mission office as mission historian–recorder. Elder Monte Stewart, my companion, also spoke. I wrote in my journal, “Elder Stewart gave a fine talk on the subject of challenging and testifying. He is certainly a great elder, and each day my appreciation grows for having him as a companion.”
“Seek the Spirit” was the theme of a brief talk I was assigned to give. I tried to follow such advice both in the preparation and delivery of the discourse. Briefly I touched on three divisions of the subject, as follows:
What is the Spirit? The Holy Ghost is a revelator by whose power men gain testimonies of the truth, His mission being to bear record of the Father and the Son and to sanctify and cleanse the souls of the righteous.
The light of Christ is (1) sent to strive with all men, giving guidance into all truth; (2) in accordance with ancient prophecy (Joel 2:28–29), is being poured out upon all flesh in the last days and not to be confused with the Holy Ghost, which the world never had (John 14:7); and (3) “the agency or power used by the Holy Ghost in administering his affairs and in sending forth his gifts” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 753).
Why seek the Spirit? The Lord has commanded us to do so (see D&C 50:13–24 and 42:14).
The Savior said, “My sheep know my voice” (John 10:2–5). Hence, it is the only way to know the things of God (Alma 5:45–46; Matthew 16:13–19; D&C 50:21–23).
Bishop Robert L. Simpson explains: “The great gift of personal revelation is unmistakable; it is direct. It is a more sure communication than the audible spoken word; for that which we hear through mortal ears is sometimes distorted, so often misunderstood. This precious gift of spirit speaking to spirit is infallible and direct” (Improvement Era, Dec. 1965, 1136).
In sublime allegory in one of the most beautiful chapters of Holy Writ, the Savior declares, “I am the vine, ye are the branches . . . without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). The entire chapter continues in this profound and instructive vein of thought.
How to seek the Spirit? Personal worthiness is a requisite: “Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” (D&C 38:42). “My spirit shall not always strive with man” (D&C 1:33). “The Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples” (Helaman 4:24). “Cease to be unclean” (D&C 88:124).
All actions need to be from a pure heart; otherwise we are fooling ourselves. Purity of heart, not brilliance of action, is the key.
“It is not,” says Hugh B. Brown, “merely a matter of conformity to rituals, climbing sacred stairs, bathing in sacred pools, or making pilgrimages to sacred shrines” (BYU speech, May 13, 1969).
Godliness is the only thing that will make one a God. As missionaries, these questions must be answered: (1) Are our thoughts clean? (2) Do we love the people? (3) Do we love our companion? (4) Do we follow direction and counsel of those above us? (5) Do we follow a well worked out daily schedule? (6) Do we live by every word proceeding from the mouth of God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness?
And finally, do we pray always? (see D&C 19:38–41 and 121:45–46). The promise follows that the Holy Ghost will be our constant companion, exactly that which we are seeking.
“Seek the Spirit” was the theme of a brief talk I was assigned to give. I tried to follow such advice both in the preparation and delivery of the discourse. Briefly I touched on three divisions of the subject, as follows:
What is the Spirit? The Holy Ghost is a revelator by whose power men gain testimonies of the truth, His mission being to bear record of the Father and the Son and to sanctify and cleanse the souls of the righteous.
The light of Christ is (1) sent to strive with all men, giving guidance into all truth; (2) in accordance with ancient prophecy (Joel 2:28–29), is being poured out upon all flesh in the last days and not to be confused with the Holy Ghost, which the world never had (John 14:7); and (3) “the agency or power used by the Holy Ghost in administering his affairs and in sending forth his gifts” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 753).
Why seek the Spirit? The Lord has commanded us to do so (see D&C 50:13–24 and 42:14).
The Savior said, “My sheep know my voice” (John 10:2–5). Hence, it is the only way to know the things of God (Alma 5:45–46; Matthew 16:13–19; D&C 50:21–23).
Bishop Robert L. Simpson explains: “The great gift of personal revelation is unmistakable; it is direct. It is a more sure communication than the audible spoken word; for that which we hear through mortal ears is sometimes distorted, so often misunderstood. This precious gift of spirit speaking to spirit is infallible and direct” (Improvement Era, Dec. 1965, 1136).
In sublime allegory in one of the most beautiful chapters of Holy Writ, the Savior declares, “I am the vine, ye are the branches . . . without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). The entire chapter continues in this profound and instructive vein of thought.
How to seek the Spirit? Personal worthiness is a requisite: “Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” (D&C 38:42). “My spirit shall not always strive with man” (D&C 1:33). “The Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples” (Helaman 4:24). “Cease to be unclean” (D&C 88:124).
All actions need to be from a pure heart; otherwise we are fooling ourselves. Purity of heart, not brilliance of action, is the key.
“It is not,” says Hugh B. Brown, “merely a matter of conformity to rituals, climbing sacred stairs, bathing in sacred pools, or making pilgrimages to sacred shrines” (BYU speech, May 13, 1969).
Godliness is the only thing that will make one a God. As missionaries, these questions must be answered: (1) Are our thoughts clean? (2) Do we love the people? (3) Do we love our companion? (4) Do we follow direction and counsel of those above us? (5) Do we follow a well worked out daily schedule? (6) Do we live by every word proceeding from the mouth of God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness?
And finally, do we pray always? (see D&C 19:38–41 and 121:45–46). The promise follows that the Holy Ghost will be our constant companion, exactly that which we are seeking.
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