The Holy Ghost

I gave a talk in my ward on Sunday. I am posting my talk outline (essentially a list of statements and scriptures). If you read it and was present, you will notice there are some things that are not in the outline that I said, and some things in the outline that I did not include. Either way, enjoy!

The Holy Ghost
Sacrament Meeting Talk
August 17, 2008

Scriptures to Consider: D&C 121:44-46
3 Nephi 9:20
3 Nephi 17:1-3
3 Nephi 19:9
Mosiah 3:19
John 14

I am afraid that my words will not allow me to be as eloquent as my feelings.

Relate the events of Christ’s visit to the Nephites and what happened all night and the next day and what they prayed for: the Holy Ghost.

We have just finished the sacrament. In the simple prayer uttered by our Priests, who are good young men, they plead that the Spirit will always be with us. A friend of mine once remarked, if God had a favorite scripture, what would it be? Possibly the sacrament prayers.

Joseph Smith appearing to Brigham Young.
I met with the brethren of the Twelve in the Historian’s office. Conversation ensued relative to emigration westward. I related the following dream:
While sick and asleep about noon-day of the 17th [of February], I dreamed that I went to see Joseph. He looked perfectly natural, sitting with his feet on the lower [rung] of his chair. I took hold of his right hand and kissed it many times, and said to him; “Why is it that we cannot be together as we used to be? You have been from us a long time, and we want your society and I do not like to be separated from you.”
Joseph, rising from his chair and looking at me with his usual, earnest, expressive and pleasing countenance said, “It is all right…we cannot be together yet; we shall be by and by; but you will have to do without me awhile, and then we shall be together again.”
…. I said, “Brother Joseph, the brethren you know well, better than I do; you raised them up, and brought the Priesthood to us. The brethren have a great anxiety to understand the law of adoption or the sealing principles, and if you have a word of counsel for me I should be glad to receive it.
Joseph stepped toward me, and looking very earnestly, yet pleasantly said, “Tell the people to be humble and faithful, and be sure to keep the spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach you what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. Tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it. They can tell the spirit of the Lord from all other spirits; it will whisper peace and joy to their souls; it will take malice, hatred, strife and all evil, from their hearts; and their whole desire will be to do good, bring forth righteousness and build up the kingdom of God. Tell the brethren if they will follow the spirit of the Lord they will go right. Be sure to tell the people to keep the Spirit of the Lord.” (Manuscript History of Brigham Young 1847-1850, Collier’s Publishing Co. Salt Lake City, 1997, p. 34-36.)

On another occasion, The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:
"You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half—that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost" (History of the Church, 5:499)

Elder Bednar taught:
“Brothers and sisters, if you and I would distinguish our personal emotions from the impressions placed in our hearts and minds by the Holy Ghost, then we must desire and seek, ask and discern, hear and obey, and then again desire and seek and ask and discern and hear and obey. Our faith and diligence and obedience are ongoing invitations for additional spiritual knowledge and insight. Faith leads to obedience which yields wisdom and an even greater desire for added light and truth.
“The process of discerning between our will and God's will becomes less and less of a concern as time goes by and as we strive to rid ourselves of worldliness—and thereby cultivate the spirit of revelation in our lives. That is, as we mature spiritually, we begin to develop sound judgment, a refined and educated conscience, and a heart and mind filled with wisdom. It is not just that we have grown older, nor have we simply become smarter and had more experiences on which to draw, as important as those experiences are. Rather, the Holy Ghost has over time been expanding our intellect, forming our feelings, sharpening and elevating our perspective, such that we increasingly think and feel and act as the Lord would under similar circumstances. In short, we have made steady progress in obtaining ‘the mind of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
“This ongoing cycle of gaining spiritual knowledge ultimately produces a precious and delicious fruit, but that fruit cannot and does not grow from a blossom to its ripened state overnight. Furthermore, such fruit cannot grow in barren soil. Obedience to God's commandments and our personal integrity and adherence to commitments such as the honor and dress codes at BYU-Idaho provide the needed nutrients for fertile spiritual soil. It should be obvious to all of us that evil influences such as filthy language, immodest clothing and appearance, and pornography are bitter poisons that kill the soil and halt the spiritually subtle process of receiving help from heaven ‘...line upon line, precept upon precept....’ There can be no shortcut around the law of the harvest; truly, we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7).” (“…Line Upon Line, Precept Upon Precept…” 2 Nephi 28:30, BYU-I Devotional, September 11, 2001.)

What does the Holy Ghost do?
• The Holy Ghost enlarges our minds,
• our hearts,
• and our understanding;
• helps us subdue weaknesses and resist temptation;
• inspires humility and repentance;
• guides and protects us in miraculous ways;
• and gifts us with wisdom,
• divine encouragement,
• peace of mind,
• a desire to change,
• and the ability to differentiate between the philosophies of men and revealed truth.
• The Holy Ghost is the minister and messenger of the Father and the Son,
• and He testifies of both Their glorious, global reality
• and Their connection to us personally.
• Without the presence of the Spirit, it is impossible to comprehend our personal mission
• or to have the reassurance that our course is right.
• No mortal comfort can duplicate that of the Comforter.

Beware of imitations. Satan, without a doubt, has his counterfeits. The best way to discern between the Spirit and the devil is what does the influence cause you to do?
Does it:
• Entice or compel?
• Invite or force?
• Love or hate?

Said President Hinckley,
"There is no greater blessing that can come into our lives than . . . the companionship of the Holy Spirit" (Boston Massachusetts Regional Conference, 22 Apr. 1995; emphasis added).

Brigham Young lamented:
"[We] may have the Spirit of the Lord to . . . direct [us]. . . . I am satisfied, however, that, in this respect, we live far beneath our privileges" (Deseret News Semi-Weekly, 3 Dec. 1867, 2).

Things to erase from our lives so that we can feel the presence of the Holy Ghost:
• Coveting
• Abuse
• Foul language
• Impure thoughts
• Anger
• Inappropriate media
• Etc.

We live in a day in which we are bombarded by information. A simply visit to the World Wide Web can take us to all sorts of information. As you view material that is Church-related, please be discerning. Listen to your feelings as you read. Do you feel the presence or absence of the Holy Ghost?

Joseph Smith once referred to the Holy Ghost as,
“God the Third, the witness or testator.” (Words of Joseph Smith, p. 65)

Ask yourself the following questions:
• When is the last time I know I felt the influence of the Holy Ghost?
• Are there things in my life that need to be removed so I can feel His presence stronger?

I feel the Holy Ghost. I love the way he makes me feel.

More on Joseph Smith readings

I have come across more information for those who are interested in learning about Joseph Smith. Here is a link to a bibliography that the BYU Harold B. Lee Library, L. Tom Perry Special Collections team has put together. Next is wonderful news about the Joseph Smith Papers Project. Deseret Book has posted an image and a pre-order link to purchase (in advance) the first volume of the project (Journals volume 1).

This is very exciting to me. This was the volume I worked on (I did some fact checking). My hope is that this book really will be available soon.

Joseph Smith Background Reading

There has been a lot of press recently about the Joseph Smith Papers Project. A few summers ago I was privileged to work on the Project. Among other things, I transcribed Hyrum Smith’s diaries. It was a very rewarding experience. I was going through my papers today and came across some documents from when I worked on the Project. Among the papers was a list of articles and books all the research assistants were asked to read in order to provide a very basic background on Joseph Smith, his life and teachings, and the environment around him. I do not believe the list is confidential (some of the things I worked on I was asked to keep confidential and will continue to do so) and thought some of my readers would be interested in a list of things to read.

I have previously posted a list of Church related books I personally recommend. This list will have some of the same books. The following list is dated January 6, 2003. Certainly the list would be a bit different today, most likely including Bushman’s Rough Stone Rolling. Also, one of the more recent editions of BYU Studies has an excellent chronology of the life of Joseph Smith.

From the Encyclopedia of Mormonism:
History of the Church
c. 1820-1831, Background, Founding, New York Period
c. 1831-1844, Ohio, Missouri, Nauvoo Periods
Joseph Smith-History
Smith, Joseph
The Prophet
Writings of Joseph Smith
Smith Family
Kirtland Economy
Kirtland Ohio
Kirtland Temple
Millenarianism
Missouri
LDS Communities in Jackson and Clay Counties
LDS Communities in Caldwell and Daviess Counties
Missouri Conflict
Nauvoo
Nauvoo Economy
Nauvoo Politics
Nauvoo Temple
Zion’s Camp

Jessee, Dean C., Editor. The Papers of Joseph Smith, Volumes 1 & 2
General Introduction
Joseph Smith Chronology
Introduction to Volume 1
Introduction to Joseph Smith’s Journal (in Volume 2)

Backman, Milton V., The Heavens Resound

Jessee, Dean C., Editor. Personal Writings of Joseph Smith
Introduction

Remini, Robert V. Joseph Smith

Anderson, Richard Lloyd. “Impact of the First Preaching in Ohio.” BYU Studies 11 (1971): 474-96.

Bushman, Richard L. “The Character of Joseph Smith: Insights from His Holographs.” Ensign 7 (1977): 10-13.

Bushman, Richard L. “Joseph Smith’s Family Background.” In The Prophet Joseph, ed. Porter and Black (1988).

Hill, Marvin S. “Joseph Smith the Man: Some Reflections on a Subject of Controversy.” BYU Studies 21 (1981): 175-86.

Jessee, Dean C. “The Early Accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision.” BYU Studies 9 (1969): 275-94.

Jessee, Dean C. “Joseph Smith and the Beginning of Mormon Record Keeping.” In The Prophet Joseph, ed. Porter and Black (1988).

Jessee, Dean C. “The Writing of Joseph Smith’s History.” BYU Studies 11 (1971): 439-73.

Parkin, Max H. Conflict at Kirtland: A Study of the Nature and Causes of External and Internal Conflict of the Mormons in Ohio between 1830 and 1838. (Master’s Thesis)

Stakes in Zion

It has been a while since I have posted. I thought this link might be a fun thing to look at. I suppose many have already seen this, but I liked it and figure it might be worth looking at again: click here.

Also, I just came back from a work-related trip to Denmark. If you are interested in seeing my photos, click here.

For those that have been following the Temple Preparation class lessons, I did not post the last two Sunday's lessons because they were based on the Temple Recommend Interview questions. We discussed the doctrine behind each question. I thought it was a really nice way for us to spend our time. Of course, I had the luxury of doing that because I have access to the interview questions (I am serving as the bishop of our ward).

Judgement and Kingdoms of Glory

At the time of resurrection, each person will be assigned to a kingdom of glory. Those who are righteous will inherit greater joy and blessings than those who do not obey God’s commandments (see 1 Corinthians 15:35, 40–42).

It is interesting that immediately after Joseph and Sidney see the Father and the Son, and before they see the degrees of Glory, the two view a vision of the condition of the Sons of Perdition. It is as if the contrast is important in their understanding and our understanding.

• 
  

READ D&C 76:28

* What does this tell us why Satan did and why he did it.

v. 31, 35, 43 gives us the qualifications for making one’s “calling and damnation sure.”

• know God’s power (v. 31)

• have been mace partakers thereof (v. 31)

• have suffered themselves to be overcome (v. 31)

• deny the truth (v. 31)

• defy God’s power (v. 31)

• deny the Holy Spirit after having received it (v. 35)

• deny the Only Begotten Son (crucify him unto themselves) (v. 35)

• deny the Son after the Father has revealed him (v. 43)

The question is often asked, “Just how much does one have to know before one could become a son of perdition?” The following quotations from Joseph Smith and Spencer W. Kimball may help:

All sins shall be forgiven, except the sin against the Holy Ghost; for Jesus will save all except the sons of perdition. What must a man do to commit the unpardonable sin? He must receive the Holy Ghost, have the heavens opened unto him, and know God, and then sin against Him. After a man has sinned against the Holy Ghost, there is no repentance for him. He has got to say that the sun does not shine while he sees it; he has got to deny Jesus Christ when the heavens have been opened unto him, and to deny the plan of salvation with his eyes open to the truth of it; and from that time he begins to be an enemy. This is the case with many apostates of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

When a man begins to be an enemy to this work, he hunts me, he seeks to kill me, and never ceases to thirst for my blood. He gets the spirit of the devil—the same spirit that they had who crucified the Lord of Life—the same spirit that sins against the Holy Ghost. You cannot save such persons; you cannot bring them to repentance; they make open war, like the devil, and awful is the consequence. (TPJS, p. 358.)

President Kimball taught:

The sins unto death may be thought of as somewhat difficult to define and limit with precision. From the words of Joseph Smith quoted above we note that “. . . many apostates of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” will fall into this category. We cannot definitely identify them individually since it is impossible for us to know the extent of their knowledge, the depth of their enlightenment, and the sureness of their testimonies before their fall. . . .

The sin against the Holy Ghost requires such knowledge that it is manifestly impossible for the rank and file to commit such a sin. Comparatively few Church members will commit murder wherein they shed innocent blood, and we hope only few will deny the Holy Ghost. (Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969), pp. 122-23.)

1. The telestial glory is for those who do not receive the gospel of Jesus Christ or the testimony of Jesus or the prophets of God, and who live sinful lives (see D&C 76:81–88, 98–103).

Requirements for the Telestial Kingdom

• they who received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus (v. 82)
• they who deny not the Holy Spirit (v. 83)
• they who say they are some of one, and some of another—some of Christ and some of John, and some of Moses—but received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant (vv. 99-101)
• they who are liars and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie (v. 103; Rev. 22:15 adds murderers)

READ D&C 76:99-101

* Tell me about these people, who are they, what defines them?

* What danger do we have of being counted as one of them?

2. The terrestrial glory is for the honorable people of the earth who are deceived and for those who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ (see D&C 76:71–79).

Requirements for the Terrestrial Kingdom

• Died without the law (v. 72)
• Visited by the Son in the Spirit World, received not the Gospel in the flesh but did in the Spirit World (v. 73-4) “they felt it by the Spirit” (See D&C 137)
• Honorable men of the earth (v. 75)
• They receive His glory, but not the fullness of His Glory (v. 76)
• Not valiant in the testimony of Jesus (v. 79)

Melvin J. Ballard said: “Now those who died without law, meaning the pagan nations, for lack of faithfulness, for lack of devotion in the former life, are obtaining all that they are entitled to. I don't mean to say that all of them will be barred from entrance into the highest glory. Any one of them who repents and complies with the conditions might also obtain celestial glory, but the great bulk of them will only obtain terrestrial glory.” ("The Three Degrees of Glory," in Melvin J. Ballard: Crusader for Righteousness (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966), p. 221.)

3. The celestial glory is reserved for those who obey the commandments and receive the ordinances, overcome all things by faith in Jesus Christ, and become pure in heart (see D&C 76:50–70).

Requirements of the Celestial Kingdom:

• Receive the testimony of Jesus (v. 51)
• Believe on His name (we might say faith) (v. 51)
• Baptized (v. 51)
• Keep the commandments (v. 52)
• Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost (v. 52)
• Overcome by faith (v. 53)
• Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise (v. 53)

The doctrine in D&C 137 in light of the Celestial Kingdom:

In these verses the principles upon which the doctrine of salvation for the dead rests are announced for the first time in this dispensation. They are:

· first, that the doctrine applies only to those who “died without a knowledge” of the gospel;

· second, that God must read the hearts of those concerned and affirm that had the gospel come to them in mortality they would have accepted it;

· and third, that God must judge that not only would they have accepted the gospel but that they would have done so “with all their hearts,” meaning that they would have endured valiantly and faithfully to the end.

* Who is invited to receive this blessing and see this vision?

Here is what Joseph Smith said:

“I could explain a hundred fold more than I ever have of the glories of the kingdoms manifested to me in vision, were I permitted, and were the people prepared to receive them” (Teachings, 305).

On another occasion he said:

“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” (Teachings, 149)

Progression from One Kingdom to Another

Alma 41:3-4—If their works were good they shall be restored unto that which is good. If their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil.

Once people have been restored to either telestial, terrestial, or celestial bodies do they eventually progress to other kingdoms?

“There are those who say that there is progress from one kingdom to another in the eternal world or that lower kingdoms eventually progress to where higher kingdoms once were. This is worse than false. It is an evil and pernicious doctrine. There is neither progress from one kingdom to another, nor does a lower kingdom ever get where a higher kingdom once was. Whatever eternal progression there is, it is within a sphere.” (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Seven Deadly Heresies, BYU, 1980. (Emphasis added))

“After a person has been assigned to his place in the kingdom, either in the Telestial, the terrestrial, or the celestial or to his exaltation, he will never advance from his assigned glory to another glory. That is eternal!” (Elder Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 243-244; also in Melchizedek Priesthood Manual, 1989, p. 167. (Emphasis added))

“There are some people who have supposed that if we are quickened Telestial bodies that eventually, throughout the ages of eternity, we will continue to progress until we will find our place in the celestial kingdom, but the scriptures and revelations of God have said that those who are quickened Telestial bodies cannot come where God and Christ dwell, worlds without end.” (President George Albert Smith, Conference Report, Oct. 1945, p. 172; also Improvement Era, Nov. 1945, p. 720; also Melchizedek Priesthood Manual, 1979-80, p. 145.)

“The scriptures say there is no progression from one kingdom to another. This really should settle the matter. This is the whole tenor and meaning of Section 76. The statements in Section 88 about coming forth with different kinds of bodies in the resurrection are in the same subject. The statement in Section 132 that ministering servants will remain such and not have exaltation to all eternity is the same teaching. It is difficult to see how the Lord could have been more express in his language than he was in this passage in Section 132 or related passages in Section 76 that say where God and Christ are certain people cannot come worlds without end.” (Elder Bruce R. McConkie letter to Vida Lind, March 14, 1973, in my possession.)