THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT

 

“Years ago as a missionary, I taught investigators that faith was a belief strong enough to cause one to act. In other words, one could define faith as “belief” plus “witness”. The Prophet Joseph Smith changed one word when translating Paul’s definition of faith found in Hebrews 11:1. The king James Version says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

“Joseph Smith changed the word substance to assurance (see JST, Hebrews 11:1). Substance means something tangible, something that one can hold, whereas assurance refers to an inner conviction or witness that comes from the Holy Ghost. Thus, faith is belief plus action plus a spiritual witness.”

-        Elder Merrill J. Bateman, “Living a Christ-Centered Life, Ensign January 1999

Faith without the witness of the Holy Ghost that gives us an assurance of the truth, is simply just a pragmatic belief. It is the assurance of the spiritual witness that moves one to action and to keep acting. Without the inner conviction endowed by the Holy Ghost, this Church would not exist. Indeed, some of us struggle to stay in the Church because the ‘assurance’ of our faith is lacking making it impossible to adhere to the commitment and this is why:

“There is…..a difference between the gift of the Holy Ghost and the enjoyment of the gift. All saints after baptism receive the gift or right to the sanctifying power of the Spirit, but only those who are worthy and who keep the commandments actually enjoy the promised reward.” (Bruce R. McConkie, “A New Witness for the Articles of Faith” [1985] p 257).

Before His death, Jesus told the Twelve: “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7). Thus the Holy Ghost comforts, guides, purifies, testifies and makes known the things of God (see Bruce R. McConkie, Mortal Messiah 2, p 66).

The greatest promised reward we have is that of eternal life so the greatest role of the Holy Ghost is his guidance to assist us in adhering to our commitment to arrive at that destination. When we have the presence of the Holy Ghost with us, we are assured we are on the right path to that goal:

“The actual enjoyment of the gift of the Holy Ghost is a supernal gift that a man can receive in mortality. The fact of its receipt is a witness that the saints so blessed are reconciled to God and are doing the things that will assure them of eternal life in the realms ahead.” (ibid)

President Nelson has warned us that “it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost” in the days to come (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives” GC April 2018).

The prophesied calamities of the last days are frightening. Some of us will not be able to press forward to the reward of eternal life if we do not have the assurance of the Holy Ghost that we are safe and secure on the Gospel path.

ODE TO THE HOLY GHOST

The days you embrace my heart,

I can scarcely contain my tears.

The truths of heaven distil upon me

And lifts me higher than all my fears.

Take my hand, take my soul,

Take me home beyond it all. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Outpouring of the Spirit by Danny Hahlbohm)

THE POWER OF BECOMING

 

If you want proof of what God can do with you, look no further than Joseph Smith.

In 1856 Emma Smith said this about Joseph’s literacy skills:

“When my husband was translating the Book of Mormon, I wrote a part of it as he dictated each sentence, word for word and when he came to proper names he could not pronounce, or long words, he spelled them out ….and one time while he was translating he stopped suddenly, pale as a sheet, and said, “Emma, did Jerusalem have walls around it?

“When I answered, “Yes”, he replied, “Oh! I didn’t know. I was afraid I had been deceived.” He had such a limited knowledge of history at that time that he did not even know that Jerusalem was surrounded by walls. He could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well worded letter; let alone dictating a book like the Book of Mormon.”   (Edmund C. Briggs, ‘A Visit to Nauvoo in 1856’, Journal of History, Jan 1916, p 454)

Emma acknowledged that Joseph possessed only rudimentary literacy whilst translating the Book of Mormon which was published in 1830. Fast forward 14 years to Joseph’s explanation of an anomaly in the English New Testament:”

“I have an old edition of the New Testament in the Latin, Hebrew, German and Greek languages. I have been reading the German, and find it to be the most [nearly] correct translation, and to correspond nearest to the revelations which God has given to me for the last fourteen years.

“It tells about Jacobus, the son of Zebedee. It means Jacob. In the English New Testament it is translated James. In the 21^st [verse] of the fourth chapter of Matthew, my old German edition gives the word Jacob instead of James…..the Latin says Jacobus, which means Jacob; the Hebrew says Jacob, the Greek says Jacob and the German says Jacob; here we have the testimony of four against one.

“I thank God that I have got this old book; but I thank him more for the gift of the Holy Ghost. I have got the oldest book in the world; but I [also] have the oldest book in my heart, even the gift of the Holy Ghost.”   (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p 349)

So instead of Peter, James and John, we in actuality have Peter, and Jacob and John, the sons of Zebedee. But what really blows me away is that Joseph had the New Testament in four different languages.

Here we have an almost illiterate man who could barely compose a letter to a man, reading Latin, Hebrew, German and Greek 14 years later. No formal education but something far greater…..the Holy Ghost: the testator, the revealer of truth, a member of the Godhead.

The Saviour calls the willing and the pure in heart and makes them great and capable of doing His work. He proved that when He told Joseph, an uneducated man who could barely read and write, that He would give him the words to translate the Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 27:20). No education needed.

You cannot possibly read the Doctrine and Covenants and not see that Joseph would have become polished in his speaking and writing having had the companionship of the Holy Ghost to receive the revelations which he recorded. That superior intelligence of the spirit must have rubbed off greatly.  

Parley P. Pratt once said that the Holy Ghost invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man (Key to the Science of Theology, p 101). I am convinced he did this with Joseph.

The Saviour has sacrificed His all for us to be tutored, shaped, moulded and refined through the gift of the Holy Ghost so we can become like Him and inherit eternal life. He deserves all the honour and glory for what we eventually become. To Him belongs the credit for the riches of the Gospel through the man called Joseph Smith.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Joseph by Ken Corbett)

A PRICELESS GIFT

 

 

When Jesus was born on this earth, He brought with Him salvation for all mankind. When He left, He left a priceless gift, not to the world, but to His Church. This gift is the gift of the Holy Ghost (John 14:16).

Prior to His death, the Saviour told his sorrowing disciples: “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you” (John 16:7).

Until Christ’s ascension, the Holy Ghost administered to the children of men as a testifier of truth only. The gift of his presence was promised to only them who believe, and were baptized in His name, “after that Jesus was glorified” (JST John 7:39a).

The gift of the Holy Ghost would have to be the greatest gift to man second to salvation. Imagine the privilege of having a member of the Godhead with you always……It’s a gift worthy of un-surpassing appreciation yet the one that we as members of the Church often take for granted.

Cast your mind on all the gifts you just received this Christmas as you celebrated the birth of Christ. How valuable are they to you? What will you do with them and how will you cherish the ones you really love? Some Christmas gifts will even be tossed aside unwanted and some gifts will stay with us unutilized…..much like the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Consider this explanation: “There is a difference between the gift of the Holy Ghost and the enjoyment of the gift…..

“The actual enjoyment of the gift of the Holy Ghost is a supernal gift that man can receive in mortality. The fact of its receipt is a witness that the saints so blessed are reconciled to God and are doing the things that will assure them of eternal life in the realms ahead.” (Bruce R.  McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 257). In other words, this gift is a gage of how well we are doing.

Before Christ’s ascension, the Saviour told His disciples that they shall receive power when the Holy Ghost comes upon them and because of that they will become His witnesses ‘unto the uttermost part of the earth’ (Acts 1:8).

By virtue of our discipleship and as baptized members of His Church, we too have this power upon us. This is its’ value:

“The gift of the Holy Ghost quickens all the intellectual faculties….it inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity. It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling.

“It develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual mind. It strengthens, invigorates, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.” (Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology, p 101)

Have you a Christmas gift that could possibly equal such a gift as this that the Saviour made possible to come into the world??? May we show our appreciation and gratitude throughout the next year as we strive to be worthy of his presence and may we be reminded every Christmas after that of this great gift of the Babe of Bethlehem that tells us we are His own.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Beloved Son by Danny Hahlbohm)

ODE TO THE HOLY GHOST

 

 

Have you ever wanted an assurance that the course you are pursuing is leading you to eternal life? Did you ever wish to have a witness of God’s approval of you? Well, there is a way….a very simple way, through someone who some of us usually take for granted and that someone is the Holy Ghost:

 

“There is a difference between the gift of the Holy Ghost and the enjoyment of the gift. All saints after baptism receive the gift or right to the sanctifying power of the Spirit but only those who are worthy and who keep the commandments actually enjoy the promised reward……The actual ENJOYMENT of the gift of the Holy Ghost is a SUPERNAL GIFT that a man can receive in mortality. The fact of its receipt is a WITNESS that the saints so blessed are reconciled to God and are doing the things that will assure them of eternal life in the realms ahead.”

(Bruce, R. McConkie, “A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], p 257)

 

Nephi spoke of the power of the Holy Ghost carrying the truth ‘UNTO the hearts of the children of men’ (2 Nephi 33:1). Why UNTO and not INTO? Because only we can open the pathway to the entry of our hearts. Clearly, the acceptance of truth allows that entrance. I have never felt the administrations of the Holy Ghost stronger than when I have studied the word of God and feasted upon the words of Christ.

 

I don’t know who he is besides the obvious fact that he is the third member of the Godhead but I marvel at his power and what he can do. His omnipresence is beyond my mortal understanding but this much I do know: The more I feel his administration, the greater I feel the love of Christ for me and that makes all the difference to my day, to my life, to my purpose. 

 

 

The days you embrace my heart

I can scarce contain my tears.

You are the witness,

The Testator of truth,

The illuminator of my path.

I crave your presence

In the caverns of my heart.

 

 

Art: "As One" by Danny Hahlbohm