A GODLY PRIVILEGE

 

“I know of a great man who held his dead son in his arms, and said, “In the name of Jesus Christ and by the power and authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, I command you to live.” And the dead boy opened his eyes.

“This great brother could not have possibly done that had he been looking at a pornographic piece of material a few nights before or if he had been involved in any other transgression of that kind. The priesthood has to have a pure conduit to operate.” (Elder Vaugh Featherstone, in CR April 1975, 100; or Ensign May 1975, 66)

Such is the power of the priesthood which demands utmost obedience from the men whose privilege it is to have it.

When Moses ascended Mt Sainai for the second time to intercede for Israel’s sin of breaking the covenant they entered into, he was given another set of plates which contained the same thing, with one exception.  The Lord told him: “And I will write on the tables the words that were on the first tables, save the words of the everlasting covenant of the holy priesthood…..” (JST Deut 10:2)

Israel was forgiven and given another chance to live the law but the everlasting covenant of the priesthood was denied to the congregation because of their wickedness. But there was mercy, always mercy from the merciful Jehovah, and the Levitical law and priesthood was given to Aaron for the benefit of the House of Israel (“Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith”, p 60)  

Consider these powers of the priesthood to better understand the relative worthiness that is required:

“We have power to govern all things, both temporal and spiritual, both the kingdoms of the world, and the elements and storms and powers of the earth: “For God having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself; that everyone being ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course;

“To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world.” (JST Gen 14:30-31; Bruce R. McConkie, “The Ten Blessings of the Priesthood” GC October 1977)

And here is the origin of the everlasting covenant of the priesthood which “was made between three personages before the organisation of the earth, and relates to the dispensation of things to men on the earth; these personages, according to Abraham’s record, are called God the first, the Creator; God the second, the Redeemer, and God the third, the witness or Testator”. (“Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith”, p 190)

I am in no way an expert on this subject but I am in awe of the priesthood, the backbone of the Plan of Salvation: its origin and its power of creation, eternal life and resurrection. Such power in the hands of man…..

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: My Father's Work by Chris Brazelton)

A LIFE-LINE

 

I often wonder how Adam and Eve felt when they found themselves totally alone in the world. The consolation was that they were not abandoned by God but were only separated from His physical presence. They were left with a life-line called ‘prayer’ (Moses 5:4,5)

When an angel appeared to Adam and asked him why he was offering sacrifice he taught him something very significant, the hierarchy of the Godhead. He told him that he should ‘repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore’ (v eight). This was followed by the witness of the Holy Ghost which bore record of the Father and the redeeming mission of the Son (v 9).

Sometimes I wonder if our overwhelming focus on Christ and His saving power diverts us from the Father’s supreme role within the Plan of Salvation. The Plan of Salvation is the Father’s plan and the Saviour’s role is to execute it through the power of His redemption.

I learnt recently through a personal experience why the hierarchy of the Godhead needs to be followed, especially in regards to prayer. We are to pray to the Father only, in the name of His Son and this is why:

-          The Saviour does nothing but the will of the Father  (D&C 19:24; Moses 4;2; John 8:29; 10:17,18);

-          The Saviour seeks to glorify the Father through whatever we ask in His name  (John 14:13).

-          When we pray to the Father through the name of the Son, we acknowledge He is the author of the Plan of Salvation and that He is first in authority of the Godhead.  We acknowledge the Father’s supreme sacrifice of His Son. If it wasn’t for the Father, there would have been no submission by the Son. 

There is one unique instance where the disciples offered prayers to the Son instead of the Father and that was during the Saviour’s visit to the Americas. Elder Bruce R. McConkie suggested that this was on a one-time basis, and that they prayed to Him because He was as the symbol of the Father before them. (“The Promised Messiah: The First Coming of Christ” [1978] 560-561. The Saviour himself explained that the people were praying to Him because, as He said, “I am with them” (3 Nephi 19:22); and secondly, they were given by the Holy Ghost the words they should pray (3 Nephi 19:24).

This life-line we call prayer should be our second nature and this is why: “One of the truths taught in Revelation 4 is that exalted beings will continue to worship Heavenly Father in the eternities to come. He will always be our God. (New Testament Student Manual, commentary for Revelation 4:8-11).

The respect, the honour, the worship we should feel towards our Father in Heaven can only be learnt through the example of His Beloved Son: The Lord’s Prayer, His sacrament prayers, His intercessory prayer, His prayers with the Nephites. We should be familiar with all the conversations He had with the Father during His ministry and pray in likewise manner to bring honour and glory to the Father’s name always…..and maybe a little less of “I thank Thee and ask Thee” and a little more of “I praise Thee”…..

 

I knelt before Thy throne today

In praise of words You had to say.

They fell with ease from Your tongue

Coated gently with holy love.

My heart was opened

The heavens wept

Our union, a divine sacrament.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Lord's Prayer by Liz Lemon Swindle) 

 

 

THE ONE

 

There are several important scriptures which confirm the latter-day doctrine that the Godhead we worship is one: 2 Nephi 31:21; Alma 11:44; 3 Nephi 11:27; 3 Nephi 11:36; Mormon 7:7; D&C 20:28.

When we, in the Church, are asked how they are one, we inevitably answer: they are one in purpose. Whereas this is true, there is so much more to this. According to Lecture 5 of the Lectures on Faith, the oneness of the Godhead is symbolic of our salvation because they have the same godly nature (see Jerry A. Wilson, “The Great Plan of Happiness – Insights From the Lectures on Faith” p 53).

They could not be one in purpose without it. This means they have the same characteristics and attributes in perfection and hence they work in harmony as the Plan of Salvation unfolds for all of God’s children. This is a comforting doctrine because it means there is no inconsistency in their influence or the execution of their individual responsibilities.

Imagine if they were all different with varying ideas and attributes and were not in agreement with some things. We would never know where we stand. This is also why we can have assurance that what the Holy Ghost tells us is the same as what Heavenly Father would tell us and that is exactly what we would want to hear and know. We pray to the Father in the name of His Son and receive answers through the Holy Ghost. This is why we can rightly refer to all three of them as ‘God’.

Consider this important role that the Saviour has as He guides His Church. It is the authority given Him by the Father to speak and act in the first person of the Godhead, as though he were the Father. This is called ‘divine investiture of authority’.  (“The Father and the Son: A Doctrinal Exposition by the First Presidency”, in Talmage, Articles of Faith, pp 465-73)

Often it can be confusing to read: “Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ” and shortly thereafter to come across a reference to “mine Only Begotten Son” (D&C 29:1, 41-46). Elder Bruce R. McConkie explains it this way: “Since Christ is one with the Father in all of the attributes of perfection, and since he exercises power and authority of the Father, it follows that everything He says or does is and would be exactly and precisely what the Father would say and do under the same circumstances” (Mormon Doctrine, p 130)

There should be no confusion when we are directed by either or any one of the Godhead. When the Saviour speaks by the divine investiture of authority He is saying: whether it is me speaking or the Father, it is the same because I am my Father’s Son. I look like Him, I am like Him, I am made by Him in the flesh, therefore, I AM Him. Both the Comforter and I are one with the Father and we will do everything in our power to save you from the jaws of hell. You are our purpose, our desire and our ultimate work. We are your hope and your salvation. We are the anchor for your soul. We are one.

After 50 years of Church membership and Gospel study, I am beginning to understand the Godhead at a deeper level. Whether it is the stirring of my pre-mortal knowledge within me, or the fact that I am more teachable and ready for greater understanding, I bear witness of the powerful, wonderful, incomparable God we worship: the Father (the Planner), the Son (the Executor), the Holy Ghost (the Finisher).

I wrote recently about the Holy Ghost being the Holy Spirit of Promise who places the seal on our worthiness to receive eternal life hence my title of the Finisher for him. I could write volumes about him who I once thought was the most mysterious of the three.

I don’t know how it can be but I am beginning to know all three separately who are ONE……how merciful and how gracious is MY God!!!! When I come home and I approach the throne of God, I will kneel and I will weep.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: As One by Danny Hahlbohm)

A WITNESS

 

Perhaps the most known name for the Holy Ghost is The Comforter. He testifies and he comforts but did you know that he has another name that is perhaps the most important? This name is the Holy Spirit of Promise.

The Holy Ghost plays a more crucial part in our lives than we think. His role as the Holy Spirit of Promise means that we do not bypass him on our way to eternal glory…..Without his approval we, the covenant people, do not walk into celestial kingdom. His report to the Father of our individual obedience to the saving ordinances we have had performed for us is crucial. It makes me think of how Heavenly Father’s house is a house of order. All things are done to perfection and complete accuracy.

Here is the doctrinal role of the Holy Spirit of Promise:

“The Holy Ghost is the Holy Spirit of Promise (Acts 2:33). He confirms as acceptable to God the righteous acts, ordinances, and covenants of men. The Holy Spirit of Promise witnesses to the Father than the saving ordinances have been performed properly and that the covenants associated with  them have been kept.

“They who are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise receive all that the Father has (D&C 76:51-60; Eph. 1:13-14). All covenants and performances must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise to have force after this life (D&C 132:7,18-19,26)”  (Guide to the Scriptures, Gospel Library)

And this is something that should interest us greatly:

“When Paul wrote that the Saints had been “sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise” (Ephesians 1:13), he meant that they had been promised eternal life even though they were still living in mortality. When people are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, the Holy Ghost ratifies (approves) them as celestial inheritors even though they are mortal.

“This doctrine is sometimes referred to as having one’s calling and election made sure or receiving the Second Comforter (see 2 Peter 1:4-19; D&C 132:6-7). (Bruce R. McConkie, “Doctrinal New Testament Commentary” 2:493-95; “History of the Church” 3:379-80)

The Godhead works in complete harmony to ensure the success of the Plan of Salvation and exaltation of the Father’s children. No mistakes can be made and justice is carried out perfectly. How incredibly reassuring it is to have the Holy Ghost as a witness of our good deeds and our righteousness. I am amazed how valuable he is and how undervalued to some of us. We should want him for our best friend: to enlighten us, to guide us, to comfort us and to lead us to life eternal.

 

ODE TO THE HOLY GHOST:

How silently, how diligently

You work for the salvation of men.

Your witness of my life

Written in your heart as with a holy pen.

When face to face one day we meet

I will kneel at your holy feet.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Beloved Son by Danny Hahlbohm)

THE POWER OF THE GODHEAD

 

I wish to pay homage to the member of the Godhead who stands as a witness of the Father’s love and care, of the Saviour’s power to save and of His own ministry without which we could not function as spiritual beings in a physical world. I speak, of course, of the Holy Ghost.

The power of this third member of the Godhead cannot be understated, undervalued and underappreciated. Without Him we could not understand spiritual truths, know that God exists or have guidance to live according to the Plan of Salvation here on earth. Without his influence we would truly be lost.

This is a personal testimony so I will not be delving into the doctrinal features of this member of the Godhead. What I will say is that I am seeing these days the power of the Godhead as it is playing out in my life. The days I feel of ‘God’s’ closeness is becoming somewhat of a fascination to me because I am starting to identify them separately. So much so that when I speak to the Father, I ask Him to thank the Holy Ghost for his ministry to me…..something I pray for regularly and get given without fail.

Since this is a personal account of my experience with the Holy Ghost, I will use my writing as an example of my conviction. As much as it is appreciated to get praise worthy comments, I wish to testify of the Holy Ghost’s overwhelming contribution to this gift that God has given me through which I seek to serve His children.

My usual practice is to prepare a draft for next day’s post but when the next day comes, I ask for the Holy Ghost to be with me as I start to write, and very often my writing will take a turn to a different subject. Some days I will not know what I will write about but by the time I am up and ready to start my day, I know exactly what it is.

On some occasions I have had to look back at my old posts and have been surprised at bits of wisdom that I do not remember writing and is new to me. Then I will look at the comments of the readers and invariably someone would have commented that they needed to hear what I had written. I know then that what I had written was not from me.

My point is this. The Holy Ghost has many functions; to comfort, to guide, to enlighten, to warn, to prepare, to testify, to sanctify, to protect,  and they all converge to make the success of YOU. Perhaps his greatest work is to magnify the individuality in each of us, to bring to the forefront our gifts and our purpose. We are all links in the chain of this human family that is ensuring the success of the Plan of Salvation. It could not work without YOU and your greatest ally…..the Holy Ghost.

ODE TO THE HOLY GHOST

When you softly whisper to my soul

I know the Father is there

Ever mindful of my needful care.

 

When you softly whisper to my soul

I know the Saviour will rescue me

When I am tempest tossed onto a troubled sea.

 

When you softly whisper to my soul

I know You will bring me home

And never abandon my care,

You are the gift that will guide me there.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Comforter by Danny Hahlbohm)

THE EXAMPLER

 

The more I learn about the Saviour, the more amazed I become. This is what amazes me the most. It is His greatness that began long before His astounding power to withstand the crucible of the cross.

Consider the beginning…. When He appeared to Abraham, the pre-mortal Saviour introduced himself thus: “I am the Lord thy God; I dwell in heaven; the earth is my footstool; I stretch my hand over the sea and it obeys my voice; I cause the wind and the fire to be my chariot; I say to the mountains – Depart hence – and behold, they are taken away by a whirlwind……My name is Jehovah… (Abraham 2:7,8).

As Abraham was shown ‘the intelligences that were organised before the world was’, he saw many of the ‘noble and great ones’ and was told that he was one of them (Abraham 3:22,23). Once again, the Saviour affirmed who He was: “I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all…my wisdom excelleth them all, for I rule in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath, in all wisdom and prudence, over all the intelligences thine eyes have seen from the beginning….” (Abraham 3:19,21)

We read the interaction between Enoch and God along the same lines. After showing him all the workmanship of His hands, He declares Himself to Enoch in the most powerful manner: “I am Messiah the King of Zion, the Rock of Heaven…” (Moses 7:53).

The perfection level of His obedience in pre-mortal life is astounding. It is through this obedience He gained the power to rise to the Godhead where He could create worlds without number (Moses 1:33). Is it any wonder He could endure this:

“This sacrifice…took place in Gethsemane when He sweat great gouts of blood from every pore….And it also took place as He hung on the cruel cross of Calvary. During the last three hours of that agonising ordeal, while darkness overspread the land, all the pains and suffering of Gethsemane returned.”  (Bruce R. McConkie, “A New Witness for the Articles of Faith”, p 109)

My point is this. The Saviour of this world was the firstborn of the Father. He was the perfect Son and therefore the perfect Brother. The Exampler who paved the way to obedience, who lifted us to heights we could not reach on our own even back then. He was the Shepherd long before we became the sheep, the Shepherd we followed and believed and chose to be our God.  We became great in our pre-existent state because of the perfect example we followed. The influence He has over us now would have been double-fold back then when we were in His presence.

I testify of this because I was told once during a prayer: “My Atonement is my gift to you because you were so valiant in your testimony of Me long before you were born.”  You, me, Abraham……..(D&C 138:11-24).

How can I contain the magnitude of You

In the meagre chambers of my heart?

How can I absorb the brightness

Of Your light that outshines the rays

Of the brightest sun?

How can I explain the lightness of my being

When You lift me up on wings of faith

Making real the wonder of You?

My love knows no limits

My honour of You, no bounds;

My needy reach for heaven’s door,

To concede, without You,

I am in spirit forever poor.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Like A Dove by Chris Brazelton) 

 

 

HEAVEN'S GIFT

 

I love this painting of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Not only because it is aesthetically pleasing but because of its’ title, “As One”. It tells me everything about the Plan of Salvation at a glance. Our rise to godhood could never happen without the combined efforts of these three holy personages: the Father’s Plan, the Son’s implementation of the Plan and the Holy Ghost’s refining process which enables our rise to the pinnacle of that Plan. Each are dependent on the other and without all three nothing would be possible. I am in awe of this process.

We know that without faith, repentance and baptism, exaltation is not possible (2 Nephi 31:17,18). A crucial component of this process is the fourth element being the Holy Ghost through whom comes  remission of our sins, by fire (v 17). This is how important the Holy Ghost is: “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” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 5:499)

Elder David A. Bednar pointed out something significant to this end: “Following our baptism, each of us had hands placed upon our head by those with priesthood authority and was confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Holy Ghost was conferred upon us (see D&C 49:14). The statement ‘receive the Holy Ghost’ in our confirmation was a directive to strive for the baptism of the Spirit…..We were baptized by immersion in water for the remission of sins. We must also be baptized by and immersed in the Spirit of the Lord, ‘and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost’ (2 Nephi 31:17)’ (in CR April 2006, 29; or Ensign May 2006, 29). Receiving the Holy Ghost is not a passive gift, it is a striving for its cleansing power.

Elder Lynn A. Mickelsen of the Seventy confirmed this theory and explained how it is dependent on the Atonement of Jesus Christ: “Through the Atonement, the Saviour, giving Himself as the ransom for our sins, authorizes the Holy Ghost to cleanse us in a baptism of fire. As the Holy Ghost dwells in us, His purifying presence burns out the filthiness of sin. As soon as the commitment is made, the cleansing process begins” (in CR Oct 2003, 11; or Ensign Nov 2003, p 12). This is suggestive of the gradual process of sanctification just as repentance is sometimes not instantaneous but gradual. The important part of sanctification is the commitment of repentance when we partake of the sacrament. After that, our striving for the companionship of the Holy Ghost should be our daily pursuit.

Father’s Plan cannot come to fruition without the Atonement and neither can sanctification that comes through the mercies of the Atonement by the Holy Ghost. Sanctification cannot happen without the Atonement and the Atonement is not complete without the sanctification. Both the Atonement and sanctification, however, are the necessary components of Father’s Plan. This is the Godhead, As One.

My understanding of and gratitude for the Holy Ghost has increased over the years. I yearn to know this personage once again as I knew Him before. I have wept on many occasions when I have felt Him close; when He has enlightened my mind to understand the truths of eternity; when He has encircled me in the arms of my Father’s love. I am deeply grateful for His administration to me and His sanctifying power as I strive to walk in paths of righteousness.

 

You are the flaming fire

That burns with sacred might;

I surrender my sins

And grant you entrance

To the caverns of my heart.

CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: As One by Danny Hahlbohm)

STANDING IN HOLY PLACES

 

 

 

“The Church is a gathering place for imperfect individuals who love God and who are willing to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. That willingness is rooted in the reality that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This divine truth can be known only by the power of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, our willingness is directly proportionate to the amount of time we commit to be in holy places where the influence of the Holy Ghost is present.” (Elder Kevin W. Pearson, "Are You Still Willing?", General Conference October 2022)

My last Relief Society lesson was based on the abovementioned talk by Elder Pearson. As I was preparing the lesson I reflected upon my favourite ‘holy place’ where I feel the influence of the Holy Ghost the most. That holy place for me is my daily scripture study. I have noticed over the years how the Holy Ghost has not only borne witness of the truths I have been learning but has broadened my panoramic view of things of eternity to enlarge my understanding. I have especially noticed that this year as my ability to glean scriptural insights has increased. Some days during my study I have been reduced to tears when the spirit has flooded my mind and my heart. I testify that the Holy Ghost is a personage without whom our understanding of truth would come to naught. But there is more….. “The gift of the Holy Ghost…… inspires: virtue, kindness, goodness, beauty of person, form and features. 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.” (Elder Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology, p. 101). Who would not want him for a companion?

 

I am certain that without the influence of the Holy Ghost, I would not know the Saviour as I know Him today. I am certain he brings me to the foot of His throne each time I contemplate the truths of eternity. That contemplation points the path and the way to Him who is the source of all truth and who is the author of my salvation: Jesus Christ, the lover of my soul, the Son of the living God. 

 

ODE TO THE HOLY GHOST:

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.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: As One (The Godhead) by Danny Hahlbohm)