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| Source We should also endeavor to discern when we “withdraw [ourselves] from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in [us] to guide [us] in wisdom’s paths that [we] may be blessed, prospered, and preserved". Precisely because the promised blessing is that we may always have His Spirit to be with us, we should attend to and learn from the choices and influences that separate us from the Holy Spirit. The standard is clear. If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing. |
Today, I speak by way of reminder and admonition to those of
us who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I pray
for and invite the Holy Ghost to now assist me and you as we learn together.
Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins “is the
introductory ordinance of the gospel” of Jesus Christ and must be preceded by
faith in the Savior and by sincere and complete repentance. “Baptism in water …
must be followed by baptism of the Spirit in order to be complete” (see Bible
Dictionary, “Baptism,” 618). As the Savior taught Nicodemus, “Except a man be
born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John
3:5). My message this afternoon focuses on the baptism of the Spirit and the
blessings that flow from the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
The Ordinance of and Covenant Associated with Baptism
As each of us was baptized, we entered into a solemn
covenant with our Heavenly Father. A covenant is an agreement between God and
His children upon the earth, and it is important to understand that God
determines the conditions of all gospel covenants. You and I do not decide the
nature or elements of a covenant. Rather, exercising our moral agency, we
accept the terms and requirements of a covenant as our Eternal Father has
established them (see Bible Dictionary, “Covenant,” 651).
The saving ordinance of baptism must be administered by one
who has proper authority from God. The fundamental conditions of the covenant
into which we entered in the waters of baptism are these: we witnessed that we
were willing to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, that we would
always remember Him, and that we would keep His commandments. The promised
blessing for honoring this covenant is that we may always have His Spirit to be
with us (see D&C 20:77). In other words, baptism by water leads to the
authorized opportunity for the constant companionship of the third member of
the Godhead.
Confirmation and the Baptism of the Spirit
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.
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). 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 Ne. 31:17).
As we gain experience with the Holy Ghost, we learn that the
intensity with which we feel the Spirit’s influence is not always the same.
Strong, dramatic spiritual impressions do not come to us frequently. Even as we
strive to be faithful and obedient, there simply are times when the direction,
assurance, and peace of the Spirit are not readily recognizable in our lives.
In fact, the Book of Mormon describes faithful Lamanites who “were baptized
with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not” (3 Ne. 9:20).
The influence of the Holy Ghost is described in the
scriptures as “a still small voice” (1 Kgs. 19:12; see also 3 Ne. 11:3) and a
“voice of perfect mildness” (Hel. 5:30). Thus, the Spirit of the Lord usually
communicates with us in ways that are quiet, delicate, and subtle.
Withdrawing Ourselves from the Spirit of the Lord
In our individual study and classroom instruction, we
repeatedly emphasize the importance of recognizing the inspiration and promptings
we receive from the Spirit of the Lord. And such an approach is correct and
useful. We should seek diligently to recognize and respond to promptings as
they come to us. However, an important aspect of baptism by the Spirit may
frequently be overlooked in our spiritual development.
We should also endeavor to discern when we “withdraw
[ourselves] from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in [us] to
guide [us] in wisdom’s paths that [we] may be blessed, prospered, and
preserved” (Mosiah 2:36). Precisely because the promised blessing is that we
may always have His Spirit to be with us, we should attend to and learn from
the choices and influences that separate us from the Holy Spirit.
The standard is clear. If something we think, see, hear, or
do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing,
hearing, or doing that thing. If that which is intended to entertain, for
example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of
entertainment is not for us. Because the Spirit cannot abide that which is
vulgar, crude, or immodest, then clearly such things are not for us. Because we
estrange the Spirit of the Lord when we engage in activities we know we should
shun, then such things definitely are not for us.
I recognize we are fallen men and women living in a mortal
world and that we might not have the presence of the Holy Ghost with us every
second of every minute of every hour of every day. However, the Holy Ghost can
tarry with us much, if not most, of the time—and certainly the Spirit can be
with us more than it is not with us. As we become ever more immersed in the
Spirit of the Lord, we should strive to recognize impressions when they come
and the influences or events that cause us to withdraw ourselves from the Holy
Ghost.
Taking “the Holy Spirit for [our] guide” (D&C 45:57) is
possible and is essential for our spiritual growth and survival in an
increasingly wicked world. Sometimes as Latter-day Saints we talk and act as
though recognizing the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives is the rare or
exceptional event. We should remember, however, that the covenant promise is
that we may always have His Spirit to be with us. This supernal blessing
applies to every single member of the Church who has been baptized, confirmed,
and instructed to “receive the Holy Ghost.”
The Liahona as a Type and Shadow for Our Day
In our day the Book of Mormon is the primary source to which
we should turn for help in learning how to invite the constant companionship of
the Holy Ghost. The description in the Book of Mormon of the Liahona, the
director or compass used by Lehi and his family in their journey in the
wilderness, specifically was included in the record as a type and a shadow for
our day and as an essential lesson about what we should do to enjoy the
blessings of the Holy Ghost.
As we strive to align our attitudes and actions with
righteousness, then the Holy Ghost becomes for us today what the Liahona was
for Lehi and his family in their day. The very factors that caused the Liahona
to work for Lehi will likewise invite the Holy Ghost into our lives. And the
very factors that caused the Liahona not to work anciently will likewise cause
us to withdraw ourselves from the Holy Ghost today.
The Liahona: Purposes and Principles
As we study and ponder the purposes of the Liahona and the
principles by which it operated, I testify that we will receive inspiration
suited to our individual and family circumstances and needs. We can and will be
blessed with ongoing direction from the Holy Ghost.
The Liahona was prepared by the Lord and given to Lehi and
his family after they left Jerusalem and were traveling in the wilderness (see
Alma 37:38; D&C 17:1). This compass or director pointed the way that Lehi
and his caravan should go (see 1 Ne. 16:10), even “a straight course to the
promised land” (Alma 37:44). The pointers in the Liahona operated “according to
the faith and diligence and heed” (1 Ne. 16:28) of the travelers and failed to
work when family members were contentious, rude, slothful, or forgetful (see 1
Ne. 18:12, 21; Alma 37:41, 43).
The compass also provided a means whereby Lehi and his
family could obtain greater “understanding concerning the ways of the Lord” (1
Ne. 16:29). Thus, the primary purposes of the Liahona were to provide both
direction and instruction during a long and demanding journey. The director was
a physical instrument that served as an outward indicator of their inner
spiritual standing before God. It worked according to the principles of faith
and diligence.
Just as Lehi was blessed in ancient times, each of us in
this day has been given a spiritual compass that can direct and instruct us
during our mortal journey. The Holy Ghost was conferred upon you and me as we
came out of the world and into the Savior’s Church through baptism and
confirmation. By the authority of the holy priesthood we were confirmed as
members of the Church and admonished to seek for the constant companionship of
“the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not,
neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in
you” (John 14:17).
As we each press forward along the pathway of life, we
receive direction from the Holy Ghost just as Lehi was directed through the
Liahona. “For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way,
and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do”
(2 Ne. 32:5).
The Holy Ghost operates in our lives precisely as the
Liahona did for Lehi and his family, according to our faith and diligence and
heed.
“Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy
confidence wax strong in the presence of God. …
“The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy
scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth” (D&C 121:45–46).
And the Holy Ghost provides for us today the means whereby
we can receive, “by small and simple things” (Alma 37:6), increased
understanding about the ways of the Lord: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy
Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and
bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John
14:26).
The Spirit of the Lord can be our guide and will bless us
with direction, instruction, and spiritual protection during our mortal
journey. We invite the Holy Ghost into our lives through meaningful personal
and family prayer, feasting upon the words of Christ, diligent and exacting
obedience, faithfulness and honoring of covenants, and through virtue,
humility, and service. And we steadfastly should avoid things that are immodest,
coarse, crude, sinful, or evil that cause us to withdraw ourselves from the
Holy Ghost.
We also invite the ongoing companionship of the Holy Ghost
as we worthily partake of the sacrament each Sabbath day: “And that thou mayest
more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of
prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day” (D&C 59:9).
Through the ordinance of the sacrament we renew our
baptismal covenant and can receive and retain a remission of our sins (see Mosiah
4:12, 26). In addition, we are reminded on a weekly basis of the promise that
we may always have His Spirit to be with us. As we then strive to keep
ourselves clean and unspotted from the world, we become worthy vessels in whom
the Spirit of the Lord can always dwell.
In February of 1847 the Prophet Joseph Smith appeared to
Brigham Young in a dream or vision. President Young asked the Prophet if he had
a message for the Brethren. The Prophet Joseph replied: “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 them what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom”
(see Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 41; emphasis
added). Of all the truths the Prophet Joseph might have taught Brigham Young on
that sacred occasion, he emphasized the importance of obtaining and keeping the
Spirit of the Lord.
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