“Therefore may God grant unto you, brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;

“Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.

“Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.

“Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks.

“Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness.

“Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.

“Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.

“But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.

“Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those around you” (Alma 34:17-28)

According to Amulek, the next big step to obtaining faith in Jesus Christ is through prayer. What is prayer and how is it done? In order to answer this question, it is important that we understand a little about our past, what we as Latter-Day Saints call: the Preexistence. In the Preexistence, we all lived in heaven with God. God is our Heavenly Father and we all are his children. As his children, we talked and walked with God. We learned from him and were growing up to be like him. However, part of the growing process was to come to earth, which meant that we would have to leave his presence to experience mortality. On this earth, we need just as much, or even more, help to get through the trials as we did then. We can receive this help through communication with him by means of prayer. Prayer is communication with God, our Heavenly Father who loves us with all his heart. He cares for us and wants us to come back home. We, his children, are his greatest joys. The Bible Dictionary states that:

“As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part. Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other” (Bible Dictionary: Prayer).

Prayer can be kneeling, sitting, or standing. Prayer can be done vocally or silently in your mind. Prayer can be done alone in a private place, or in a group setting. What is important in prayer is that we actually communicate with Heavenly Father with a sincere heart and humility to know his will for us. And, when we learn what his will is, we should seek to follow it. It is in this way that we accomplish what Amulek challenged, to “begin to exercise your faith unto repentance”. Repentance is the process of changing our lives to meet God’s standards and expectations. Many prophets call this process a “turning to the Lord”, or in other words, turning our lives around to face God. The only way we can do this is by first “turning” to God in prayer. Elder Bruce R. McConkie, a former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, listed three reasons why it is essential to pray:

We are commanded to do so.

Temporal and spiritual blessings follow proper prayer.

Prayer is essential to salvation.

Elder McConkie continues, and here is the lesson, by saying:

‘No accountable person ever has or ever will gain celestial rest unless he learns to communicate with the Master… And “how knoweth a man the master whom he hath not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?”‘.

According to Elder McConkie, prayer is essential to getting to know not only God, our Eternal Father, but also Jesus Christ who he hath sent. How can we really have faith in someone that we know nothing about? We can only have faith in Jesus Christ by learning about him, his perfect character and love. We can learn about him through reading, just like we can learn about history, but there comes a new dimension from actually talking to the individual. We learn about them in a more personal manner when we speak to him. And, when you speak to him, he will speak back. I promise you this. God is real. He is our Heavenly Father. Christ is real. He is our Savior. As we learn about them, their perfect attributes: perfectly honest, perfectly loving, perfectly just and merciful, we can then have the faith enough to overcome any obstacle. It is only then that our faith will lead us to repentance, forgiveness and on to salvation and exaltation. This is my testimony to all the world!

“Now after Alma had spoken these words, they sent forth unto him desiring to know whether they should believe in one God, that they might obtain this fruit of which he had spoken, or how they should plant the seed, or the word of which he had spoken, which he said must be planted in their hearts; or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith” (Alma 33:1).

Alma begins to answer this question at the beginning of chapter 33 by quoting from the prophet Zenos and then explaining:

“Do ye believe those scriptures which have been written by them of old? Behold, if ye do, ye must believe what Zenos said; for, behold he said:  Thou hast turned away thy judgements because of thy Son. Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?” (Alma 33:12-14).

 As we read in chapter 32, we start the experiment of which Alma spoke by planting the seed. The seed is representative of the word of God. The word of God can be found by in both the scriptures and the words of the living prophets. To plant word of God in our hearts by reading and pondering is the very act of giving place for them in our heart. But why? Why do we need to plant the word in our hearts? What Alma teaches is that we plant the word of God in our hearts because the word of God points to one very important person, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Nephi and his brother Jacob, from the Book of Mormon, teach the same thing when he said:

“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26).

“For this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us. Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him…” (Jacob 4:4-5).

As we talked about at the beginning of this series, it is not sufficient that we just have faith. Faith must be directed towards a person, object or goal in order to be effective. The person in which we should have faith is Jesus Christ. If our goal is Salvation and Exaltation in the Kingdom of God, then Jesus Christ is the only way. For Christ himself has said, “I am way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). This is the very central part of faith. It is believing in Jesus Christ, it is trusting him, it is following him. We read the scriptures and listen to the words of the prophets so that our minds and our hearts might be directed to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is important because of the sacrifice which he alone made for all man kind. Amulek, the missionary companion to Alma, taught about the necessity of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice when he said,

“For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made… Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay. But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world.

“And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law (law of Moses), every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal. And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name” (Alma 34:9, 11-12, 14-15).

Brothers and Sisters, can you see how important it is to place our faith in Jesus Christ? Can you see what great role the Savior plays in the great Plan of Salvation? Jesus Christ is central to all that we do and all that we believe. I urge everyone to take an honest moral inventory of your faith. In whom are you placing your faith? In whom do you trust and why? If any of us finds that maybe our faith is not centered in Christ as much as it should be, then now is the time to rearrange our priorities. Now is the time to seek that Christ. We start this by reading and studying the words of the prophets as recorded in the scriptures or the living prophets as recorded in the Ensign and Liahona. For without the prophets, we could not believe in Christ, nor receive saltvation:

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

“So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:14, 17).

In this chapter, Alma is confronted with a group of Zoramites. The Zoramites were new members of the Church and had a great desire to worship God. However, they had little money or means to buy the fancier things of life. And, because of their impoverished state, they had been kicked out of the synagoge which they had spent so much time laboring over to build. It seemed they were being rejected at every corner, and by every person. It seemed they were not wanted and not loved. It is at this point that Alma stops what he is doing and turns to these poor people and says:

“I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagoges, that ye may be humble… for it is because that ye are cast out , that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart… for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance” (Alma 32:12-13).

 Please note that humility, whether brought upon by circumstance or initiated from within, softens the heart so that we may be more willing to hear the word and believe. This is the very first step in obtaining that faith of which we have spoken. The opposite of humility is pride, which President Ezra Taft Benson defines as “enmity – enmity towards God and enmity towards our fellowmen”. When we are prideful, we literally pit our will against Gods. It is therefore logical to suppose that we cannot exercise faith in Jesus Christ, nor come unto God unless we have a humble heart. After Alma commends the Zoramites for their humility, he begins to teach on faith saying:

“But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words” (Alma 32:27).

Please note an unusual word given in this verse that we do not see very often in the Holy Scriptures. The word to which I refer is experiment. The word experiment is used widely today in the scientifical process and is a means by which we either verify or falsify ideas and concepts. Usually this process begins with an observation, which then leads to a question. This question is usually presented in an effort to understand “the why” behind the observation. As experiments are run, a certain outcome is anticipated. When the outcome is not met, the conclusion is falsified. If the outcome is met as anticipated, then the concept is verified.

Alma proposes an experiment to the poor Zoramites in the following verses. The word of God (the Holy Scriptures and testimonies of the prophets) is compared unto a seed which we must plant in our hearts.

“Now we will compare the word [of God] unto a seed. Now if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good see…it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when ye begin to feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves – It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me. Now behold, would not this increase your faith?” (Alma 32:28-29).

First, let us note that the word of which is spoken in this verse is the Word of God. It is the testimony of the prophets over the ages. It is their testimony of Jesus Christ, His Gospel and the plan of salvation. Their testimonies are contained in the scriptures, which are the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. We also have the testimony of the modern prophets such as Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and all those who followed, up to the livign prophet on earth today, Thomas S. Monson. We can substitute “the scriptures” for “the seed” in the previous verses to give it personal application. Now notice the cause and effect in the rest of this verses:

Cause: If ye give place that a seed may be planted in your heart

Effect: It will begin to swell within your breasts…it beginneth to enlarge my soul…it beginneth to enlighten my understanding…it beginneth to be delicious.

Hence, what Alma is trying to lead us to are those feelings which naturally come from planting the word of God in our hearts. In turn, those feelings will cause your faith to increase. Note the following cause and effect:

Cause: It will begin to swell within your breasts…it beginneth to enlarge my soul…it beginneth to enlighten my understanding…it beginneth to be delicious.

Effect: Would not this increase your faith?

In short, we have talked about faith as a principle of believing. However, faith is a principle of action. This step is the application process to obtaining faith in Jesus Christ. In these verses, Alma compares the faith process to an object that they know the most about, a seed. However, when compared to the following chapters in which both Alma and Amulek expound on these principles, it seems that Alma is not necessarily giving them step by step instruction, but simply an outline of how the process works. It isn’t until later chapters when both he and Amulek explain the “how to” of faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore it seems that this chapter in the book of Alma is simply preparatory, preparatory in understanding deeper doctrine, and preparatory for their hearts to be softened.

If we are willing to conduct the experiment, if we are humble enough to try, we should look for the effects that have been promised: swelling of the breast, enlightening of the mind and the word becoming delicious (or desirable). As we begin to see these changes within us, we will know for ourselves that it is true and good. And, all things which are good come from God. This then becomes the “evidence” of our faith. These are tangible proofs, again making the comparison with a scientific experiment, that what is being taught is true. We know because we see the effects of it in our lives. Like wind which blows, we can not see the wind itself, but we see and feel the effects of it. This in turn brings new meaning to the epistle Paul wrote to the Hebrews:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

As we work our way through this experiment, we obtain what science calls “evidence”. This is the evidence of our faith. As we begin to notice more of these evidences in our lives, we begin to build a sure foundation. This foundation provides stability in our lives so that when the winds and storms of life howl about us, we can rest assure that our house will not fall, for we are built upon His rock. This is my prayer for everybody, that we may be humble and be willing to perform the experiment, and I promise that you will begin to see those evidences in your life.

“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:15-17).

These verses make a link between the principle of faith and that of action. For example, those who attend school often have to take exams. Those who study for these exams put in the effort and time required because of an assurance or a belief that studying will give them higher grades. And, they may seek for higher grades because they know they can get scholarships. Those who exercise, may do so because of a belief that they will lose weight, build muscle or live a  healthier life. Can you imagine finding someone who runs a couple miles every day, yet at the same time believe he does so with no benefit? Or, if they did not believe benefit would come, why would they make the effort to do it? If they have faith, they are motivated to action, to do, to attain their dreams. Since the natural progression of faith leads to action then, if no action is manifest we might well ask ourselves if we really have faith. Please note the phrase at the end of verse 16 in James 2: “What doth it profit?” What does it profit to have faith, and yet sit back and do nothing? The principle then taught is that work is a natural manifestation of faith.

With this in mind, the second tier is faith in Jesus Christ. As Alma finishes his talk about the word as compared to a seed, the Zoramites begin to believe in his words. According to the record, Alma then teaches them in what they should place their faith:

“Then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works” (Alma 33:22).

Note that according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, one must not only have faith, but that faith must be placed in a specific person: Jesus Christ. As important as faith is, without that faith being placed in Jesus Christ, it can never lead us to eternal life and salvation. We talk often about faith and miracles, but I fear that many members of the Church of Jesus Christ have missed this important step. Elder David A. Bednar expressed the same concern in an address given to students on the topic of repentance when he said:

“I must admit that I have sometimes wondered if we as members of the Church memorize the Rs of repentance, such as recognition, remorse, and restitution, and omit the most important R of all-the Redeemer” (Bednar, David A; Turn Ye, Turn Ye unto the Lord Your God, Ricks College Devotional, Jan. 9, 2001).

Elder Bednar’s words strikes at the heart of the matter. We all must come unto Jesus Christ in order to receive that eternal life and salvation for which we have hope for. It can come in no other way. When we have faith in Christ, we actually have faith in His character or divine attributes. It is His selflessness that softens our hearts. We believe in His promises, because we know he can never lie. We come to Him because he is merciful and forgiving. We trust in His plan because of His foresight, he knows all things. These godly attributes are the things that make Him great, that lead Him to suffer and die for us. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, of the Quorum of the Twelve, has taught this principle when he stated:

“We need a strong faith in Christ to be able to repent. Our faith has to include a correct idea of God’s character, perfections, and attributes. If we believe that God knows all things, is loving, and is merciful, we will be able to put our trust in Him for our salvation without wavering” (Point of Safe Return, Conference Report, April 2007).

This is the second tier of faith: to not just have faith, but have faith in Jesus Christ. Only through Him can we receive salvation. Many may say that they believe, but as James has said, “for as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:3). I hope that we can all build on the faith that we have and make the Savior the center of all that we believe and trust. We begin to do this by patterning our life after His, follow His example, and do what He has done. This is my prayer for all.

“Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can know of anything which is to come.How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ.Ye say that Christ shall come. But behold, I say that ye do not know that there shall be a Christ” (Alma 30:13, 15, 26).

Alma, on the other hand, quickly rebukes him and bears a powerful testimony of the things which he knows to be true saying:

“Will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come. Behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true” (Alma 30:39, 41). 

This simple but powerful testimony born by Alma, and the miracle that proceeds it, is a clear example of his great faith. The American historian, Mormon, chooses this story as his great introduction to chapters 31 through 34. With all the records and writings that Mormon could possibly include, why choose this one? What is it that Mormon is trying to teach us? The principle and doctrine that Mormon is trying to convey throughout these chapters is that of Faith in Jesus Christ, the first and great principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This essential principle is so basic, so simple, and yet so powerful that Mormon gives five lengthy chapters to its teaching, combined with examples and metaphors. Mormon probably takes so much time with this subject because it is the first principle of the Gospel. Since faith is the first principle, it would seem logical to conclude that without it, one cannot attain to the other three. As stated in the epistle to the Hebrews:

“Without faith it is impossible to please [God]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

In other words, if we really expect to come unto God, we need to, first and foremost, believe that he exists. It is the first stepping stone in the process of coming unto Christ. This doctrine underscores the importance of this principle in the gospel of Jesus Christ, because it is the foundation on which all other principles and ordinances rest.

The first tier comes by knowing what faith is and how to recognize it? The Bible dictionary, the epistle to the Hebrews and Alma define faith as the following:

“To have faith is to have confidence in something or someone” (Bible Dictionary, Faith, p.669).

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

 ”That [faith] was not a perfect knowledge – even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge” (Alma 32:26).

What does this mean? As in the definition given through the Bible Dictionary, to have faith means that we believe that something either is or will be. It is not a something we know, but rather it is something we hope for. We believe, we don’t know.

It is also important to note that this faith and confidence must have a focus in order to be effective. This focus can be in a principle, an object, a person or group of people. Therefore, faith without being centered in someone or something would be hollow and aimless. For one to study a text book without studying towards a degree, to practice a sport without hoping to win a game, to draw schematics with no view of building what you drew, or in short, to create, to plan or anything else would be a waste of time if not done with a purpose in mind. Nothing would be accomplished. Therefore, our faith, just like our study, it is good for nothing if not centered on someone or something. In hoping for Salvation and Exaltation, we must focus our faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior. He died and suffered that we might not suffer. He took upon him our afflictions, and with his stripes we are healed.

How grateful we should be for a Savior in whom we can put all our trust and all our hope. If we do, I promise that we will receive the promise, that of eternal life. Only through him will we live again, is my testimony to the world!

There is yet another sacred record that the Lord has commanded that we should keep. It is a journal record. President Spencer W. Kimball admonished

“Begin today and write … your goings and your comings, your deeper thoughts, your achievements, and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. We hope you will do this, … for this is what the Lord has commanded, and those who keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives” (Kimball, Spencer W; Writing Your Personal and Family History, Ensign, May 1980, p. 48).

 I first started writing in my journal when I was 16 years old. While my first attempts at writing in a journal was sporatic, at best, and lacked depth, still it was a record of my life; written as only a 16 year old could do. However, over the following 9 years I have spent writing in my journal, I have gained somewhat of a proficiency, I would hope, in writing in my journal. I write more consistently and with more detail than I use to. Even when I read some of the entries I made at the age of 16, I can’t help but wonder what I might have been thinking. Sometimes I just have to laugh.

These many years later, I now keep two types of journals: a Historical Journal and a Study Journal. As I was trying to figure out what I wanted to write about this week in my blog, I happened to pull out one of my study journals from a while back and started flipping through it. Scanning across the final 2 pages of this journal, I happened to notice the prefacing scripture seemed so familiar. If you haven’t guessed it yet, it was 2 Nephi 2:5. Yes, this is the same scripture that I happened to have an apifany over just last week, which I wrote about in my blog. Lo and behold, everything that I had written about in my blog, was written in my study journal. The format was a little different, but I had extracted those same principles, all that time ago, from that scripture. I had written it all down in my study journal. Maybe if I had read my journals more often, I would not had forgotten it, but finding it again was like finding lost treasure. How wonderful it was to read. It was like the revelation and inspiration I had received while reading that verse of scripture was confirmed in my mind and heart. It was confirmed to me because I had received the same inspiration twice. I had forgotten, but the Lord brought it to my memory again.

This is just an example of what a personal journal and a study journal can do for not only us personally, but also for our kids, our grandkids, our great grandkids and all those into whose hands these records fall. They will be a source of inspiration and learning that can come in no other way. It gives added emphasis when we know that these miracles happened to a real person. I encourage all to not only lift our voices, but lift our pen and write the feelings of our hearts, and pray that you will receive the same satisfaction I received when you look back in time.

“And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil.”

This verse teaches me that we all know the difference between what is right and what is wrong. Somewhere deep inside of us, when we steal, lie or take advantage of others, we know that what we have done is wrong. We feel guilt inside. Some people call it “conscience”. In the gospel, we call this the Light of Christ. Moroni confirmed this idea when he wrote:

“The Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil” (Moroni 7:16).

We also read:

 ”And the law is given unto men.”

God has also given commandments for us to follow, which is what is meant by “the law”. The law (commandments) was given to all men, through modern and ancient prophets. We are given the standard that we are to live up to; therefore, we have no excuse. We cannot say that we did not know when we are called to give an accounting before God at the last day. Lastly, we read this statement about the law in verse 5:

“And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever.”

We learn that, by the law, we cannot be saved. This is thought is confirmed by a number of scriptures like the following:

“A man is not justified by the works of the law… for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified”

(Gal 2:16).

What does this all mean? For me personally, it means that no matter how good I am from here on out, no matter how much I try, no matter how many commandments I keep or keep all of them perfectly (if that is even possible by mortal man) from this day forward, I cannot earn my way into God’s presence. Why? It’s because I have already broken the law at least once. As a breaker in one small point, I am a breaker of the whole law. This is supported by Paul’s epistle to James when he wrote:

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).

Since I cannot make up for that broken “point”, I must therefore suffer the consequence of the law, which is separation from God forever. God cannot permit sin. He loves us, but he cannot break the law which He, himself, setup. This gives added emphasis to verse 7 and 8 in 2 Nephi chapter 2 when Lehi says:

7. “Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law…

All that the Lord asks of us in return is shown when the Lord revealed:

“Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit” (D&C 59:8)

Wherefore:

8. “How great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth…” (2 Nephi 2:8)

I too would like to add my voice to the voice of Lehi and yell out, “Wherefore, How great is the importance to make this known to the whole world. How great is our God for providing a way to pay for all our individual sins, which are many. May we all appreciate more fully the sacrifice of our Savior is my prayer for all of us.

“What was the nature of his mission to the earth in these latter days? It was to restore  on earth and in heaven of all the ordinances and principles pertaining to the salvation of man, that they may thus become valid in the celestial kingdom of God” (Smith, Joseph Fielding; Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 2, p 117).

President Smith has used the same phraseology in this quote, that the “sealing on earth and in heaven of all the ordinances and principles pertaining to the salvation of man”, as in the Bible Dictionary as written “Thus the keys of this power (sealing power) are once again operative on the earth and are used in performing all the ordinances of the gospel for the living and the dead”. Note that both of these references use talk about all the ordinances, and President Smith adds, “That they may thus become valid in the celestial kingdom of God”. Not just some of them. Bruce R. McConkie uses some of the same words in his quotes as well.

Also I would also that just because we get baptized and confirmed into the Church, does not mean that we get into the Celestial Kingdom. We must also keep the covenant of baptism, and have the blessings sealed upon us by what is called the Holy Spirit of Promise. This is in accordance with what Joseph Smith said in the Doctrine and Covenants:

“All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on earth to hold this power; are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead” (D&C 132:7).

Bruce R. McConkie then comments on this verse of scripture by saying:

“By way of illustration, this means that baptism, partaking of the sacrament, administering to the sick, marriage, and every covenant that man ever makes with the Lord – plus all other ‘contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, associations or expectations’ – must be performed in righteousness by and for people who are worthy to receive whatever blessing is involved, otherwise whatever is done has no binding and sealing effect in eternity” (McConkie, Bruce R.; Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Vol. 3, p 335).

With this in mind, I would suggest to the class that maybe, and this is just my theory without references, that the sealing power, that we have been talking about as given by Elijah, might have something to do with the Holy Spirit of promise. Maybe, the sealing key is the Lord’s authority to seal all ordinances by way of this Holy Spirit of promise. Again, this is just me wondering.

Feel free to post comments and thoughts. I would ask that you get as much material as possible quoted from the General Authorities of the Church, or quotes from the Conference Edition of the Ensign. Let’s make sure that we have done our research.

This last quote from Malachi which was quoted by Elijah, is what I would like to focus on. This importance of this key event can be seen in the last phrase, “lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse”. What is it about this event, to “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers”, that if not accomplished would set a curse upon the whole earth?

I admit that, at this time, I have no real answers! I only have questions. It is one which has occupied my mind for quite some time. And so, I pose these questions to the rest of the class:

1.)    Why would the whole earth be smitten with a curse if this event did not occur?

2.)    If the sealing keys are for performing all ordinances, are baptism and the gift of the holy ghost of no effect without it?

 May I simply offer some food for thought from the Bible Dictionary:

“We learn from latter-day revelation the Elijah held the sealing power of the Melchizedek Priesthood and was the last prophet to do so before the time of Jesus Christ. He appeared on the Mount in company with Moses and conferred the keys of the priesthood on Peter, James, and John (Matt. 17:3). He appeared again, in company with Moses and others, on April 3, 1836, in the Kirtland (Ohio) Temple and conferred the same keys upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. All of this was in preparation for the coming of the Lord, as spoken of in Malachi 4:5-6. As demonstrated by his miraculous deeds, the power of Elijah is the sealing power of the priesthood by which things bound or loosed on earth are bound or loosed in heaven. Thus the keys of this power are once again operative on the earth and are used in performing all the ordinances of the gospel for the living and the dead.”

In my last post, I talked about how the Lord wanted to build up the city Zion, the New Jerusalem, in Jackson County, Missouri. I also proposed that the Latter-Day Saints might not have been ready for this blessing because they, at that particular time, were not right in their hearts. I proposed that the Lord allowed them to be driven out of Missouri because they were not humble, charitable, and selfless as the Lord’s people ought to be. However, this is but a small piece of the historic “puzzle”.

In a revelation given to Joseph Smith at Kirtland, Ohio on August 2, 1833, the Lord gives this instruction concerning the people living in Jackson County, Missouri,

In this revelation, the Lord gives the command that a house should be built unto me. What does the Lord mean? What is this house that the people of Zion are suppose to build. In the Old Testament, the Lord commanded others to build houses as well. In the first book of Kings, chapter 6, we read about a house that Solomon was commanded to build,

“And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year that the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the Lord… And the house, that is, the temple…”

(1 Kings 6:3,5,17 / emphasis added)

The house that the Lord wanted Solomon to build was actually what we call today: a temple. It was the same with the early Saints of the Church. The Lord had commanded them to build a temple of God and then gave them this promise,

“And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it; Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God… And, now, behold, if Zion do these things she shall prosper, and spread herself and become very glorious, very great, and very terrible.”

(D&C 97:15-18)

What a wonderful promise that was that those early saints received. Unfortunately, they did not keep this commandment. They started the foundation, but then slacked in the rest. They did not build the temple, the house of the Lord. They were not obedient to the words of the Prophet. This disobedience was manifest in another way. When the prophet called for the saints to immigrate to Zion, Jackson County, Missouri, the prophet did so be personal invitation to certain of the members. In this way, the immigration was controlled. But, when the word got out that the saints were to gather to Zion, large groups of members came uninvited and against the prophet’s counsel. The people probably felt they were doing a good thing. However, it was this sharp increase in “Mormon” movement that began to disturb the natives of Missouri. In fact, it was so fast that many feared their state would be overrun by the saints. Hence, the beginning of persecution.

However, let us not be too harsh on these early saints. Most, if not all, had either sold or given away everything that they owned to make the trip across the plains. Some came from the east coast, but some came from Northern Europe. Most of them traveled in handcarts or covered wagons. When they got to Missouri where they decided to settle, there wasn’t much of a welcome, let alone a home. They lived off of whatever they could store and take with them on the long and tedious journey. What they lived on was pure faith. It was in these harsh conditions that the Lord commanded the saints to build a house of God, a temple. The task of building a temple probably seemed insurmountable and Zion was suppose to be a paradise to live in. Despite desiring that which was good in their hearts, they did not follow the directions of the Prophet.

There is something we can learn in history’s laboratory of life. The Lord continues to give us commandments through his modern prophets. How well do we listen to the Prophet, and then obey? I fear that many of us think of the gospel as a buffet from which we can pick and choose those things we wish to follow or obey. Whatever seems convenient at the time, we do, and that which is inconvenient, we don’t do. We may even try to rationalize it away by thinking, “that doesn’t really apply to me”, “He doesn’t know my situation”. I wish to raise a voice of warning! We cannot, with impunity, take for granted the divine guidance that can only come through the Lord’s spokeman, the Prophet. We have a living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. He knows God. He speaks for God, both to the world and the Church collectively. We live in a time of relative ease. We travel by car or plane. We live in abundance. We have most things we need. What excuse have we?

The real test of this life is summarized in the book of Abraham,

“And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them”

(Abraham 3:24-25)

The greatest test is to see if we will keep the commandments of the Lord, and obey His voice. I pray that we all may renew our efforts to listen intently as the Prophet of the Lord speaks, and then learn to obey. In this way, we can avoid the same tragedies that the early saints had to pass. Only then can we be safe. Only then will the Lord fight our battles for us. Only then can we be called Zion.

References:

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=2ff96169b62fe010VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1