Friday, October 9, 2015

A PROPHET SPILLS THE BEANS ON HIS CALLING AND ELECTION

I wanted to focus on prayer last night, so we read this during family scripture study in Enos from the Book of Mormon:

 16 And I had faith, and I did cry unto God that he would preserve the records; and he covenanted with me that he would bring them forth unto the Lamanites in his own due time.
 17 And I, Enos, knew it would be according to the covenant which he had made; wherefore my soul did rest.
 18 And the Lord said unto me: Thy fathers have also required of me this thing; and it shall be done unto them according to their faith; for their faith was like unto thine.
 19 And now it came to pass that I, Enos, went about among the people of Nephi, prophesying of things to come, and testifying of the things which I had heard and seen.
Now, if I am reading about Enos's experience correctly, he received his C&E - or the pre-cursor to that event while praying in the wilderness.  Yet, he went about testifying of the promises he received there and prophesying.  I assume he still had that spirit about him for some time after having a brush with the divine.  I know I have on minor events - less than this.  So, he went about strengthening others....

Here was his moment with the Lord:

4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.
 5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.
 6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.
 7 And I said: Lord, how is it done?
 8 And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.

Just had to point that out to those who doubt whether or not to share.  In fact - other than things we are forbidden to share, it has always been my understanding that we lose what we have been given and receive no more if we hide it under a bushel.  Did I not read that parable right?  So, if you do not have these things for yourself, please do not shut others down when they share and encourage.  Instead repent, and with holy envy in your hearts, seek after them for yourselves with yearning, fasting and prayer.  Maybe, just maybe - the Lord will see fit to manifest Himself to you.

I again host this song.  I play almost daily to remind me of that yearning we should all have:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flgr_2CPTv4
I like the photo chosen.  A contemplative shot looking into the light - in an Enos-like forest setting.
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6 comments:

  1. UnknownOctober 9, 2015 at 10:13 PM

    The three overriding purposes of the Book of Mormon are to have
    1) The baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost
    2) Come to know Jesus face to face in this life
    3) The Father fill you with the Holy Ghost and tell you that you are going home (C&E)
    We should all read it with these three objectives in mind.
    We are under condemnation from God for not understanding these things and seeking earnestly to receive them in our lives. By having all three great and glorious blessings occur in our lives can we hope to lift the condemnation personally. May we all have such wonderful blessings.

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  2. RhondaOctober 10, 2015 at 4:02 PM

    There are a few other cases in the Book of Mormon where a prophet says something that indicates his C&E. There are also modern examples. For instance, read carefully through the lyrics of a hymn Bruce R. McConkie wrote, "I Believe in Christ".

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  3. bannerOctober 11, 2015 at 7:28 AM

    Ken, i would add one more thing to your list of three, perhaps the most important thing of all. And that is the purpose of the BoM's existence is that it is for the restoration of the covenants to the LAMANITES, so they may remember the things that the Lord Jesus had done for their fathers.

    Ever since a very long time ago- i would say perhaps when the Church had received the revelation that it was condemned for taking the BoM lightly around 1832- we have grossly and obnoxiously taken the BoM as 'our' book, us the Gentiles. According to the title page Moroni wrote, we are neither the Jews nor the Lamanites, so we must be Gentiles- D&C 109:60 states that unequivocally.

    Therefore, our grossest sin is ignoring the Lamanite Remnant and forgetting to pray with all our hearts that the book may come to them. They are still hidden and do not have the book. The book is THEIRS, not ours.

    Nowhere within the text of the BoM does it state that the BoM was to be a precursor to start a church.

    According to Terryl Givens who tried to show how important the Bible is to us, the church in Joseph Smith's time barely used the BoM in any discourses, to a paltry 40:1 ratio against the Bible. Nephi's thoughts on the Bible are well worth a second look.

    Thus, our obnoxious snootiness has made us Gentiles think the whole thing is all about us instead of realizing that the book simply mentions us as a people who have built many churches, and grind against the faces of the poor and widows. However, we are offered forgiveness if we repent of this and can assist the Lamanite Remnant in building the new Jerusalem.

    Not the other way around.

    It is sad to see that we gentiles through whom the book was to come unto the remnant, have forgotten them completely and built yet another sunday church in the Biblical mode like the baptists, Catholics and others, and proudly stand upon our Rameumptons to declare that we are the 'royal generation. ..the chosen'. Sounds like the Jews in Jesus ' time were a type and shadow of us.

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    Replies
    1. UnknownOctober 11, 2015 at 11:59 AM

      Banner, it is true that we need to bring to the pure blooded members of the house of Israel who are the North American Indian tribes to the knowledge of their fathers. President Kimball's passion was do just that. There will be an Apostle in the near future who will fulfill the one among them that will be great who will lead those who are prepared to Jackson County, Missouri to build the New Jerusalem. (See 2 Nephi 3:24)
      From Spencer W. Kimball, "The Lamanites must rise in majesty and power." (Conference Reports, Oct. 1947) "The Lamanites must rise in majesty and power. We must look forward to the day when they will be "white and delightsome" (2 Ne. 5:21; 2 Ne. 30:6), sharing the freedoms and blessings which we enjoy; when they shall have economic security, culture, refinement, and education; when they shall be operating farms and businesses and industries and shall be occupied in the professions and in teaching; when they shall be organized into wards and stakes of Zion, furnishing much of their own leadership; when they shall build and occupy and fill the temples, and serve in them as the natives are now serving in the Hawaiian Temple where I found last year the entire service conducted by them and done perfectly. And in the day when their prophet shall come, one shall rise. . . mighty among them . . . being an instrument in the hands of God, with exceeding faith, to work mighty wonders."

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    2. AnonymousOctober 16, 2015 at 10:10 AM

      I agree with banner about the state of affairs of membership. This is why the Lord is going to sweep around His own front door FIRST.

      The Book of Mormon is FIRST AND FOREMOST ANOTHER TESTAMENT THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST.

      The Priesthood/Temple Service restored in the latter days mirrors that of Israel's time.

      The "new covenant" restored in the latter days so that as in Exodus 19, the people can be prepared to enter the presence of the Lord. Go read it and shake in your shoes thinking what it may have been like to have witnessed this event!

      Has anyone stopped to consider that its probably and most likely ENDOWED members who receive their C&E?

      And guess what? The angels aren't going to applaud us or pat us on the back when this event takes place. You know why?

      Because it's NORMAL in their realm. It's NORMAL for the Lord to appear to His creations.

      It's NORMAL for those who walk God to raise the dead, heal the sick, cast out devils, move mountains, prophesy to leave unbelievers speechless, walk on water, calm the sea, call down fire from Heaven on the enemies of the protected of God, shut up the heavens from rain.

      God is trying to make us holy and NORMAL to qualify for entrance into His Kingdom.

      WHO defines NORMAL? HE DOES!!!!! So let's straighten up and act NORMAL like Jesus did and was when He was on the earth. We're in the mess we're in because we don't act NORMAL. The children of God are undefeatable when they're acting NORMAL.

      WHY? Because the God who defines NORMAL is backing them up.

      So, if you haven't had your C&E yet, better get NORMAL because ABNORMAL doesn't have a place in God's family and kingdom.

      Those who aren't NORMAL are seized with fear and awe when the Lord moves. HE is completely secure in Himself. He conquers ANY AND ALL enemies, and HE will sanctify His name so that they KNOW HE IS GOD! But then again.........HE'S just acting NORMAL!

      So is it NORMAL to achieve C&E? You bet it is!

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  4. bannerOctober 18, 2015 at 10:23 PM

    Iraq-
    I posted a few comments in response to Ken here a few days ago.

    I see that they didn't get approved or they would be visible.

    I hope you aren't that biased to all your readers to show both sides of the coin?

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