Author: Richard Himmer

Author, PhD in Organizational Psychology.

The Key to understanding Isaiah

“Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God; but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.[1]”

The writings of Nephi become a ‘key’ as it were, to unlocking the mysteries of Isaiah. Full comprehension is therefore relegated to those who accept the Book of Mormon as the word of God. For those whose pride blocks the insights provided by divine intervention, the clarity of Isaiah is looking through a glass darkly[2] and the precepts are coded in a script or tongue undecipherable except to those carrying the blood of Israel.

Did Isaiah have restrictions on him?

Given the heavenly restrictions under which Isaiah operated, his message was deliberately obscure, much like the Savior, Who spoke in parables. Isaiah cloaked his message so only those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, can.

Why does the Lord restrict access to truth and gospel principles to His children? For the same reason disciplinary courts are benevolent acts of charity. Knowledge and priesthood authority without the requisite understanding puts the holder under greater condemnation for misuse.

Who has seen the full History of the World?

Isaiah is not the first person to be given access to the prophetic future of the world. Adam saw the history of the world but we don’t have his record. Enoch saw it too, however, he only described the highlights such as the Great Flood, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the 2nd coming of Christ[1]. After the Tower of Babel, the Brother of Jared (Mahonri-Moriancumer) saw the history of the world from the creation to the end of the millennium, but that record is sealed along with the remaining part of the Nephite record[2].

Can the Holy Ghost be in more than One Place?

Knowing as we do that the Holy Ghost is the Minister of the Father and the Son—appointed by them, because he is a spirit, he performs a special service to mankind. He delivers truth and light through the Light of Christ and his influence can dwell in each of us simultaneously. In other words, the influence of the Holy Ghost can be everywhere at the same time.

However, no member of the Godhead dwells in us in the literal sense, but all of them dwell in us figuratively to the extent that we are like them. If we have “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16), which we receive by the power of the Holy Ghost, then Christ dwells in us. (McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, pg. 271-2.)

Mode of Baptism

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4).

Baptizo is the transliterated word from Greek. The New Greek Lexicon defines baptism as…

  1. To dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge.
  2. To wash, to make clean with water.
  3. To overwhelm.

Missionary Exit Interview #4

Elder Larson is going home so he brought Elder Elkins, Elder Hughes, and Elder Avondet to his exit interview. We had a productive discussion on effective communication skills and applied the skills to tracting, teaching, and developing emotional intimacy with others. Congratulations Elder Larson and thank you for your service!

 

 

Power and Authority to Baptize

“And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron” (Hebrews 5:4).

How was Aaron called? By his brother Moses, the prophet, who then laid hands on his head and conferred the priesthood upon Aaron. Where did Moses get the authority? From Jethro, his father-in-law, a Semite, who held the Melchizedec priesthood (D&C 84:6-7).

And where do modern-day Christian ministers and leaders derive their priesthood authority? From schools, universities, and institutes. From a calling they feel deeply and sincerely. I do not question the sincerity of another’s belief, but God explained clearly the process of getting the priesthood, it must come from one who already has it.

Baptism in the Meridian of Time

Paul wrote to the Ephesians that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesian 4:5). Either sprinkling a child is correct or immersion when 8 is correct, there is no in-between. These represent two different baptisms. Infant baptism isn’t new; it was practiced in the days of Abraham (JST-Genesis 17:4-8, 1), and in the days of Mormon and Moroni (Moroni 8).

The Lord is eloquent in His indignation. First He explains why little children don’t need baptism.

“And…little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.”

The Origin of Baptism

Baptism began with Adam, the first man. “He was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was…brought forth out of the water. And thus he was baptized.” (Moses 6:64-65)

This established the pattern. All of the apostles and prophets were baptized and all performed baptisms. Documented records of prophets being baptized include Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses (Moses 6:47-68; 8:19-24; JST-Genesis 17:3-7; 1 Corinthians 10”1-4).

In Isaiah 48:1 we read the “house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel and [had] come forth out of the waters of Judah.” This refers to baptism (1 Nephi 20:1).

The Antiquity of Baptism

Baptism carries an interesting connotation when speaking to people who consider themselves Christian in the Protestant and Catholic fashion.

With few exceptions, the ordinance of baptism has been distorted so dramatically that the only two features of origin still remaining are the presence of the person being baptized and the substance of water. Other concepts such as power and authority, mode, meaning, age, metaphors, similes, and purpose are lost and forgotten.

The Promised Blessings of Virtue

Our ward has challenged each family to achieve the Virtue Value award.

The first written requirement is to write the promised blessings of being sexually clean and pure. Here is my response:

What are the promised blessings of a virtuous life?

  • Such a life can be summoned up with the constant presence, influence, and sanctification of the Holy Ghost.
  • It will allow me to have the influence of the Light of Christ in my mind and in my heart. This is the same power and influence that created the world.

The Gift of the Holy Ghost

On the day of Pentecost, Peter admonished all those within ear shot to “repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 3:28)

The gift is an endowment of divine grace and goodness. An endowment is a gift donated by a benefactor for the use of others on conditions specified by the giver.

There is a difference between the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost (History of the Church, 4:555.) The Holy Ghost is a personage of Spirit (D&C 130:22) while the gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to receive the companionship and association of the Spirit.

Who Has Seen the Personage of the Holy Ghost?

Prophets and saints of all ages have seen the Lord, Jesus Christ. He is manifested in dreams in the night, visions during day, and face-to-face as with Moses and Joseph Smith. There are a few who have been honored to see the Father, however, seeing the personage of the Holy Ghost in another matter.

His presence is manifested, his influence is felt, his voice is heard, but his person is kept hidden from view except in rare instances[1].  Man’s attention is not intended for any being except the Father whom we worship, and the Son, through whom we worship.

Three Steps of Repentance

The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel teaches a profound doctrine with respect to repentance. “If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.” (Ezek. 33:15.)

Here we have three steps in repentance:

  1. Restore the pledge
  2. Commit to change
  3. Forsake the sin

Notice the phrase ‘restore the pledge.’ What pledge? Each makes pledges to our Father in heaven. Some have been made here on earth, baptism, confirmation, temple ordinances, and the sacrament. All of us made pledges before we were born.

What is Repentance?

Elder Burton explains repentance by going to the Old Testament. The OT was written in Hebrew and the word for repentance is shube. The meaning of the word is ‘to turn away’ or ‘to change.’

We are commanded to preach repentance. If you consider the meaning of shube, then we are commanded to preach the concept of living differently, to turn away from sin or to change the way we live.

When the Bishop exhorts us to repent, he is suggesting we change or turn away from harmful habits and turn unto the Lord.