Monday, August 1, 2011

The Holy Spirit of Promise


I was teaching a class the other day in High Priests Group on the Plan of Happiness. I had proffered my contention that each ordinance we receive must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise (Holy Ghost) to be of force. It is my view that when a person receives an ordinance the Holy Spirit of Promise “seals” that the ordinance was performed correctly regarding form and authority, and the associated law was received and has been kept (assuming that person is living that law - or it is later sealed when the person does live the law).

I used a paragraph in the "Guide to the Scripture" under “Holy Spirit of Promise” which reads in part:

“He [the Holy Ghost] confirms as acceptable to God the righteous acts, ordinances, and covenants of men. The Holy Spirit of Promise witnesses to the Father that the saving ordinances have been performed properly and that the covenants associated with them have been kept.”


This notion was challenged by one of the good brethren, because of the following paragraph that reads: 


“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).”

The distinction being where I contend that each law and ordinance must be sealed upon a person, he read the reference to mean that at some point, all at once they are all, including exaltation sealed upon a righteous person.

I would argue that the next line also needs to be considered to understand this concept:



“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”

I believe that baptism is a critical ordinance, even for a person who never has “all that the Father has” or exaltation sealed upon him. But, that each ordinance and its corresponding law, including baptism, must be sealed upon each of us. If not, we are son’s of perdition (in the case of baptism).

The same would hold true for each ordinance and law. 

I would further contend that what ordinance and corresponding law we receive (we receive law by ordinances) dictates the resurrection we will receive. This is clear in the Doctrine and Covenants. Regarding the Holy Spirit of Promise we read:

“...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 ...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.” (Doctrine and Covenants 132:7)

And then to the point of the law we keep or abide determines our resurrection:



“22For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.

23And he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory.

24And he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory.” (Doctrine and Covenants 88)

I suspect that for most of us we receive the ordinances and the laws, and we grow into the law some time in the future. When we do, we have some spiritual experience and don’t even know that it was the Holy Spirit of promise sealing those ordinances upon us. And like those who receive “all the Father has” or have their calling and election made sure in this life, we may spiritually digress and return many times. But, we have proven that we can live the law, and only a full rebellion will separate us from that kingdom sealed upon us.


What think ye?

30 comments:

Steven Montgomery said...

Great post! Regarding the supposition that each ordinance must be ratified by the Holy Spirit of Promise, I tend to agree with you, more than that other good brother.

David Littlefield said...

Thanks Steve!

Come back often!

David

Anonymous said...

D&C 132
1Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Joseph, that inasmuch as you have inquired .. having many wives and concubines....
4For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory.
Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection......he or she shall commit any sin or transgression of the new and everlasting covenant whatever, and all manner of blasphemies, and if they commit no murder wherein they shed innocent blood, yet they shall come forth in the first resurrection, and enter into their exaltation....
54And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be destroyed....
Sealed By the Holy Spirit?
then shall she believe and administer unto him, or she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord your God; for I will destroy her?

Anonymous said...

But, we have proven that we can live the law, and only a full rebellion will separate us from that kingdom sealed upon us.


Romans 5:
6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 6:
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under agrace? God forbid.

1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

camrow said...

I tend to see room for both opinions to be correct simultaneously. The more I come to know God, the more I see Him working at multiple levels. Therefore, I can fully accept the concept of the Holy Spirit of Promise ratifying each covenant that we make in our progression, AND I can see the Sealing by the Holy Spirit of Promise referencing a final ordinance along the lines of 2 Peter 1, etc.

David Littlefield said...

Camrow:

We really agree, because that is exactly my point. My point was not to detract from this final crowning act, but to see that there are things that should be happening in our lives along the way, not just a final act.

David

Michael said...

I agree that it has to do with both, but it should always be emphasized that if we postpone our working through the process expecting to one day receive the full reward, then we are wasting our time.

At the beginning of our Endowment Ceremony it is taught that if the participants are true and faithful, the day will come when they will be chosen, called up and anointed unto the fulfillment of specified blessings, but whereas they are now [within the Endowment Ceremony] anointed only to become such. The realization of said blessings depends upon their faithfulness.

“Again, the whole idea of knowing God and associating with him after mortal death is one that can only be in truth, light, and obedience. We cannot fake our way into the kingdom. Therefore, perhaps the single most transcendent statement in the epistle is in 1 John 3:2-3: ‘Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.’ The natural consequence of coming to know God is to desire to emulate him, to have our closest friendship with him. And to be like God is to know him. Thus we more fully understand Jesus’ prayer in John 17:3 where he defines eternal life as knowing God and Christ: ‘And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.’ In this verse the form of the Greek verb for know emphasizes the continuing personal acquaintance and friendship between God and man, a fellowship that commences in this life. Eternal life, therefore, becomes the natural continuation of a close association enjoyed in this life into the eternities. By John’s definition, we ought definitely not think of eternal life as something thrust upon a person unprepared or unacquainted with God and his ways” (Robert L. Millet, ed., Studies in Scripture, Vol. 6: Acts to Revelation, p. 240).

camrow said...

Michael: I think you are absolutely correct. The Final Sealing I am referring to comes with dour calling and election being made sure, and this is surely not accomplished from your sofa. The Final sealing is the result of progressively disposing of the natural man and yielding to the Holy Spirit in order to be sanctified. It's obeying the Law, but not only obeying the Law. It's also being justified, but not only being justified. It is transcendent sanctification, symbolized step-by-step through priesthood covenants and ordinances, each one needing ratification. Then, when we have proved that we will obey God "at all hazards" the Final Sealing by the Holy Spirit of Promise, when the Daystar arises in our hearts.

Anonymous said...

The Final Sealing I am referring to comes with your calling and election being made sure, and this is surely not accomplished from your sofa."

If you want more"insight" into having your Final Sealing you must know about Royal Arch Freemasonry
ROYAL ARCH, OR SEVENTH DEGREE
(THE RITE OF EXALTATION)

http://www.sacred-texts.com/mas/dun/dun08.htm
http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm

Moses 5:30 And Satan sware unto Cain that he would do according to his commands. And all these things were done in secret.

"I furthermore promise and swear, that I will answer and obey all due signs and summonses handed, sent, or thrown to me from a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, or from a Companion royal Arch Mason, if within the length of my cable-tow."

"and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever."

2 Nephi 26:22 And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.

I furthermore promise and swear, that I will assist a Companion Royal Arch Mason when I see him engaged in any difficulty, and will espouse his cause so far as to extricate him from the same, whether he be right or wrong.

Moses5; 29 And Satan said unto Cain: Swear unto me by thy throat, and if thou tell it thou shalt die; and swear thy brethren by their heads, and by the living God, that they tell it not; for if they tell it, they shall surely die;

"To the additional portion of the penalty of my obligation, that I would sooner have my skull clove off, and have my brain exposed to the scorchings rays of a noonday sun, than divulge any of the secrets of this Degree unlawfully.

The Final Sealing is from the Royal Arch -Know in the same context(1800s) Most of the Higher Brethern were Mason of the 3rd Degree. the 7th Degree is the completion of the 3rd degree

To be Exalted you must go to the Temple and get the 3rd Degree almost the Same as Freemasonry and you perfect the 3rd degree in the 7th degree -

THEN you need many wives or you are Damned
"and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned"

Anonymous said...

THEN you need many wives or you are Damned
"and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven_and_Hell_(Swedenborg)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emanuel_Swedenborg

APRIL 6

"he eventually began to experience dreams and visions beginning on Easter weekend April 6, 1744."

He claimed that the Lord had opened his spiritual eyes, so that from then on he could freely visit heaven and hell, and talk with angels, demons and other spirits... life of angels, including marriage in heaven (angels are married), time and space in heaven....Swedenborg[3] wrote about Heaven and Hell, based on what he said was revelation from God.In Life on Other Planets, Swedenborg stated that he conversed with spirits from Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, Venus, and the moon (Young and Smith too)
His philosophy had a great impact on The Duke of Sodermanland, later King Carl XIII, who as the Grand master of Swedish Freemasonry (Svenska Frimurare Orden) built its unique system of degrees and wrote its rituals. Later that night, the same man appeared in his dreams. The man told Swedenborg that He was the Lord, that He had appointed Swedenborg to reveal the spiritual meaning of the Bible, and that He would guide Swedenborg in what to write. The same night, the spiritual world was opened to Swedenborg
...Thus, a couple in true spiritual love remain together in that state in heaven for eternity.

"As truly as you see me before your eyes, so true is everything that I have written; and I could have said more had it been permitted. When you enter eternity you will see everything, and then you and I shall have much to talk about."

Anonymous said...

One Swedenborgian writer states that the term "celestial marriage" also refers to the marriage between a husband and wife who are in the "celestial kingdom" or the highest level of heaven...A concept of celestial marriage was described by Emanuel Swedenborg as early as 1749 when he wrote, "As every law of truth and right descends from celestial beginnings, or from the order of life of the celestial man, so in an especial manner does the law of marriages. It is the celestial marriage from and according to which all marriages on earth must be derived; and this marriage is such that there is one Lord and one heaven, or one church whose head is the Lord. The law of marriages thence derived is that there shall be one husband and one wife, and when this is the case they represent the celestial marriage, and are an exemplar of the celestial man."....he says that the marriage of husband and wife has its origin in the heavenly or celestial marriage of goodness and truth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_marriage
D&C 132:3 Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same.
"In the 19th century the term celestial marriage referred more to the practice of plural marriage,[1][2][3][4] a practice which the LDS Church abandoned in 1890. The term is still used in this sense by Mormon fundamentalists not affiliated with the mainstream LDS Church."

http://craigwmiller.tripod.com/interest.htm
Large portions of what many consider to be unique teachings of the LDS Church are found in the Swedish mystic=s writings. Nevertheless he is not a mirror of all LDS teachings since, for instance, he taught that God the Father, Christ, and the Holy Ghost are a single individual; concepts about a pre-mortal existence are a misunderstanding; and that our Lord did not make any payment for our sins on the cross; among other things.

APRIL 6th
Freemasonry
Celestial marriage referred more to the practice of plural

Sorry if it seems offensive - It is My view Only and there are some interesting things even if you believe it or NOT - and you can tell me how I am wrong and if I am of the Path of Truth or not

Bob said...

Your comments have absolutely nothing to do with stimulating, supporting or anything else to do with the Holy Spirit of Promise, eternal progression, or having a calling and election made sure. STAY ON TOPIC and STAY IN THE HOUSEKEEPING SECTION.

“Sorry if it seems offensive - It is My view Only and there are some interesting things even if you believe it or NOT - and you can tell me how I am wrong and if I am of the Path of Truth or not”

It is not interesting, unless you are not interested in truly seeking after life-changing, sanctifying spiritual experiences. It may be interesting if you are only interested in arguing and nitpicking. You are wrong because you breed contention and you offer absolutely nothing that builds, strengthens, supports, uplifts, encourages, serves, or edifies. You offer nothing that promotes Christ, His love, spirit, gospel, or anything associated with Him. You manipulate the scriptures to justify your own self loathing and failure to live the gospel, and you try to smear it in the LDS people’s face like it is our fault. You need to seek God and find out how He feels about you. You need to experience Christ’s love for you so that you can be healed and learn to love others the way He loves you. That is how they will know you are His disciple—by loving them like He does. Sorry if encouraging you to find ultimate fulfillment in God through Christ is offensive, but that is my view you can believe it or NOT. Sorry if you continue to chose some other way and remain unsatisfied as you condemn others while stumbling blindly. Please choose God. He loves you and can help you receive the Holy Spirit of Promise through the gift of His Son Jesus Christ. Sorry if I drifted off topic, but I tried to bring it back. Gospel blessings like the Holy Sprit of Promise are real, and you can enjoy them too. Please do.

Anonymous said...

Bob - you Lost IT - The 7th degree is the completion of the 3rd Degree - and it crosses over from Freemasonry and into Mormonism-

It is the second anointing of freemasonry and it is the "sealing" of the "Holy Spirit of Promise" that is having your "calling and election made sure"

"a man cannot be save in ignorance'
are you saved

the 7th degree is not a "new' degree it is the
"Rite of Exaltation"

read D&C 132

Anonymous said...

1–6, Exaltation is gained through the new and everlasting covenant; 7–14, The terms and conditions of that covenant are set forth; 15–20, Celestial marriage and a continuation of the family unit enable men to become gods; 21–25, The strait and narrow way leads to eternal lives; 26–27, The law is given relative to blasphemy against the Holy Ghost; 28–39, Promises of eternal increase and exaltation are made to prophets and Saints in all ages; 40–47, Joseph Smith is given the power to bind and seal on earth and in heaven; 48–50, The Lord seals upon him his exaltation; 51–57, Emma Smith is counseled to be faithful and true; 58–66, Laws governing the plurality of wives are set forth.

Exaltation =“They who are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise receive ALL that the Father has, D&C 76:51–60

“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”


The status of those in the telestial, terrestrial, and celestial glories is explained; 114–19, The faithful may see and understand the mysteries of God’s kingdom by the power of the Holy Spirit.

There is a connection to the Mormon view of Exaltation and the 7th Degree or RiTe of Exaltation in FreeMasonry - It is in the Degrees and climbing the Ladders and how you Seal IT and see IT

Exaltation

Anonymous said...

BOB says "It is not interesting, unless you are not interested in truly seeking after...It may be interesting if you are only interested in arguing and nitpicking. You are wrong because you breed contention and you offer absolutely nothing"--------Truth and History.
Look at Mormonisms inter-weavings with Freemasonry, John Dee, and Emanuel Swedenborg

Perhaps you forgot those Jews and Pagans of Solomons time were NOT speaking English and some how all of those English and Scottish Freemasonry Temple Degrees, Penalties, Grips, Gestures, Language, and Customs, are Found in Mormonism. In Mormon History, Mormon Temples, Mormon Culture, Mormon Language Mormon Customs.
The BeeHive State? Freemasons Have the Square and Compass posted to the Public- They say they use the Tools of the Mason - The Square and Compass- Do Mormons Use the Square and Compass?
B.Young wore a Square and Compass as a tie pin .

Do not be afraid to look in to Mormonisms connection in History and Truth to Freemasonry

Besides June 24 is SUN Worship day of the Lodge of St John ( St John's Day) in Freemasonry, it has more to do with Gnosticism and less to do with Solomon.

Point Being, if History and Truth is more important than feeling good and hiding from the LIGHT - Come to the LIGHT-

I only Make mention of History and were Joseph Smith was Getting his "new" gospel

John Dee
Emanuel Swedenborg
Freemasonry

Bob said...

No, you still miss the point. Ask God to validate and expound your private interpretation of history and scriptures through personal revelation. That is the only way you will ever be right. Your methods don't bring you closer to God through His Christ or the Holy Spirit of Promise. Your methods are not spiritual at all. They are not of God.

"Point Being, [for YOU, private interpretation of secular] History and [worldly] Truth is more important than feeling good and"... becoming sanctified through the Holy Ghost. If it were not so, why would you continue to try to spread your unhappiness and bitterness instead of God's love and Spirit? You say Truth, but you do not point to Christ who is Truth. Like He said, the sign by which men will know you are His disciple is if you are able to love them as He loves you.

Does your perpetual Mormon hating equal showing Christ's power and love? You do the math.

The topic is "The Holy Spirit of Promise", yet you encourage us to use private interpretation to see your point. If you were even confident in your expressed views, you could at least confidently encourage us to pray about them and promise us the same spiritual experiences that you have received. Millions of LDS have prayed and recieved like spiritual experiences that have been coupled with the love of God and the Holy Ghost. Your bogus secular hatred offers nothing worth while. You peddle hatred and arm-of-flesh powered ignorance. You should promote the power of God through His Christ and Holy Ghost. I really hope you one day can feel the power of the love of God for you and have the Holy Spirit of Promise seal you His.

Anonymous said...

Truth and History - The early Brethern leadership of LDS were or became Freemasons - Fact - You can pray and ask God about what ever you cannot see- or see. You are always welcomed to pray- You should already know that.

The 3rd degree in LDS and Freemasonry are the 3rd Degree -
The Royal Arch is THE RITE OF EXALTATION. In the 3rd Degree your Calling and Election are NOT made Sure, that second anointing and knowing that you are sealed up by the Holy Spirit of Promise comes after the 3rd degree. that is the Rite of Exaltation, the Royal Arch, the completion of the 3rd Degree.

Polygamy is a requirement of Exaltation, they do not preach that too much in church today, wonder why?
Damned? Secret? "be permitted to enter into my glory."


Are you saved? Do you know it?
"you cannot be saved in Ignorance"
For Mormons you need to KNOW - you get to Practice gnosticism upto the point that you receive the Rite of Exaltaion

www.newcoolthang.com/index.php/2008/04/calling-and-election-made-sure/510/

www.templestudy.com/2008/03/25/the-culminating-sealing-ordinance-of-the-temple/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_anointing

www.lds-mormon.com/second_anointing_part3.shtml

"if any in the Church had the fullness of the priesthood, he did not know it"

Maybe the question is Are you Damned for not having many Wives in this life?

Anonymous said...

Bob says -The topic is "The Holy Spirit of Promise", yet you encourage us to use private interpretation to see your point. If you were even confident in your expressed views, you could at least confidently encourage us to pray about them and promise us the same spiritual experiences that you have received".

Make your own "interpretation" NOT MINE
www.realmormonhistory.com
""I will now say, not only to our delegate to Congress, but to the Elders who leave the body of the Church, that he thought that all the cats and kittens were let out of the bag when brother Pratt went back last fall, and published the Revelation concerning the plurality of wives: it was thought there was no other cat to let out. But allow me to tell you, Elders of Israel, and delegates to Congress, you may expect an eternity of cats that have not yet escaped from the bag".Brigham Young, Great Salt Lake City Tabernacle, June 19, 1853 Journal of Discourses Vol. 1, p. 188
"Although Joseph Smith, Jr. introduced the Nauvoo Endowment in 1842, he came to understand that his work in establishing the "fullness of the priesthood" was not yet complete.

The initial second anointing took place on September 28, 1843, when Joseph and his wife Emma Smith received it.[6] During Smith's lifetime, the second anointing was given to at least 20 men and 17 women (Buerger 1983, pp. 22–23). After Smith was murdered by a mob in June 1844, ................who performed nearly 600 second anointings (some to polygamous unions) before the temple was closed on February 7, 1846 (Buerger 1983, p. 26).
After the trek to Utah, the LDS Church did not conduct further second anointings until late 1866.[7] Beginning in the 1870s, second anointings were performed vicariously (Buerger 1983, p. 30). In the 1880s, then President of the Church John Taylor was concerned that too many second anointings were being performed, and he instituted a series of procedural safeguards, requiring recommendation by a stake president, and a guideline that the ordinance "belonged particularly to old men" .......
By 1918, over 14,000 second anointings had been performed for the living and the dead..... Stake presidents were no longer allowed to recommend candidates for the ordinance, that privilege falling only to members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles (Buerger 1983, pp. 39–40). By 1941, just under 15,000 second anointings had been performed for the living, and just over 6,000 for the dead (Buerger 1983, p. 41). The church has not allowed historians to have access to second anointing records subsequent to 1941; therefore, the current frequency of anointings is obscure. However, it is known that in 1942, 13 of the church's 32 General Authorities had not received the second anointing (Buerger 1983, p. 41). By 1949, the practice had been comparatively "practically discontinued" by the LDS Church, though in 1981 it continued "to be performed--albeit on a smale scale".[8]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_anointing

The 7th degree is the completion of the 3rd Degree - and it crosses over from Freemasonry and into Mormonism-
www.lifeaftermormonism.net/profiles/blogs/want-your-calling-and-election
"during the first endowment you are given certain blessings to become a king and a priest (queen and priestess) to the most high God, and these blessings are conditional on you remaining worthy of them. With the second endowment, the conditions are removed as you have already proven your faithfulness and entitlement to the blessings."

Anonymous said...

Only if and until until you Have your "Calling and Election made SURE and sealed by the Holy Spirit Of Promise, you are NOT SAVED -KNOW IT

Baptism ? NO Believing? NO

Going to the Temple and getting the 3rd Degree? NO

And do not not call us, we will call you - and "We" will decide When and WHO

All LDS Quotes
http://emp.byui.edu/marrottr/CallElectSurJSBRMc.
htm

I see a connection to these Mormon Doctrines that TIE AND BIND - I think they are Wrong -

I understand that by accepting Mormon doctrine, one does distance themself from Jesus Christ-
That all became clear when I Got the 3rd Degree, but it is Hard to accept.

Ask yourself -" If Mormonism is not True, what would that mean about all of the Masonry/Mormon Temple Rites - including the old penalties?"

And I have already questioned both ways-
I have read and do read the BOM. The BOM condemns Freemasonry so does the POGP
Joseph Smith Freemason?
Jesus Christ said
Matt 5:I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his afootstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Jesus
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Journal_of_Discourses/Volume_19/No_Salvation_in_Ignorance,_etc.

If I am liar or mis-quoting please take me to TASK
"a man cannot be saved in ignorance"
Are you SAVED? Do you KNOW IT

Bob said...

OK, so I went ahead and prayed about whether or not I was correct in embracing the things within the Restored Gospel that God has already encouraged me to embrace, or whether I should follow your attempts to have me rely solely upon selected secular evidence filtered through your private interpretation. This is what happened.

1.First it required a great deal of humility to finally connect with God.
1.You provoke anything but humility.

2.God drew me near unto His presence.
2.You do not invite or encourage anyone to draw near unto the presence of God.

3.God filled me with His overwhelming love for me, and also let me know He yearns to share His love with you.
3.You do not exhibit love at all; not your own or God’s.

4.God helped me feel His intentions to help me become prepared to receive all that He has, and also let me know that He yearns to help you become prepared to receive all that He has too.
4.You have never expressed intentions for me to become prepared to receive all that God has.

5.God did all of this through the grace of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5.You do not encourage, endorse, or operate through the grace of Jesus Christ or by the power of the Holy Ghost.

6.I asked God if after giving me so many witnesses, signs, and revelations to help me distinguish between how He works and how you work, if it would be an insult to Him for me to continue to entertain your invitations for me to lean unto the understanding of man rather than continue in the power of God. He said:
“THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
6.I guess maybe I should have prayed about your views and methods sooner. I’m sorry to have given you an opportunity to continue in ways that provide for you to tempt others away from the power and salvation of God. Yes, I know that I am continuing in the path of Salvation, because God continues to lead me unto Salvation through His power because of my faith in His Son Jesus Christ and by my willingness to cooperate with His Restored Gospel. You cannot compete with the power and love of God, or with the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. Sorry, I wish the best for you but we are done.

Please keep your comments in the HOUSEKEEPING section. You have agreed previously to stay there.

Anonymous said...

Here it is all laid out plain and simple nothing is held back - it is the LDS doctrines of Calling and Election made Sure and "The Holy Spirit of Promise- make of it what you will.

http://lds.org/ensign/1976/07/accepted-of-the-lord-the-doctrine-of-making-your-calling-and-election-sure?lang=eng

Humble Bob said he prayed (seems like he went in the drive thru lane) I think it was IN and OUT

Joseph Smith the Freemason?
Joseph Smith either learned or was too smart to learn anything from the Freemasons.
Joseph Smith took the Oaths and Covenants of Freemasonry, Swore Blood Oaths of secrecy , yet Joseph Smith not only breaks the Oaths and Covenants of the Religion of Freemasonry, Yes Religion of Freemasonry

In fact going beyond Breaking the Oaths and Covenants of Freemasonry Made in Masonic Temples- Joseph Smith incorporates the Masonic Religion, Temples and Blood Oaths Wholesale in to His "new" Religion,and calls it a Revelation derived from ancient Egyptian Mummie Text?

Seems that if you cannot or will not look at the Religion of the Freemasons, their Deadly and Foul Blood Oaths you will know what Joseph Smith and the early Brethern who were Masons knew.

The 3rd degree is a Mason/Mormon thing-
and so is the Royal Arch and Calling and Election made Sure.

The 7th degree is the completion of the 3rd Degree - and it crosses over from Freemasonry and into Mormonism- Read and compare you can go to IN and OUT again if you want.


D&C 131:
1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage(polygamy)]; 3 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. 4 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase. 5 (May 17th, 1843.) The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto ceternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood.
6 It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.

Are you Saved do you Know it?
Are You Saved or Ignorant of your Salvation?

Anonymous said...

Here is what the Freemasons say about Joseph Smith breaking His OATH and COVENANT to Masonry - It included stealing all of the Mason TEMPLE things including all of the Bloody OATHS - It Included the 3rd Degree and the Royal Arch THE RITE OF EXALTATION-

"We say to the priests of the Latter-day Church, you cannot enter our lodge rooms—you surrender all to an unholy priesthood. You have heretofore sacrificed the sacred obligations of our beloved Order, and we believe you would do the same again. Stand aside; we want none of you. Such a wound as you gave Masonry in Nauvoo is not easily healed, and no Latter-day Saint is, or can become a member of our Order in"

Now is that Not strange that the Freemason say that The Mormons "surrender all to un unholy preisthood" Wonder why? Also wonder Why the Masons did not invite the Mormons to Pray at IN and OUT!!!
"no Latter-day Saint is, or can become a member of our Order"

Basic is it That the Masons Excommuncated the Mormons and Executed Joseph Smith for Breaking His OATH and COVENANT of secrecy to Masonry.

How did the temple ceremony originate? Before Joseph Smith even thought of a temple, he
first became a Mason on March 15, 1842, and received the first degree. Then, he quickly rose
to the sublime degree.(1) Less than two months later, he obtained permission to set up his own
Masonic lodge in Nauvoo, IL, through which he elevated himself to Master Mason.(2) He was
so enthralled with Masonry that he began using Masonic terms in his sermons

Anonymous said...

Truth and History? The Royal Arch and the RITE OF EXALTATION is what it is all About. PERIOD. Sealed by the HOLY SPIRIT of Promise.
There is NO SALVATION in IGNORANCE....
Are you Saved do you Know it?
All of the Good things mean nothing Unless and Until your Calling and Election are made Sure. Sealed By the Holy Spirit of Promise - You will NOT go to Heaven Unless you are a Polygimist or are Married to One.If you are a Single Man or Woman or are not a Polyimist you are DAMNED.

Less than two months later, he started his own temple ceremony, using the
same room where the Masonic fraternity met to perform his rituals.(3) He claimed that through
his ceremony, he would produce a truer and higher level of Masonry, which he felt had anciently been revealed by God, but had degenerated. He incorporated the Masonic motifs of sun, moon, planets, stars, the beehive, compass, clasped hands, and the phrase Holiness to the Lord, all of which can be found on the structure of the temple as well as inside. Also, included was the all-seeing eye, which Mormons are told is God’s, but in actuality is identified in occult literature as the Diva, or the Cyclopean Eye, the ancient third eye of spiritual insight used by the Chaldeans, Egyptians, Greeks and other pagan religions. (The Mormon Missionaries, Chapter 7.)
Smith also incorporated the Masonic apron, secret handshakes, death penalties if divulged, the
five points of fellowship, special garments with markings of the square and compass, and the
giving of a new name. In addition, he also borrowed ancient rituals from other cultic religions of
washings, anointings, oaths, covenants, as well as the Gnostic ceremony of receiving special
passwords. The secret passwords were so one could pass by the sentries who guarded the
gates of heaven. Also taken from Masonry, was the concept of achieving Godhood, which
stated that the Master Mason was “a god in the making...” who would receive the “triple crown
of godhood:”

The Masons say to the Mormons
"you surrender all to an unholy priesthood."
Grand Master J.M. Orr of Utah" made this ABOVE statement in 1878
www.deseretnews.com/article/695265549/A-Mormon-Mason-New-grand-master-is-the-first-in-a-century-who-is-LDS.html

Here is something to chew on, it comes from the BOM - Take this to IN and OUT .

Except ye repent ye shall be smitten, even unto destruction.Yea, wo be unto you because of that great abomination which has come among you; and ye have united yourselves unto it, yea, to that secret band which was established by Gadianton!

"I guess maybe I should have prayed about your views and methods sooner"

Anonymous said...

By the way I think I am very much on subject.
HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE and CALLING AND ELECTION MADE SURE go hand in hand, no pun intended.

The Freemason Version is the 3rd Degree as a Promise and the Completion of the 3rd Degree is the Rite of Exaltation the Royal Arch

The Mormon Version is the 3rd Degree as a Promise and in Mormonsim You are Ordained unto Godhood in having your Calling and Election Made Sure, sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise- and the Promise is sealed and you are ordained unto IT - that is what makes it SURE.

For both Masons and Mormons, Exaltation the 3rd Degree is the Highest that they can be ordained unto in this Life.
D&C131:1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage(polygamy)
" for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory."

Inasmuch as the calling and election made sure is the greatest of all blessings received in this life, what greater counsel may Latter-day Saints receive than the following from the Prophet Joseph Smith:

“Then I would exhort you to go on and continue to call upon God until you make your calling and election sure for yourselves, by obtaining this more sure word of prophecy, and wait patiently for the promise until you obtain it.” (Teachings, p. 299.)

David Littlefield said...

Most of these comments have nothing to do wit the Holy Spirit of Promise, but are on the topic of Masonry. Please make such comments in the Masonry posts.

Thank you.

Michael said...

Some additional thoughts on the process of being prepared through the Holy Ghost for the Sealing of the Holy Spirit of Promise.

Elder James E. Talmage offered this quote of Parley P. Pratt to help explain the “Effect of the Holy Ghost on the Individual—‘An intelligent being, in the image of God, possesses every organ, attribute, sense, sympathy, affection, of will, wisdom, love, power and gift, which is possessed by God himself. But these are possessed by man in his rudimental state in a subordinate sense of the word. Or, in other words, these attributes are in embryo, and are to be gradually developed. They resemble a bud, a germ, which gradually develops into bloom, and then, by progress, produces the mature fruit after its own kind. The gift of the Holy Spirit adapts itself to all these organs or attributes. It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and adapts them by the gift of wisdom to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity. It develops 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 man. 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.’—Parley P. Pratt, Key to Theology, pp. 96, 97 (4th ed.)” (James E. Talmage, A Study of the Articles of Faith, p. 438).

As Jesus explained in John chapter 14, one cannot be successful with the first Comforter without receiving the Second Comforter, and then having Him and the Father make Their home with the successful individual. Therefore progress with the Holy Ghost unto the Sealing of the Holy Spirit of Promise encompasses the process of being Sealed unto the Second Comforter and the Father as well.

In explaining this process from the perspective of growing unto oneness with Christ, Robert L. Millet describes the contrast of those who are not succeeding in this process and those who are. “One dramatic evidence of apostasy in the world today is a growing indifference toward and among the sons and daughters of God. ‘Because iniquity shall abound,’ the Savior taught before his death, ‘the love of men shall wax cold.’ (Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:30; compare D&C 45:27.) ‘It is one evidence,’ the Prophet Joseph Smith explained, ‘that men are unacquainted with the principles of godliness to behold the contraction [shrinking] of affectionate feelings and lack of charity in the world.’ On the other hand, those who come unto Christ become as Christ. They partake of his divine nature, receive his attributes, and come to love as he loves. ‘The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs’ (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 241)” (Robert L. Millet, Steadfast and Immovable, p. 84).

Notice how love, affection, charity, compassion, sympathy, etc. are again emphasized as the attributes said to be divinely enhanced by those who are growing more one with the Godhead.

The Sealing process of the Holy Spirit of Promise can be pointed to, but can only truly be understood by experiencing its sanctifying power firsthand.

Michael said...

“It is beyond human comprehension to understand the essence of such spiritual qualities as total altruism and love. Even the existence of such feelings is beyond our comprehension; we seem to require an incentive to perform any act that does not promise us some form of personal gain. That is why a quality such as altruism can only be imparted to us from Above, and only those of us who have experienced it can understand it” Rav Michael Laitman, Attaining the Worlds Beyond, p. 7).

The quality of altruism here referred to is equated with the LDS concept of “charity…the pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47), which is the grace-imparted fruit that comes from truly learning to know God via the Holy Ghost. Some concepts more easily seen in the word altruism that may not always be emphasized with the word charity, are the aspects of being all-sacrificing (completely selfless) and all-giving. The more one is able to succeed in coming to know God and becoming one with Him, the more one is filled with the love of God and becomes willing to sacrifice all things in order to help others come to know Him unto oneness as well.

It becomes their desire “to reconcile all things…in earth, [with] things in heaven” (Colossians 1:20). This process is provided by the Atonement of Christ and transforms the individual through its power to be able to take upon themselves the yoke of At-one-ment.

From the beginning of time, those who have found success in this process have found it most difficult to convey their newfound motives and powers to their fellowman.

“Because our vocabulary is limited by our perception of the world, which is connected to the concepts of time, space, and motion, we have no words to express or convey spiritual concepts. We have developed our whole vocabulary from being in this world, and thus, if we want to use mundane words to name spiritual phenomena, such words are inadequate.
It is difficult to find words that explain the experience of spirituality to someone who has never felt it. Although we may want to describe a spiritual object, we have only corporeal words to name it. If even a single concept does not find precise correspondence in words, the correct meaning of the entire science will be ruined. Thus, the problem of relating to the spiritual world without the appropriate words or language to describe it remains unsolved.
Every object and action in our world originates from a corresponding one in the spiritual world. Therefore, [those successful in this process] have found a reliable way to convey information and knowledge to one another. They use [symbols and rituals] (branches) in our material world to describe the corresponding objects and actions (roots) in the spiritual world.
This language was developed by people who attained the spiritual worlds while still living in our world, and accurately knew these correspondences…
From this we can understand the odd names that we find in [the ordinances and ceremonies associated the priesthood]… Nevertheless, this language is very accurate because there is a precise and unique correspondence between each root and its branch.
It is no wonder that there is such a correspondence, as the creators of the language of the branches simultaneously existed in both the spiritual and the physical worlds. This is why it is impossible to replace even a single word, and however absurd it may seem, the branch should exactly correspond to the root…Meanwhile, as people who work on themselves [within the ordinances and ceremonies of the priesthood] ascend spiritually, their eyes begin to open and other worlds become visible. Thus, while still living in this world, they attain all the worlds. For them, the seemingly absurd language of [symbols and ritual] becomes the language of actions, thoughts, and sensations…” (Rav Michael Laitman, Basic Concepts in Kabbalah, ch. 8).

Michael said...

This is how we can begin to understand these declarations in the Doctrine and Covenants:
“And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live” (D&C 84:19-22).

It is in this way that God has prescribed for mankind to grow into His fullness (face of God…and live), through the transformational process of the Holy Spirit of Promise (knowledge of God/power of godliness manifest), and to be able to communicate and encourage one another to do likewise in a systematic manner.

It is not the ordinance in and of itself that “conform[s the individual in]to the image of [God’s] Son” (Romans 8:29), but it is the preciseness of the ordinance that gives the individuals involved the means by which to adequately communicate with others who are experiencing the same divine transformation and with those who are desiring to experience it also.

As mentioned before, “At the beginning of our Endowment Ceremony it is taught that if the participants are true and faithful, the day will come when they will be chosen, called up and anointed unto the fulfillment of specified blessings, but whereas they are now [within the Endowment Ceremony] anointed only to become such. The realization of said blessings depends upon their faithfulness.”

Unfortunately, since it “is difficult to find words that explain the experience of spirituality to someone who has never felt it” (Rav Michael Laitman, Basic Concepts in Kabbalah, ch. 8), the ordinances and symbols associated with the priesthood are often misunderstood. They are often unknown or generally explained in a secular context to non-participants. Those who are unacquainted with God and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit of Promise have mistakenly thought that somehow participants in these ordinances have sought to bypass the sanctifying blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ through the secret/sacred nature of said ordinances. This cannot be further from the truth. When used correctly, these ordinances are meant to accelerate the participant’s hope and use of the Atonement and Holy Spirit to obtain the fullness of God. This means that they learn to embrace God unto oneness. It is impossible to bypass God and the blessing which come through the Atonement, in order to obtain the fullness of God through the Atonement. It makes no sense. However, there have been some participants in these holy ordinances who have not succeeded in progressing through the Holy Spirit of Promise and have discarded them as useless and misleading.

Michael said...

To those on this path in his day, the prophet Isaiah warned:
“Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them” (Isaiah 1:10-14).

He then offers the people the remedy to their misunderstanding and misuse of the holy ordinances of God:
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” Isaiah 1:18.

All of the things associated with the Gospel of Jesus Christ are meant to fulfill the same purpose for which John wrote his epistle: “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full” 1 John 1:3-4).

This is the same Spirit that inspired D&C 84:19-22.

We can know if we are truly progressing in the Holy Sprit of Promise by the fruits of our inward desires. “It inspires, develops, cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity” (James E. Talmage, A Study of the Articles of Faith, p. 438); “those who come unto Christ become as Christ. They partake of his divine nature, receive his attributes, and come to love as he loves” (Robert L. Millet, Steadfast and Immovable, p. 84). The more one is able to succeed in coming to know God and becoming one with Him, the more one is filled with the love of God and becomes willing to sacrifice all things in order to help others come to know Him unto oneness as well.

Anonymous said...

More than anything, David Littlefield (1957-2013), will be remembered for his generous spirit. David was born to Marilyn and Glenn Littlefield in 1957. He had an adventurous childhood with his four siblings, full of bike rides and schemes. One of the most significant turning points of his life was choosing to go on an LDS mission to Roanoke, Virginia. While there, he learned to love and serve, and he imagined the kind of life he wanted to create for himself. When he returned, he met his sweetheart Mary Martin and pulled up to her house on a motorcycle for their very first date. They fell in love and were married in the Salt Lake City LDS temple. They went on to have four kids, and he was the best Dad anyone could ask for. He was always hilarious, always gentle, always looking for the best in his kids. He taught his children to be strong, to laugh at themselves, and to always keep an eye out for others. At birthday parties for his kids, nieces, and nephews, he would sneak out into the garage, put on a gorilla suit, and surprise the family by running off with the birthday child. During Christmas would dress up as you-know-who while all the kids, and the adults that could be persuaded, told him what they wanted. He would also show up in costume for neighbors, ward members, and families that he knew needed a little Christmas cheer that year. He would take off late at night to drop off piles of presents for families and neighbors that might not otherwise have had them. He spent a significant amount of time fixing up a group home for children and often volunteered for the overnight shift at a homeless shelter. Too many times to count, he gave money to people that were struggling even if that meant he would get further behind on his own bills. He knew many of the homeless near his work by name and would take time out of his day to talk with them and give them a meal or some financial assistance. He opened up his home to families that needed a place to stay. In at least two instances, he was able to save someone’s life. In the halls during an LDS ward meeting, he administered emergency mouth-to-mouth to a baby that had stopped breathing when no one else knew what to do. And, once in the drive through of a Jack-in-the-Box, he noticed a patio diner choking, got out of his car, did the Heimlich maneuver, and got back in line to order a burger and his large Diet Coke. David loved studying the LDS religion and would spend hours marking up articles and writing his own books. He loved sharing what he learned with others through discussions and his blog. He was always up for a lively debate and always kept a good humor even when others didn’t share his views. He served diligently in every church calling he had, and was never hesitant to visit a family, give blessings, or take someone to the hospital in the middle of the night. David worked harder than anyone we know. He often spent 14-hour days toiling over a project or trying to meet a deadline. When things got tough, he would stay positive and just work harder. He never really took a vacation or had a break in his whole adult life. But he never complained because he truly believed that he was doing it for the people that he loved. For his family, for his friends, for the ability to help those that were in need. David gave so much to everyone he encountered, always with his jolly attitude, his good natured playfulness, and his love of life. For all of us, David, thank you

http://www.meaningfulfunerals.net/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1992710&fh_id=13647

http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/Batesville/guestbook.aspx?n=david-littlefield&pid=163462504