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Re: The Fastest Way to Make Your Calling and Election Sure
https://elliaison.org/forum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=3619&th=129#msg_3619
The idea of receiving your C&E by just asking for it, without having some major trial first, contradicts a lot of what I've read elsewhere. Even the temple mentions being "true and faithful in all things," which I always thought implied testing. Why do we have this common idea of needing an Abrahamic test first if it's not true?]]>loveoverbooks2018-07-24T03:01:23-00:00Re: The Fastest Way to Make Your Calling and Election Sure
https://elliaison.org/forum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=3618&th=129#msg_3618
The baptism of fire is a major step toward Calling and election. If fact, it is the gate by which we enter the path that leads to eternal life. If we have not received the baptism of fire, then we aren't even on the path that leads to eternal life. (For more detail on this statement, read The Path to Eternal Life - Part 1. Several times in the scriptures we are told that few find this gate that leads to eternal life.
Quote:
3 Nephi 27:33
33 And it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he said unto his disciples: Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work.
Doctrine and Covenants 132:22
22 For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.
3 Nephi 14:14
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:14
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
This means that it is elusive and not easy to come by. There is no shame in not having found the gate. It generally means that you are looking for the wrong thing. We also learn that those who have it might not recognize they have it.
Quote:
3 Nephi 9:20
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
For this reason, asking the three questions is still useful. if you've had the baptism of fire, and don't know it, then question 3 will help you to get the next step. if you have not, then question 3 will give you instructions needed to help you get the baptism of fire.
Some people say that the baptism of fire feels like fire from your head to your toe. This is not always the case. Look at Alma the Younger for example. See if you can find his baptism of fire experience. He doesn't mention feeling fire at all. But he tells us his experience in great detail so that we can understand and relate to his experience.
There are several other examples of the baptism of fire in the scriptures showing that it isn't always "fire" that is felt. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery didn't mention feeling fire either. Fire is a symbol of purification that must happen prior to receiving the Holy Ghost. Fire kills impurities and is the symbol of the remission of sins or the removing of sinful impurity that prevents us from receiving the Holy Ghost that can only dwell in clean temples. If you received the Holy Ghost, or a remission of sins, then you have received the baptism of fire.
Peace and love,
Seeker
]]>Seeker2018-07-24T00:50:25-00:00Re: The Fastest Way to Make Your Calling and Election Sure
https://elliaison.org/forum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=3616&th=129#msg_3616
loveoverbooks2018-07-23T22:49:13-00:00Re: The Book in General
https://elliaison.org/forum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=3569&th=14#msg_3569
james2017-05-03T06:40:25-00:00Re: The Book in General
https://elliaison.org/forum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=3565&th=14#msg_3565
I ordered it about a month ago, 'got a thanks for your order' email, and haven't heard anything since.
A friend at work has had the same experience.
Thanks in advance!]]>james2017-02-23T00:21:54-00:00Re: The Book in General
https://elliaison.org/forum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=3415&th=14#msg_3415
I reread your above post today and agree with you. You make really good points. Why do anything that alienates you from your target audience.
Hopefully Elliaison will consider this when working on future books and printing new editions of existing books.
Peace,
Amonhi]]>Amonhi2015-02-02T23:07:40-00:00Re: The Book in General
https://elliaison.org/forum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=3406&th=14#msg_3406
...was a member of the Church of the Firstborn. I can hardly write these words, this is sacred to me. I am just a regular person. I was stunned...literally stunned by the personal revelation. It came while I was reading the D&C. The Lord spoke to me. I knew it was Him speaking to me but I was paying attention to the first part of the the paragraphs...but at the end is where he told me. I knew he had told me I was in the Church of the Firstborn... but I didn't make the connection of what that meant until I read the book by Elliaison that day. It came in the mail..."EXACTLY" the day I needed it to be there. This was the work of the Lord..a great blessing to me. It helped me connect the dots and understand what he was telling me. When it came together and hit me light a thunderbolt. I gasped! I gasped again....then I jumped up with my scriptures to my heart and yelled and cried out with joy...literally jumping around with joy holding my scriptures. No one was home that day. I could praise my God as loud as I wanted with joy. What joy!!! I know it was because of the Atonement that it was even possible. The Plan of Salvation is wonderful.
Can someone tell me how to join the group for the Church of the Firstborn?
I ask that humbly and with trembling....we are bought with a price...through the sufferings of our Lord.
D&C 78:17-21 my favorite scripture now]]>sunlightbjt2015-01-09T05:41:14-00:00Re: The Book in General
https://elliaison.org/forum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=2364&th=14#msg_2364
Thanks for posting this is such a way as to protect my identity, but I have no problem with anyone knowing that it was from me - especially as I offered it constructively. To further clarify, it seems to me that if the purpose of the book is to get people (who are already comfortable with the structure, curriculum and unquestioning agreement with church leaders that they currently "enjoy") to open up and look beyond the correlated teachings and explore the mysteries on their own, then it might be a good idea to let them figure out on their own that there is a gap between what the correlated curriculum teaches and what Peter, Joseph, and Elders McConkie and Romney taught so openly - this rather than possibly alienating them so early in the book. By pointing it out up front, you (the collective "you") may lose those very people you are trying to reach. I'm very big on the idea that if, in my teaching, I alienate those I am trying to reach, I am ultimately an ineffective teacher. To be effective, I need to get the message across in a way that that they will be willing to receive it. Otherwise, I am simply unsuccessful.
Of course, I recognize the irony of criticizing the approach of a book that successfully helped my wife and I better understand the principles and lead us to explore more deeply these promises. May I express, then, my appreciation of the efforts of Elliaison, and we do look forward to the next publication.
In all sincerity
Scott]]>scootd282013-04-08T02:33:29-00:00Re: The Book in General
https://elliaison.org/forum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=2363&th=14#msg_2363
Someone who liked the book gave it to his sister who didn't get past the introduction to the book. here is the account...
Quote:
I gave the Eliasson book to my sister. she read about 5 pages and said she would not read it. The reason is that in the beginning of it, it casts what I would call passive-aggressive dispersions on the church by saying that C&E should not be talked about, and that such is a brilliant design of Satan, the implication being that the Church itself (which doesn't talk about it) is complicit with this design.
She personally understands that the doctrine of C&E is certainly true, but she is immediately turned off by the implied but not overt criticism of the Church. I occurs to me that the book might be more effective, reaching more people, if especially this were stated differently.
Why am I sharing this? Just sharing an insight that the group might want to take into consideration.
In the introduction to the book there is a section that talks about why the doctrine is not discussed openly and how Satan spreads lies that prevent people from sharing their experiences or testimonies or speaking from first hand experience like we do with gaining testimonies or other faith building experiences. She seems to be saying that the Church does not openly talk of this doctrine and so is being implicated as in league with or influenced by the Devil and his doctrines. So, she decided not to read the book any further.
I am willing to guess that she has heard the doctrines that that section of the book is trying to dispel and possibly from leaders in the church at some level and is buying into them. In which case, just as the book points out, Her ears are stopped so that she will not hear from those who know from firsthand experience. And the result is that she will misses out on the information that has helped so many to receive the promises for themselves.
And yes, that information is found in the church. I found it in the church. But it is hidden for the seekers to find.
And the Elliaison's did a good job using those church accepted references where people did talk about it.
I am also reminded of the quote by Joseph Smith on the back of the book which says, "Peter exhorts us to make our calling and election sure...These principles ought to be taught..."
Amonhi
]]>Amonhi2013-04-08T01:42:50-00:00Re: The Book in General
https://elliaison.org/forum/index.phpindex.php?t=rview&goto=2340&th=14#msg_2340
http://elliaison.org/books--articles.html?m
You can also email Elliaison at the address indicated, and ask what other books might be available at this time.