Home » Calling and Election Made Sure » How You Received Your Calling and Election Made Sure » I've always had it...
| I've always had it... [message #1547] |
Sat, 08 December 2012 18:34  |
marc
Messages: 20
Registered: July 2012
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Junior Member |
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For as long as I can remember, I have always known that the church is true. I have always known that the Book of Mormon is true. I have always known that Jesus Christ lives. I have never needed to pray about it.
I find it interesting that when I was in the MTC over 20 years ago, praying and pleading with the Lord for that magical experience that I might know that the Book of Mormon was true. It never came. I don't know how much time had passed before I realized that I had known all along. I had felt the Spirit confirm it once before and I knew that I felt the Spirit but I did not know that that was my magical moment.
I have always chosen to be obedient. Despite having been raised in a dysfunctional home, suffering physical and emotional abuse until I left for my mission (why I never rebelled is a miracle). I have to this day never once taken one puff of a cigarette or sipped from any container of alcohol.
Although I have always been obedient and have had my sights on nothing less that exaltation, desiring my calling and election since I was young, I did not realize that I had already been given this gift until I had consciously received it. No wonder all my supplication and lengthy fasts yielded no magical moment. I have had it all along. And even as I type it, I can feel the Spirit confirm it.
And now that I look back on my life, even from my childhood, I see the signs were there all along. I have escaped accidents that should have been fatal, witnessed miracles, have received gifts in my patriarchal blessing, etc.
I don't know if everything that has been promised me was given because of foreknowledge of my desires in life or if my desires in life are the direct result of my patriarchal blessing. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? My patriarchal blessing and the gifts, promises and revelations therein are an uncanny, flawless fit.
My calling and election has always been sure. I know that I will be caught up among the faithful when Christ makes His entrance from heaven to reign on the earth during the millennium.
[Updated on: Sat, 08 December 2012 18:37] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: I've always had it... [message #1550 is a reply to message #1549] |
Sun, 09 December 2012 14:47  |
bishop
Messages: 144
Registered: July 2010
Location: USA
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Senior Member |
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Coachmarc, you have just confirmed my belief that one does not have to be ancient and well-read to receive one's C&E. There will be many, many from now on through the Millenium who will grow up with this level of spiritual consciousness.Thank you so much for sharing your story!
Bishop
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| Re: I've always had it... [message #1764 is a reply to message #1547] |
Sat, 29 December 2012 12:06 |
marc
Messages: 20
Registered: July 2012
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Junior Member |
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It's akin to receiving the Holy Ghost when we're confirmed members. We are given a gift. Just like a Christmas gift that you unwrap and make a part of your life. If you are given a gift, but leave it unopened collecting dust on a shelf, you haven't yet received it. If you are given a GPS, for example, until you unwrap the gift, open it up, plug it in and begin using it, you truly haven't received it.
"...I say unto you, RECEIVE the Holy Ghost."
The Spirit is not a stray that follows you around until you need it. The Spirit is someone you take with you everywhere you go as your guide. You follow the Spirit.
In this context, I was not aware that I was given the gift of my calling and election until I had acknowledged the gift. Likewise, I couldn't receive it until I knew that it had been placed before me. You cannot receive something that isn't first given to you.
[Updated on: Sat, 29 December 2012 12:07] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: I've always had it... [message #1766 is a reply to message #1764] |
Sat, 29 December 2012 16:18 |
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JulesGP
Messages: 357
Registered: May 2012
Location: Davis County, UT
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Senior Member |
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coachmarc wrote on Sat, 29 December 2012 12:06It's akin to receiving the Holy Ghost when we're confirmed members. We are given a gift. Just like a Christmas gift that you unwrap and make a part of your life. If you are given a gift, but leave it unopened collecting dust on a shelf, you haven't yet received it. If you are given a GPS, for example, until you unwrap the gift, open it up, plug it in and begin using it, you truly haven't received it.
"...I say unto you, RECEIVE the Holy Ghost."
The Spirit is not a stray that follows you around until you need it. The Spirit is someone you take with you everywhere you go as your guide. You follow the Spirit.
In this context, I was not aware that I was given the gift of my calling and election until I had acknowledged the gift. Likewise, I couldn't receive it until I knew that it had been placed before me. You cannot receive something that isn't first given to you.
PERFECT explanation Marc!! 
~Jules
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| Re: I've always had it... [message #1772 is a reply to message #1764] |
Sat, 29 December 2012 18:45 |
TruthSeeker
Messages: 13
Registered: December 2012
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Junior Member |
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coachmarc wrote on Sat, 29 December 2012 12:06It's akin to receiving the Holy Ghost when we're confirmed members. We are given a gift. Just like a Christmas gift that you unwrap and make a part of your life. If you are given a gift, but leave it unopened collecting dust on a shelf, you haven't yet received it. If you are given a GPS, for example, until you unwrap the gift, open it up, plug it in and begin using it, you truly haven't received it.
"...I say unto you, RECEIVE the Holy Ghost."
The Spirit is not a stray that follows you around until you need it. The Spirit is someone you take with you everywhere you go as your guide. You follow the Spirit.
In this context, I was not aware that I was given the gift of my calling and election until I had acknowledged the gift. Likewise, I couldn't receive it until I knew that it had been placed before me. You cannot receive something that isn't first given to you.
Thanks Coachmarc for expanding on this further. Appreciate it.
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| Re: I've always had it... [message #2525 is a reply to message #2519] |
Sun, 02 June 2013 22:45 |
zone
Messages: 17
Registered: March 2013
Location: Middle Earth
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Junior Member |
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How is the seal of the HsoP different than calling and election? I thought they were the same? Or maybe I just misunderstand this statement. You stated you already have had your Calling and Election.
I actually have a similar experience always knowing the church is true. Ive just always known. I did still receive a strong witness everything was true but I have always still known. I remember the first time I read the book of mormon. I was like, wow this is what I believe in... It all makes sense now. I realized what I always knew to be true and why I knew it to be true which was strong enough for me. Not my calling and election but still.
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| Re: I've always had it... [message #2542 is a reply to message #1764] |
Tue, 04 June 2013 23:21 |
kenh
Messages: 62
Registered: June 2012
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Member |
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coachmarc wrote on Sat, 29 December 2012 12:06It's akin to receiving the Holy Ghost when we're confirmed members. We are given a gift. Just like a Christmas gift that you unwrap and make a part of your life. If you are given a gift, but leave it unopened collecting dust on a shelf, you haven't yet received it. If you are given a GPS, for example, until you unwrap the gift, open it up, plug it in and begin using it, you truly haven't received it.
"...I say unto you, RECEIVE the Holy Ghost."
The Spirit is not a stray that follows you around until you need it. The Spirit is someone you take with you everywhere you go as your guide. You follow the Spirit.
In this context, I was not aware that I was given the gift of my calling and election until I had acknowledged the gift. Likewise, I couldn't receive it until I knew that it had been placed before me. You cannot receive something that isn't first given to you.
I truly can relate Marc. It was twenty-five years after I was given the gift of my calling and election made sure before I understood what I had been given. Some people seem to take longer to realize just how blessed they really are. I was blessed with sweet wonderful gifts and blessing throughout those years, but it took a series of events and several promptings of the Holy Spirit (I call them loving whacks with a spiritual two by four over the head) before I went back to God with a pleading heart to understand fully just what had happened to me all those years before. What an epiphany it was! Thank you for sharing.
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| Re: I've always had it... [message #2554 is a reply to message #1547] |
Thu, 06 June 2013 01:53 |
marc
Messages: 20
Registered: July 2012
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Junior Member |
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Thank you kenh.
zone, I am still learning. I have always lived with my eye on the goal. I have experienced many miracles and signs in my life. So when I said I've always known, I have always known, or rather, I have always believed, had faith, conviction, etc because of my desires and my actions based on those desires. But you are correct. Technically, to have one's calling and election is to have the Holy Spirit of Promise, which I finally fully realized after hours of prayer and wrestling with the Spirit before my last post. I guess there's knowing without knowing and then there is knowing. It's so much easier to explain after the fact. The Spirit confirmed to me after hours of prayer and being obedient to what I finally needed to learn and experience for a number of months. Like Nephi, I believed these things and had complete faith that the Lord would answer. And He finally did.
From Bruce R. McConkie:
One of the functions assigned and delegated to the Holy spirit is to seal, and the following expressions are identical in thought content:
To be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise;
To be justified by the Spirit;
To be approved by the Lord; and
To be ratified by the Holy Ghost.
Accordingly, any act which is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise is one which is justified by the Spirit, one which is approved by the Lord, one which is ratified by the Holy Ghost....
As revealed to Joseph Smith, the Lord's law in this respect is: "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 the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), 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.)
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.
Since "the Comforter knoweth all things" (D. & C. 42:17), it follows that it is not possible "to lie to the Holy Ghost" and thereby gain an unearned or undeserved blessing, as Ananias and Sapphira found out to their sorrow. (Acts 5:1-11.) And so this provision that all things must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, if they are to have "efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead" (D. & C. 132:7), is the Lord's system for dealing with absolute impartiality with all men, and for giving all men exactly what they merit, neither adding to nor diminishing from.
When the Holy Spirit of Promise places his ratifying seal upon a baptism, or a marriage, or any covenant, except that of having one's calling and election made sure, the seal is a conditional approval or ratification; it is binding in eternity only in the event of subsequent obedience to the terms and conditions of whatever covenant is involved.
But when the ratifying seal of approval is placed upon someone whose calling and election is thereby made sure--because there are no more conditions to be met by the obedient person--this act of being sealed up unto eternal life is of such transcendent import that of itself it is called being sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, which means that in this crowning sense, being so sealed is the same as having one's calling and election made sure. Thus, to be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise is to be sealed up unto eternal life; and to be sealed up unto eternal life is to be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. And of this usage of terms, a usage which is wholly misunderstood unless the whole concept of the sealing power of the Spirit is understood, the scriptures and other prophetic utterances bear repeated witness. (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:335-336)
When I was reborn last year or in other words, born of the Spirit, (even though I was baptized about thirty-five years ago at age eight), it was such a tremendous experience. I was finally sanctified and truly felt to sing the song of redeeming love. It was overwhelming. But as we read above, to be justified by the Spirit also is indeed very humbling. I am excited, though humbled by whatever comes next. And I wait patiently.
[Updated on: Thu, 06 June 2013 02:29] Report message to a moderator |
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