Home » The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints » LDS Deep Doctrine » The Endowment (The Spiritual Gifts )
Re: The Endowment [message #3700 is a reply to message #3699] |
Thu, 07 November 2019 14:30   |
 |
brrgilbert
Messages: 282 Registered: December 2012 Location: Nampa, Idaho
|
Senior Member |
|
|
We shall now begin to speak about "Purification." It has to do with "exposure" to the Endowments: The Light of Christ, The Holy Ghost, and the Spirit of Christ; it has to do with "associations" that bring about "emulations."
Quote:The Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence. It is more powerful in expanding the mind, enlightening the understanding, and storing the intellect with present knowledge, of a man who is of the literal seed of Abraham, than one that is a Gentile, though it may not have half as much visible effect upon the body; for as the Holy Ghost falls upon one of the literal seed of Abraham, it is calm and serene; and his whole soul and body are only exercised by the pure spirit of intelligence; while the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually of the seed of Abraham. That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost. In such a case, there may be more of a powerful effect upon the body, and visible to the eye, than upon an Israelite, while the Israelite at first might be far before the Gentile in pure intelligence.
Change in awareness; consciousness is an internal process. It doesn't happen from the "outside ==> in," but from the "inside ==> out." It is for this reason that the "Outward," Mosaic Law was a lesser covenant. Christ came and would have us "internalize" those Laws. Perfection, being defined outwardly by example and internalized by the Light of Christ, provides the "reference" for the "balancing of the scales" of Justification. When we are "internally" justified, we are not subject to the chaos of accusation; guilt and/or the chaos of condemnation; shame - the first being of the mind (thoughts) and the second being of the heart (emotions.) By learning that "Judgment is meant for identification and not condemnation," we can uncouple the subjective damage of misdirected emotion and focus on the objective rather than concealment. Enlightenment allows us to step forward and be responsible, ready to learn how to overcome by FAITH.
Quote:
Titus 1:15 King James Version (KJV)
15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Quote:Romans 14:
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Internal Things)
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
20 For meat (As opposed to "Milk" in our instance) destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
And so what is to be learned? The Kingdom of God has to be established within a person before it can be established "outside." Zion, as "purity of heart" has to be established within a person before it can be established "outside." It has everything to do with increased exposure to the "Light" and to the "Spirit" of Christ for enlightenment and nurturing. It has everything to do with exposure to the Holy Ghost and "pure knowledge and intelligence." It has everything to do with the eventuality of "finding" and "going" to the Source of such, rather than downstream where the pure waters of Truth from the Fountain may be muddied.

"I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies."
The Little Prince by St. Exupery
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
Current Time: Wed Apr 30 00:34:18 MDT 2025
|