How Do We Know When We Have Built Our House

on “The Rock of the Gospel”?

           Just following the path of Faith, Repentance, Baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost as outlined above, is not in itself enough to be built on the rock.  It simply means that we have all that is needed to build on the rock.  From the time between receiving the Holy Ghost and receiving your Calling & Election there are two main areas of growth which must occur.  They are:

• • Having the “Change of Heart” that causes us to no-longer desire to do evil, but to do good continually thus being “born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters”. (Alma 19:33, Mosiah 27:25)
  • Learning to trust in the “Spirit” and stop relying on the “Arm of Flesh”. (2 Ne. 28:31, 2 Ne. 4:34, D&C 1:19)

           The “Change of Heart” is not discussed in this book, but we will give our thoughts in a future book called “The Final Repentance”.

           Trusting in the spirit is essential to receiving the promise of eternal life which is known as the calling & election made sure.  This special spiritual witness is known as the Holy Spirit of Promise.  If one is not familiar with the witness and communications of the Holy Ghost, then they will not be able to receive the greater promises and blessings which only come through the Spirit.  Regarding this spiritual sealing and witness, the Lord taught,

“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.”  – D&C 132:7

           This includes all the ordinances including Baptism, Sacrament, Endowment, Family Sealings and even the more rare Second Endowment.  Regardless of the ordinance and who performs it, it must be sealed or ratified by the Holy Spirit of Promise or it is not binding on God and it is of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead.

           This is the key to knowing that you have built on the sure foundation.  This is because the spirit will give its sealing witness, which is the realization or promise of the blessing, only after we meet the spiritual criteria for that blessings.  This entirely places God in control of determining your worthiness.  Those who receive the ordinances unworthily will not receive the blessings associated with those covenants nor the seal by the Holy Spirit of Promise until they become worthy.

           Perhaps you have wondered what happens to those who lied to Bishops and Stake Presidents to go to the temple for example.  As much as our leaders have spiritual discernment, some still are able to receive ordinances while they are not worthy or ready.  The Holy Spirit of Promise acts as a failsafe.  Though they may receive the ordinance, until God gives the final stamp of approval, the ordinance is considered to be of no effect, in this world, or out of this world.

           As an extension of this same Holy Spirit of Promise, it is through that spirit that we receive our calling & election made sure.  A person must learn to recognize and trust in the witness of the Holy Ghost and specifically the promises it makes because the person receives all blessings through this same means.

           One's calling & election is not simply received by hearing the voice of the Lord, but that voice, which cannot lie must proclaim your exaltation.  Joseph Smith loved this subject and constantly encouraged all people to this end.  He taught;

“Now for the secret and grand key.  Though they might hear the voice of God and know that Jesus was the Son of God, this would be no evidence that their election and calling was made sure, that they had part with Christ, and were joint heirs with him.  They then would want that more sure word of prophecy, that they were sealed in the heavens and had the promise of eternal life in the kingdom of God.  Then, having this promise sealed unto them, it was an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast.  Though the thunders might roll and lightnings flash, and earthquakes bellow, and war gather thick around, yet this hope and knowledge would support the soul in every hour of trial, trouble and tribulation.  Then knowledge through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the grand key that unlocks the glories and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.  (TPJS, Section Six 1843-44, p.298)

 

“It is one thing to be on the mount and hear the excellent voice, etc., and another to hear the voice declare to you, You have a part and lot in that kingdom”  - (May 21, 1843.)  DHC 5:401-403., TPJS, Section Six 1843-44, p.306

           Learning to recognize the Holy Ghost’s teachings and promptings will set us on the path by which we receive the Holy Spirit of Promise which witnesses to us that we have been sealed up unto eternal life, and thus we will find our calling & election made sure.

           The reason that obedience to the Holy Ghost is so important is because it will teach us everything we lack and walk us step by step back to the presence of God in a way that no man can do.

           When we receive the witness that we have a place secured in heaven, we know that we are now built on the rock from which we cannot fall.  We cannot receive our calling & election through the Holy Spirit of Promise if we are not firmly built upon that rock.

“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation;  that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”  - Hel. 5:12

 

           If we have built on the rock, then we have built on a foundation from which we can never fall.

           Although this scripture is true, it is not entirely clear.  It is correct to say that you cannot fall or accidentally slip off the rock, however, you can willfully step down from it.  The only way to get off this rock is by consciously choosing to leave the rock by blaspheming the Holy Ghost, (D&C 132:27).  That is a topic by itself and will not be addressed here.

           While on the rock we cannot fall.  Because this is the ONLY rock which is the sure foundation, all other foundations are sand.  Peter encouraged us to build on this rock and gave us the following insight:

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:  for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:"  - 2Pet. 1:10

           We know that we have built on the sure foundation when we receive our “Calling and Election made sure.”  The most basic definition of this special blessing is “a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life.”  In April of 1977, President Marion G. Romney taught in general conference, (Italics Added),

“Now, concerning the third phase of our theme, “the more sure word of prophecy” (D&C 131:5), which is obtained by making one’s “calling and election sure” (2 Pet. 1:10), the Prophet Joseph said:

“After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands) … then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, (given through the spirit), and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted.  When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 150.)

           In the eighty-eighth section of the Doctrine and Covenants is recorded a revelation in which the Lord, addressing some of the early Saints in Ohio, through the Prophet Joseph Smith said:

“I now send upon you another Comforter, even upon you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of promise;  which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is recorded in the testimony of John.

 

This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom.”  (D&C 88:3–4.)

           I should think that all faithful Latter-day Saints “would want that more sure word of prophecy, that they were sealed in the heavens and had the promise of eternal life in the kingdom of God.”  (History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5:388.)  - Marion G. Romney, “The Light of Christ,” Ensign, May 1977, 43

           That is the overall general idea, but what about the details?  How does it really happen?  Where, when, how, who is there, etc. Let’s now take a look at the real details…