How to have the Constant Companionship of the Holy Ghost
Elder Peterson,
The principle I am attempting to show in this letter is in my opinion the greatest defining factor between those who are worthy of and guided by the Holy Ghost and those who are not.
Elder John Taylor overheard someone ask the Prophet Joseph Smith how he could govern so many people so well. The Prophet replied, “I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves.” (In “The Organization of the Church,” Millennial Star, 15 Nov. 1851, p. 339)
The principle here is that the more people understand and follow correct principles, the more capable they are of governing themselves. The less people understand and follow correct principles the more they must be governed by someone else. When people do not know or follow correct principles, more laws and government follow-up, (police, judges, systems, etc), required because the less capable the people are to govern themselves in righteousness.
By this principle alone, we would expect that those in the Telestial world need more laws and government than those in the Celestial Sphere. This is why the Preparatory Gospel/law of Moses requires several books detailing all the expectations, laws and instructions people need to follow. It is geared to the Telestial who are ethically ignorant, self centered and willing to do evil to benefit themselves.
1 Timothy 1:9-10
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
Because they are willing to do evil to benefit themselves, they do not qualify to have the Holy Ghost, and more specifically they do not want the Holy Ghost telling them what to do because it would require them to place God’s will over their own. Because these people want to appear righteous outwardly, (but inwardly they are not), if you don’t know what to look for, it is easy to mistake a wicked person living the Preparatory Gospel for a righteous person living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is difficult because they both do the same things outwardly, (actions), but for different reasons inwardly, (motivations). And it is likely that a righteous person will be judged as wicked by people who do not understand this principle because they are looking for and judging by the wrong “fruits”. The key to understand and the point I want to make with this post is that the “action” doesn’t determine whether the person is wicked/sin or righteous, the “motivation” does. AND, there are no actions that are inherently sinful and no actions that are inherently righteous.
Understanding this makes the difference between recognizing the spiritual Church of Christ or mistaking it for the physical church. It’s the difference between physical ordinances that are dead works and spiritual ordinances that are true living works. It is the key to understanding how to breach the veil and come to God. This is the difference between being truly spiritual and looking spiritual but being full of “dead men’s bones”.
Here is an example taken from Mormon right out of the Book of Mormon, (Moroni 7), that illustrates this perfectly:
Two people are praying (action). The act of praying doesn’t determine if they are righteous or wicked. And, the act of praying is neither righteous nor wicked in an of itself, because…
- The first person is praying to be seen of men and receive the praise of men, or to obey the law, etc. (Motivation = not real Intent). God rejects the prayer and the person is not saved/received of God. This is exemplified in the Endowment by Adam praying at the Alter using grand gestures, vain repetition, the words of his mouth, etc. The Lord was silent.
- The second person is praying to truly commune with God in hopes that God will hear them and respond. (Motivation = real Intent). God accepts the prayer and the person is saved/received of God. This is exemplified in the Endowment by Adam praying at the Veil. There were no grand gestures, no vain repetition, he spoke the words of his heart, etc. He had two way communication with the Lord through the veil. He was received by the Lord.
The above example is a positive action that we tend to think is good. But we can see that it can be both good and evil depending upon the motivation of the person doing it. We can see that the act of praying isn’t good or bad in and of itself and doesn’t make a person righteous or evil. What we see is that the person is either righteous or evil and that is what determines the motivation they apply to prayer, (the action), which makes the prayer good or evil. This is EXACTLY opposite to what many people think and teach, but it is universal in application.
Let’s look at a negative action we are commanded by the law not to do, (thou shalt not kill), to show that it doesn’t matter whether you are applying this principle to a positive action like prayer or a negative action like killing, the action is neither good nor bad in and of itself and it does not determine whether a person is righteous/wicked or accepted/rejected by God.
Two people are killing (action). The act of killing doesn’t determine if they are righteous or wicked because…
- The first person is killing to get gain. (Motivation = Un-Ethical self service at other’s expense, mal-intent). God condemns the killing as murder and curses the person. This is exemplified by Cain killing Abel to gain his flocks. The Lord cursed Cain for killing, (Gen. 4:10-11).
- The second person is killing to save innocent people who were captured by war mongers who were seeking to get gain. (Motivation = Ethical selfless Service to save the innocent, benevolent Intent). God accepts the killing as righteousness and blesses the person. This is exemplified by Abram saving Lot, Melchizedek and others who were captured in the Battle of the Kings, (Gen. 14). It’s noteworthy that Abraham refused to accept even the smallest financial gain from his victory because to kill to get gain would make him like Cain bringing into question his motivation which in turn would have made the action evil, (Gen. 14:23). The Lord blessed Abram, (Gen. 14:19-20), for killing and “delivered thine enemies into thy hand.” Another example is Captain Moroni who didn’t want to kill the Lamanites and promised not to if they would take an oath against war. He ended up killing those who refused to take the oath, and he was blessed/righteous for doing so. (See Alma 44)
Because every “thou shalt” and “thou shalt not” law taught under the Preparatory Gospel is a command to do or not do an “action”, we can pick any commandment and break it down in the same way to show that two people can do the exact same “action” that is commanded or forbidden by the law and one person is considered wicked and the other person is considered righteous based on the person’s “motivation”.
Jesus called out this same inconsistency between the physical law and the spiritual law when he pointed out that the Scribes and Pharisees, (who keep the law to the Nth degree), are not righteous enough to enter into the kingdom of heaven. He told us that it isn’t enough to keep the physical law because if we keep the physical law but break the spiritual law, then we are still in danger of the judgement.
Matt. 5
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21 ¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment (Physical law):
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment (Spiritual law): and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
…
27 ¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery (Physical Law):
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Spiritual Law)
This then illustrates the flaw of the Law of Carnal Commandments administered under the Preparatory Gospel. Not only is obedience to the law weak and unprofitable in that it cannot make anyone perfect, but to do righteousness and become perfect and receive the blessings of God, we must learn to live the spiritual law. On this point, I think we all agree.
Where there is often disagreement is that to live the spiritual law, we must be able to break the physical law when it is morally/ethically right to do so. When it is morally/ethically righteous to break the physical law, then it is also morally/ethically wrong to keep the physical law. In these instances, righteousness requires us to break the law.
The Wicked under the Preparatory Gospel do not have the moral/ethical fiber within them to make decisions as to when to break the law and when not to because their desires are for evil. They have not experienced the mighty change of heart so that they desire to do good continually, they are therefore obligated to keep the law under threat of punishment. While keeping the law means that they at times might do evil, (like the Pharisees and Sadducees did), it is better for them to keep the law which is usually right than to grapple with the complexity of when to break the law because they are highly likely to justify themselves in breaking the law to do evil since it is the desire of their hearts. This is why the law is given to these people, it is strict and unbending.
The Righteous under the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the other hand are those who have experienced the mighty change of heart and desire to do good continually. They want to do what is morally/ethically right even if it is not in their best interests. This internal motivation is the difference between the wicked and the righteous which makes it possible for the righteous to be forgiven and worthy of the Holy Ghost. Because they want to do what is morally/ethically right, they are open to listening to the Holy Ghost/voice of God which will tell them all things that they should do. They do not understand the principles of righteousness YET, but they want to learn them.
IN ORDER TO LEARN THE PRINCIPLES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, the law of carnal commandments must be disannulled/removed BECAUSE the principles of righteousness at times demand that we break the law of carnal commandments, just like Abram did when he lied, (told a half truth), to Pharaoh to save his life and when he killed to save Lot and Melchizedek. If the law is not removed, then when it is required by the principles of righteousness to break the law, the righteous will be condemned by the law (administered by men) and blessed by God. If you can’t think of instances where it is morally/ethically right to break the law of carnal commandments, then morally/ethically you are a baby in regard to the principles of righteousness.
Because righteousness at times requires us to break the physical law or law of carnal commandments, there must be a “disannulling of the commandments” given under the Preparatory Gospel for us to progress under the Gospel of Jesus Christ where the spirit tells us all things that we should do. Or else, we can’t do righteousness when it is right and proper to break the law of carnal commandments.
Heb. 7
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
I encourage all to learn to recognize the spiritual laws that motivate the physical law of carnal commandments and to realize that there are instances when breaking the carnal law is morally/ethically the righteous thing to do. And realize that actions do not determine righteousness or wickedness. If you cannot understand this point, then you will never be able to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, because it doesn’t come by obedience to the law of Carnal commandments, it comes by faith which brings about the mighty change of heart which changes your “motivation” for every “action” you do. When your “motivation” is to do good continually, then your “actions” are continually counted as righteousness, even when they are not perfect.
Gal. 3
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
… (read the rest of the chapter which says in several ways that the spirit is not gained by obedience to the law of carnal commandments, but by faith which changes our hearts.)
King Benjamin understood this and that disobedience to the law did not make you wicked if your heart desired righteousness. He applied this principle in his teaching when he said,
Mosiah 4
22 And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance (The Law), which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.
23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him (Penalty for breaking the law); and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.
24 And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day Not speaking to beggars, but to those who are able to support themselves without excess; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give. (Breaking the law for righteousness sake = Don’t make yourself poor beggars because you gave too much to the poor.)
25 And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned (Fulfilling the Spiritual Law, but breaking the physical law still means you are guiltless/righteousness); and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.
Again, King Benjamin tells us that our motivation and desire is more important than our actions in determining if “ye remain guiltless” or if “ye are condemned”. Therefore, if we focus on correcting our motivation via the faith that brings the mighty change of heart, then we will be considered righteous and worthy of the Holy Ghost and its guidance even when our actions are not worthy of the Holy Ghost. This is the ONLY way to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and there is no other way, not even if by perfect obedience to the law of Carnal commandments, like the scribes and Pharisees did.
I promise that we can have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, if we have and maintain that mighty change of heart, “that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” Our “actions” may not be perfect and we realize that we will make mistakes, but because our “motivation” is to do good, all of our “actions” will be counted to us as righteousness.
In the name of my friend, Jesus Christ, amen.