7th Ward -Coming unto Christ

Brothers and sisters - we are told to liken the scriptures unto our selfs. I thought that my son may use -

1 Nephi 1:1

I (Spencer) having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all of the learning of my father.

That would have been great - but perhaps a more realistic scripture would be in -

Alma 56: 47-48 (speaking of the stripping warriors).

....they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

And they rehearsed unto me all the words of their mothers, saying: we do not doubt that our mothers knew it.

I heard a talk once wondering why they didn't mention their fathers - if you recall these young me came from the Lamanites - whom covenanted not to take up arm against their breathers. At their first encounter - hundred of these men were killed without fighting back. Many of these young very likely grew up in single parent homes. Mothers testifying to the of the truthfulness of the gospel.

Indeed the poet William Wallace's words - "The hand that rocks the cradle, is the hand that rules the world." Is true.

This isn't the setting to debate why I think my son had a successful mission - or understands the workings of the spirit in his life up to this point.

But it is a place to discuss what brings us to / or allows us to receive the spirit as a constant companion in our lives. To come unto the Savior and receive the promised blessings of the gospel.

All of us have heard hundreds of analogies or examples of what we need to do in order to have and keep the spirit. Being somewhat simple minded I can sort of understand how a radio or cell phone works - apparently there are hundreds if not thousands of sound waves all around us. Despite everyone of us in the room having a phone - mine will only ring when the proper steps are taken. We need to fine tune our receiver to pick up the message that is being given. When we tune in to the possible choices - like in our car, there are both good and bad choices that we can listen to. If we do not follow the proper steps, or our receivers are broken or just if we fell to turn to the proper frequency - the spirit will not, or better yet - can't abide with us.

I would suggest that there are three basis steps of categories to receiving the spirit and Coming unto the Savior.

The first step in receive this wonderful gift is the desire to have it as part of our lives. "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you." This may seem simple or even a bit odd - because who wouldn't want to have the spirit in their lives or be close to the Savior?

In section 121 of the D&C the Savior talked about those that are not chosen because their hearts are set so much on the things of the world and aspire to the honors of men. Brothers and sisters, is there anything that we knowingly or perhaps even unconsciously choosing that takes precedence over our desires of having the spirit - these people have not learned or can't understand that certain steps need to be taken in order to receive the promised blessings. If we truly have the desire to be close to the spirit - it will happen (period).

This then focuses the solution or problem directly back to the question - how strong is your personal desires to come unto Christ?

The rest of the verse in section 121 bring up the second step to receiving the spirit and Coming unto Christ. "The power of heaven can not be controlled or handle, only upon the principles of righteousness." Brother and Sisters we need to be righteous and obedient to Gods commands. The spirit can not dwell in an unrighteous setting. It may be able to bare witness or guide us in a direction of truth or show us some of the things we need to change. "But when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vane ambition, or to exercise control, or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man."

It then tells us that anyone in this condition is left unto themselves - left without the spirit.

The third step that I would like to discuss is that we need to continually add fuel to our fires - so to speak. We need to make sure that we are continuing to learn, serve and come closer to the Savior through personal prayer, scripture study and revelation.. When someone fails to feed their testimonies - complacency, idealess, apathy enters the heart - effecting their desires to come unto the Savior and opening the doors of sin.

I had the opportunity to attend a meeting the other day where they talked about some of the reason certain youth have left the church or have become less active - the second largest group that has fallen away from the church is that of return missionaries. This makes no logical sense to me. They told us that these young people are so involved in study, prayer and doing good for others - that when they get home, there seem to be a void - a let down of sorts. The worries of the world, the honors of men begin to creek in and become more important. Satan sees this as a perfect opportunity to instill doubt, discouragement which allowing the carnal desires of sin to take root. There is no greater counsel than The Lord's warning to watch and pray always - lest we enter into temptation.

It doesn't matter what stage of life we are in - if we fail to have a constant flow of spiritual knowledge and experience in our lives - that space will be replaced with the suggestions or teaching of Satan.

Some people seemingly have a hard time reading the scriptures on a continual basis - (two of my prized possession).