1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:20,840 Hey there everybody welcome back to another episode of Redeemed Through His Blood. 2 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,600 We've got Scott and David Durfey here today. 3 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:24,600 How you doing Dave? 4 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:25,600 Great Scott. 5 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:31,960 Good day Dave. Be with you. It's good to have another beautiful day here as we walk 6 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:36,800 on into summer. I'm so glad that we're finally doing that. 7 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:40,840 And I know you're golfing today so that's your every day. 8 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:45,080 Beautiful day to golf. I've seen very few days. 9 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:46,080 That's not a beautiful day to golf. 10 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,080 That are beautiful days for golf. 11 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,960 Yeah I can understand that. 12 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:55,760 And we again received a couple of great emails this week. 13 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:59,320 Want to thank you for those. Thanks for sharing your experiences. 14 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,960 For those of you who are asking questions we appreciate those too. 15 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:06,960 We try and answer those here on the podcast as they come. 16 00:01:06,960 --> 00:01:11,320 So if you have questions or if you have comments that you'd love to share with us we'd love 17 00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:16,880 to hear them. You can do that at heredeemsusatgmail.com. 18 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:25,680 Well Dave over the last few and this will be yet another episode where we focus on forgiveness. 19 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:30,120 Yeah Scott we are kind of at the conclusion of the course. 20 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:38,400 I mean we're getting close and this is kind of the culmination of all of it. 21 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:44,680 Everything that we've done speaking about our identity to begin with and speaking about 22 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:52,520 premortal existence and who we are and whose we are and talking about the plan of redemption 23 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:57,920 and the fall of man and the atonement of Jesus Christ. 24 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:05,240 And then we've been several weeks now on the doctrine of Christ which is faith in the Lord 25 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:16,000 Jesus Christ, repentance and receive ordinances and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 26 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,520 So we are and enduring to the end. 27 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:25,640 Which and that's kind of where we're at is receiving the Holy Ghost and enduring to 28 00:02:25,640 --> 00:02:27,000 the end. 29 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:35,200 And so I think that this is such an important topic Scott to be able to help one another 30 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:43,240 to recognize the Holy Ghost in our lives to really understand the role of the Holy Ghost 31 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:51,040 to really understand what his purpose is and to understand as President Irving says that 32 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:58,960 whenever we feel the Holy Ghost that the atonement of Jesus Christ is working in our lives and 33 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,920 we are being forgiven. 34 00:03:01,920 --> 00:03:06,680 The paraphrase Elder Christopherson years ago in a conference talk he said that the Holy 35 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:14,160 Ghost is the messenger and the administrator of the atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives. 36 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:21,360 And I've always I've always kind of loved that and that has always been such an important 37 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,320 title of the Holy Ghost for me. 38 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:28,080 It's a description of the role of the Holy Ghost. 39 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:35,440 The messenger and the administrator of the atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives. 40 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:38,200 And just think about that for a minute messenger. 41 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:39,920 He's the one that really teaches us God. 42 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:45,080 I mean we have the word of God but without the Holy Ghost to confirm in our minds and 43 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:49,680 hearts the word of God it doesn't have the same power or meaning. 44 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:57,040 So the Holy Ghost really teaches us is the messenger about Jesus Christ and his atonement. 45 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,040 And then he is the administrator. 46 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:07,040 He ministers all of the grace all of the mercy all of the redemptive enabling and compensatory 47 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:11,400 powers of the atonement of Jesus Christ in our life. 48 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:13,200 He's the sanctifier. 49 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:14,680 He's the justifier. 50 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:15,880 He's the cleanser. 51 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:17,380 He's the healer. 52 00:04:17,380 --> 00:04:24,440 You know we speak of really Jesus Christ as a healer but really it's through the instrument 53 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:29,920 of the Holy Ghost and the personage of the Holy Ghost that Jesus Christ really performs 54 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:31,280 that. 55 00:04:31,280 --> 00:04:34,840 So the Holy Ghost is plays such a critical role. 56 00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:41,040 I mean just think about this Scott that I know I know what the greatest gift of God 57 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,480 is the greatest gift of God is eternal life. 58 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,240 That's doctrine covenants right 14 seven. 59 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:56,200 But in this life in this life before we receive the gift of eternal life the supernal gift 60 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:05,840 that we've been offered to be our companion is the gift of the Holy Ghost and I I just 61 00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:15,800 believe Scott that so many of our challenges our problems are our heart aches are afflictions 62 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:29,840 are adversities everything can be swallowed up in the comfort and in the knowledge that 63 00:05:29,840 --> 00:05:35,320 we have the Holy Ghost to be our constant companion and I take that pretty literally 64 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:39,000 Scott that the Holy Ghost can be our constant companion. 65 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,520 Now I know I don't always feel him. 66 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:48,560 I don't feel him every moment but I believe he's with me and even every man is a sinner. 67 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:49,560 I'm a sinner. 68 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:50,560 You're a sinner. 69 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:55,640 I sin every day you sin every day Scott Paul said no one's without sin. 70 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,480 I get that we're all fallen we're all lost. 71 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:06,600 It takes it takes a lot to lose the Holy Ghost Scott honestly I have totally flipped from 72 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,560 my mission on my mission. 73 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:15,240 You know what you know when you're new when you're really new I was really new to feeling 74 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:21,400 recognizing receiving the Holy Ghost even though I know I felt it throughout my life 75 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:26,200 from the time of my baptism at the age of eight and I know the Holy Ghost was with me 76 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:31,640 but I hadn't really noticed him or recognized him as powerfully in my life tell my mission 77 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,960 and I kind of came to this conclusion I think I told my companion this once you know it's 78 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:43,640 really it's really hard to get the Holy Ghost and it's really easy to lose him and I that's 79 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:48,520 kind of how I felt a little bit on my mission I was so sensitive to the spirit that I that 80 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:53,560 I I'm sure I felt that way at the time I said it. 81 00:06:53,560 --> 00:07:01,120 However I have completely changed completely flipped in my philosophy about that coming 82 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:07,680 back to life from a mission and going through all the all the gunk that you go through and 83 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:11,960 all the great things to all the great things to but the the challenges and the hardships 84 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:17,000 I mean you think your your mission is hard right well you know try try raising a family 85 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,480 of six six children let's talk about what's hard. 86 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:21,480 Yeah right. 87 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:28,720 And anyway I I know that coming back into the into the world and and trying to continue 88 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:33,920 to progress is a is a hard thing after your mission and after all of these years Scott 89 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:42,680 40 something years now that I've been home from my mission no 50 years it'll be 50 I 90 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:46,680 wasn't going to correct it will be 50 years next year that I came home from my mission 91 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:54,200 it's almost 40 for me so I'm 70 years old Scott and and honestly I have completely flipped 92 00:07:54,200 --> 00:08:02,440 it is so easy to get the Holy Ghost and it is so hard to lose him honestly Scott that's 93 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:09,920 how I feel I I well you better put that in context so others you know you because now 94 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:14,960 you said well I'm 70 is that because you're older and you find it easier to live the gospel 95 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:21,920 well partly or is it because you've decided that maybe the way I saw it before was a little 96 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:30,000 too regimented well I I think I've gone through a lot and I've I've lived a lot of things 97 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:36,280 had lots of experiences and I guess the one thing I've learned which I which we have tried 98 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:43,280 hard in this podcast help others to learn is to speedily repent yeah I mean really I 99 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:48,480 I kind of live in a state of repentance as well as I think we should and I'm not perfect 100 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:53,880 at that I'm I want to get better at that but I am always thinking about repentance and 101 00:08:53,880 --> 00:09:00,000 I'm repenting every day and I I I certainly know more about the Atonement of Jesus Christ 102 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:06,680 now that I knew on my mission and having all the experiences of teaching for 40 years and 103 00:09:06,680 --> 00:09:13,240 seminaries and institutes and having ecclesiastical positions and and raising a family and seeing 104 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:19,600 children struggle and seeing them repend and anyway all of those experiences Scott has 105 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:27,520 taught me the Holy Ghost really wants to be with us it is really hard to drive him away 106 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:33,760 he does not want to leave us really I know this about the Holy Ghost and by the by the 107 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:39,240 way the Holy Ghost is a real personage personage of spirit and I don't know if we want to get 108 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:48,080 into theological discussion of who the Holy Ghost is and his role but anyway you know 109 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:55,240 I think he appeared I think he's I I know he's a man and I believe he appeared to Nephi 110 00:09:55,240 --> 00:10:02,160 in the first Nephi 11 chapter 11 I think it's verse 11 I think he appeared to John the Baptist 111 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:09,600 John the Mcconkey believed that so I think there have been actual people who have seen the personage 112 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:16,200 that we call the Holy Ghost who who chooses for whatever reason to remain nameless it's 113 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:21,240 a little bit of a title and some people think that different perhaps individuals or personages 114 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:29,760 of spirit have fulfilled fulfilled that role or have have been given that title or that 115 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:34,840 calling and then it isn't just one person I don't believe that I believe the Holy Ghost 116 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:40,440 is always been the Holy Ghost and will always be the Holy Ghost and even though Joseph Smith 117 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:45,480 prayed to know if the Holy Ghost would ever receive the body and to receive a body and 118 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:50,440 Heavenly Father told him that that wasn't for him to really know I believe that someday 119 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:57,320 he will get a body I believe the Holy Ghost is a I know he's a personage of spirit and 120 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:05,080 he chooses to sacrifice make the sacrifice of not having a body for now in in order to 121 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:14,160 be with us always and that he can dwell with us that he can dwell in us and that's another 122 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:19,960 philosophical discussion does he dwell with us or does he dwell in us we don't need to 123 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:26,280 focus on that because I don't think that's very important but anyway Scott I I know he 124 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:32,400 wants to be with us I know he wants to guide and direct us that's that's his role that's 125 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:36,320 his mission and Heavenly Father wants him to be and Heavenly Father has given him all 126 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:42,240 the power that he needs to be and the Atonement of Jesus Christ is has given him power and 127 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:47,280 and he administers that that that grace and mercy of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in 128 00:11:47,280 --> 00:11:53,280 our lives continually that's what he wants to do Heavenly Father loves me I know that 129 00:11:53,280 --> 00:12:01,280 because he gave me his son and he gave me the gift of the Holy Ghost Jesus Christ loves 130 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:07,280 me because he sacrificed his life for me and I know the Holy Ghost loved me because he 131 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:17,160 continues to sacrifice make personal sacrifice on his part by being with me always that's 132 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:22,880 the gospel Jesus Christ as I understand it Scott and it all comes down to our relationship 133 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:29,400 with the Father with the son and with the Holy Ghost it all comes down to relationships 134 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:35,480 and we're we're talking now in the course in our repentance and forgiveness course 135 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:41,720 we're talking really about how can I know that I'm forgiven and how can I have the power 136 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:48,560 to forgive myself and understanding the role of the Holy Ghost and recognizing and receiving 137 00:12:48,560 --> 00:12:55,000 and responding to the gift of the Holy Ghost those three Rs that were given to us by Elder 138 00:12:55,000 --> 00:13:01,320 Bednar years ago in a conference talk again that's receiving the Holy Ghost recognizing 139 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:08,600 the Holy Ghost and responding to the Holy Ghost understanding those three actions and 140 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:19,480 choices on our part are that's that's the key to really knowing that we're forgiven 141 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:27,240 and to have the power to forgive ourselves so let's talk about that Scott and what's 142 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:33,280 your thoughts on this subject I love that you talk about how we have the Holy Ghost 143 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:39,480 and how the making the Holy Ghost probably not the right way to put that but having the 144 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:46,000 Holy Ghost not be with us takes a lot of work I think that's kind of a maybe a shift in 145 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:50,760 a lot of our thinking Dave I think that a lot of us think and I know that I have thought 146 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:57,000 this and I still struggle maybe with this sometimes because I sometimes think well if 147 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:03,320 I do something that will offend the spirit then the Holy Ghost can't be with me and I'm 148 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:09,080 not talking about you know walking into a bar and drinking you know I'm talking about 149 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:17,640 having an attitude having a feeling having a say we're all human you know and I can sit 150 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:23,120 in my sacrament meeting and hear a testimony meeting and there can be something said and 151 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:27,760 or I can sit in a Sunday school class and there can be something said or I can that 152 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:35,400 just makes us I don't know maybe maybe rubs us the wrong way or what have you and Dave 153 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:40,040 when I when I have those feelings I feel like the spirit leaves me so maybe we could talk 154 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:45,560 about that a little bit more I don't I'm not sure what you mean by he can be with us and 155 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:50,920 it's harder for us to get for the for us to push the Holy Ghost away than it is to have 156 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:58,000 but maybe that's not exactly I think so much of that is not controlling our our minds and 157 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:04,480 our emotions Scott you know when when when fear sets into my heart it's hard for me to 158 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:10,800 feel the Holy Ghost right even though I believe he's still with me okay when when lust comes 159 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:16,760 into my heart it's hard for me to feel the Holy Ghost it's hard for me to recognize 160 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:27,280 him but I believe he's still with me there are so many things can connected to our our 161 00:15:27,280 --> 00:15:35,040 mental and our emotional and our spiritual that and our physical really that if the physical 162 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:42,160 is off I mean in yeah right yeah absolutely certain imbalances the Holy Ghost may be with 163 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:48,280 you but you might not feel him right mentally if we're off that doesn't mean you don't have 164 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:57,240 the Holy Ghost even though you may not feel him mentally emotionally physically that always 165 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:03,080 affects whether we recognize the Holy Ghost or not but that doesn't mean he's not with 166 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:10,040 us I think you almost have to drive him out of your life for him to choose not to be with 167 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:22,240 us he is with us and I believe you have to really make some conscious evil choices to 168 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:28,960 get rid of him that's how I feel Scott I I sin and I I immediately repent and he's right 169 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:36,960 there I I know that the Holy Ghost is is my constant companion and I know that I've driven 170 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:43,440 him away before in my life but it's been a long time Scott since he hasn't been my companion 171 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:50,440 yeah I love that you you you put some emphasis on feeling you know feeling that because that's 172 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:56,080 how I would identify that's how I in the past have gauged it yeah you know and my president 173 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,480 to Packer you still we say that you know we don't it's not so much that we hearing but 174 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,920 more that we feeling but if we don't feeling can he still be with us and what I hear you 175 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:10,760 saying is that absolutely he can and not only can he but if we've been given the gift of 176 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:15,240 the Holy Ghost through proper authority through proper restored authority then he is our constant 177 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:20,120 companion and it is more difficult I have one of the reasons I bring this up David is 178 00:17:20,120 --> 00:17:25,240 because I get this sometimes pretty frequently I mean it's not all that common but it's semi 179 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:33,440 frequent that I get this in our Institute class where there is just an awful lot of I 180 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:41,160 hesitate to use the word mental illness because it has such a stereotype attached to it that 181 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:47,360 I don't like but we all deal with certain things you know that are just not completely 182 00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:51,800 put together just not completely right from a mental standpoint well I've had more than 183 00:17:51,800 --> 00:18:00,800 one and probably more like more than five of my Deben mind students in our Institute 184 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:05,720 class who when we talk about the spirit when we talk about having the spirit who have enlightened 185 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:10,320 me a couple of them have said and that and independent of each other so maybe this is 186 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:16,920 something that's more well known than I thought it was but they keep a a journal and they 187 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:22,920 write down their experiences that they have with the Holy Ghost that that's stuff that 188 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:28,760 can help them remind help remind them and so what they because what they do is they're 189 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:34,720 dealing with mental situations conditions that make it more difficult for them to fill 190 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:40,920 the spirit and so if they write down these these they said spirit journal or Holy Ghost 191 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:45,520 journal it they hate to call it that but whatever it is where they're writing down these experiences 192 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:50,880 and then they can go back and refer to them and so it's not just a feeling it can be a 193 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:58,640 mental knowing it can be an experience outside of our feelings because they've a lot of us 194 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:02,600 are just really that the way we feel is different from others. 195 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:10,840 Yeah absolutely Scott so anyway I hope our listeners are not responding negatively to 196 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:18,240 what what we're saying and thinking well he's not always with me honestly Scott that kind 197 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:27,280 of thinking keeps one from feeling yeah the Holy Ghost because it takes faith it takes 198 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:36,080 faith and I have faith and faith and a firmness of mind to be able to receive recognize and 199 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:42,880 respond to the Holy Ghost it takes work it takes effort on our part he doesn't just come 200 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:49,960 and all of a sudden we're we know it honestly we have to play a role in this and he can't 201 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:59,720 force himself upon us and he won't for sure and so many times if we would just slow down 202 00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:04,880 sometimes in our life in our daily life we need to find times in our life when we can 203 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:12,320 slow down and we can focus on spiritual things and if we would just be still a little more 204 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:22,080 still and and think about these things I know that individuals would be able to recognize 205 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:28,240 him more in their life yeah but but I believe Scott that I take it literally that the Holy 206 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:35,360 Ghost is our constant companion that's one of his titles he has a lot of other titles 207 00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:40,440 constant companion is one of my favorites but another one of my favorites is that he's 208 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:48,800 a he's a testator he he testifies of the father he testifies of the son he testifies of the 209 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:54,800 plan of God he testifies of the atonement of Jesus Christ he is a teacher he teaches us 210 00:20:54,800 --> 00:21:01,720 about all of these things he is a comforter he comforts us when when we're sad when we're 211 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:07,000 lonely when we're depressed he can comfort us that again may take effort on our part 212 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:14,040 he doesn't come and automatically override he doesn't necessarily he may he may at times 213 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:20,880 but normally it wouldn't be normal for him to override our what we have a choice in our 214 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:27,360 life to do and I know and we've said this often in this podcast I know we have more 215 00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:34,320 choice and power over our thoughts and our emotions than we think we do and he won't override 216 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:41,160 that if we've chose to think negative thoughts if we've chosen to think faithless ideas and 217 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:48,200 thoughts if we have chosen to choose negative emotions and let negative emotions which are 218 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:55,480 always with us but which we can choose to overcome with love right perfect love cast 219 00:21:55,480 --> 00:22:00,880 without all fear I think perfect love cast without all lust I believe perfect love cast 220 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:07,400 out all negative emotions and if we don't choose that and if we don't do our part he's 221 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:12,320 not going to choose to overwrite it so we have to do our part to feel the Holy Ghost 222 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:19,440 God it takes it takes mental exertion by the way which is another definition of faith in 223 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:25,960 the lectures on faith in the lectures on faith it says faith requires mental exertion it 224 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:33,760 takes great mental exertion on our part and it takes a really soft heart firm mind firm 225 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:39,880 mind soft heart in fact we let's read the scripture on firmness of mind and the love 226 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:45,240 of God and the connection between those two Scott it's in Jacob chapter 3 Jacob chapter 227 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:50,600 3 verses 1 and 2 I I think there's just so much instruction in this little passage I 228 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:56,480 mean Jacob is talking to those wives who have been abused and he's talking to those 229 00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:04,400 who are pure in heart the wives of the Nephites who have become wicked and and this is what 230 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:12,040 he says to them so verses verses 1 and 2 Scott but behold I Jacob would speak unto you that 231 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:18,760 are pure in heart look unto God with firmness of mind so now notice this he's he's acknowledging 232 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:24,400 that they're pure in heart he's acknowledging that these are good people but what do they 233 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:31,200 lack they apparently are not very firm in their minds they're not very firm in their 234 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:37,160 minds which affects their faith firmness of mind and faith are also connected in the book 235 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:45,720 of Mormon in Alma 58 talking about the the stripling warriors of Heelman and it talks 236 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:53,000 about their faith and their firmness of mind it takes great faith Scott and firmness of 237 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:59,040 mind to be able to recognize the Holy Ghost in our lives and if people would just focus 238 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:05,920 on it more and and exercise their for their faith and mental exertion they would feel 239 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:11,680 so start start over sorry but behold I Jacob would speak unto you that are pure in heart 240 00:24:11,680 --> 00:24:18,000 look unto God with firmness of mind and pray unto him with exceeding faith and he will 241 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:24,000 console you in your afflictions and he will plead your cause and send down justice upon 242 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:29,840 those who seek your destruction all you that are pure in heart lift up your heads and receive 243 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:40,320 the pleasing word of God and feast upon his love for you may if your minds are firm forever 244 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:47,680 finally there are so many members of the church who do not feast upon the love of God who 245 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:53,760 don't understand that God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son and they they 246 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:59,920 fell to recognize what God did for them because he loved them his infinite love for them and 247 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:07,160 they don't understand the love of Jesus Christ what he did just for them individually personally 248 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:13,920 I believe that's a lack of faith and a lack of firmness of mind Scott I I I know I've 249 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:20,760 just been so many wonderful Latter-day Saints I have known throughout my lifetime who live 250 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:30,120 the gospel who keeps the commandments who are covenant keeping true and faithful and 251 00:25:30,120 --> 00:25:37,760 they they don't feel the love of God in their life and I just this is my this is the scripture 252 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:44,120 I always fell feel back I always fall back on this scripture then what is wrong with 253 00:25:44,120 --> 00:25:53,880 their thinking what is wrong with their mind and their emotions what why is it I know they 254 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:58,720 have the Holy Ghost with them scoppin they don't feel him or maybe they occasionally 255 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:02,960 do and they've received a testimony there's there's lots of ways that we feel the Holy 256 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:08,640 Ghost and there's lots of gifts he offers us but I think the ultimate gifts God and 257 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:14,840 there's this really gets to the heart of our message today I think the ultimate gift that 258 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:24,000 we can receive from the gift of the Holy Ghost is the love of God and forgiveness of sin 259 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:29,960 and to know where we stand with the father and to have a relationship with him as a father 260 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:37,320 would as a child to father and to know of his love to feel his love that is the ultimate 261 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:46,440 gift and witness of the Holy Ghost is that God loves us so for people who don't experience 262 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:52,560 that I wonder what are they lacking in their firmness of their mind or what are they why 263 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:58,600 is it that their emotions will not allow them to feel the love of God and the gift of the 264 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:04,000 Holy Ghost in their life well I have two comments I have two thoughts around that question actually 265 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:10,200 so the first one is is first of all what do we mean by love of God you know when we talk 266 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:16,080 about the love of God do we have to feel the love of God is this a caloric burn within 267 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:21,480 us that we have to feel that love or can we see the love of God can we witness the love 268 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:26,560 of God and can we observe the love of God in our lives and in the lives of others and 269 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,840 can that be a feeling of his love you know that's the first thing that comes to my mind 270 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:36,720 is we just need to understand what we're talking about here and not get caught up in the emotional 271 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:42,960 approach to love I mean it can be important and it can be a manifestation of love but 272 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:50,400 you know the emotional approach here if we take a strictly an emotional approach and 273 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:54,800 I don't know all of the you know there's ethos and arrows there's all these different types 274 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:59,160 of loves and I and I'm not an expert can't even comment on those but there are different 275 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:03,880 types but if we understand that we're not just talking about an emotional experience 276 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:09,680 here that's number one number two is I have found Dave when I'm when I'm lacking in this 277 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:13,760 when I'm not feeling the love of God like I would like to like I would need to like 278 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:21,480 I should be I realize in those cases and it's almost every time and probably is every time 279 00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:28,640 if I'm honest it's because my relationship with deity is out of whack it's not in line 280 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:34,760 you know you know it's that's got to be important that's got I have to do what's necessary for 281 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:40,360 me to maintain that relationship with it is and that's not on it's not unusual that's 282 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:47,320 not on that's not unfair even you know in my relationship with my sweet wife I work at 283 00:28:47,320 --> 00:28:52,360 it every day yeah she works out harder than I do but I work at it every day and with my 284 00:28:52,360 --> 00:28:57,600 relationship with my heavenly Father with Jesus through the with the with the spirit 285 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:02,520 of the Holy Ghost I need to be working on that every day as well it's true Scott and 286 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:08,800 yet I go back again I see their faces to people who who work at it who read their scriptures 287 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:12,760 who say their prayers who keep the commandments and they still don't know where they stand 288 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:19,360 with God yeah and they still don't know if God loves them and I think how have experiences 289 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:28,560 or abuse or manipulation or the world or the accuser Satan and others have worked upon 290 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:38,960 them and have so mentally piled up so much stuff in their mind and upon their life that 291 00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:50,640 they can't see feel or understand the love of God and it just it it's heartbreaking 292 00:29:50,640 --> 00:30:01,120 for me really and I think that again if one would really undertake to study what it what 293 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:07,880 is required of us and to really focus upon what can I do to fill the Holy Ghost in my 294 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:16,720 life and to seek to walk by the spirit as Paul says to live by the spirit to receive 295 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:25,240 the fruits of the spirit as described in Galatians chapter five of love and joy and peace if 296 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:32,240 if that would become one's focus is to be able to to recognize the Holy Ghost in their 297 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:38,200 life and receive the fruits of the Holy Ghost in their life they would discover in the in 298 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:45,720 the work that they need to control their thoughts and they need to control their emotions I know 299 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:51,280 everybody's probably tired of me harping on that but as a patriarch Scott as a patriarch 300 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:58,000 to be able to receive revelation I had to learn the first lesson I learned being a patriarch 301 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:04,840 and probably it has become the greatest lesson I have learned in my entire life is how our 302 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:15,640 emotions and our thoughts control our ability to receive revelation in our lives and to 303 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:22,440 receive recognize and respond to the Holy Ghost that that's just a in in convertible 304 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:31,920 fact they say it right probably in controversial in controversial fact that you can't change 305 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:42,000 that our our thoughts and our emotions control or somewhat determine I know you can't force 306 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:48,280 revelation you can't force it you can't manipulate it you can't demand it you can't control 307 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:56,760 the timing of it but I know Scott from experience many years of experience being a patriarch 308 00:31:56,760 --> 00:32:04,240 that my emotions had to be in the right place I had to be filled with love and I had to 309 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:13,600 forgive others including myself I had to learn the have the faith of the power of the of 310 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:19,400 Christ through his atonement and and know that I was worthy enough even though I wasn't 311 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:25,400 sinless or perfect I was worthy enough that the Holy Ghost wanted to bless others through 312 00:32:25,400 --> 00:32:31,720 me as a patriarch or others through me as a dad or others through me as a granddad or 313 00:32:31,720 --> 00:32:39,040 others through me as a minister or friend or especially husband that if if if I do not 314 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:46,200 control my thoughts if I am weak mentally if something's not right if some if I have 315 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:53,720 some chemical imbalance if there are certain anxieties or fears or or troubles or thoughts 316 00:32:53,720 --> 00:33:03,200 that I am obsessed with that are controlling me then I can't I'm not in a position where 317 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:08,720 I can really receive recognize and respond to the Holy Ghost and I think that that's 318 00:33:08,720 --> 00:33:16,560 what I mean when I when I'm talking about establishing that relationship right in people 319 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:20,560 probably get tired of hearing this quote this scripture too but this is in Doctrine Covenants 320 00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:26,800 36 36 looking to me in every thought takes a lot of work doubt not fear not takes a lot 321 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:31,560 of so what's the anecdote to doubt and fear looking under him that takes so much effort 322 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:38,040 and focus yeah and yet and it takes a lot of mental firmness okay which is true and 323 00:33:38,040 --> 00:33:43,720 it does that's absolutely accurate but how do we do it it is it does take a lot of work 324 00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:48,440 but the effort is less sometimes than we make it out well you don't do it just by going 325 00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:54,160 with the flow no but this is how you do do it behold this is verse 37 the wounds which 326 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:59,920 pierced my side and also the Prince of the Nails in my feet hands and feet be faithful 327 00:33:59,920 --> 00:34:04,400 keep my commandments and you shall inherit the kingdom of heaven so how do we do it we 328 00:34:04,400 --> 00:34:10,200 go to where he was when he paid for all of this for us and that takes a great eye of 329 00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:16,800 faith takes a great eye of faith Scott see yourself in Gethsemane and at the foot of 330 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:23,040 the cross and then we strive to be faithful in keeping his commandments why so that we 331 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:28,600 can have his spirit with us right we go back to the sacrament prayer we go back to you 332 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:35,960 know that we will always remember him that we will take his name upon us why that they 333 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:43,400 may always have his spirit to be with him that's why we do that you know every Sunday 334 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:48,680 we make that covenant and and I'm going to this today but there is a connection between 335 00:34:48,680 --> 00:34:57,000 being willing to take upon yourself his name and receiving the Holy Ghost to always be 336 00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:02,440 with us that's another that's maybe in the topic for another time but but going back 337 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:08,800 to this idea of look unto me in every thought doubt not fear not doubt not fear not Scott 338 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:14,720 right now not as mental right fear not fear not as emotional right if you don't control 339 00:35:14,720 --> 00:35:20,880 your thoughts if you doubt if you don't control your emotions and you fear it's pretty hard 340 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:25,760 to put yourself at the foot of the cross or in Gethsemane and to hear the voice it is 341 00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:34,040 of God through the Holy Ghost say you're forgiven I forgive you so it's not I love you yeah 342 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:40,560 so so maybe it's not an event maybe it's not a one and done type of for sure it's it's 343 00:35:40,560 --> 00:35:45,440 you know maybe it's maybe it's I'm doubting and fearing today I need to look at him more 344 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:50,880 I can't look at him potentially in every thought but what if I look to me towards him in more 345 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:57,280 thoughts than I currently am and what if I make a little deeper it's driving it what 346 00:35:57,280 --> 00:36:04,760 if I make just a little bit deeper effort it's driving to do we strive yeah you know 347 00:36:04,760 --> 00:36:08,440 behold the wounds which pierce his side and also the Prince of the Nails and his hands 348 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:13,000 and his feet what if I just get a glimpse of that a little bit at a time and then at 349 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:19,760 some point in my progression then I feel the healing effects also the love the great deep 350 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:25,840 love and then also I can it because of the great love that I'm feeling now go back in 351 00:36:25,840 --> 00:36:31,760 time and allow myself in that moment back in time to feel his love as well and heal 352 00:36:31,760 --> 00:36:39,000 all that yeah well amen I love that all that but Scott there's there's a lot of there's 353 00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:45,440 a lot of people with a lot of mental yeah I know and emotional challenges and I don't 354 00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:55,360 want to discount those or to minimum minimize all of that and people should be using any 355 00:36:55,360 --> 00:37:03,080 medication they possibly are prescribed by doctors to become more chemically balanced 356 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:11,760 people should receive the the help the inspired help of of hopefully inspired helpers and 357 00:37:11,760 --> 00:37:19,680 others counselors therapists there are so many things that God has given us which which 358 00:37:19,680 --> 00:37:25,800 people according to elder Hollins should see the the hand of God and and see these helpers 359 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:32,040 and medications and others as a gift from God as miracles in our life and people should 360 00:37:32,040 --> 00:37:38,200 utilize those they're really instruments of grace they are yeah absolutely and so for 361 00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:43,800 those who are listening I hope there's so many who take take medication and all of a 362 00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:47,320 sudden they become kind of themselves and they can kind of feel love God and they think 363 00:37:47,320 --> 00:37:51,720 they're okay and they stop taking their medication they feel what and they they don't understand 364 00:37:51,720 --> 00:37:57,480 why they're so spiritually down and and mentally discouraged and depressed and there's holistic 365 00:37:57,480 --> 00:38:03,200 Scott things I I'm a believer in that you know your grandmother derpy was a believer 366 00:38:03,200 --> 00:38:08,720 in that you know there's so many holistic things that we should be doing to be to be 367 00:38:08,720 --> 00:38:17,200 healthier to be more more receptive put ourselves in a position to to receive the Holy Ghost 368 00:38:17,200 --> 00:38:22,480 in their lives I I mean it's it's a whole thing it's it's a balanced thing and they're 369 00:38:22,480 --> 00:38:30,000 the physical and the mental and the emotional and even the social yeah all affects the spiritual 370 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:35,600 for one to be able to be spiritual and to feel the love of God and the Holy Ghost in 371 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:41,520 their life they need to make sure that their their life is balanced as a as a bishop in 372 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:48,440 Minnesota years ago we had this good member of the church faithful member of the church 373 00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:56,000 psychiatrist from Chicago come and give us kind of a welfare session and counseling session 374 00:38:56,000 --> 00:39:02,320 priesthood leaders and she came to Minnesota I remember and I'll never forget what she 375 00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:14,680 taught us and her hypothesis was that if if people are off in any one area right physically 376 00:39:14,680 --> 00:39:22,000 mentally emotionally socially if they weren't balanced if they did not have balance in their 377 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:33,200 life they could not receive the Holy Ghost to the extent that they might have received 378 00:39:33,200 --> 00:39:39,360 it they can't you know that being balanced is so important if if somebody is off maybe 379 00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:46,320 physically it can lead to depression if they're off mentally it can it can lead to physical 380 00:39:46,320 --> 00:39:53,040 sickness you know the the mind's effect upon the body and and all of these things are connected 381 00:39:53,040 --> 00:39:59,840 that it's all connected Scott and one must must see their life as a whole and work on 382 00:39:59,840 --> 00:40:08,520 all of it but so many going back to Jacob so many of the pure in heart whose hearts are 383 00:40:08,520 --> 00:40:15,240 right yeah can't feel the love of God because they don't receive the Holy Ghost because 384 00:40:15,240 --> 00:40:22,680 they can't control their thoughts and their emotions firmness of mind firmness of mind 385 00:40:22,680 --> 00:40:29,720 and we've been we've been commanded over and over over again I've 128 times what I counted 386 00:40:29,720 --> 00:40:37,080 in the scriptures 128 times in the Old Testament New Testament in all the standard works to 387 00:40:37,080 --> 00:40:44,280 fear not or to be not afraid that's not always a choice to begin with but it usually always 388 00:40:44,280 --> 00:40:50,920 becomes a choice we can't control the fears or some of the negative emotions that we feel 389 00:40:50,920 --> 00:40:57,960 we're we're natural man we're fallen we're just humans and sinners helping other humans 390 00:40:57,960 --> 00:41:05,560 and sinners and and yet Scott we are free because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to act and 391 00:41:05,560 --> 00:41:12,320 not to be acted upon and you can't you can't stop negative emotions from coming into your 392 00:41:12,320 --> 00:41:21,160 your mind or heart but you can replace them I testify I know that with prayer and with 393 00:41:21,160 --> 00:41:30,040 faith and with effort that emotions and negative thoughts negative emotions irrational emotions 394 00:41:30,040 --> 00:41:39,320 irrational thoughts can be replaced I know that if one will pray with all energy of heart 395 00:41:39,320 --> 00:41:45,320 maron I 748 they can replace it with his love and when they have his love they will feel 396 00:41:45,320 --> 00:41:51,560 his spirit and when they feel his spirit Scott they should immediately think of President 397 00:41:51,560 --> 00:41:57,400 Irving's quote when we feel the Holy Ghost in our life we should understand that the 398 00:41:57,400 --> 00:42:03,960 Atonement of Jesus Christ is working in our life so how do you feel forgiven how can we 399 00:42:03,960 --> 00:42:11,280 forgive ourselves how can we feel the love of God honestly I this is it's simple but 400 00:42:11,280 --> 00:42:24,680 it's not easy but the simple answer is receive recognize and respond to the Holy Ghost so 401 00:42:24,680 --> 00:42:28,600 what can we do to receive the Holy Ghost and but there's so many scriptures on this God 402 00:42:28,600 --> 00:42:34,200 that we don't necessarily go through need to go through and read them all but in in 403 00:42:34,200 --> 00:42:40,920 second e5 31 17 we we learn that we receive a remission of sins not so much by the water 404 00:42:40,920 --> 00:42:49,640 that we baptize people in it's by the reception of of the spirit the baptism of fire and the 405 00:42:49,640 --> 00:42:56,240 Holy Ghost that brings a remission of sins right that's what brings a remission of sins 406 00:42:56,240 --> 00:43:01,720 it's not doing the ordinances in the temple that bring a remission of sins God it's the 407 00:43:01,720 --> 00:43:07,720 Holy Ghost by participating in the ordinances of the gospel that brings the remission of 408 00:43:07,720 --> 00:43:19,480 sins the Holy Ghost is the sanctifier he is the justifier he is the agent of forgiveness 409 00:43:19,480 --> 00:43:27,280 it is in him and through him and by him that we are forgiven of our sins God so in all 410 00:43:27,280 --> 00:43:34,120 that we do in the church and trying in our best efforts to live the gospel Jesus Christ 411 00:43:34,120 --> 00:43:42,320 it shouldn't be what am I doing it should be what can I do to qualify for the gift of 412 00:43:42,320 --> 00:43:51,160 the Holy Ghost and what can I do to help others to qualify for the gift of the Holy Ghost 413 00:43:51,160 --> 00:43:56,360 so that should be that should be more our focus in Alma 13 11 through 12 we learn that 414 00:43:56,360 --> 00:44:02,920 he's our sanctifier that he's a sanctifier in 13 527 we learn again he's the agent of 415 00:44:02,920 --> 00:44:09,560 forgiveness and I love in Moroni 6 4 that's kind of always been my go to scripture about 416 00:44:09,560 --> 00:44:15,880 how to be forgiven how to recognize forgiven that it's not through our our merits but it's 417 00:44:15,880 --> 00:44:24,600 only solely completely through the merits of Jesus Christ and we are cleansed by the power 418 00:44:24,600 --> 00:44:29,000 and gift of the Holy Ghost I actually believe it's cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost 419 00:44:29,000 --> 00:44:36,000 because I believe Scott that there are many nonmembers who receive a forgiveness of sin 420 00:44:36,000 --> 00:44:43,680 that's my opinion that's not church doctrine so I believe there are many who who can receive 421 00:44:43,680 --> 00:44:49,440 the power of the Holy Ghost without having the gift of the Holy Ghost who can receive 422 00:44:49,440 --> 00:44:55,640 blessings through the atonement of Jesus Christ in their life not just not just a testimony 423 00:44:55,640 --> 00:45:01,640 I know friends that we teach we now call them friends not investigators which I like but 424 00:45:01,640 --> 00:45:06,680 friends and investigators that that we've taught or who are being taught you know they 425 00:45:06,680 --> 00:45:11,040 have the they they're entitled to the power of the Holy Ghost so that they can receive 426 00:45:11,040 --> 00:45:17,360 a testimony and I also believe that they receive grace and mercy in their lives as well through 427 00:45:17,360 --> 00:45:22,440 the power of the Holy Ghost ultimately it is through the gift of the Holy Ghost that 428 00:45:22,440 --> 00:45:31,080 we receive the full effects of God's God's gifts his ordinances in the power of godliness 429 00:45:31,080 --> 00:45:36,120 in our life so I want to read that that last scripture that you just referenced Moroni 430 00:45:36,120 --> 00:45:40,160 six fours out okay yeah I love this scripture it was one of President Hinckley's favorite 431 00:45:40,160 --> 00:45:45,560 yeah and the reason I want to read it is not just to you know add emphasis to what you 432 00:45:45,560 --> 00:45:51,440 just said but to tie the relationship together and about relationships and you'll understand 433 00:45:51,440 --> 00:45:56,520 you'll understand that at the very end of this verse now this is Moroni chapter six 434 00:45:56,520 --> 00:46:04,040 verse four and after they had been received unto baptism and were wrought upon and cleansed 435 00:46:04,040 --> 00:46:09,400 by the power of the Holy Ghost that's what you just referred to cleanse he's the cleanser 436 00:46:09,400 --> 00:46:14,360 they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ and their names were taken 437 00:46:14,360 --> 00:46:20,240 that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God to keep them in the 438 00:46:20,240 --> 00:46:28,560 right way to keep them continually watchful unto prayer relying alone upon the merits 439 00:46:28,560 --> 00:46:34,400 of Christ who was the author and the finisher of their faith that takes some furnace of 440 00:46:34,400 --> 00:46:41,040 mind Scott and that's and that's the relationship component it's it's Christ's Christ's work 441 00:46:41,040 --> 00:46:47,920 Christ's atonement administered and sanctified us through the Holy Ghost yeah thank you Scott 442 00:46:47,920 --> 00:46:54,880 I love the way you said that and again I just I'm really emphasizing this for everyone because 443 00:46:54,880 --> 00:47:01,280 of all those who I'm thinking about it requires firmness of mind it requires work it requires 444 00:47:01,280 --> 00:47:06,920 effort yeah to be able to really recognize that it's not through our merits it's not 445 00:47:06,920 --> 00:47:12,800 through my performance I can keep all the commandments and still go to hell it without 446 00:47:12,800 --> 00:47:18,480 Jesus Christ I could keep all the commandments and I'd still go to hell but but really Scott 447 00:47:18,480 --> 00:47:26,760 it takes faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement this is the doctrine of Christ Scott faith 448 00:47:26,760 --> 00:47:35,920 in Jesus Christ in his atonement second repentance third baptism fourth the Holy Ghost and fifth 449 00:47:35,920 --> 00:47:41,360 enduring to the end which president Elton I love his interpretation of enduring to the 450 00:47:41,360 --> 00:47:48,840 end is participating in temple ordinances and other ordinances of the gospel so Scott 451 00:47:48,840 --> 00:47:56,000 I've said three or four times it all comes down to relationships and we need to really 452 00:47:56,000 --> 00:48:01,160 think about the relationships we have with the Godhead and we need to think about them 453 00:48:01,160 --> 00:48:11,640 in his three separate beings right we need to see the father for who he really is in 454 00:48:11,640 --> 00:48:20,520 our relationship with him as a child to a parent we need to really understand our relationship 455 00:48:20,520 --> 00:48:29,520 with our heavenly father and we need to really understand our relationship with our savior 456 00:48:29,520 --> 00:48:36,360 and redeemer Jesus Christ that he becomes our spiritual father or the father of our spiritual 457 00:48:36,360 --> 00:48:43,480 lives the father of our salvation he is my elder brother in the premortal existence but 458 00:48:43,480 --> 00:48:51,320 I feel closer to him when I see him as not just a brother but as a father of my salvation 459 00:48:51,320 --> 00:48:59,200 that he was willing to die and that he purchased me with his blood and that I am his servant 460 00:48:59,200 --> 00:49:09,200 I love that sort of relationship with the savior and then we need to understand and 461 00:49:09,200 --> 00:49:16,400 seek to have a relationship with the Holy Ghost and he is the third member of the Godhead 462 00:49:16,400 --> 00:49:23,400 we can have deity in our lives every day deity is with us Scott not just because my spirit 463 00:49:23,400 --> 00:49:29,320 is divine or the source of heavenly parents but because I actually have a member of the 464 00:49:29,320 --> 00:49:36,160 Godhead with me as my constant companion who is continually throughout the day delivering 465 00:49:36,160 --> 00:49:43,160 grace and mercy and ministering the atonement of Jesus Christ in my life this is a sub-pernal 466 00:49:43,160 --> 00:49:50,040 gift words of President Packard a sub-pernal gift of the gift of the Holy Ghost that we 467 00:49:50,040 --> 00:49:58,000 have been given as members of the church and years ago Elder McConkey gave an unbelievable 468 00:49:58,000 --> 00:50:06,440 powerful talk about our relationship with the Lord on March 2, 1982 BYU devotional and 469 00:50:06,440 --> 00:50:12,600 I have always loved that talk and I won't go into the whole history of it or even the 470 00:50:12,600 --> 00:50:20,120 outcomes or consequences of it which is another story for another time but but in the when 471 00:50:20,120 --> 00:50:24,800 he when he gets near the end of the talk he says you know we really need a relationship 472 00:50:24,800 --> 00:50:29,920 with all three we don't just need a relationship with God we need a relationship with God the 473 00:50:29,920 --> 00:50:38,080 Father with God the Son and with God the Holy Ghost and then he kind of in my words this 474 00:50:38,080 --> 00:50:44,240 what I got out of it paraphrase if you're going to air in a relationship with one of the three 475 00:50:44,240 --> 00:50:48,080 then you probably should air in your relationship with the Holy Ghost because it's the Holy 476 00:50:48,080 --> 00:50:52,240 Ghost that teaches us about the Father and it's the Holy Ghost that teaches us about 477 00:50:52,240 --> 00:50:58,760 the Son and it's the Holy Ghost that testifies and ministers all of the gifts of God into 478 00:50:58,760 --> 00:51:03,560 our lives so if you're going to air in a relationship with a member of the Godhead 479 00:51:03,560 --> 00:51:10,280 work on your relationship with the Holy Ghost you don't hear that very often Scott we always 480 00:51:10,280 --> 00:51:15,920 talk about a relationship with Jesus I mean that seems to get most the press right we 481 00:51:15,920 --> 00:51:21,760 need a relationship with Jesus and we need a relationship with the Father who so loved 482 00:51:21,760 --> 00:51:27,760 the world he see gave us Jesus and we need a relationship with the gift of the Holy Ghost 483 00:51:27,760 --> 00:51:33,640 who teaches us about the Father and the Son and allows us to have a relationship with 484 00:51:33,640 --> 00:51:43,520 them through the spirit I it's just so important that we do all that we can to make a study 485 00:51:43,520 --> 00:51:47,320 of it I know we haven't talked necessarily about too much today maybe we should do this 486 00:51:47,320 --> 00:51:53,440 next next podcast Scott let's talk about how can we get the Holy Ghost because there's 487 00:51:53,440 --> 00:52:00,440 some great scriptures on that and let's let's do a study on how we can receive the Holy 488 00:52:00,440 --> 00:52:04,080 Ghost in our life today I think we're just pretty much talking about the importance of 489 00:52:04,080 --> 00:52:13,120 it right but but we can through our efforts there are things we can do that influence 490 00:52:13,120 --> 00:52:19,280 his ability to not only be with us because I think he chooses to be with us not only 491 00:52:19,280 --> 00:52:31,320 to be with us but our ability to recognize him right just in closing back in 1999 it 492 00:52:31,320 --> 00:52:37,000 would have been 99 because October of 1998 when I got sober and this was the winter after 493 00:52:37,000 --> 00:52:46,000 Christmas of 1999 so January I'm in a fireside and this fireside is for those who are struggling 494 00:52:46,000 --> 00:52:51,640 or have been struggling with addiction it was put on by the then church program of addiction 495 00:52:51,640 --> 00:52:56,680 recovery it's changed a little bit quite a bit actually since then but then that's what 496 00:52:56,680 --> 00:53:01,800 it was and it was alcoholics and at drag addicts in this fireside and their family members 497 00:53:01,800 --> 00:53:09,200 and one Jack our Christians and you may know him friend he was on our podcast and that 498 00:53:09,200 --> 00:53:17,040 just a couple of months ago and anyway yeah and this was this was I heard him speak I 499 00:53:17,040 --> 00:53:23,960 had the opportunity with him to speak at several subsequent firesides after I had you know 500 00:53:23,960 --> 00:53:27,800 gotten a little further in the path but he said a couple of things in that fireside that 501 00:53:27,800 --> 00:53:33,400 I will never forget one of the things that he said and I know he's not the originator 502 00:53:33,400 --> 00:53:38,400 of this thought but I heard it from him and one of the things that he said is that when 503 00:53:38,400 --> 00:53:43,240 we feel lonely and I take that to mean Dave when we feel lonely when we don't feel like 504 00:53:43,240 --> 00:53:48,880 we're right when we don't feel the love of God when we don't feel like we matter in life 505 00:53:48,880 --> 00:53:54,160 to anybody when we're feeling lonely now that's not actually how he put it he says if we will 506 00:53:54,160 --> 00:54:02,600 strive to have the spirit in our lives we will never have to face loneliness alone and 507 00:54:02,600 --> 00:54:06,960 that's so important to me you know because we talk about if we're going to strive to 508 00:54:06,960 --> 00:54:11,760 have a relationship well how do we have a relationship with the Savior we have that 509 00:54:11,760 --> 00:54:16,240 relationship with the Savior through the Holy Ghost how do we have a relationship with the 510 00:54:16,240 --> 00:54:22,240 Father we have that also through the Holy Ghost so if we always want to feel the effects 511 00:54:22,240 --> 00:54:29,480 of the atonement of Jesus Christ which is God's love if we want to feel the effects 512 00:54:29,480 --> 00:54:35,240 which is actually God's love in our lives then we will strive to have the Holy Ghost 513 00:54:35,240 --> 00:54:41,160 in our lives or to feel the Holy Ghost in our lives yeah I were to recognize the Holy 514 00:54:41,160 --> 00:54:48,360 Ghost so maybe it may be an invitation Scott as we conclude for our for our listeners to 515 00:54:48,360 --> 00:54:56,360 begin to ponder how can I we'll talk about this next week how can I begin to receive 516 00:54:56,360 --> 00:55:03,240 recognize and respond more effectively to the gift of the Holy Ghost the supernal gift 517 00:55:03,240 --> 00:55:13,120 of the Holy Ghost and I have always loved I this scripture is quite kind of mind boggling 518 00:55:13,120 --> 00:55:22,360 to me Scott and I I remember when I first read this scripture actually it had a profound 519 00:55:22,360 --> 00:55:33,440 effect on me then and it was actually right before my mission and it is when Jesus is 520 00:55:33,440 --> 00:55:42,600 with his disciples and they are praying and he's praying and then they're praying to him 521 00:55:42,600 --> 00:55:51,560 and we learn what they say to him and he says to the father father they're praying to me 522 00:55:51,560 --> 00:56:00,360 because I am with them but of all of the things that they pray for it says that they prayed 523 00:56:00,360 --> 00:56:09,720 for the thing which they most desired which was the gift of the Holy Ghost that's in 524 00:56:09,720 --> 00:56:17,960 third Nephi chapter 19 Scott I can't remember the exact verse but they did pray it's in 525 00:56:17,960 --> 00:56:27,600 verse 9 they did pray for that which they most desired and they desired that the Holy 526 00:56:27,600 --> 00:56:33,040 Ghost should be given unto them why don't you repeat that reference just one more time 527 00:56:33,040 --> 00:56:42,000 30 by 19 9 they did pray for that which they most desired is that what I most desire is 528 00:56:42,000 --> 00:56:48,160 that what I pray for most is that the one thing in my prayers that I really don't neglect 529 00:56:48,160 --> 00:56:56,720 in my prayers that I really in faith pray for I think if that's one one thing that we 530 00:56:56,720 --> 00:57:03,800 can invite our listeners and ourselves Scott to do better at is to to recognize that of 531 00:57:03,800 --> 00:57:10,320 all that we can desire from God in this life the greatest gift he has given us and the thing 532 00:57:10,320 --> 00:57:17,480 that we should most desire is to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost in our life and and 533 00:57:17,480 --> 00:57:26,160 through the power of prayer we can do that that among other things that we can do that's 534 00:57:26,160 --> 00:57:32,120 one thing that we can begin to do now is to recognize him as the most important gift we 535 00:57:32,120 --> 00:57:40,840 can receive and to pray in earnestness and in great faith for that and we will have a 536 00:57:40,840 --> 00:57:47,040 divine invitation to do all that as the Sabbath rolls around in just a few days and we have 537 00:57:47,040 --> 00:57:51,160 an opportunity to partake of the sacrament so let's make sure that as we're taking the 538 00:57:51,160 --> 00:57:58,320 sacrament this week that this is on our mind that would as we covenant to always remember 539 00:57:58,320 --> 00:58:04,480 him and and to take his name upon us that that as a result of that that we have been 540 00:58:04,480 --> 00:58:09,400 promised that we will have his spirit to always be with us it's our prayer that we can recognize 541 00:58:09,400 --> 00:58:14,960 that that we can do what we need to do to receive it and that we can respond to that 542 00:58:14,960 --> 00:58:22,000 in a holier and higher way as we walk down this path of life thanks for being with us 543 00:58:22,000 --> 00:58:39,560 we look forward to being with you again next week and until then be well.