Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Repentance and Revelation

Up first, an earlier draft of a talk a gave in "Spanish Sacrament Meeting" a few years back. 
(I'd swear the final version was what I'd originally saved, and this is definitely NOT it.)

Repentance and Revelation  
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A couple weeks ago, I was asked by Br. [1st C] to speak to you today. He assigned me to speak on “a gospel principle that gives me joy.”  
Originally I thought I'd talk to you about the principle personal revelation.   
Joseph Smith said, “The Holy Ghost is a revelator, and no man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelation.”  
I will talk about revelation to an extent, but I'm going to do so in connection with another gospel principle that I've been directed to teach you about - repentance.  
The D&C directs us to“say nothing but repentance unto this generation.” (D&C 6:9 D&C 11:9.)   
Originally I was going to talk about these principles as they relate to general conference, but I'm constrained (not just by time) not to. Instead I'm going to start by talking a little bit about covenants.  
God made covenants with Abraham, with his son Issac, with his son Jacob (AKA Israel), and through him all of his house. Lehi, Nephi and all the prophets of the BoM were part of that house.  
In 2 Nephi 30:2 we read: “For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord and as many of the literal house of Israel as will not repent shall be cast off for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel. “  
So we learn that repentance is a pre-condition of covenanting with the Lord. Now I don't have the time to get into what that covenant is today. But anyone can learn all about it. It's plainly discussed in the BoM. You just have to know the basic doctrines to look for, and more importantly, you have to study with the GIFT of the Holy Ghost.   
Suffice it to say, for our purposes today, Covenanting with the Lord is NOT done by merely participation in an ordinance, BUT it is THE most important thing a Latter Day Saint can do. And part of the reason that IS, is because when we truly covenant with the Lord, he reveals himself to us. And THAT is how revelation and repentance linked.  
So what IS repentance?  
While not surprised, I was disappointed when I searched for General Conference talks about repentance, and The Divine Gift of Repentance, D. Todd Christofferson in October 2011 was the most recent one to come up. In his talk Elder Christopherson says: “Attempts to create a list of specific steps of repentance may be helpful to some, but it may also lead to a mechanical, check-off-the-boxes approach with no real feeling or change. True repentance is not superficial.   
The Lord gives two overarching requirements:and then he quotes D&C 58:43 “By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them”  
Elder Christopherson is correct that true repentance is NOT 5 R's or whatever they are teaching in primary now days. But his citation of D&C 58 is not a definition of what true repentance IS either. Confessing and forsaking are NOT steps of repenting, instead they are objective evidence that a person has repented.  
So I ask again, what IS repentance?  
In the BoM, after King Benjamin addressed his people Mosiah 5: 2 says : “And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.  
In its simplest terms, Repentance is Change. Real, heartfelt change.  
As Pres. Benson said in his address, cleansing the inner vessel, in April Conference 1986: “Repentance means change, and it takes a humble person to change. But we can do it.”  
In fact, it is that change which is the gospel in a nutshell. Alma 34:15 says the purpose of the atonement is that we might have “faith unto repentance.”   
Let me say that again. The purpose of the atonement is that we might have “faith unto repentance.”  
  
The good news of the gospel is that we can repent and Change. When our hearts change and we desire to sin no more, we begin to have the same love for him, that he has for us. This love is true charity - the pure love of Christ. And when Our hearts are changed and we know true love, we can ask, seek and knock, we will receive personal revelation.   
And through personal revelation, we come to know HIM so that we can be like him.   
Some have said that “The Book of Mormon is a sealed book because people can read it and not understand the true message that is in there. It takes receiving the Holy Ghost before one can truly have the sealed book opened to them.”   
Just like the parables of Christ, The BoM is a very clear guide to how to repent and gain true charity, IF we know what to look for, understand some basic doctrinal concepts and study with the spirit. If we “just read” it as a story, or worse, because we feel obligated to, it will remain “sealed” to us, and despite the plainness we won't see or learn.  
In 2 Nephi 32:7 Nephi said: “And now I, Nephi, cannot say more the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be.   
I leave you with my testimony that as Latter Day Saints, it is only by receiving the Holy Ghost and truly repenting that we can truly understand the BoM, and gain the knowledge it contains which will direct us to receive our own personal revelation. This mighty change is not only what repentance is really about, but is the very essence of the gospel. And I testify that it is the gospel, not the church, which is true.
  
  
2 Nephi 26  
 20 And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.  
 21 And there are many churches built up which cause envyings, and strifes, and malice.  
  
2 Nephi 28:21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.   
. . .  
24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!  
 25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!  
 26 Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!  
27 Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!   
28 And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall.  
 29 Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!  
 30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom for unto him that receiveth I will give more and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.  
 31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.  
 32 Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts.  
  
  
Mormon 5  
 20 But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenant which he made unto Abraham and unto all the house of Israel.  
 21 And also the Lord will remember the prayers of the righteous, which have been put up unto him for them.  
 22 And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways?  
 23 Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?  
 24 Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you—lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver.  
  
Mormon 7  
 1 And now, behold, I would speak somewhat unto the remnant of this people who are spared, if it so be that God may give unto them my words, that they may know of the things of their fathers yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel and these are the words which I speak:  
 2 Know ye that ye are of the house of Israel.  
 3 Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved.  
 4 Know ye that ye must lay down your weapons of war, and delight no more in the shedding of blood, and take them not again, save it be that God shall command you.  
5 Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up.   
. . .  
 8 Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you.   
 9 For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that and if ye believe that ye will believe this also and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.  
 10 And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen.  
  
Mormon 8 (Moroni)  
35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.  
 36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.  
 37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.  
38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?  
 39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?  
40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?  
 41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.  
  
Mormon 9  
 7 And again I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and the interpretation of tongues  
 8 Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ yea, he has not read the scriptures if so, he does not understand them.  
. . .   
 20 And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust.   
. . .   
 36 And behold, these things which we have desired concerning our brethren, yea, even their restoration to the knowledge of Christ, are according to the prayers of all the saints who have dwelt in the land.  
 37 And may the Lord Jesus Christ grant that their prayers may be answered according to their faith and may God the Father remember the covenant which he hath made with the house of Israel and may he bless them forever, through faith on the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.  
  
  
Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more’D&C 58:42.

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