For
almost ten years, I've been praying for the promise in D&C 93:1.
I continue to learn what is required to lay hold of this promise.
Verily,
thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who
forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and
obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and
know that I am; D&C 93:1
We
are told to call on His name, but what does that mean? How do I
worship? What do I worship? How do I come unto the Father in the name
of Jesus? Fulfilling these five requirements seems simple enough, but
there are false notions, false assumptions, and unbelief we must
overcome to even know what God is talking about in this verse.
I
used to believe Jesus Christ was our older brother. I was taught to
pray to the Father in the name of Jesus and this is how that looked,
“Dear Heavenly Father, I thank thee . . . I ask for these blessings
. . . In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” But where in scripture do
we learn Jesus Christ is our older brother? Where do we find this
pattern of prayer in scripture?
The
Book of Mormon teaches us to pray unto the Father in the name of
Jesus, but it looks different than my tradition.
And
behold, the multitude was so great that they did cause that they
should be separated into twelve bodies. And the twelve did teach the
multitude; and behold, they did cause that the multitude should kneel
down upon the face of the earth, and should pray
unto the Father in the name of Jesus.
And the disciples did pray
unto
the Father also in the name of Jesus.
And
it came to pass that they arose and ministered unto the people. And
when they had ministered those same words which Jesus had
spoken—nothing
varying from the words which Jesus had spoken—behold,
they knelt again and prayed
to the Father in the name of Jesus.
3 Nephi 19:5-8 [emphasis added]
The
disciples and multitude were taught how to pray unto the Father in
the name of Jesus. They were taught by Jesus Christ and those who
spoke the same words which Jesus had spoken.
And
they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that
the Holy Ghost should be given unto them. And when they had thus
prayed they went down unto the water’s edge, and the multitude
followed them. And it came to pass that Nephi went down into the
water and was baptized. And he came up out of the water and began to
baptize. And he baptized all those whom Jesus had chosen. And it came
to pass when they were all baptized and had come up out of the water,
the Holy Ghost did fall upon them, and they were filled with the Holy
Ghost and with fire.
And
behold, they were encircled about as if it were by fire; and it came
down from heaven, and the multitude did witness it, and did bear
record; and angels did come down out of heaven and did minister unto
them. And it came to pass that while the angels were ministering unto
the disciples, behold, Jesus came and stood in the midst and
ministered unto them. 3 Nephi 19:9-15
The
disciples received their desires and received the Holy Ghost. They
were also ministered to by angels.
And
it came to pass that he spake unto the multitude, and commanded them
that they should kneel down again upon the earth, and also that his
disciples should kneel down upon the earth. And it came to pass that
when they had all knelt down upon the earth, he commanded his
disciples that they should pray. And behold, they began to pray; and
they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God. 3
Nephi 19:16-18
They
continue to pray. They have been taught how to pray unto the Father
in the name of Jesus. But now we are given a clearer view into what
this means. Who are His disciples praying to? What does it look like
to pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus?
And
it came to pass that Jesus departed out of the midst of them, and
went a little way off from them and bowed himself to the earth, and
he said: Father, I thank thee that thou hast given the Holy Ghost
unto these whom I have chosen; and it is because of their belief in
me that I have chosen them out of the world. Father, I pray thee that
thou wilt give the Holy Ghost unto all them that shall believe in
their words. Father, thou hast given them the Holy Ghost because they
believe in me; and thou
seest that they believe in me because thou hearest them, and they
pray unto me;
and they pray unto me because I am with them. And now Father, I pray
unto thee for them, and also for all those who shall believe on their
words, that they may believe in me, that I may be in them as thou,
Father, art in me, that we may be one. 3 Nephi 19:19-23
After
His disciples pray unto Him, what does Jesus do ? Why does Jesus need
to communicate His disciples' prayers and desires to the Father? What
evidence does the Father have that the disciples believe in Jesus?
Who gives the Holy Ghost?
And
it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he
came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without
ceasing, to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for
it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled
with desire. And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did
pray unto him; and his countenance did smile upon them, and the light
of his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as white
as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and behold the
whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness, yea, even there could
be nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness thereof. And Jesus
said unto them: Pray on; nevertheless they did not cease to pray. 3
Nephi 19:24-26
What
does Jesus do after he prays unto the Father for His disciples? Who
gave them what they should pray? Who filled them with desire? Would
it be Jesus who gave them what to pray since they were praying in the
name of Jesus?
And
he turned from them again, and went a little way off and bowed
himself to the earth; and he prayed again unto the Father, saying:
Father, I thank thee that thou hast purified those whom I have
chosen, because of their faith, and I pray for them, and also for
them who shall believe on their words, that they may be purified in
me, through faith on their words, even as they are purified in me.
Father, I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given
me out of the world, because of their faith, that they may be
purified in me, that I may be in them as thou, Father, art in me,
that we may be one, that I may be glorified in them. 3 Nephi 19:27-29
Who
purified the disciples? What did the disciples do to show forth
faith? If you have faith on their words, what will you do? Who does
Jesus pray for? Who does Jesus not pray for? Who is given to Jesus by
the Father? What does it mean to be purified in Jesus? How is Jesus
glorified in those who are purified in Him?
And
when Jesus had spoken these words he came again unto his disciples;
and behold they did pray steadfastly, without ceasing, unto him; and
he did smile upon them again; and behold they were white, even as
Jesus. And it came to pass that he went again a little way off and
prayed unto the Father; And tongue cannot speak the words which he
prayed, neither can be written by man the words which he prayed. And
the multitude did hear and do bear record; and their hearts were open
and they did understand in their hearts the words which he prayed.
Nevertheless, so great and marvelous were the words which he prayed
that they cannot be written, neither can they be uttered by man.
And
it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying he came
again to the disciples, and said unto them: So great faith have I
never seen among all the Jews; wherefore I could not show unto them
so great miracles, because of their unbelief. Verily I say unto you,
there are none of them that have seen so great things as ye have
seen; neither have they heard so great things as ye have heard.”
Nephi 19:30-36
What
made the disciples white even as Jesus? Why do the disciples pray to
Jesus instead of Jesus' Father? Why must Jesus continue to pray unto
the Father for the disciples? Why can't we pray directly to the
Father? Why does the Father require us to go through His son to come
to Him? Will the Father answer the prayers of those who bypass His
son?
Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
Verily
I say unto you, that ye are built upon my gospel; therefore ye shall
call whatsoever things ye do call, in my name; therefore if ye call
upon the Father, for the church, if it be in my name the Father will
hear you; 3 Nephi 27:9
And
now I go unto the Father. And verily I say unto you, whatsoever
things ye shall ask the Father in my name shall be given unto you. 3
Nephi 27:28
If
in our traditions and unbelief we reduce Jesus to the older brother
status, we lack knowledge on how to worship or what we worship. How
can we call upon His name if we don't even know to whom we pray?
Jesus
Christ is our mediator and intercessor with the Father.
And
now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and
hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words,
and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit; 2
Nephi 2:28
Who
do we worship?
And
now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in
Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel;
wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your
might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye
shall in nowise be cast out. 2 Nephi 25:29
I
started this post with D&C 93:1. In D&C 93:19 we read, “I
give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to
worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father
in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness.” Let's read the
verses between these two verses and see what we learn.
Verily,
thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who
forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and
obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and
know that I am;
And
that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the
world; And that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the
Father and I are one— The Father because he gave me of his fulness,
and the Son because I was in the world and made flesh my tabernacle,
and dwelt among the sons of men. I was in the world and received of
my Father, and the works of him were plainly manifest.
And
John saw and bore record of the fulness of my glory, and the fulness
of John’s record is hereafter to be revealed. And he bore record,
saying: I saw his glory, that he was in the beginning, before the
world was; Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the
Word, even the messenger of salvation— The light and the Redeemer
of the world; the Spirit of truth, who came into the world, because
the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the
light of men. The worlds were made by him; men were made by him; all
things were made by him, and through him, and of him.
And
I, John, bear record that I beheld his glory, as the glory of the
Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, even the Spirit
of truth, which came and dwelt in the flesh, and dwelt among us. And
I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but
received grace for grace; And he received not of the fulness at
first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a
fulness; And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received
not of the fulness at the first.
And
I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy
Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and
there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son. And
I, John, bear record that he received a fulness of the glory of the
Father; And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and
the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him.
And
it shall come to pass, that if you are faithful you shall receive the
fulness of the record of John. I give unto you these sayings that you
may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship,
that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive
of his fulness. D&C 93:2-19
When did the son of God receive a fulness of the glory of the Father? What is the record of John? What did John bear record of? What do we worship? How do we worship? How do we come unto the Father in the name of Jesus?
There
may be some confusion when we read scriptures like the one found in
Alma 33. Zenos is praying to God or the Lord. The Lord is hearing
and answering his prayers. When Zenos speaks to God, he speaks of
“thy son”. It would be easy to assume “the son” is personage
separate from God. Zenos is speaking about “thy son” to God, so
we might come to the conclusion God is the father of the
son.
Do ye remember to
have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer
or worship? For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast
heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast
merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and
thou didst turn them to me. Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto
me when I did cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in
my prayer, and thou didst hear me. And again, O God, when I did turn
to my house thou didst hear me in my prayer. And when I did turn unto
my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me. Yea,
thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be
heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them. Yea, O God,
thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of
thy congregations. Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been
cast out and have been despised by mine enemies; yea, thou didst hear
my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit them
in thine anger with speedy destruction. And thou didst hear me
because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because
of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me,
therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee
is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because
of thy Son. Alma 33:3-11 [emphasis added]
Is Zenos praying
to the Lord Jesus? Does Zenos understand the different roles God
plays? Does he understand that God himself will
condescend and come down among the children of men and redeem His
people? Does Zenos understand that when God dwelleth in flesh he
shall be called the Son of God? Is the Son of God really God in the
flesh? Understanding the many names of the Lord Jesus helps us work
through the dilemma the previous scripture seems to create.
And
now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that
God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall
redeem his people. And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be
called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of
the Father, being the Father and the Son—The Father, because he was
conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh;
thus becoming the Father and Son—And they are one God, yea, the
very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth. And thus the flesh
becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one
God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to the temptation, but
suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and
disowned by his people. And after all this, after working many mighty
miracles among the children of men, he shall be led, yea, even as
Isaiah said, as a sheep before the shearer is dumb, so he opened not
his mouth. Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the
flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being
swallowed up in the will of the Father. And thus God breaketh the
bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son
power to make intercession for the children of men— Mosiah 15:1-8
Who
is our Father?
Behold,
I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem
my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In
me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who
shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my
daughters. Ether 3:14
And
whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh
of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good;
he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I am;
and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent
me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and
the truth of the world. Ether 4:12
Those
who believe on Jesus' name shall become His sons and daughters. Jesus
has a Father and He worships and follows Him. We must follow and
worship our Father.
And
the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of
my Beloved Son. And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying:
He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy
Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye
have seen me do. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye
shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy
and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your
sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you
the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your
Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall
ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and
of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels,
and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel. 2 Nephi 31:11-13
To
pray to God the Eternal Father in the name of Jesus Christ, our words
must be authorized by Jesus Christ. We see an example of this in the
sacrament prayers. When the flesh and blood of Christ is administered
precisely according to the commandments of Jesus Christ it is done
with authority before God the Eternal Father.
The
manner of their elders and priests administering the flesh and blood
of Christ unto the church; and they administered it according to
the commandments of Christ; wherefore we know the manner to be
true; and the elder or priest did minister it—And they did kneel
down with the church, and pray to the Father in the name of Christ,
saying:
O
God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus
Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all
those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body
of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that
they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always
remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them,
that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen. Moroni
4:1-3 [emphasis added]
The disciples administered the sacrament according to the
commandments of Jesus.
Jesus
said unto them: Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done,
for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto
the Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you.
And this shall ye always do to those who repent and are baptized in
my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have
shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always
remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit
to be with you. And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall do
these things. And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye,
for ye are built upon my rock. But whoso among you shall do more
or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon
a sandy foundation; and when the rain descends, and the floods come,
and the winds blow, and beat upon them, they shall fall, and the
gates of hell are ready open to receive them. Therefore blessed
are ye if ye shall keep my commandments, which the Father hath
commanded me that I should give unto you. 3 Nephi 18:10-13
[emphasis added]
Yet,
who is God the Eternal Father?
Now Zeezrom saith
again unto him: Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father? And Amulek
said unto him: Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of heaven and of
earth, and all things which in them are; he is the beginning and the
end, the first and the last; And he shall come into the world to
redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of
those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have
eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else. Alma 11:38-40
Teach them that
redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very Eternal
Father. Amen. Mosiah 16:15
Jesus is the Father and He has a
Father. This
is not a difficult concept for us to understand. In our human
families, fathers are also sons. Notice how Jesus uses the words “my
Father” and “the
Father”
in John 14. Does he speak of the same Father?
Let not your heart
be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s
house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am,
there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
Thomas saith unto
him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the
way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should
have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have
seen him.
Philip saith unto
him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto
him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known
me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest
thou then, Shew us the Father?
Believest thou not
that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak
unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me,
he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the
Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do
shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I
go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will
I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask
any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my
commandments. John 14:1-15 (You can read the rest of the chapter in
the Bible.)
To do anything in the name of Jesus
Christ,
it must be done precisely as he instructs. Doing anything more or
less than what he commands and saying it in the name of Jesus Christ
would be taking His name in vain. It would be like saying, “I come
in the name of the King with a message” when the message is not the
King's message but your own message.
We
randomly and carelessly close our speeches and prayers in the name of
Jesus Christ without receiving His words, declaring His words, and
receiving authority from Jesus. To pretend to have authority and
freelance all in the name of Jesus is taking the Lord's name in vain.
Wherefore,
let all men beware how they take my name in their lips— For behold,
verily I say, that many there be who are under this condemnation, who
use the name of the Lord, and use it in vain, having not authority.
D&C 63:61-62
Thou
shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord
will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Mosiah
13:15
When
we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, we come before Him with His
words. We call upon Him to fulfill His promises, and thus we pray in
His name. Our prayers have power and authority because we are
speaking His words. As we come before the Lord, we do so in a spirit
of meekness and humility. We see this pattern in the Brother of
Jared's prayer to Jesus.
And it came to pass
that the brother of Jared, (now the number of the vessels which had
been prepared was eight) went forth unto the mount, which they called
the mount Shelem, because of its exceeding height, and did molten out
of a rock sixteen small stones; and they were white and clear, even
as transparent glass; and he did carry them in his hands upon the top
of the mount, and cried again unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, thou
hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now
behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his
weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in
the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the
fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O
Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee,
that from thee we may receive according to our desires.
Behold, O Lord,
thou hast smitten us because of our iniquity, and hast driven us
forth, and for these many years we have been in the wilderness;
nevertheless, thou hast been merciful unto us. O Lord, look upon me
in pity, and turn away thine anger from this thy people, and suffer
not that they shall go forth across this raging deep in darkness; but
behold these things which I have molten out of the rock. And I know,
O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for
the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy
finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and
they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared,
that we may have light while we shall cross the sea. Behold, O Lord,
thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great
power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.
And it came to pass
that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord
stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his
finger. Ether 3:1-6 [emphasis added]
What
promise or word of the Lord is the brother of Jared using when
praying to Jesus? How is using the Lord's word to come before Him an act of faith? The scriptures are full of the Lord's promises,
conditions, and words. And now, whoso readeth, let him understand; he
that hath the scriptures, let him search them, and see and behold.
Search the
scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are
they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might
have life. I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye
have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father’s name, and
ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will
receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and
seek not the honour that cometh from God only? John 5:39-44
And it shall come
to pass that the time cometh, when the fulness of my gospel shall be
preached unto them; And they shall believe in me, that I am Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my name. 3
Nephi 20:30-31
Verily,
verily, I say unto you, that my people shall know my name; yea, in
that day they shall know that I am he that doth speak. 3 Nephi 20:39
Some
time before the brother of Jared was brought back into the presence
of Jesus, he had an experience where the Lord chastised him. For the
space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared, and
chastened him because he remembered not to call upon the name of the
Lord for his brethren. The record shows that the brother of Jared
repented and was received by the Lord. We are commanded to call upon
the Father in the name of Jesus, with a broken heart and a contrite
spirit.
And
it came to pass at the end of four years that the Lord came again
unto the brother of Jared, and stood in a cloud and talked with him.
And for the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother
of Jared, and chastened him because he remembered not to call upon
the name of the Lord. And the brother of Jared repented of the evil
which he had done, and did call upon the name of the Lord for his
brethren who were with him. Ether 2:14-15
Behold,
when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to
remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and
blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which
have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea,
when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart
and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath
remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of
Israel. Ether 4:15
You
can still pray to Jesus using your words, but you would be praying in
your name not in the name of Jesus.
As
you begin to exercise faith and call upon the name of the Lord, the
adversary will bring up doubts and fears to stop you in your
progress. Use the Word of God to cast out your doubts and fears.
“Look unto me [Jesus Christ] in every thought; doubt not, fear
not.” Doctrine and Covenants 6:36 Use the words of Jesus to
overcome your doubts. Use the Word of God to overcome your fears.
Speak back to those voices in your head using the scriptures to
overcome your false beliefs. As your knowledge of the truth
increases, your ability to withstand the wiles of the devil will also
increase.
And
these signs shall follow them that believe—in my name shall they
cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take
up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt
them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover; And
whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing, unto him will I
confirm all my words, even unto the ends of the earth. Mormon 9:24-25
The Father's sonship is a mystery
except to those to whom the Son will reveal the Father.
At that time Jesus
answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and
hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good
in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no
man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the
Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Matthew11:25-27
George
W. Pace
As I've been writing this blog post,
memories of George W. Pace have come to me many times, so after
writing this post, I looked into the controversy surrounding his
teachings during the 80s. He was a cheerful man. I remember his
excitement and enthusiasm for the gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1981
George wrote a book encouraging others to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ. In March of 1982, Bruce R.
McConkie publicly condemned and rebuked George Wendall Pace in a
BYU Devotional Talk titled Our Relationship with the Lord.
Although
George wasn't named in the devotional, a sentence from his 1981 book
What It Means to Know Christ was
quoted, brought into question, and seriously criticized.
“According to his son, Pace was personally devastated and saw this
as a public condemnation and rebuke. He removed his book from the
market, lost his church position as stake president, and had a
dramatic drop in class enrollment. Pace issued a formal apology in
which he stated that his opinions may be misinterpreted, and he was
glad that McConkie had clarified the issues. Pace wanted "to
stay in the mainstream of the Church" and remain loyal to its
leadership. . . After the fallout from the McConkie incident, Pace
still retained his BYU religious professorship and served in
leadership positions in the church.” Wikipedia
This is the perilous message George W.
Pace was teaching 35 years ago, “Because
the Savior is our mediator, our prayers go through Christ to the
Father, and the Father answers our prayers through his Son.”
As I pondered the church's motive in
coming down so hard on George, questions kept coming to my mind:
“What is so dangerous about talking to Jesus? Why is it improper
to have a personal and intimate relationship with Lord, Jesus? Why
does church leadership not want us to pray to Jesus? Why would the LDS
church want to nip this teaching in the bud before it could bloom and
grow? What would happen if we realized Jesus Christ is our Father and
started praying to Him? What would happen if we knew to whom to pray
to receive answers to our prayers? What would happen if a connection
is made with heaven because we know
how to worship, and know what we worship?
What would happen if all those empty prayers are answered because we
repent of calling out to Jesus' Father? What would happen if we
stopped believing Jesus is our older brother and start believing he
is the Father? Would he then claim us as a son or daughter?”
Here are excerpts from Bruce McConkie's speech. I would suggest you read the entire talk and decide for
yourselves what think ye of Jesus Christ.
I shall speak of
our relationship with the Lord and of the true fellowship all Saints
should have with the Father. I shall set forth what we must believe
relative to the Father and the Son in order to gain eternal life.
I shall expound the
doctrine of the Church relative to what our relationship should be to
all members of the Godhead and do so in plainness and simplicity so
that none need misunderstand or be led astray by other voices.
I shall express the
view of the Brethren, of the prophets and apostles of old, and of all
those who understand the scriptures and are in tune with the Holy
Spirit.
These matters lie
at the very foundation of revealed religion. In presenting them I am
on my own ground and am at home with my subject. I shall not stoop to
petty wranglings about semantics but shall stay with matters of
substance. I shall simply go back to basics and set forth fundamental
doctrines of the kingdom, knowing that everyone who is sound
spiritually and who has the guidance of the Holy Spirit will believe
my words and follow my counsel.
Please do not put
too much stock in some of the current views and vagaries that are
afloat, but rather, turn to the revealed word, get a sound
understanding of the doctrines, and keep yourselves in the mainstream
of the Church.
Now, it is no
secret that many false and vain and foolish things are being taught
in the sectarian world and even among us about our need to gain a
special relationship with the Lord Jesus. I shall summarize the true
doctrine in this field and invite erring teachers and beguiled
students to repent and believe the accepted gospel verities as I
shall set them forth.
There is no
salvation in believing any false doctrine, particularly a false or
unwise view about the Godhead or any of its members. Eternal life is
reserved for those who know God and the One whom he sent to work out
the infinite and eternal atonement.
True and saving
worship is found only among those who know the truth about God and
the Godhead and who understand the true relationship men should have
with each member of that Eternal Presidency.
It follows that the
devil would rather spread false doctrine about God and the Godhead,
and induce false feelings with reference to any one of them, than
almost any other thing he could do . . .
Thus there are, in
the Eternal Godhead, three persons—God the first, the Creator; God
the second, the Redeemer; and God the third, the Testator. These
three are one—one God if you will—in purposes, in powers, and in
perfections. But each has his own severable work to perform, and
mankind has a defined and known and specific relationship to each one
of them. It is of these relationships that we shall now speak.
Doctrines of
Eternal Life
Let us set forth
those doctrines and concepts that a gracious God has given to us in
this day and which must be understood in order to gain eternal life.
They are:
1. We worship
the Father and him only and no one else.
We do not worship
the Son, and we do not worship the Holy Ghost. I know perfectly well
what the scriptures say about worshipping Christ and Jehovah, but
they are speaking in an entirely different sense—the sense of
standing in awe and being reverentially grateful to him who has
redeemed us. Worship in the true and saving sense is reserved for God
the first, the Creator . . .
4. The plan of
salvation is the gospel of the Father
The plan of
salvation originated with the Father; he is the Author and Finisher
of our faith in the final sense; he ordained the laws by obedience to
which both we and Christ can become like him. . .
Note it, please,
the Lord Jesus worked out his own salvation while in this mortal
probation by going from grace to grace, until, having overcome the
world and being raised in immortal glory, he became like the Father
in the full, complete, and eternal sense. . .
We do have a proper
relationship to each member of the Godhead, in part at least because
there are separate and severable functions which each performs, and
also because of what they as one Godhead have done for us.
Our relationship
with the Father is supreme, paramount, and preeminent over all
others. He is the God we worship. It is his gospel that saves and
exalts. He ordained and established the plan of salvation. He is the
one who was once as we are now. The life he lives is eternal life,
and if we are to gain this greatest of all the gifts of God, it will
be because we become like him.
Our relationship
with the Father is one of parent and child. He is the one who gave us
our agency. It was his plan that provided for a fall and an
atonement. And it is to him that we must be reconciled if we are to
gain salvation. He is the one to whom we have direct access by
prayer, and if there were some need—which there is not!—to single
out one member of the Godhead for a special relationship, the Father,
not the Son, would be the one to choose.
Our relationship
with the Son is one of brother or sister in the premortal life and
one of being led to the Father by him while in this mortal sphere. He
is the Lord Jehovah who championed our cause before the foundations
of the earth were laid. He is the God of Israel, the promised
Messiah, and the Redeemer of the world . . .
Our relationship
with the Holy Spirit is quite another thing. This holy personage is a
Revelator and a Sanctifier. He bears record of the Father and the
Son. He dispenses spiritual gifts to the faithful. Those of us who
have received the gift of the Holy Ghost have the right to his
constant companionship.
And again, if it
were proper—and I repeat, it is not!—to single out one member of
the Godhead for some special attention, we might well conclude that
member should be the Holy Ghost. We might well adopt as a slogan:
Seek the Spirit. The reason of course is that the sanctifying power
of the Spirit would assure us of reconciliation with the Father. And
any person who enjoys the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit
will be in complete harmony with the divine will in all things.
[This
is the section where the quote in George W. Pace's
book entitled What
It Means to Know Christ is
quoted]
Heresies among
Us
Now, in spite of
all these truths, which ought to be obvious to every spiritually
enlightened person, heresies rear their ugly heads among us from time
to time. . .
There are yet others who have an excessive zeal which causes them to
go beyond the mark. Their desire for excellence is inordinate. In an
effort to be truer than true they devote themselves to gaining a
special, personal relationship with Christ that is both improper and
perilous.
I say perilous because this course, particularly in the lives of some
who are spiritually immature, is a gospel hobby which creates an
unwholesome holier-than-thou attitude. In other instances it leads to
despondency because the seeker after perfection knows he is not
living the way he supposes he should.
Another peril is that those so involved often begin to pray directly
to Christ because of some special friendship they feel has been
developed. In this connection a current and unwise book, which
advocates gaining a special relationship with Jesus, contains this
sentence:
Because the
Savior is our mediator, our prayers go through Christ to the Father,
and the Father answers our prayers through his Son.
[emphasis added]
This
is plain sectarian nonsense. Our prayers are addressed to the Father,
and to him only. They do not go through Christ, or the Blessed
Virgin, or St. Genevieve or along the beads of a rosary. We are
entitled to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews
4:16).
And I rather
suppose that he who sitteth upon the throne will choose his own ways
to answer his children, and that they are numerous. Perfect prayer is
addressed to the Father, in the name of the Son; and it is uttered by
the power of the Holy Ghost; and it is answered in whatever way seems
proper by him whose ear is attuned to the needs of his children.
The Mainstream
of the Church
Now I know that
some may be offended at the counsel that they should not strive for a
special and personal relationship with Christ. It will seem to them
as though I am speaking out against mother love, or Americanism, or
the little red schoolhouse. But I am not. There is a fine line here
over which true worshipers will not step.
It is true that
there may, with propriety, be a special relationship with a wife,
with children, with friends, with teachers, with the beasts of the
field and the fowls of the sky and the lilies of the valley. But the
very moment anyone singles out one member of the Godhead as the
almost sole recipient of his devotion, to the exclusion of the
others, that is the moment when spiritual instability begins to
replace sense and reason.
The proper course
for all of us is to stay in the mainstream of the Church. This is the
Lord’s Church, and it is led by the spirit of inspiration, and the
practice of the Church constitutes the interpretation of the
scripture.
And you have never
heard one of the First Presidency or the Twelve, who hold the keys of
the kingdom, and who are appointed to see that we are not “tossed
to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine”
(Ephesians 4:14)—you have never heard one of them advocate this
excessive zeal that calls for gaining a so-called special and
personal relationship with Christ.
You have heard them
teach and testify of the ministry and mission of the Lord Jesus,
using the most persuasive and powerful language at their command. But
never, never at any time have they taught or endorsed the inordinate
or intemperate zeal that encourages endless, sometimes day-long
prayers, in order to gain a personal relationship with the Savior.
Those who truly
love the Lord and who worship the Father in the name of the Son by
the power of the Spirit, according to the approved patterns, maintain
a reverential barrier between themselves and all the members of the
Godhead.
I am well aware
that some who have prayed for endless hours feel they have a special
and personal relationship with Christ that they never had before. I
wonder if this is any or so much different, however, from the
feelings of fanatical sectarians who with glassy eyes and fiery
tongues assure us they have been saved by grace and are assured of a
place with the Lord in a heavenly abode, when in fact they have never
even received the fullness of the gospel.
I wonder if it is
not part of Lucifer’s system to make people feel they are special
friends of Jesus when in fact they are not following the normal and
usual pattern of worship found in the true Church.
Let me remind you
to stay in the course chartered by the Church. It is the Lord’s
Church, and he will not permit it to be led astray. If we take the
counsel that comes from the prophets and seers, we will pursue the
course that is pleasing to the Lord.
Would it be amiss
if I reminded you that Jesus maintained a reserve between him and his
disciples and that he did not allow them the same intimacy with him
that they had with each other? This was particularly true after his
resurrection.
For instance, when
Mary Magdalene, in a great outpouring of love and devotion, sought to
embrace the risen Lord, her hands were stayed. “Touch me not,” he
said. Between her and him, no matter what the degree of their love,
there was a line over which she could not pass. And yet, almost
immediately thereafter, a whole group of faithful women held that
same Lord by the feet, and, we cannot doubt, bathed his wounded feet
with their tears.
It is a fine and
sacred line, but clearly there is a difference between a personal and
intimate relationship with the Lord, which is improper, and one of
worshipful adoration, which yet maintains the required reserve
between us and him who has bought us with his blood.
Conclusion
Now I sincerely
hope that no one will imagine that I have in the slightest degree
downgraded the Lord Jesus in the scheme of things. I have not done
so. As far as I know there is not a man on earth who thinks more
highly of him than I do. It just may be that I have preached more
sermons, taught more doctrine, and written more words about the Lord
Jesus Christ than any other man now living. I have ten large volumes
in print, seven of which deal almost entirely with Christ, and the
other three with him and his doctrines.
I do not suppose
that what I have here said will be an end to controversy or to the
spread of false views and doctrines. The devil is not dead, and he
delights in controversy. But you have been warned, and you have heard
the true doctrine taught. Those who need to study the matter further
would do well to get and study a copy of what I have said when it is
published by Brigham Young University.
Let us then end on
the note of testimony and of prayer. I bear record of the divine
sonship of him whom we have this day spoken. He is or should be our
best Friend through whom we can be reconciled to God.
And I pray that the
true doctrine of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost,
who, as the Book of Mormon says, are one God, may be found in the
hearts and souls of all of us. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Bruce R.
McConkie was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this devotional
address was given at Brigham Young University on 2 March 1982.
"Yea, they have all gone out of the way;
they have become corrupted. Because of pride, and because of false
teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted,
and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed
up." (2 Nephi 28:11-12)
God allows us to experience the low
points of life in order to teach us lessons that we could learn no
other way.
