Lesson 32: "Live In the Spirit"

8/3/2019 Lesson 32: "Live In the Spirit"

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Gospel Doctrine, Lesson 32: Live in the Spirit, Acts 18-20 & Galatians

When you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, said the Prophet Joseph Smith, it may give you sud

strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things thwere presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit o

God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Chr

Jesus.

In the economy of heaven the Lord never uses a floodlight when a flashlight is sufficientand so it is in receiving personal revelation. This principle is true even with revelation that comes to prop

The following quotations are from a talk given by Elder L. Lionel Kendrick titled: Personal

Revelation. It is an excellent talk, and well worth studying.

You can find it at speeches.byu.edu .

Have patience as you are perfecting your ability to be led by the Spirit. By careful practice,through the application of correct principles, and by being sensitive to the feelings that come, ywill gain spiritual guidance. I bear witness that the Lord, through the Holy Ghost, can speak toyour mind and heart. (Elder Richard G. Scott)

Elder Marvin J. Ashton taught: When others disagree with our stand we should not argue, retaliate inkind, or contend with them...Ours is to explain our position through reason, friendly persuasion, and acc

rate facts. Ours is to stand firm and unyielding on the moral issues of the day and the eternal principles othe gospel, but to contend with no man or organization. Contention builds walls and puts up barriers. Lo

opens doors...Contention never was and never will be an ally of progress (Ensign, May 1978, 7-8)

Greek goddess Diana

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, I will give you a key that will never rust, if you will stay with the majo

ity of the Twelve Apostles, and the records of the Church, you will never be led astray. (quoted in YouWomans Journal, Dec. 1906, p. 543)

President Harold B. Lee counseled: The most important thing you can do is to learn to talk to God. Tal

to Him as you would talk to your father, for He is your Father, and He wants you to talk to Him. He wan

you to cultivate ears to listen, when He gives you the impressions of the Spirit to tell you what todo...When there come to you things that your mind does not know, when you have a sudden thought tha

comes to your mind, if you will learn to give heed to these things that come from the Lord, you will lear

to walk by the spirit of revelation.

They had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the...spirit of revelation (Alma 17:3)

Elder Boyd K. Packer Reverence invites revelation.

The Savior said, And your minds in times past have been darkened because...you have treated lightly the

things you have received (D&C 84:54)

Elder Dallin H. Oaks...explained We are often left to work out problems, without

dictation or specific direction of the Spirit. That is part of the experience we must hav

in mortality. Fortunately, we are never out of our Saviors sight, and if our judgmentleads us to actions beyond the limits of what is permissible

and if we are listening to the still small voice, the Lord will

restrain us by the promptings of His spirit.

Elder Richard G. Scott...explains When He answers

yes, it is to give us confidence. When He answers no, it is

to prevent error. When He withholds an answer, it is tohave us grow through faith in Him, obedience to His com-

mandments, and a willingness to act on truth.


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Events at the Dedication of the Kirtland Temple

Joseph Smith, Jr.Brother George A. Smith arose and began to prophesy, when a noise was heard like the sound of arushing-mighty wind, which filled the Temple and all the congregation simultaneously arose, beingmoved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues and prophesy; others saw gloriousvisions; and I beheld the Temple was filled with angels, which fact I declared to the congregation. The

people of the neighborhood came running together (hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing abright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple), and were astonished at what was taking place

Oliver CowderySunday, the 27th attended on the dedication of the Lords house. For the particulars of this great evesee my account written by myself, and printed in the March No. of The Messenger and Advocate, signC. In the evening I met with the officers of the church in the Lords house. The Spirit was poured outsaw the glory of God, like a great cloud, come down and rest upon the house, and fill the same like amighty rushing wind. I also saw cloven tongues, like as of fire rest upon many, (for there were 316 present,) while they spake with other tongues and prophesied.2

Heber C. KimballDuring the ceremonies of the dedication, an angel appeared and sat near President Joseph Smith, Senand Frederick G. Williams, so that they had a fair view of his person. He was a very tall personage, blaeyes, white hair, and stoop shouldered; his garment was whole, extending to near his ankles; on his feehe had sandals. He wassent as a messenger to accept of the dedication While these things were being attended to the belovdisciple John was seen in our midst by the Prophet Joseph, Oliver Cowdery and others.3

George A. SmithThere were great manifestations of power, such as speaking in tongues, seeing visions, administration

of angels. Many individuals bore testimony that they saw angels, and David Whitmer bore testimony thhe saw three angels passing up the south aisle, and there came a shock on the house like the sound of mighty rushing wind, and almost every man in the house arose, and hundreds of them were speaking itongues, prophesying or declaring visions, almost with one voice.4

Eliza R. SnowOne striking feature of the ceremonies, was the grand shout of hosanna, which was given by the whoassembly, in standing position, with uplifted hands. The form of the shout is as follows: Hosannahosanna hosannato God and the Lambamenamen, and amen. The foregoing was deliberatelyand emphatically pronounced, and three times repeated, and with such power as seemed almost suffi-

cient to raise the roof from thebuilding. A singular incident in connection with this shout may be discredited by some, but it is verilytrue. A notice had been circulated that children in arms would not be admitted at the dedication of thetemple. A sister who had come a long distance with her babe, six weeks old, having, on her arrival, heaof the above requisition, went to the patriarch Joseph Smith, Sr., in great distress, saying that she knewno one with whom she could leave her infant; and to be deprived of the privilege of attending the dedcation seemed more than she could endure. The ever generous and kind-hearted father volunteered totake the responsibility on himself, and told her to take her child, at the same time giving the mother apromise that her babe should make no disturbance; and the promise was verified. But when the congre


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gation shouted hosanna, that babe joined in the shout. As marvelous as that incident may appear tomany, it is not more so than other occurrences on that occasion The ceremonies of that dedication mabe rehearsed, but no mortal language can describe the heavenly manifestations of that memorable day.Angels appeared to some, while a sense of divine presence was realized by all present, and each heart wfilled with joy inexpressible and full of glory.5

Benjamin Brown

There the Spirit of the Lord, as on the day of Pentecost, was profusely poured out. Hundreds of Elders spoke in tongueswe had a most glorious and never-to-be-forgotten time. Angels were seen bynumbers present It was also at this time that Elijah the Prophet appeared, and conferred upon Josepthe keys of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, previous to the re-institution of the ordi-nance of baptism for the dead.6

Truman AngellWhen about midway during the prayer, there was a glorious sensation passed through the house[Kirtland Temple]; and we, having our heads bowed in prayer, felt a sensation very elevating to the souAt the close of the prayer, F. [Frederick] G. Williams being in the upper east stand- -Joseph being in thspeaking stand next below--rose and testified that midway during the prayer an holy angel came andseated himself in the stand. When the afternoon meeting assembled, Joseph, feeling very much elated,arose the first thing and said the personage who had appeared in the morning was the Angel Peter comto accept the dedication.7

SOURCES

1 Joseph Smith,History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day

Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts (SaltLake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,1932-1951), 2: 428.2 Leonard J. Arrington, Oliver Cowderys Kirtland Ohio Sketch

Book,BYU Studies, (Summer 1972).

3Journal of Discourses, 26 vols. (London: Latter-day Saints BookDepot, 1854-1886), 9: 376.4 Ibid, 11: 10.

5 Edward W. Tullidge, The Women of Mormondom (New York: Tullidge& Crandall, 1877), 95.

6 Benjamin Brown, Testimony for the Truth, Gems for the Young

Folks (Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1881), 65.

7 Truman Angell,Autobiography, Our Pioneer Heritage, Writings of

Early Latter-day Saints, 198.

This article and much more can be found at:

mormonhistoricsitesfoundation.org/USA/ohio/kirtland/temple/complete.pdf

Documents

Lesson 32: "Live In the Spirit"