I am concerned that some people may think that all of the ordinances and/or endowments are not necessary, because of some people who have communion with heaven, been ministered to by angels, or by the Saviour, etc, and yet had not prior to that time had all the ordinances. This line of reasoning is not quite accurate, and needs correction. There is a reason for all the ordinances, and they must be done, either now or later, but they must be done. And anyone who rejects the opportunity to have them done now, may not have the opportunity later.
It is also important to understand the purpose of the ordinances. First, the ordinances have no power to save anyone in and of themselves. The power of the ordinances lay in their application. Not in the performing of the ordinances, but in applying the meaning of the ordinances to our own lives, to our own hearts. For example, baptism itself does not save, but cleansing our hearts, cleansing our lives, laying down our worldly lives and rising to a new life in Christ does. And this principle is true with all the ordinances.
All the ordinances teach different principles that must be applied to our hearts, to our lives. They are given for the express purpose of giving us the way to get through the veil. Those ordinances hold the actual key, the method that is necessary to talk to God face to face. And those who follow and apply those keys, will soon find themselves in the presence of their Father.
And, fellow sojourners upon earth, it is your privilege to purify yourselves and come up to the same glory, and see for yourselves, and know for yourselves. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
~ TPJS. E&MS August, 1832. DHC 1:282-284.
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I just read this post before heading off to bed. I needed this reminder. So, a big
ReplyDeletethank you for posting it. It all goes back to coming into the presence of our Father.
You are welcome! I agree, it's all about coming into the presence of our Father.
DeleteThank-you so much for your comments.
Thanks for posting on this topic. My question is in behalf of my husband. He was baptized when he was 8, but he has always questioned the validity of the ordinance because his father was very controlling and borderline abusive. Is this a concern? How does the faith of the individual play in? He also felt prompted to receive a healing blessing from his father 4 year ago and after the blessing he was not healed, but about 48 hours later he was healed. His father seems to be living more righteously now, and we are not trying to judge him. My husband no longer seeks blessings at his fathers hands because he feel like "hell" is upon him when he does.
ReplyDeleteAny thoughts?
This can certainly be a challenging question to answer. First, anytime that dominion, power, and authority is exercised unrighteously the priesthood authority of that man is lost. Although Heavenly Father looks upon the faith of the individual with great joy and will take into account our hearts, we do need to have the ordinance performed by someone holding the priesthood righteously. There have been many times in modern history where people have been re-baptised for various reasons. I, myself, have been baptised a few times for different events in my life. If your husband has any doubt of the validity of his first baptism, then he has every right to re-make that covenant and re-do that ordinance before his Lord. I believe that if he takes his concern before our Heavenly Father, that Heavenly Father would be overjoyed that your husband was so devoted to pleasing his Father, that he would certainly be blessed and filled with the Spirit as a witness that this course is pleasing to our Heavenly Father.
DeleteI just read the story of your husband being healed...wow, amazing! That is a great story, an amazing faith building miracle!
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