In the book of Moses we aren't told what Adam prays but we know his prayer was so powerful he heard the voice of the Lord (Moses 5). This prayer is symbolic of a true prayer all humble servants of the Lord will offer at some point on their journey back to the Tree of Life.
This prayer might be the single most pivotal moment in Adam & Eve's journey. Adam is learning how to pierce the veil with deep and profoundly sincere prayer. In fact, it is from this prayer that everything else is set in motion to be offered to Adam and Eve.
It is from this prayer that God is able to activate the Aaronic priesthood which sends a true messenger or in other words, an Angel of the Lord (Moses 5: 6-8; Mosiah 3:4) to set Adam and Eve on a direct course in truth and righteousness.
11 And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls. (Helaman 5)
Do you ever feel that your prayers don't seem to get past the ceiling of your bedroom?
Do you ever feel awkward when you pray?
What does powerful prayer look, sound, and feel like?
How can we believe that we are currently experiencing the highest blessings God can give to mortal man as members of the church when we often struggle with basic communication and revelation from God?
If you are on a Journey to Christ, start here. Start with powerful prayer. Many members believe that because they were baptized and had they laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, they are in possession of the full Gift of the Holy Ghost. But this is a misconception. Very few actually receive the Baptism of Fire and the Gift of the Holy Ghost upon baptism. It is often an invitation to a future event than a declaration that they now have the Gift.
Joseph Smith taught:
Do you ever feel awkward when you pray?
What does powerful prayer look, sound, and feel like?
How can we believe that we are currently experiencing the highest blessings God can give to mortal man as members of the church when we often struggle with basic communication and revelation from God?
If you are on a Journey to Christ, start here. Start with powerful prayer. Many members believe that because they were baptized and had they laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, they are in possession of the full Gift of the Holy Ghost. But this is a misconception. Very few actually receive the Baptism of Fire and the Gift of the Holy Ghost upon baptism. It is often an invitation to a future event than a declaration that they now have the Gift.
Joseph Smith taught:
The baptism of water, without baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost attending it, is of no use, they are necessarily and inseparably connected. An individual must be born of water and the spirit in order to get into the kingdom of God.What must one do to receive this gift?
— History of the Church, 6:316
And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
— 3 Nephi 9:20
You must have a broken heart and a contrite spirit if you are to qualify for your baptism of fire and gift of the Holy Ghost.
What does a broken heart and contrite spirit mean?
What does a broken heart and contrite spirit mean?
It means that your heart is broken and you do not seek your own will. You seek the Lord's will to bless and help others (full submission). If your spirit is contrite, you are in a constant state of repentance, meaning that your heart is turned to God always (full repentance). If these two attributes of godliness are within you, you shall be redeemed from the fall and be given the baptism of fire and gift of the Holy Ghost. This is the fulness of the Aaronic Priesthood which moves you from a Telestial to a Terrestrial experience (D&C 76)
Jesus Christ was in every way the perfect example for us of how to live our lives. A man without sin, He lived His entire life with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, as evidenced by His complete submission to His Father (John 6:38).
In time, the perfect Lamb willingly laid His life upon the altar according to His Father's will. God is looking for those who will be like Him. To take His name upon themselves, as is the promised in the sacrament prayer, that we may always have His Spirit to be with us. This is the covenant He desires to make with us, to give us the promise of the Gift of the Holy Ghost and the Baptism of Fire.
If we are willing to submit to all He asks of us, as did He to His Father's will, we are worthy of the Gift.
The very essence of a broken heart and a contrite spirit is a desire to seek the Lord more than anything else in our life. When our hearts are broken, we understand the full measure of what it means to have charity. Charity means we are willing to die to self and instead of doing our will, we seek and do the Lord's will in all things. In this way we demonstrate His pure love to others. When we acquire this godly attribute, the Lord can make us greater than ourselves and we can fulfill the commandment: "Ye should be perfect even and I, or your Father who is in Heaven is perfect" (3 Nephi 12:48).
It is important to understand that charity, "the pure love of Christ," is often misconstrued to mean to love like Christ, when it is better explained as a pure love as Christ. "Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14:23).
If you develop a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and seek to have charity, i.e. to do the Lord's will, you will receive your baptism of fire and Holy Ghost.
It is not until we are found sufficiently prepared that we receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost and the Baptism of Fire and become sanctified and holy. In terms of the parable of the Ten Virgins, to have your lamp filled with oil is to be among those who have received the Gift of the Holy Ghost. When Christ comes only those who are sanctified can participate in the wedding feast.
Powerful prayer where you have a broken heart and contrite spirit leads to:
Baptism of Fire & Gift of the Holy Ghost. This is what is known as your Calling and Election. This is Salvation in Christ. This makes you a Son or Daughter of God. This is being Born Again.
What is it Like to Have Your Baptism of Fire?
42 And it came to pass that they [the Lamanites] all did begin to cry unto the voice of him who had shaken the earth; yea, they did cry even until the cloud of darkness was dispersed (This is akin to the 'mist of darkness' ALL experience before they finally grab hold of the iron rod.).
43 And it came to pass that when they cast their eyes about, and saw that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from overshadowing them, (This is similar to what Joseph Smith experienced in the grove.) behold, they saw that they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire.
44 And Nephi and Lehi were in the midst of them; yea, they were encircled about; yea, they were as if in the midst of a flaming fire, yet it did harm them not, neither did it take hold upon the walls of the prison; and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.
45 And behold, the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words.
— Helaman 5:42-45
Things that are recorded in Scripture as happening during the Baptism of Fire:
An encircling fire or pillar of fire, like a column of light or plasma that surrounds them (Acts 2:1-4)
The presence and ministration of angels (3 Nephi 17:24)
A remission of sins (2 Nephi 31:17)
Purification of the heart by fire (D&C 88:74)
Speaking with a new tongue (speaking the word of angels by the power of the Holy Ghost) (2 Nephi 32:2-3)
Sanctification, or becoming holy, by being filled with the Holy Ghost (Alma 13:11-12)
Why are there so few who have received their Baptism of Fire?
Perhaps because of unbelief in the Gifts of the Spirit as spoken by Moroni (Moroni 10:24)
Perhaps because their hearts are not sufficiently humble and contrite
Perhaps it it a lack of faith, knowledge, or believing; they simply don’t know
Perhaps it is because they take the covenant of the Book of Mormon lightly (D&C 84:54) to literally “come unto Christ.” (Moroni 10:32)
Perhaps people are putting their trust in man or an institution for salvation instead of God
Or it could simply be that the appropriate time for many individuals has not yet occurred
Suggestions for Beginning the Journey to Receive your Baptism of Fire and Holy Ghost:
Consider fasting, have one single focus.
Make a time to go somewhere special to offer this prayer. It could be as grand as hiking a mountain and building your own altar or as simple as praying in your own home at 3am when everyone is asleep. What matters is the intent of your heart and following the ideas that come to your mind.
Sincerely plan out the time you will approach the throne of God and offer to lay down your life for Him. Have an eye single to His Glory.
Cry out in prayer to the Lord.
Desire Him more than anyone or anything else.
Offer Him your life.
Place all things in His hands.
Tell Him you seek to only do His will.
Be willing to do this over and over until it happens.
Do you want to connect with the Lord badly enough that you'll try anything? Start as Adam and Eve did, with profound prayer (Moses 5:4). Offer on the altar a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Offer everything you were, are, and will be—to Him.
As you take this new journey, keep in mind you will need to learn discernment, because, like Adam and Eve in the garden, you will have the adversary disguise himself as the answer (Moses 4:6). The adversary will frequently try to answer your prayers. This is noticeable in Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life. As soon as those seeking Christ "commenced on the path" (but before they grabbed hold of the rod), mists of darkness arose. The mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blind the eyes and harden heart of the children of men and leads them away into broad roads "that they perish" (spiritually die) and are lost (1 Nephi 12:17).
The adversary can anticipate your prayers and seek to get you off track as quickly as possible. He attempted it with Joseph in the grove. He even used it with Lehi in the dream when Lehi began following "a man in a white robe" who led him into a dark and dreary waste for many hours (1 Nephi 8: 5-11). When, like Adam and Eve, you set on the path to return to the Tree of Life, you will encounter the great mist of darkness. If you keep an eye single to the Glory of God and you only seek His will, you will grasp hold of the iron rod and the mist of darkness will disperse.
When we finally recognize we are living a Telestial existence, going nowhere in a dark and dreary waste, when we tire of following, as Lehi did (1 Nephi 8: 5-11), anything or anyone that does not, nor can not, lead us to Salvation...we will cry out for mercy, as all who are in such circumstances do. And that cry will, like Adam and Eve, bring a true messenger from the Father (Moses 5: 6-9) who will act in their role to further lead you in the path of truth and salvation.
Sincere prayer is what pierces the veil.
ASK
and it shall be given you...
SEEK
and ye shall find...
I have asked various people over the years, "Who do you think are "messengers" assigned to deliver a message from the Throne of God to you personally? Angels? Or prophets and apostles?" I always get the same answer - "messengers are the prophet and the apostles". I agree that they do deliver messages they have prayed about and are inspired to share, yes. But the specific 'messengers' that return to the throne of God and give an account of your progress (Helaman 5:11) are Angels who are fulfilling their Aaronic priesthood covenants which are specifically to minister to you as is part of their covenant with the Father. They will teach you of the path which will bring you back into alignment with the Father (D&C 130:4-10).
If you believe that it is prophets and apostles who are the messengers spoken of in scripture, and elsewhere, who are assigned to deliver specific messages to you and give an accounting to the Father of your progress (D&C 130:4-10), I ask you - how have apostles and prophets personally observed your life to see if you are faithful and true to your promise to return to the Father? How have they delivered the specific message from the the Father directly to you, in person, one on one?
How can a human messenger observe the conditions of your life and discover if you have been faithful to the promptings and revelations you have received and then give an accounting at the Throne of God (D&C 76:88)?
Is it possible that the messengers associated with the Aaronic Priesthood are literal Angels from Heaven whose assignment is to observe your life and, when instructed by God, deliver a specific message or blessing to you to assist with your journey to return to the presence of the Father?
Why would it make a difference if we understood whether the word 'messenger' was referring to a human or a literal angel sent from heaven?
An apostle came to our area a few years ago to speak to a specific group of leaders and bid all those in attendance to shake his hand. After all had done as he requested he told them, "I am a true messenger" and the opportunity to touch him was, "so they could know that they had touched a true messenger from the Lord". Those in attendance could have taken this to mean that this apostle was the "messenger" or angel spoken of in scripture. An angel that knows your life through and through and knows if you have been true and faithful so they can return to the Father to report your progress.
If I believed that the 'messengers' or 'angels' who observe my life were people like my bishop, stake president, or apostles and prophets, whom would I focus on outwardly being noticed or recognized by?
If I believed that literal Angels from the Throne of God (D&C 130:4-10) were observing me so they could return and report on my progress—how would I live differently? (Hebrews 13:2)
Consider just a few scriptures which show how important Angels are in fulfilling their Aaronic covenants to minister directly to the children of mankind:
2 Nephi 4:24
Jacob 7:5
Jacob 7:17
Alma 9:21
Alma 10:20-21
Alma 12:29
Alma 13:22; 24-26
Alma 18:30
Alma 19:34
Alma 24:14
Alma 32:23
Helaman 5:11
Helaman 5:39
Helaman 5:48
Helaman 16:14
3 Nephi 7:15
3 Nephi 7:18
Moroni 7:22; 25; 29; 36- 37
D&C 29:42
D&C 67:13
D&C 76:88
D&C 84:26; 42
D&C 88:2
D&C 123:7
If it is your belief that the the Angels spoken of in Scripture are apostles or prophets in Salt Lake City—How were there 'apostles' living on the earth when Adam and Eve had just left the garden and were ministered to by an angel? Was it an apostle that appeared to Adam and Eve when they prayed as found in Moses 5:6-8?
Does God operate the same yesterday, today, and forever?
Look at Alma the Younger praying his heart out about Angels in Alma 29:
1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
6 Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?
7 Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth?
8 For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.
9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.Alma was a PROPHET. He could have been considered an Apostle of the Lord! And yet, he knew his calling was not that of an Angel. Specific ANGELS that act as sentinels or cherubim (Moses 4:31) who guard the way to the tree of life. It is Angels whom you must have association with in order to fulfill the promise of the Aaronic priesthood which then allows you to move to a Terrestrial association with the Son (D&C 76).
— Alma 29:1, 6-9
Let's look at one more scripture in Moroni 7:
29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.
30 For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.
31 And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels (those that receive their calling and election) of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.
32 And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and **after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men**.What if the desires of your heart coupled with true prayer is the signal or sign to the heavens that you are seeking greater light and knowledge....showing that you live in strict obedience to God's commandments (obeying personal revelation) and that is what brings the Angels?
— Moroni 7:29-32
Is it possible for a person to only have partial fellowship with with the Lord even though they go to church regularly, read scriptures, and pray morning and night?
What do you do with your time when you don't have to work?
Do you find with each year passing you are spending more and more time at work or on your phone/computer than you are on anything else?
Where do you spend your money when you don't have to pay the bills?
What do you think about when you don't have to be engaged in daily tasks needing completion?
If the eye is the window to your soul, what do you look at, read, and watch?
Who sits as LORD and KING on the Throne of your heart?
Remember, your body is the temple of God. Look at these verses from 1 Corinthians 3 with words in red illustrating how your life is the sign that you are ready for further truth and knowledge:
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (He must be the only foundation in your heart and mind.)
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. (When the fire comes it will be your life and the choices you made which will show if you have been true and faithful to the Wise Masterbuilder.)
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. (If your temple is solid and true. If you have built upon Christ.)
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
— 1 Corinthians 3:9-16
Adam and Eve proved they lived the continual eternal law of obedience and sacrifice and they had an Eye single to the Glory of God. This drew the gaze of heaven and an Angel from the Throne of God was sent to them which lead to their Baptism of Fire and Holy Ghost (Moses 5:6-12)
At this juncture in the scriptures, Satan steps in to attempt to have power over the posterity of Adam and Eve (Moses 5:13). This is symbolic of the increase in temptation and distraction from the Adversary. Once you, like Adam and Eve, have offered that powerful and repeated prayer for God to hear you, and once you have been observed and tested by the Angels, the Adversary knows you have caught the gaze of heaven and the attacks, trials, and temptations will increase for a time.
Praying for the gift of discernment should be one of the first and most continual prayers we pray. The adversary can, does, and will mimic the Lord. Discernment is one of the greatest of all spiritual gifts that can be obtained in this life.
Adam and Eve's story is YOUR story. Sadly, most religious people choose to stay in The Creation period of the Creation story. They live in a continual battle of separating the light from the dark meaning: submitting their will to doing God's will (light) from chasing Babylon and following your their own will (the dark).
Calling and Election
1 And it came to pass that after I, the Lord God, had driven them out, that Adam began to till the earth, and to have dominion over all the beasts of the field, and to eat his bread by the sweat of his brow, as I the Lord had commanded him (the eternal law of obedience and sacrifice lds.org). And Eve, also, his wife, did labor with him. ...
4 And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord (ASK in sincere prayer and it shall be given you. Offer a broken heart and contrite spirit.), and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence.
5 And he gave unto them commandments (pure revelation), that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.
6 And after many days an angel of the Lord (angels who guard the way to the Tree of Life, Cherubim or Sentinels) appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? (Meaning: Have you been obeying/acting on the revelation you receive?) And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me (Nephi, Abraham, Moses, and all the great prophets followed promptings that they didn't understand but they trusted in the Lord, sacrificed, and obeyed).
7 And then the angel spake (giving the light and knowledge from the Father), saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore. (Doing this will lead to you being Born Again. The fulfillment of Moroni 4:3, Moroni 5:2. Angels always testify of Christ.)
9 And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam (Adam and Eve were born again/received their Calling and Election here. It is a witness and a testimony you gain that is unlike any you have ever had before. Moroni 4:3), which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying (this next part is a testimony you will gain. Moving from 'understanding' to 'knowing'.): I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will.
10 And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God (He is foreseeing and prophesying of his future Calling and Election made sure.).
11 And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient (Eve receives the same witness).
12 And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters. (Once a person has received their Calling and Election, their desire will be to make "all things known". They will preach CHRIST always.)
13 And Satan came among them, saying: I am also a son of God; and he commanded them, saying: Believe it not; and they believed it not, and they loved Satan more than God. And men began from that time forth to be carnal, sensual, and devilish (They sold their inheritance/birthright for false doctrine and things you could buy with money. "Carnal, sensual, and devilish" means that their hearts were sold/worshiping a counterfeit god.).
14 And the Lord God called upon men by the Holy Ghost everywhere and commanded them that they should repent (repent means to love God with all your heart, might, mind and strength...the first great commandment.);
15 And as many as believed in the Son, and repented of their sins, should be saved (3 Nephi 11:38-40); and as many as believed not and repented not, should be damned (halted in their eternal progression); and the words went forth out of the mouth of God in a firm decree; wherefore they must be fulfilled.
16 And Adam and Eve, his wife, ceased not to call upon God (D&C 93:4—they were grafted into the True Vine. They were living in continual communion with God. Calling and Election.).Look at 2 Nephi 31:13, 20:
— Moses 5:1, 4-16
13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart...repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ...then (after all these things) 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 (pure praise and worship - is this what your prayers feel like? If not, consider that perhaps you have not yet received the Baptism of Fire and Holy Ghost spoken of in scripture.) ...
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope (calling and election), and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ (pure revelation), and endure to the end (live continually in this state of righteousness), behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life (calling and election made sure). Adam and Eve became Born Again—they had been Called and now Chosen. This is their Calling and Election. They are made new, Born Again and they promise to make Jesus Christ their only focus. This is a covenant all are invited to make (consider D&C 84:43-47 as something you are invited to seek after and obtain for yourself).When you are Born Again...Baptized by Fire and the Holy Ghost, you, like Adam and Eve will have moved from the promise to SEEK Him to the fulfillment:
...ye shall FIND
Are you ready?...
"Speak"
by
Bethany Worship
