That Man May See God
I am speaking today about specific revelations in the Doctrine
and Covenants. Revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants follow themes.
I have chosen to speak about specific revelations on the following themes:
1--That men can see God;
2--The process of sanctification;
3--The priesthood of God;
4--The essential nature of gratitude.
1--THAT MEN MAY SEE GOD
The Doctrine and Covenants teaches clearly that men can see God.
"And the day cometh that you shall hear my voice and see me, and know
that I am" D&C 50:45.
This day comes to men in the flesh for "117. To whom he grants
this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves; 118. That through
the power and the manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they
may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory." D&C 76:117.
And this day can come to every man. "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.
The place that God has provided for this to occur is in the
Temple. "7. For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name
shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in this house."
D&C 110:7.
"And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the
Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it,that it be not
defiled, my glory shall rest upon it; 16. Yea, and my presence shall be
there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in hearth that shall come
into it shall see God." D&C 97:15-16.
This is a literal appearing of God to men. It is not figurative
nor is it representational of something else.
"The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a
personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell
in a man's heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false." D&C 130:3.
We need to prepare patiently and steadily, waiting on God's timing
and grace,
"Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to
God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil
his face unto you,and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way,
and according to his own will." D&C 88:68.
2--THE PROCESS OF SANCTIFICATION
The process by which men purify themselves that they may see God is
the process of sanctification. We are commanded to sanctify ourselves.
"Purge ye out the iniquity which is among you; sanctify yourselves
before me." D&C 43: 11.
We are sanctified by the commandments of God
"And now, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are
assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may
know how to act and direct the church, how to act upon the points of my
law and commandments which I have given. 9. And this that ye shall
become instructed in the law of my church, and be sanctified by that
which ye have received, and ye shall bind yourselves to act in all holi-
ness before me --" D&C 43: 8-9
And by the priesthood of God.
"For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining of these two priesthood of
which I have spoken, and the magnifying of their calling, are sanctified
by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies." D&C 84: 33
An important part of both commandments and sanctification is being
humble enough to be chastened and to repent.
God gives us commandments.
"24. Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of
me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner
of their language, that they might come to understanding. . . . 27. That
inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent;
28. And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong and
blessed from on high . . ." D&C 1:24,27-28.
And he who will not endure the process cannot be sanctified.
"For those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be
sanctified." D&C 101: 5.
This process is well worth the cost because eternal life is the
reward.
"And unto him that repenteth and sanctifieth himself before the
Lord shall be given eternal life." D&C 133: 62.
And God is consistent, powerful just and true.
"And this we know also, that sanctification through the grace of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who love
and serve God with all their might, minds and strength." D&C 20: 31.
3--THE PRIESTHOOD OF GOD
The priesthood has the keys of the power of seeing God and of
sanctification.
"Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is
manifest. 21. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority
of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in
the flesh." D&C 84:20-21
The keys of sanctification and the ordinances of godliness and
seeing God are in the Melchizedek priesthood.
"19. And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and
holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the
knowledge of God. 20. Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the
power of godliness is manifest." D&C 84: 19-20.
This power is the key to all eternal blessings.
"35. And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me,
saith the Lord; 36. For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;
37. And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father; 38. And he that
receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that
my Father hath shall be given unto him." D&C 84: 35-38.
This process works throughout the priesthood.
"This is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to
the priesthood." D&C 84: 39.
Purification or sanctification and the priesthood go hand in hand.
"He that is ordained of God and sent forth, . . . is possessor of
all things . . . 28. But no man is possessor of all things except he
be purified and cleansed from all sin." D&C 50: 26-27, 28.
This is because righteousness and purity are keys to the Melchi-
zedek Priesthood and in return the Melchizedek Priesthood holds the keys
to the blessings of sanctification.
See D&C 121: 37; D&C 107: 18-19, which says " The power and
authority of the higher or Melchizedek Priesthood is to hold the keys
of all the spiritual blessings of the church--19. To have the privi-
lege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the
heavens opened unto them,to commune with the general assembly and church
of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the
Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.
4--THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF GRATITUDE IN ACHIEVING SALVATION
"But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth
liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I
would that you should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly
before me,considering the end of your salvation, doing all things
with prayer and thanksgiving, that you be not seduced by evil spirits,
or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men,
and others of devils." D&C 46: 7.
In addition to being told to obey the commandments and being
given the priesthood to bless and guide them, the members of the
Church are given two guidelines or directors to carry them through
false prophets, tribulations and persecutions. These two guides given to
the saints in the early church were prayer and gratitude.
"15. And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with
cheerful hearts and countenances, not with much laughter, for this is
sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance -- 16. Verily I
say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fullness of the earth is yours,
the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air . . . 18. Yea, all
things" D&C 59: 15-16, 18.
The temple is given to us to teach us thanksgiving and to aid us to
have thanksgiving. It is described in revelation in these terms:
"For a place of thanksgiving for all saints." D&C 97: 13.
Thanksgiving is an essential part of the temple and an important
part of our daily lives.
In fact, prayer and gratitude are so important that they are linked
together in every prayer. A key to successful prayer is the process of
expressing gratitude. We begin our prayers by addressing our Heavenly
Father. As soon as we have opened our prayers we express gratitude.
Prayer is not truly begun nor are the Heavens full open to us if
we are not grateful.
"a prayer of thanksgiving." D&C136:28.
This is because a lack of gratitude hides from us the truth that
all things that God allows in our lives can be turned to our good and
blessing by his power.
"know thou, my son, that all these things shall give the experience
and shall be for thy good." D&C 122: 7.
Gratitude strengthens our faith in God and our power to lay hold
upon the blessing he gives us.
This is best illustrated by the early brethren in the Church.
Many of them saw angels, heard the voice of God or even saw God.
They received the priesthood. Some of them endured their trials with
gratitude and humility -- they accepted the chastening of the Lord as
a blessing. Men such as Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball were sancti-
fied and we know that their calling and election was made sure.
Others, such as Sidney Rigdon, did not maintain their humility,
would not accept reproof, were not grateful, and they fell. Without
gratitude they lost their humility. Without humility, their visions,
their intelligence, their ordination to the priesthood, all of these
things were not sufficient for them to be sanctified.
To quote from Section 78 of the Doctrine and Covenants, verses 19
and 20:
And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made
glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even
an hundred fold, yea, more. Wherefore, do the things which I have com-
manded you, saith your Redeemer, even the Son . . . who prepareth all
things . . ."
It is my testimony to you that as we obey the commandments of God
in humility and thankfulness, being grateful for all things which the
Lord does see fit to visit upon us, we shall receive the blessings of
the priesthood, become sanctified and see God.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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