Dear Family and Friends,
I was at a really frustratingly slow computer earlier this morning in Downtown Chattanooga. We left and just went to the aquarium... PICS LATER!!!
This week, I want to take the opportunity to unveil my recently updated mormon.org profile where I answer some of today's hottest doctrinal questions rather extensively. Check it out here:
http://mormon.org/me/84S8
Okay, some I've come across some neat stuff this week. One thing that has often been confusing on the mission is the claim from members of varied faiths and backgrounds to receive manifestations of the Holy Spirit in their regular worship. I've felt somewhat apprehensive about saying "No. That's not the Spirit, bro." But I was studying D&C 50 recently and was reminded that so many of the early church members came from differing Christian denominations and (like the Jewish and Greek proselytes to ancient Christianity) kept a hold of some of their previous traditions and beliefs. Seeking revelation on the matter (because a lot of these manifestations were getting out of control [seriously, like posessions and babblings and real crazy stuff were going down]), Joseph Smith recorded section 50.
Then I found the following quotes from Joseph Smith:
“One great evil is, that men are ignorant of the nature of spirits; their power, laws, government, intelligence, etc., and imagine that when there is anything like power, revelation, or vision manifested, that it must be of God. …"
and...
“Others frequently possess a spirit that will cause them to lie down, and during its operation, animation is frequently entirely suspended; they consider it to be the power of God, and a glorious manifestation from God—a manifestation of what? Is there any intelligence communicated? Are the curtains of heaven withdrawn, or the purposes of God developed? Have they seen and conversed with an angel—or have the glories of futurity burst upon their view? No! but their body has been inanimate, the operation of their spirit suspended, and all the intelligence that can be obtained from them when they arise, is a shout of ‘glory,’ or ‘hallelujah,’ or some incoherent expression; but they have had ‘the power.’
“The Shaker will whirl around on his heel, impelled by a supernatural agency or spirit, and think that he is governed by the Spirit of God; and the Jumper will jump and enter into all kinds of extravagances. A Primitive Methodist will shout under the influence of that spirit, until he will rend the heavens with his cries; while the Quakers (or Friends) moved as they think, by the Spirit of God, will sit still and say nothing. Is God the author of all this? If not of all of it, which does He recognize? Surely, such a heterogeneous mass of confusion never can enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Teachings, pp. 203–4.)
Problem resolved. Pretty insightful, huh? Now, I think it would be foolish to say that the Holy Spirit is never manifest outside of the Church (and I could be wrong), but I'm certain it's much more rare than we might think...
Okay, well have a great week!!!
Love
Elder Grabinger
