039 - Portions to Fullness By Mike Stroud t10_02_46-08_00

Transcription

1 039 - Portions to Fullness By Mike Stroud Today's lesson is called Portions to Fuless, portions to Fulness. These 2 terms, Portions and Fulnesses, are found in the Scriptures. It is a scriptural terms. Lets find out what that means from the Scriptures. Let's go to Doctrine and Fovenants, D&C 98 verse 12. let what that's talking about? Okay anybody have that? If you have it do you want to read that for us? Brothers and sisters it's good to have you here today. D&C 98:12 who would like to read that? Sister<student> you have that? Go ahead. Student: for he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith. Mike: All right, here the Lord's talking about something. He says, I will give unto you line upon line, precept upon precept. What does that mean? Brother<student> student:that's a definition, the definition of logic, line upon line until you come to a logical conclusion. Mike: okay, this is the way the Lord works. It's just like that, he always starts with small things that we're going to call portions and going to larger things, and even largest things that we're going to call fullnesses; and he does it how? Line upon line, precept upon precept. And, You also notice that at the end of verse 12 that he also add something there interesting so that I can prove you. In other words, for prove is what?... question, test, try, etc. so there's something about this process that the Lord works line upon line, precept upon precept, that also includes a testing,or approving as a part of the process. Let's look at another Scripture. Let's go to 2nd Nephi 28 verse 30. Do you want to read that for me, sister <student>? student:for behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto them that receive with I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from then shall be taken away even that which they have. Mike: Okay, here we have another little phrase to line upon line and precept upon precept. We have the little phrase by the Lord, here a little, there a little. And then notice toward the end of that he says that if you fail to hearken to my precepts, if you fail to act upon what I give you, then what does he say? You will lose it all. You lose it all. Brother <student> Student: It's just like not following a recipe, the bread won't rise. Mike: if you don't follow that recipe it won't work. So, This is the way the Lord, this is the pattern that I want to show you today, that the Lord uses for growth. How do we become like Christ? How do we obtain eternal life? How do we become sanctified? How do we become perfected? How do we become purified? All of those how do we's go right to this pattern right here. This is it, Very important pattern. Every concept of the gospel. I'm going to give you 3 concepts today, but literally every teaching, every doctrine, every concept of the gospel can be used in this pattern. And so what I want you to do is: is see number 1, that this is how the pattern works; and number 2, I'd like to see that you're involved in it on further along than you think. Further along than you think. And that some of the things I want to do. Let's go to Doctrine and Covenants and put another one up here. Let's go to D&C 93: versus And let's go there for a minute. I'm going to erase this now, is that all right? And will look at it little bit closer about how it works in just a second. Now, Doctrine and Covenants 93, in my opinion, is the most profound, deepest doctrinal section in the whole Doctrine and Covenants. I think that section 93 is the doctoral course in higher religion. It really is. Let's go to verse 12, and here we're going to find out some new terms, some additional terms, besides line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little- there a little. Those were kind of high school terms. Now are going to take that same concept now and move it up into graduate school. Okay. And let's see, it's the same thing, but used differently. President, would

2 you like to read verse 12 for us please. Student: And I, John, saw that he received not of the fullness at the first, but received grace for grace; Mike: All right, now who is speaking here? Student: John Mike: who is this John? Student: John the Beloved Mike: you would think so, wouldn't you. Every time I have asked that it's automatic that they think it is John the beloved. The go down to verse 15 and read, sister<student> verse 15. Student: and I, John, bear record, and low, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and set upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: this is my beloved son. Mike: Where did this happen? Where did verse 15 happen? Student: John the Baptist Mike: it's the baptism of Christ. So the John that is speaking here is John the Baptist. Isn't that fascinating? Now, you want to find out something else that is interesting, go on to verse 18, and take a look at verse 18. And you will see something more that is very interesting. Okay, 18. Sister<student> verse 18. Student: and it shall come to pass, that if you are faithful you shall receive the fullness of the record of John. Mike: You shall receive the what? Fullness of the record of John. Somewhere hidden, somewhere that is not now available is a complete record of the gospel of Jesus Christ written by John the Baptist. And we don't have it. What we have, right here in section 93 is what? We have a portion, and verse 18 has promised us what? A fullness. So even in the Scriptures we don't have it all. Were dealing in many ways in the portion port of even revealed Scripture. All right. We live in and a dispensation that's called the dispensation of the fullness of times. See, here is that word again. And the Lord deals with this pattern in everything. That means that every other dispensation has had what? Portions, but only the last one, which is the 7th dispensation, only the last one has what? the fullness. So, everything that's happened from Adam up to our day, has been line upon line, here a little, there a little, precept upon precept, until were now, in our dispensation, ready to receive what is called the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. See. Isn't that interesting how that works? Now let's go back and look at verse 13. Somebody read verse 13 for me. Go ahead, anybody. Student: And he received not of the fullness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fullness; Mike: Now here are 2 terms that are used in section 93, by John the Baptist, and can I tell you that this is a mystery, this is a mystery, what he's saying, John the Baptist is speaking to us, in code. He is giving us a very very important message but you have to break the code to find out what it is. Student: Will if your talking about the fullnes of times, You're talking about time here, will have a fullness of timenow then you'll have a fullness of time sometime in the future and it's going to continue until the end of time. Mike: and what <student> is saying is true but know this: [10:01] that all fullness is, no matter what fulness it is, is always preceded by portions. A person never steps into the fullness of anything like that [snaps finger], it's always this way. Okay. It's like a ladder, the fullness is at the top, and you at the first rung... you don't go from the first rung to the top rung. You don't do that. And you don't do that with the gospel. So there is a pattern here in all things. If you want to progress to a fullness, you must follow the pattern the path and there is no alternative path. There is a certain way to do things. Okay. Now, let's come on down here. These 2 things, grace for grace, and grace to grace are not the same thing. They are different. But according to this, John the Baptist says this; whatever this is, Whatever this is, is the way to get to a fullness. And he's talking about Christ. Go back to verse 12 again, and he said, I John, saw that he, meaning Jesus Christ, received not the fullness at first but received grace for grace. And,

3 there's a step up. This is step one. (Grace for grace) And this is step 2 (Grace to grace). You don't have 'grace to grace' happen before 'grace for grace'. Go ahead. Student: that's your stairstep again Mike: it is student: If you add things together and learn then you can go up another step, and then if you things add other things together you can go up another step. Mike: and I'm going to draw to my famous Stroud stairstep in just a minute. Now, if I were to make a Simple, if I were to come up with a symbol that represented 'grace for grace' and another group symbol that represented 'grace to grace', Here is the symbol I would make.grace for grace, symbol, would be would be a horizontal arrow pointing forward; grace to grace would be a vertical arrow pointing up. Okay. This one ( ), grace for grace has to happen before this one ( ), grace to grace. Remember what the Lord said, I will test you and prove you. Well, what is going to do on this area ( ) is where the testing and proving comes, the grace for grace, is where the trial the test and the proving come. that's where you get the chance to show the Lord what you're going to do with what he's giving you. And if you are worthy,and you satisfy him, what he is going to do is move you up. So this process of becoming Christlike is a process of moving forward and what? Up-ward. Forward and upward. And you do it by this mysterious wording here, grace for grace. Let's find that what grace is. Let's just take a definition of that, for a minute. I'm not going to run down here and to take time and go into the Bible dictionary, but if you want to go to the Bible dictionary and look up under grace, you'll see some of the things I'm going to list here. Grace is a divine means of strength and help through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Now let me just underline a couple of words here. Let's make a couple of things stand out here a little bit. Let's take divine, we want to underlying strength, we want to underline help, we want to underline the atonement, right now. Those are keywords for us to understand grace. Another thing in your Bible dictionary will say this: it is an enabling power to help you do, look at this, good works. Okay, so here's a couple words that we want to underline. We want to underline this 'power' and 'enable' and then these words 'good works' here, okay. So what we can see here is, divine means that it comes from God. And you've already seen that down here... that through the atonement of Jesus Christ. So it's through the grace of God, the father, and his son, Jesus Christ. there 2 things there, did you notice that? Through the grace they help, strength, atonement, power, And Maybelline of the father and the son, we can do good works... That without that grace we would be unable to do. Unable to do. Okay. What that means is: every time you and I choose to do what is right, choose to bless another person's life, choose to serve your only enabled her to do that, you are only able to do that because you should received strength and help and power from the Savior through his atonement. Every, every good thing that we do comes to us because of the grace of God the father and his son Jesus Christ. This fits into John 15:1 where the Lord comes out and says, without me you can do what? Nothing. And that is true.and so this thing, not only helps us to do good works, but helps us to maintain to be able to do good works. But without grace you would be able to do. So watch, if there were no atonement there would be no grace. Do you see how that works? No atonement, no grace. Come on in. No atonement, no grace. See that? Any questions on that up to this point? So, when we look at what 93 says in the Doctrine and Covenants, Doctrine and Covenants 93, 'Grace for grace' means that you serve others. You are outside of yourself. It's not about you anymore. You've now come to a point where you've received strength and help and enabling power to step outside yourself and think of others. This is where you become Christlike. Look at Christ, his whole life was spent what? Doing the will of who? The will of the father. What was the will of the father? Student: to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man Mike: to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. So, Christ whole ministry was submitting his will to the father, which was to bring the father's children back home. And not only bring them back home, but bring them back home exalted. Now, what we do... is when in order we start tapping into this grace here, brothers and sisters, when we start tapping into this, you now live outside

4 yourself. It's not about you anymore. An interesting thing is: is that as you lose yourself to others and what does the Lord do? he brings you up. So, the great secret here in this formula is: forget yourself, And lose yourself in the service of others, and what happens, what happens automatically, automatically, like this [clap, clap], you rise up, he changes your nature, he forgives your sins and you become Christlike. How? By Giving 'grace for grace' and going going from 'grace to grace'. And that is section 93 verses 12 and 13. That's what he's talking about. Any questions on that? Comments? Okay I'm going to erase this now as <student> says I'm going to put my famous stair steps up there. Okay, you're right, <student> this is exactly what this is about. Student: I only have one question Mike: go ahead student: This has bothers all the time. why is this a complex system? There should be somethng much more simpler way to explain the whole concept of salvation. That all men would undedrstand. Mike: Let me give you... It is so simple... Can I tell you how you can do all of these things by doing one thing. If you will do one thing, just one thing everything that we've talked about in these classes, which is to exclaim process, to explain doctrine and so on. But you really don't need to do that. You don't need me here. If you would learn to do one thing, everything we teach here, would take care of itself automatically and that is: follow the Holy Spirit! Listen to the voice of Christ speaking through the Holy Spirit and he would take you, every one of these steps, and if you would listen to that you wouldn't need me here. It's all that is really necessary; is just listen to Christ speaking to you through the Holy Spirit. He will guide you step-by-step and you won't have to worry about, where were those little steps the brother Stroud put on that board? Where are my notes, etc. He will take you through them. [20:02] But you have classes, we have teachers that understand that. Okay. So really it is quite simple, but when you start to break it down and look at the Scriptures which the Lord is asked us to do explaining 93: 12 and 13 is not simple, it requires some thought. And you have to wrap your mind around it. Okay. So now let's come on over here, there's the stair steps... and let's do this. Now remember, another word for portions down here, we could put down here portions, which is the name of my lesson, and another word for portions would be what? Beginning's, starting's, in other words it's where you start from. Portions. And up on this and what will we put up here? Put up here fullnesses, because you know what? There are many fullness that I'm going to show you today. In fact, Every doctrine of the gospel begins with a portion and leads to a fullness. Every doctrine, faith, hope, charity, the Holy Ghost, the atonement, the signs of the times, everything. Everything works this way and that's my lesson is for you to see what the pattern is that the Lord has established out of the Scriptures. Okay. Now let's go to... Let me ask you a question. Where did you begin? There's good question for you. Where did you begin? Student: existed Mike: what do you mean by that? Student: God has always existed, we are always there. Mike: interesting. Let's go to section 93Again, 93 and were going to look at verse 29. D&C 93:29, and somebody read that for me. Student: do you want me to read that? Mike: Yep, go ahead verse 29 Student: Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. Mike: Now here, the Lord talks about something called and intelligence. And another name for intelligence is: the light of truth. These 2 things are the same, intelligence and the light of truth are the same thing. I'm going to have this little star here represent represent this thing called intelligence. You know that the Scripture that <student> read there says, Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. So this thing right [intelligence] here doesn't have a beginning, it has always existed; Always, it can't be created. It exists,

5 it is co-eternal with God and has no beginning and no end. You have this in you. Let me show you something what else the prophets call this. The prophet Joseph Smith referred to this as the mind of man; not the brain of man, the brain is different from the mind. The brain is physical, the mind is something very spiritual. Okay, but they work together. He also said, others have referred to this... this intelligence as primal life. It's that part inside you that has always existed and has no beginning and no end. Student: like DNA Mike: more than that, but probably tied to it. Now, we don't know a lot about this the Lord has been rather quiet on this, but we do know some things. For example: let me ask you, do you think this intelligence, that is in you, do you think it is aware, does it posses self awareness? Student: of course Mike: it does, but to a limited, rudimentary level. Okay, limited, but yes. Limited, Okay, can it act? Does it possess the ability to exercise agency? Student: yes, it can...through you Mike: Not through you, forget you, Just as it exists right here... As it is right here, can it act. And, what we understand to a limited,rudimentary level. In other words, it has the ability to do some of the things we do, but it a very, very, fundamental, limited... And I want to put limited degree in there. All right. Does it have personality?... And we don't know. That's one we don't know. We can... What I'm giving you up here is what the prophets have given us. All right, is it male or female?... And we don't know. All right. But we know that it's made up... its refer to of two elements, interesting, it's referred to and made up of 2 things light and truth somehow, and we don't know that either and my point is this this is in each one of us and it is a part of you that truly, truly is eternal with no beginning and no end. [26:25] Now let's go look at something, so I'm going to take this now, and I'm going to put this down here. we're talking about you so we could asked the question where did you begin and this is the early beginning that we get know of the week but this down here in our graph,right. Now go back to grace for grace and grace to grace for just a minute. with one of those 2 things, graze for grace or grace to grace, which does this line represent? look at we put up here grace for or grace to... Student: grace for. Mike: grace for... Very good. So let's put up here... grace for... You're getting it grace for grace. And then this one right here would represent what? Grace to grace. At each step as we go. All right. Let's go to Abraham in the Pearl of great price, Abraham 3:26. Somebody like to read that? Abraham in the Pearl of great price 26. Go ahead somebody. <student> do you have that, verse 26? student: and they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever. Mike: Now in this verse were talking about 2 things. We're talking about something called added upon and were talking about something called estates. And this verse limits mentions how many estates? student: 2 Mike: this verse limits two estates. Are there more than 2? How many do you think there are? There are 3. There are 3, now there may be something in between but there are 3 general ones. Which estate are we in right now? Student: 2nd Mike: we're in the 2nd estate. What was the first estate? Student: preexistence Mike: pre-mortal life. Is this the first estate? [intelligence] Student: yes Mike: no, this is not considered an estate. Why do you think it's not considered an estate. In order for it to be an estate, notice what it says, those who keep my commandments shall be added upon and those who don't shall not have glory with those who do, so what do you think it is that makes an estate verses

6 one that isn't? Go ahead brother <student> student: Well, I kind of look at it like grade school. Before you ever get into first grade, you either in kindergarten or nothing, I say nothing, because you would have to have a beginning spot and I think thats what the unorgnized intelligence is... your beginning spot. I also think that unorganized intelligence have agency, because I don't think God, our father, would take that and forcefully put it into a spirit body. I think we willingly did that. Just like we willingly decided to come down here to this earth and participate in mortality. Mike: now, brother <student> uses the term here that we can put up here. This is unorganized intelligence, which is correct. Student: You could replace the word and use the word stages. Mike: you could. You really could. In a state is really a place where you have enough knowledge, enough agency where you can choose to act or be acted upon. You need to have enough... Whatever that means. All right.[30:00] I guess we could probably include this with the first estate, But I choose not to because this is so rudimentary that we don't see a lot a progress being made there. Maybe there is, but we don't see it. But in the first estate huge progress. So let's look at what we do add on here. Okay, so what were going to do now, we're going to add on to this [intelligence] and we're going to move into what I call the first estate. Okay. And this right here, were going to label as as a spirit body. So guess what? Intelligence or unorganized intelligence has now been added upon with what? A spirit body. And this spirit body has a new name, as you will see. This is called organized intelligence. Go to the same chapter 3 to verse 22. Let's look at verse 22. Student: It's not in the Bible dictionary, but the word estate indicate that it contains all that's necessary for your existence and growth. Mike: I like that, I like that. Okay, somebody read for me verse 22, president <student>, Abraham 3 verse 22, now you've got to watch closely, you got to learn to look closely at words. Okay go ahead. Student: Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; Mike: Now notice that... Notice the word up here [intelligence] that this word right here, brothers and sisters, the an organized intelligence is called intelligence, single; and once it becomes organized into a spirit body is called intelligences. Okay. Now that doesn't seem like much but it makes a difference. It's the difference between this [] and this []. Now and this is added upon, and by the way, how does this added upon, how did this intelligence, light of truth, get this spirit body? How did that happen? What is the process through what happened it happens? It's called, this organized right here, we have a name for this. It's called birth. Student: it's exactly how an embryo is formed. You see how of this becomes a miracle, were comes together, and how this blob begins to take form and shape. How nerves come together. Mike: it's a miracle student: it's mind-boggling Mike: now watch this, this spirit that is inside you, man spirits and men's body, women spirits and women's bodies; for the first time that we know of in revealed Scripture we now have gender... right here. We don't know if it was up here, we don't know, but we do know that it is here. And this birth takes place is the pattern, the same pattern is birth on the earth. Things on earth are patterns of things in heaven. You want to know how things work, and how they will become, look at the way things are. And the pattern for bringing to pass the existence of organized beings is through a process of birth. A resurrected men, and exalted men, a glorified man, and his wife, at a resurrected, exalted, woman when they have a child this spirit is a spirit son or a spirit daughter. That's how it works., When they have children, their children are spirit offspring. And that's the person that is in us. What else do we know about this. What's the pattern? What's another pattern of growth? You start out as a baby, you go to a child, you go to an adolescent, young adult, adult, and then down. Everything starts with what? Smaller portions and goes, the same with the spirit, your spirit was born as a little baby,a little baby boy or a

7 little baby girl. And reared in the household of our eternal parents. You went from baby to child, to adolescence,to young adult, to adult and the different in spirit versus physical is once you reach upper for you statue of the spirit, which is an adult man or woman, then you stop getting old. You don't get old anymore. So you take somebody like me, that 68, and you take my spirit out and you take my spirit and put it here next to my body you would see some significant differences. One of which would be my spirit is 20+ years younger looking that my body. Okay. And you get down here, okay, get down there to <baby>, and you take his spirit out and his spirit is going to look 20 the plus years older than his physical body.. That's the way that works. Now, in this estate here you have the power to act and to learn, you become godly and the person that's inside you that we can't remember anymore is a godly person. You are not just anybody. You have the power within you, right now, every one of us in this room, have the power, we forgotten it, but we have the power to create and organize element. You have the power to speak and element combines and forms into planets and in the organized plants, animals. You have the power and know how to ignite a sun. You know how to put into place gravity and all the physics and sciences that the gods use in the universe to organize and create. You already know how to do that. But you've forgotten it. But, I want to testify to you you are much more, much more than any of us think, much more. Student: in embrio, embrio one... whats going on out here??? [36:43] Mike: and mothers can speak to that child before its born. Now, let's come over here again, we're not through adding on. We're going to add on again, watch. We're going to add on. And we're going to label this one what? Physical body. And how did it take place? Birth. Who is the father of the spirit, heavenly father? who is the father of your body? dad. Right, okay. Are we through yet? Watch, you are now more powerful and in a position to learn and grow more than you've ever done before. This right here [physical body] gives you power over all beings who are spirits. Did you know that? A person with a physical body always has more power than a person who is a spirit. Always. Right now, you wanna know why Satan hates you so much, why he wants to destroy you? Because you have a body. And he can never have a body, he can never have one. So he wants to do 2 things. He wants to you either steal yours, or kill yours. And he has many, many traps, and many, many snares, and many, many systems and techniques on how to do that. And without the help of the spirit of the Lord we don't stand a chance against him. You don't stand a chance. Okay. Well, now, are we through yet? Watch we've gone from here intelligence, spirit birth, physical birth, were moving what way? Always, moving what? Up. Always moving up. And now were not through yet because at some time in the future were going to be able to take this body right here [physical body] and resurrect and receive something interesting that the Lord says that without a resurrected body you can't have. Something called a fullness of joy. It's that word fullness again. So you can you see this process? Even you sitting here today, even you are going through this line upon line, precept upon precept. Any questions? Before we leave that. Does it make sense? Brother<student>. Student: what I think you just said was That, some of that joy, which you are going to get in the next life, you can't experience that unless you have a physical life. Mike: that's right. And every step, every step... 1, 2, 3, 4 is necessary in order for you to experience a fullness of the father. You go back to grace... Did Jesus go through this? Did Jesus follow this pattern? He did. That's what John the Baptist is teaching us in section 93, he received not a fullness at first. [40:00] But after going from grace from grace to grace to grace he received a fullness of the father. Same pattern you and I are going through. Is there a difference in the way he followed this pattern and the way we follow this pattern? You think there is? Or none. Student: I think there is, he was perfect Mike: is that a good question? Is it the same pattern? What do you think? Brother<student> student: it's the same pattern, but the difference???mike: okay, interesting. So let's take something like, for example, for the pattern that we follow baptism is required for the remission of sins. He was baptized for the remissions of sins? No, there was no sins to remit. So he went through that experience,

8 not because he needed it, but to show us the way. And he said, what? Go and do the things which you have seen me do. Let me give you another one. So where on our process here, there is a requirement to have a 3rd birth. You've had 1 birth, a 2nd birth, There is another birth there. Just like there's 3 parts if you, there are 3 births.and 3 father's. Your first father is the father in heaven, birth 1; your 2nd father is dad, birth 2; and what's your 3rd father, go to Mosiah chapter 5.Mosiah Chapter 5 verse 7, and let's see what the 3rd father is. Okay. Student: I have a question, before we get to this Mike: okay student: during the atonement it took all the sins to himself, so he had a purpose and that Mike: no doubt student: he wouldn't have gotten baptized for no reason Mike: Paul says, Paul says in the New Testament, Paul says, he became sin for us Student: so he needs baptism Mike: interesting insight. Okay, Alright let's look at verse 7, Mosiah 5 verse 7. Who would like to read that for me, okay <student> verse 7. Student: and now, because of the covenant which he had made you shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for you say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, you are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters. Mike: Who is the father in this verse? You have become the sons and daughters of who? Jesus Christ. So now you've got a 3rd birth ahead of you. Everyone of us have had 2, and some of us have had 3. Maybe all of us of had 3, I don't know. But you need to have that 3rd one. Let's go over to Mosiah 27 and find out what happens if you don't get it. Mosiah 27, this 3rd birth, this rebirth is called the being born again, born again.and let's go to Mosiah 27 verse 24, here's Alma the younger talking about his experience. 27:24, for, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit. Thats this 3rd birth. That either we have been through or that you need to go through. Now look what it says look at verse 25. How important is this 3rd birth. How important is it for Jesus Christ to become your spiritual father. Look And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, gay, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, change from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and his Daughters; meaning Christ, now look at this last verse. and thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. That's pretty strong. Now the Lord will guide you if you listen to his spirit he will guide you to this. If you lived in the desert I'll and you had the book of Mormon and you knew to follow the gifts of Christ he would lead you step-by-step through a lot of these things. Of course you have to access the temple as another thing, but nonetheless. Okay. Okay I'm going to erase this. Are there any questions? Portion to fullnesses, portion to fullnesses, okay. Now let's take another concept here for just a minute. Let's take the concept of...which one do I want here, let me see? Let's take the concept of faith. Let's just take faith. That's a good one. You can pull any of them out here. So now what were going to look at is how does this work with the principal with the concept of faith. 45:14 Same thing, same pattern. All right. What's the starting point of faith? Where does it begin? Sister student where does faith start? Student: the word of God Mike: okay, it does start. It has a beginning. Everything has beginning, that's my lesson today right? So watch. Were going to take face down here and really come down here you go home today and you read Romans chapter 10. And in Romans 10 you'll see that faith comes by hearing, that your keyword, the word of God. There is your starting point. For this principle. You can't exercise faith in father or in Jesus if you know nothing about that. Somebody has to what? Teach you. You have to be taught

9 something about them. And so this principle of faith begins, faith in Jesus Christ begins with hearing the word of God. The word of God is 3 ways. The word of God is like this. This is a cross-section of the iron rod, okay. The iron rod goes like this, okay. It's made up of 3 things: number one Scriptures, the words of the living prophets, and what's the 3rd one? It ties in with that, personal Revelation. Now this is the word of God. This is the iron rod. What is the iron rod, the word of God... The iron rod is the word of God, faith comes by hearing the word of God. And there's 3 ways that that can come either separately or all working together. They all work and they teach you about God all right. Now, where do we go next? So here we are at the beginning point and you hear the word of God in it brings you over here, you have changed. Because that hearing did something. So what is the next step? Where does it go from there? It goes up, you already went up when you heard it. When you went up you heard it it took you up. What's the next level?okay let's go to Alma 32 verse 27, Alma 32:27. This is the beauty of the book of Mormon. The book of Mormon lays this out so simply for us. This is why Nephi said I glorify in true I glory in plainness I glory in my Jesus for he hath redeemed my soul from hell. The book of Mormon is playing. Okay, 32 verse 27. Would somebody like to read that for me? What were looking for now is the next step in faith after we hear the word. Sister <student>, verse 27 Student: But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if you can no more than desire to believe, that this desire work in you, even in tell you believe in a manner that you can give place for a portion of my words. Mike: okay, watch this. This is a complete whole sheet of paper. [Tears], this is a portion. This is a particle, did you see that word in their? Look back in verse 27, did you see particle? What is this, particle the next step or is there a step between that? So we got up now here is we have desire. Let's put right here the next level, something happened and the Lord gives you with desire. Notice that that unit word is used twice there, and then once you have this desire let's try a little experiment, How much? Plant a particle. You see we have a particle, you see what's happening? A particle of what? Faith, just plant it. Look how small that is? [50:00] And the Lord doesn't require much. If you will just give him, this is the beauty of the gospel, this is the beauty of Christ, if you'll just give him the smallest little article of obedience, the smallest little particle of faith, if you'll just come to him the smallest little step he is there. If you'll just make the smallest little move he is there. And you will feel it. And you will know what? Verse 16, watch. What do 16 say? Student:... Blessed is he that believe with in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe. Mike: very good. Now look up here in verse, and Alma 32 let's go to verse 21 and see if the process works? Let's go back over the page. Now this is all manner speaking to the Zormites, and here's, he says, he's teaching them what faith is.let me tell you what faith is, and the Zormites looked at that and they say, next step watch, how do I get some? Now that you've told me what it is my next question is how do I get it? And he says, you start out with desire, and obviously when they ask how do I get it were already there. Where there. And did you know also that desire, brothers and sisters, is a gift of grace, through the atonement of Christ. This isn't something you just say, I'm going to manufacture desire in me now and bring it up of my own. You don't do that. This doesn't even appear unless it's given to you by God. And it is a source of divine help and strength and power, even at a lower level, it is still there. It is a gift of grace. Which you couldn't do on your own, you could even do this if it wasn't given to you. But you now heard it and the Lord gives you desire and the next step you say, what do I do? He says plant this little seed even a little particle, nourish it, take care of it, don't let it die, and it will grow. And I let's see where it goes. Let's go on up in here, let's go up to Enos 1 verse 3.Who is Enos? He was Jacob's son, Nephi's nephew, right. Now Jacob is a mighty prophet, oh my gosh, he is. He is not one bit behind Nephi or Lehi. This is a mighty prophet. Some of the greatest writings in the book of Mormon have come from the prophet Jacob. Did you know that? 2nd Nephi 9, which Joseph Fielding Smith said, contains the complete gospel of redemption and atonement just in the 9th chapter

10 was written by Jacob.So this is his boy and Enos has made some big mistakes. Enos is carrying a burden, Enos is a sinner, in spite of his dad's be in a prophet, it doesn't matter it's he is like the rest of us he needs to repent. Now let's look at verse 3. Sister <student>, verse 3 student: Behold, I went to hunt beast in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart. Mike: now watch, did you see anything down there that was a beginning for Enos somewhere down in this area here? Read to me the words that show the beginning of Enos his faith, where was that? the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy... See, he is taught. His faith begins by what? Hearing the words of his father, now let's go up and take a look, watch how this unfolds found. See if you can see this pattern here and let's go to verse 5. Enos 1 verse 5, 54:26 I think, let me double check here. Yeah, verse 5 <student> student: and there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shall be blessed. Mike: Okay, now what you want, but this is another lesson, but what took place and let verse 5; Enos just had his calling and election made sure.calling and election that voice that came to him is probably the voice of the father, but that is another lesson area now watch, verse 6 sister student verse 6. Student: and I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away. Mike: Now, I love this next verse 7, and I said: Lord, how is it done? How was what done? What is he asking? How is it done, how is what done? There's something that happened here. The forgiveness of sins and something else, was to verse just ahead of it? What happened? My guilt was swept away. Now this man came into this forest carrying a load of guilt. You know what brother Packer says guilt is, you know what the definition of guilt is? Has anyone ever felt guilty? I have. Anybody? You know what guilt is? guilt is good. Guilt is not bad. Brother Packer says guilt is spiritual pain. Guilt is spiritual pain. If you feel guilty that's wonderful, because you're feeling the pain that motivates you towards repentance, and being made whole. And where would we be without guilt? Where would we be? I mean,and there are plenty, you can squelch that that will eventually come to a point of where they feel no guilt. And I feel bad for them when that happens, because it is good. How is it done? Now look at the answer. Look what he says in verse 8, here we go, brother <student>. Student: And he said unto me: because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years passed away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, by faith hath made the whole. Mike:Whoa, oh, I love that. Here's a level of faith brother and thy faith has what? Made the whole. Look at that. Sins are forgiven, guilt is swept away, the promise of eternal life, wow! Now did this all come in just a moment, or did it come line upon line, precept upon precept. Now, let's come up to the fullness end of faith. Let's go to the fullness and okay. What is the.. What is the end of faith? If this is the beginning, what is the and? Student: knowledge Mike: you're right. Let's go to ether 3 versus 19 and 20, I think. Ether 3, yes, 19 and 20. This is a marvelous pattern of how things work. Marvelous pattern of how things work. Sister <student> do you want to read Ether 3 verse 19. Student: And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be From beholding with in the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting. Mike: See that. What happened to his faith? It's no longer there. Look at verse 20. Student:Wherefore, having this perfect knowledge of God, he could not be kept from within the veil; wherefore he saw Jesus; and he did minister unto him. Mike: So, faith disappears, perfect knowledge takes its place. Go to Moroni chapter 6 and let me show you an interesting Scripture. Moroni 6 chapter 6 verse 4. Moroni 6 verse 4. I read this for 1000 years [laughing] and never had it come to me until we came to the Philippines and were studying this and I sought and it's one of those mysteries that just went while how did I not see this look at verse 6. Now let's go back let's go back to verse 4 is chapter 6 verse 4, I'm sorry. Moron I 6 verse 4 is that what I said

11 okay the go with me, follow with me, And after the memebers of the church they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, Can you see a stairstep there? Follow the stairstep. they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, Watch this part right here. relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the What? finisher of their faith. Man, I looked at that, and if we got a hold of this, and put it together and thought, wow! Thats the process, how does it work? Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little there a little moving from portions to fullness is. Any questions or comments? Let's try one more. I have time for one more short one. Okay, we're going to erase this. And our next principal, That we will take, is: let's take the principle of prayer. Our starting song today at the beginning of our class was there is an hour of peace and rest unmarred by earthly cares, see, it's called secret prayer. It says, when I go before the Lord and kneel in secret prayer. Now watch let's take this what's the starting point of prayer? What could we stole the starting? Give me the most rudimentary prayer, let's call to the child's prayer. Are we okay there, will that work? Let's begin there. Who teaches a child to pray, who does that? Parents do, right. And the child's prayer starts how early? As early as you can, right. As early as you can. Okay, if you haven't started it at age 2 you are probably behind. Okay. So what you do is you teach the little boy or little girl to kneel down and say okay, fold your arms, bow your head, close your eyes. 'Heavenly father' the parent says; Heavenly father... 'We think thee'... We think thee and you listen things right. 'We asked thee'... We asked thee and you list some things... In the name of Jesus Christ... In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Say. And missionaries, this is what you do every day. I don't care if it's an adult or a little child that is the way everybody begins, wasn't it? When you were brought into the church and the most of you came from the Catholic background, am I correct? Most of you came from the Roman Catholic background and your prayer were Hail Marys, and Holy fathers, and things like that. And they were pretty well wrote and they were tied in with beads and images and so on. You had to have somebody, even if you are an adult, sit there and say, let me show you how the Lord wants you to prayer. And that is the beginning whether you are an adult or not, now watch.so from that point on, now we go from this little child and guess what always going up word were now going up to primary, and all along the way were teaching little prayer skills and we come up to the Aaronic priesthood, and there 6 years there of preparation, right. And then we come on up to Melchizedek priesthood and were an elder, and at this point I'd like to think that we've come from a child's prayer up to what I call right here a missionary prayer. And were looking at 18 years of age. So you've had 18 years, 16 years, of tutoring and teaching on how to help your child understand the true concept and principle how to pray. When you get up to a missionary what do you think the number one difference between the missionary prayer and the prayers that take place in between. What is changed, hopefully, when you get to a missionary? What do you think it is? Student: praying for others Mike: that's exactly right. You now are praying for others. Down here, Down here is what were going to call the lollipop prayers okay, lollipop prayers. And the lollipop prayers are, I need this, I want this, can you give me this, help me do that, I need this, you know. If you get me out of this, I promise I will be a good boy and never do that again. You know these kind of deals we make with God. And that's okay, it's all right. Because that's the way you're learning, right? But when you get appear for the first time you're out of yourself. Why do you think it is that missionaries grow spiritually and achieve more power in 2 years than any other time in their lives. It's because they're in the this prayer [others]. You are out of you, your now into helping others. You want to see this. Do you want to see where missionaries are? Go to D&C 81 verse 5. Look at the improvement that were making here, step-bystep, here, a little there a little. Doctrine and Covenants 81 verse 5 describes a real graduation into mature spiritual communication. Brother<student> 81 verse 5. Student: wherefore, the faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; sucker the weak,

12 lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees. Mike: If there was any Scripture anywhere that describes grace for grace that one does it. What do you think it means this sucker the weak? Sister <student> what does that word mean? Sucker the Weak. Student: help Mike: help, that's part of it. Sucker is an old English word that means: 'Run toward with opens arms'so if I'm going to sucker you, I'm going to come out you, I'm not just going to sit there or stand here and say what can I do to help you? Is there anything I can do, tell me. When you're suckering somebody you go towards them and say, I see that you need some help, you need her friend. I want to help. And you put their arm around, and say let me help you. That is suckering the week. What about the hands that hang down, and you have a picture that watch here's a picture the hands that hang down. Not like this, hands that hanging down is a symbol of what? Student: giving up Mike: giving up. Hopelessness. No future, I've gone too far, I'm into deep. The hands are symbols of how we help others. This is a symbol of helping, what you call it? Let me give you a helping hand. See.How that works, a helping hand. What about the feeble knees? Student: shaking Mike: yeah, shaking, have you ever been so scared or upset that your knees just went [down]. I have, when I've been pumped full of adrenaline with a close call, mine knees are just shaking. it's a great symbol of fear. It's a great symbol of fear. You become paralyzed with fear. And your legs are what move you, and when you're paralyzed and your knees are feeble; you have just lost courage. You just have no place to go. And, so this becomes a great symbol of missionaries. This is what missionaries do all the time. Now we're going to move up there, and right in through here as we advance up, we're now going to come up, and in this area right here, we're going to take another step into something called mighty prayer. And this is always moving up. Do you know what's in between these right here, we have such things as: dreams, and visions, and the Lord begins to unlock the heavens. Come on and sisters. Begins to unlock the heavens, somewhere up in here were going to come in here called a ministering of angels, there ministering to you all the time, you're having it right now, you've already had the ministration of angels probably numerous times today and you didn't knew it because they do it behind the veil. But when you get to this point they're going to step out from behind the veil and they're going to come and say, I've been sent from the father to give you light and truth that he promised to send you. And you're going to see them face-to-face. Let's see what mighty prayer is. Let's go to 3rd Nephi 19, and remember what I said about the doctrine and covenants, it's my opinion that it is the the most significant section and all of the doctrine and covenants us. I believe that 3rd Nephi is the 'holy of holies' of the book of Mormon. This is just my opinion. There's a reason for that, and if you get a chance and you want to do a little study, ask yourself I wonder why brother Stroud calls 3rd Nephi the 'holy of holies'? You go read it and try to find out why. What is so significant about that versus. Let's go to 3rd Nephi 19 verse 24.And let's find out what mighty prayer is. Who would like to read that? Sister<student> Student: And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray and to him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire. Mike:There's a couple of phrases in there, watch, they prayed without ceasing, I'm not going to try interpret that but if you want to find out what mighty prayer is ask yourself what is that? What does it mean to pray without ceasing? We won't go there right now because were short on time. Next thing, watch, what does it mean they did not multiply many words, what is that? Because that is also a part of mighty prayer. But the thing I want to point you to is this word right here, [given], That's your key to mighty prayer. The word given. They did pray without ceasing, they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and (last) t hey were filled with desire. Sister<student>