Elder EJones: 3 Types of Power

Well, it has been quite a week. To carnival with the assistants, to a multi-zone conference to well another week in the mission. I have learned many things, and one of those like you is repentance. I have come to realize the need I have to repent, for the things that I do, and don't do. I feel like many times I feel like it's necessary, but don't feel like it is something that big in my life because I am not making HUGE mistakes. But that in itself is a huge mistake. Nothing impure can enter into God's kingdom. So each day gives me a need to repent and to become better. I read in Enos this week and he explains it best:

And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.

Sometimes we have to wrestle before God BEFORE receiving the remission of our sins. Maybe if I don't feel like I am wrestling before God, I'm not repenting good enough. From not following a whisper of the Spirit, to judging others. I need to repent every day. And with that, as I do, I can feel the importance of the sacrament more each week as I not only think of being better but apply each day and each hour. 

This week I had a thought come to me about the power of God made manifest into our lives. I thought of the 3 types of power that the Lord can give to us. 

1. Faith in Jesus Christ

Faith in Jesus Christ in one thing that many people have. It is a firm belief in Christ that leads us to actions to follow Him. Lots of times we believe that faith is to just believe in God. It's much more than that. It is to do HIs will. To accept His will as hard as that can be. its a power that can be made manifest by those who are not members of the church. If we believe in Christ, we can work miracles through the power of our faith. But if we don't know how to believe in Christ, or act on that belief we cant see the power of God through miracles.

2. The Gift of the Holy Ghost

This is a gift only given to people who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ. And it made me think. We are only given the gift of the Holy Ghost after we have become members of His church. We know as directed that a confirmation follows those steps in order. Confirms the person a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Uses the wording “Receive the Holy Ghost.” The power of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in itself is a gift. The gift to have the companionship of the Lord to always be with us as we keep our covenants with Him. It also allows us to develop the gifts of the Spirit. And how can we develop these gifts if we don't have the constant presence of the Holy Ghost in our lives given by the proper authority. We are truly given power to bless others and receive personal blessings and power as we live worthy to our covenants. 

3. The Priesthood

The priesthood is the ultimate power that God can give to HIs children. A power that is made manifest not just to worthy men who hold it, but to all worthy males and females who are true to their covenants. This is the very power of God the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ. Through power and authority it can be used from giving blessings of comfort and healing, to dedicating graves, to guiding a whole nation across the sea. It is an eternal power.

Each power is special in its own way. And I have come to notice that as we see the manifestation of more power given to us, less and less are worthy of them. The power of the Holy Ghost and the Priesthood are given only to worthy members of the Lord's church. it's amazing to me the blessing I have to be a member and to know of the true power that the Lord gives to us. It's not just faith in Christ, nor the power of the Holy Ghost. Its faith in Christ, the gift of the Holy Ghost and holding his eternal power of the priesthood. 

It has been a rough week with people coming to church. (we had church at 3:00pm yesterday because there was a stake conference before in our building) It's been the hardest for us in this area. But we have been able to see the progress in our investigators as they are reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. Pray for Gloria, Yyari, Eva, and Olga so that they will understand the purpose and need of the Book of Mormon and the authority of God on the earth today.