christopherbross

After one last look through General Conference, I found the following quotation which I found to be extremely enlightening in an Apostle's interpretation of this passage: “I further know that through prayerfully searching the scriptures and through obeying God's commands as therein written, we may individually be led safely through life by ‘the Voice of the Spirit’ according to the divine and glorious, soul-satisfying promise that: ‘. . . the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit. And [that] every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father’ (D&C 84:46-47). God grant that we may all so hearken and be so enlightened through the world, I humbly pray.” (President Marion G. Romney, April 1957 General Conference) As per Elder Bednar's recent example with the Parable of the Ten Virgins, this does not exclude the other two interpretations but it is the only official interpretation I've been able to find in General Conference of the phrase in question.

Thank you for the continued comments! I have put these ideas into my outline of Section 84 in the following way (the formatting doesn't come through quite as well, sorry): 6. “through the world” a) There seem to be three possible interpretations of the inclusion of this phrase b) The first is elucidated by replacing the word “through” with the word “throughout” (1) This is acceptable in light of one of the 1828 Webster’s definitions of “through”: “Over the whole surface or extent.” (2) This simply indicates that the Spirit can enlighten every man in the world (if they hearken to the Light of Christ) regardless of their physical location c) The second potential interpretation leaves the word “through” in its common definition of “through” indicating a passage from one end to the other or similar meanings (1) This connects verse 47 and verse 46 with three prepositions: into, through, and unto (into the world, through the world, and unto God) (2) This would indicate that the Spirit will enlighten every hearkening man traveling through the world in their progress through the Plan of Salvation d) The third interpretation stems from the 1828 Webster’s definition “by means of” (1) This would indicate that this verse is teaching us that the Spirit does enlighten those who hearken to the Light of Christ using the world as His enlightening tool (2) This need not indicate that the world is the only source the Spirit uses for enlightenment but that one method the Spirit uses is the world (i.e. the verse is stating one portion of the larger truth) I am impressed by the variety and scope of the ideas here presented. Thank you all again!

Thank you all for your wonderful answers! I particularly think Seminarysnoozer is onto something. The 1828 Webster's Dictionary gives one definition of "through" as "Over the whole surface or extent" (see Search => [word] => through :: 1828 Dictionary :: Search the 1828 Noah Webster's Dictionary of the English Language (FREE) :: 1828.mshaffer.com). This definition, while still in use today, is not as common now as it was then. Thus, I think you're correct in replacing "through" in this verse with "throughout." That really clarifies the meaning of the verse and I'll bet that's exactly what the Lord and Joseph Smith meant the word to indicate.

The temple is a super big deal and it sounds like you know that. You make really big covenants in the temple and not keeping those promises can carry serious consequences. That said, I would be sure to approach your Bishop again and be sure he remembers. Bishops are human too and perhaps he forgot to schedule the meeting with you or something lol :)

I am almost entirely sure you have not committed the unpardonable sin. You must commit murder and be sealed to commit this sin. Definitely talk to your Bishop about how you're feeling. He will help out :) By the way, that's so cool you're going on a mission!! It sounds like you'll be a very consciences missionary.

Above all else: make sure you go back as soon as possible! I didn't really want to at first but a good friend of mine invited me to go with him the following week. I am so glad he did. When I went back the second time, I started to notice things and especially the Spirit. After I'd gone a few times in a few weeks, suddenly I started to feel really good about the whole thing. Here's why this is, I think: The temple ordinances are both really old and really hold (holy means separate from the world). Really old stuff sometimes seems weird to us because it was created in a time and a culture very different from ours. Things that are very different from the world are also weird because we don't associate with them very often and they are very different from our culture. For example, in the temple we participate in what is going on. This doesn't happen in the world - we're used to being observers (for example, we sit and listen to talks but we don't participate or we sit and watch TV but we don't interact). We are definitely not observers in the temple - we are participators. I promise you that, after a lot of experience in the temple, it is truly the House of the Lord. Going often will slowly take away the stain the world leaves on us. There is a power in doing uncomfortable things when surrounded by the Spirit. If we humble ourselves and submissively accept the will of the Lord, great blessings await us. Above all else, go back! Go back in a spirit of prayer, go back with an open mind, go back and look for Jesus Christ! :) Everything will be alright.

Generally, you can always assume that a Priesthood blessing is "100% correct." :) Every single time I've given a blessing, the Lord has given me the words I am to use (or, at least, the idea I need to communicate). So you can safely assume that what the Bishop told you is real and came from God. You can find greater peace and happiness by following the Gospel of Jesus Christ than in any other way. The Gospel is this: to repent of sins when you do them (part of that means not doing sins you've already repented of), to be baptized and then take the Sacrament regularly, and to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost after receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This all takes faith in Jesus Christ. When we are baptized, we promise to always e obedient to all the commandments. This is sometimes difficult but, when we make a mistake or don't follow a commandment, we need to repent and then everything will be OK again. Now, this is why the Lord's Church is so important. Being baptized, partaking of the Sacrament, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost - all of this stuff requires somebody to be able to act in "the name of the Lord." If somebody doesn't have God's permission to do these things, then those things aren't really real. There is only one place where God's permission (called 'Priesthood Keys') can be found: in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Any other Church can't really do things like Baptism or the Sacrament because they don't have God's permission to do those things. So this brings me back to the blessing you received: because that Bishop holds the Priesthood (the real Priesthood), the blessing he gave you is real. What he told you in the blessing is the same thing Jesus Christ or Heavenly Father would have told you if they had been standing there with their hands on your head. If you do those things you were told to do, you will be doing what is right! :) I think that's pretty neat and exciting.

I am studying D&C 84 and presently find myself associated with verse 46. "And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit." "[T]he Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world," is in reference to the Light of Christ (according to every General Authority quotation and reference I can find). The second half of the verse refers to the idea of following the quiet promptings of the Light of Christ - as an individual does so, that individual is given a greater portion of the Spirit. This is evident in several quotations but, for example: “The Light of Christ will lead the honest soul to ‘hearkeneth to the voice’ to find the true gospel and the true Church and thereby receive the Holy Ghost.” (Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, April 2003 General Conference) or “Not only does this verse [verse 46] provide a further witness that we all have access to this source of divine direction, it also emphasizes the need for us to hearken, or listen and respond, to the promptings we receive….These intimations, sometimes referred to as conscience but more accurately defined as the Light of Christ, not only help us in deciding what is right and what is wrong, they will, if followed, lead us to the source of that light which emanates from the presence of the Father and the Son.” (Elder Kenneth Johnson, October 2002 General Conference) Thus the meaning of this verse becomes clear. So, here is my question: What does it mean, when we read in verse 46, that "the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth"? That phrase "through the world" doesn't seem to fit and I can't determine a meaning for it in context of the rest of the verse. What are your thoughts?

Thank you so much for your response! I finally found a source: Elder Bruce R. McConkie in the October 1978 General Conference, referencing D&C 67:10, said, “It is our privilege even now—the privilege of all who hold the holy priesthood—if we will strip ourselves from jealousies and fears and humble ourselves before him, as he has said, to have the veil rent and see him and know that he is.” Thus it refers to the Priesthood in general. This makes sense considering that all nine men present beside Joseph Smith in the November conference where Section 67 was received were ordained High Priests within the last six months. Most (6) had been ordained within the past week. Lyman Johnson had been ordained that very day during the conference! Of the remaining three, one had been ordained less than five weeks prior and the other two were ordained in June 1831 when Joseph started ordaining High Priests. It makes even more sense in the light that only one man present (Sidney Rigdon) was under any particular call to missionary service and only two had ever actually served formal missions of which I am aware. (Oliver Cowdry and Peter Whitmer Jr.) Thank you again for your reply! :)

I am studying D&C 67:10-14 in relation to D&C 84:19-22. The study has been most rewarding and enlightening but I've run into a wall today and I cannot find any authoritative (revelatory or scholarly) sources to answer the following question: D&C 67 was given about two years after the approximate restoration date of the Melchizedek Priesthood. D&C 67 was given to Church leaders who were discussing the publication of important revelations as the "Book of Commandments." Some of these leaders felt the language of the revelations should be improved and the possibility was discussed at length. Presumably to resolve the discussion, Joseph Smith prayed to the Lord (an example of extreme humility) and received the revelation. Verse 10 says "verily I say unto you that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained unto this ministry..." but I cannot find anything that explains exactly to what "this ministry" refers. I assume it might refer to the general ordination to the Priesthood or to a specific office in the Priesthood. However, it might not. I have no certain way to know beside my own subjective thoughts and conclusions. Does anybody have any input of the meaning of "this ministry" or any authoritative references regarding the same? Thanks :)