Doctrine of the Spirit

[Atlfrdm]

I have a doctrinal question about the Holy Ghost and something I was reading in the book "Hearing the Voice of The Lord" by Gerald N. Lund. The book has been great but I ran across something that confused me a little. I am aware that Elder Lund was a General Authority and I don't mean to second guess his understanding of the Gospel, but at the same time I know that all people make mistakes. My question is regarding the following remarks by Elder Lund in chapter 10 on feelings:

"...feelings given to us through the Spirit are quite varied, ranging from peace and light to darkness and anxiety"

"Sometimes the feelings we get from the Spirit are not positive and uplifting. The Lord doesn't always send peace and joy..."

Here is my question, we read in 1 Coriinthians 14:33 that God is not the author of confusion but of peace. Elder Lund states that we can get dark and negative feelings from the Spirit, but my mind keeps going back to D&C 50:23 "And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness". It would seem that the words of this book are in contradiction doctrinally with what the scriptures say about the Spirit. I have been troubled by this because I have always measured the Spirit by wether or not it testifies of Christ (1 John 4:1-2) and wether or not it edifies (D&C 50:23) is it possible that the above mentioned book is not doctrinally correct on this point? Or am I misunderstanding something? Any insight would help but I always prefer scripturally backed analysis. Thanks.

[Vort]

I have a doctrinal question about the Holy Ghost and something I was reading in the book "Hearing the Voice of The Lord" by Gerald N. Lund. The book has been great but I ran across something that confused me a little. I am aware that Elder Lund was a General Authority and I don't mean to second guess his understanding of the Gospel, but at the same time I know that all people make mistakes. My question is regarding the following remarks by Elder Lund in chapter 10 on feelings:

"...feelings given to us through the Spirit are quite varied, ranging from peace and light to darkness and anxiety"

"Sometimes the feelings we get from the Spirit are not positive and uplifting. The Lord doesn't always send peace and joy..."

Here is my question, we read in 1 Coriinthians 14:33 that God is not the author of confusion but of peace. Elder Lund states that we can get dark and negative feelings from the Spirit, but my mind keeps going back to D&C 50:23 "And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness". It would seem that the words of this book are in contradiction doctrinally with what the scriptures say about the Spirit. I have been troubled by this because I have always measured the Spirit by wether or not it testifies of Christ (1 John 4:1-2) and wether or not it edifies (D&C 50:23) is it possible that the above mentioned book is not doctrinally correct on this point? Or am I misunderstanding something? Any insight would help but I always prefer scripturally backed analysis. Thanks.

Elder Lund is correct. The Spirit brings peace, but it also brings warning. The Spirit can warn you before going into an evil situation, and the warning won't be a feeling of peace and light.

[rameumptom]

The Spirit may also work darkly on us in cases where it calls upon us to repent. Most people have experienced a guilty conscience, which is the Spirit trying to get us to repent and change, so we can again experience the peace and joy of the Lord.

[Atlfrdm]

I appreciate the responses. So how does D&C 50:23 fit into this?

[Atlfrdm]

A do agree with your analysis of guilt leading one to repentance. I have always assumed the negative feelings were more of an absence of the spirit due to sin rather than the Spirit itself giving you bad feelings. I have also felt, during times of guilt, a feeling of hope and encouragement that I can repent. That feeling always edified. So I guess that is where I am confused, scripturally we are told that any feeling that does not edify is not the Spirit. So when we receive a "no" from The Lord how can we discern that it is from him and not either a negative emotion or even an evil spirit?

[Vort]

I appreciate the responses. So how does D&C 50:23 fit into this?

"Edify" means "build". So-called "dark" feelings that protect you from evil or lead you to repentance are edifying.

[applepansy]

I appreciate the responses. So how does D&C 50:23 fit into this?

How would God warn you of something that is "not of Him"? Maybe with darkness?

As I've read this thread "stupor of thought" comes to mind. Doctrine and Covenants 9:9

"But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me."

[Atlfrdm]

All of the insight is very appreciated. Help me understand something here, what is the difference between the "stupor of thought" and The Lord telling you no, and the truly dark or even evil feelings we sometimes get. For example when I was about 2 months into my mission back in 04 I remember praying to know the truthfulness of the gospel. During this prayer I had a doubtful thought and it was accompanied by a very strong dark feeling that left me filled with fear and anxiety. I dismissed that as not being of God because of the feelings of fear and darkness (see 2 Tim. 1:7) Later on in my mission I received many witnesses, some quite powerful, that the church was true. These experiences always filled me with peace and light and inspired me to do good. So how would you discern between the spirit of The Lord and all other spirits or feelings? What for you is the measuring yardstick?

[Just_A_Guy]

Atlfrdm, I appreciate your bringing this up; because I've always taken 2 Timothy 1:7 as supporting the same position you express: that God does not directly send us feelings of confusion or doubt or fear.

A thought: Are bad feelings/confusion actually sent directly from God, or are they simply a psychological result of the conflict between what the Spirit tells us is right (which we have perhaps become too dulled to consciously recognize) versus what our own fallen natures want to do?

Edited November 7, 2013 by Just_A_Guy