Eternal Life Begins With Prayer: the Words of Elder Hales

[MaidservantX]

from the November 2007 Ensign p 87 (Elder Robert D. Hales)

"Each of us has been sent to earth by our Heavenly Father to merit eternal life: 'And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.' How do we know the Father and the Son for ourselves? By personal revelation. Personal revelation is the way Heavenly Father helps us know Him and His Son, learn and live the gospel, endure to the end in righteousness, and qualify for eternal life -- to return back into Their presence.

"You may ask, 'How do we seek personal revelation?' Paul counseled the Saints to rely on the Spirit rather than the wisdom of the world (1 Corinthians 2:11-16). To obtain that Spirit, we begin with prayer."

Whenever I speak with someone about why I believe in my Heavenly Father and similar subjects, it is difficult for me to articulate that if I were to accept the theory that He doesn't exist, I would have to turn to Him -- because He is on my right hand, on my left hand, my foreward, and my rearward -- and mention to Him .. ."You don't exist." It would interrupt the constant conversation I am having with Him. It would be rude at the least. :) Here's a picture -- say you are on the phone with a friend. Another friend is sitting with you at the table and has just executed a beautiful theory as to why the phone friend doesn't exist. "You don't exist!" I laugh at the phone friend I am having a wonderful conversation with. "Dude here just proved it!" Ha ha. It's ludicrous.

Another thought I have been thinking for some time is that it is amazing and significant to me that Prayer is at the beginning and the end of our spiritual journey (all along, of course). What I mean by this is that -- prayer is something we teach to anyone and everyone. You don't have to have, be or do anything special. You don't have to be LDS. You don't have to be Christian. You can be a sinner (that would be all of us, of course). You don't have to have a lot of knowledge. You don't have to have priesthood. We just say -- Kneel. Talk to your heavenly Father. Everyone is welcome. That is amazing to me, because this grand adventure we are on -- entering the Presence of the Lord -- is actually given to us at 101! We have access to our Father in heaven through prayer at the first minute. The grandest mystery is given to spiritual infants. . . . so that is the "beginning". What about prayer at the "end"? I think this is best shown in Ether 3. The brother of Jared has had a lifetime journey of prayer with increasing experiences and results. He has been led and taught and upheld. In Ether 3 we go with the brother of Jared as he has the ultimate experience. The pre-mortal Jesus Christ visits the brother of Jared (visually and tangibly), all in response and by the means of prayer. The Savior even explains very plainly what Elder Hales is also trying to impart. Ether 3:13-14: "the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you. Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters."

[Guest tomk]

It just occurred to me that perhaps part of our mortal probation is "learning to tap into eternal truths" -- to communicate with them, and eventually command them based upon the honor we hold with them (throug our obedience).

When we get to "Know God" one of the chief things we come to know about Him is how profoundly He respects and honors our agency, despite His vast power. The paradox is that He has power because of this honoring of our agency. Nothing else "convinces" me to obey Him more than that love, that honor, that I feel from Him!

It really is quite exciting.

[Hemidakota]

Though, I wish the Coughing Virus intelligences will subside quickly and honor my wishes as the god of this body. [Humor]

I wholeheartedly agree Xhenli and Tom, one of our learning mortal principles that I had learned over time that meaningful and sincere prayers is a tool to communicate with Deity. Over time, our language begins to change as two people are conversing in openness. Over time, our tuning ear receptors no more hear just feel the spirit but hear the whispers of the Spirit. Over-time our prayers from time-to-time will part the thin veil.

“Come to Christ!” That axiom brings great swelling in my chest, as tears flow down my cheek of the out pouring of FATHERS and Christs love in my last days of probation.

I am reminded of Nephi as he try to converse that we must pray and gain knowledge for ourselves the Holy Ghost. 2 Nephi 32:1 thru 7, it reads:

1 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way. But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts?

2 Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?

3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

4 Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.

5 For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.

6 Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.

7 And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be.

[Guest tomk]

6 Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.

My heart sings when I apply a "Second Comforter" context to these words.

Notice that, right after he says this, he says "I cannot say anymore." This should raise all kinds of flags.

[Hemidakota]

Exactly.