With so many opinions out there, it can be difficult to figure out what we should believe. Some believe the notion that we as mere humans can't and won't ever know in this life exactly how God wants us to follow Him.
I believe with all my heart, might, mind, and strength that God DOES speak to His children on the earth (all of us) and that we CAN know what He wants us to do.
The Holy Ghost, or Spirit, is how we can know. He is the third member of the Godhead. It is His role to be a witness of truth.
"And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." - Acts 5:32
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth" - John 16:13
"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." - 1 Corinthians 2:10-12
"...the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls." - Jacob 4:13
An ancient prophet named Moroni in approx. A.D. 421 declared that if we pray to God to know of truth, He will reveal that it is true by the power of the Holy Ghost:
"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
"And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.
"And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost"
(Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:4-7)
Another ancient prophet, Nephi, around 600 B.C. also testified of this:
"For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round."
(Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 10:19)
"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."
(Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 32:5)
Interesting that he says that this principle, which was true in ancient times, will continue to apply and be true in times to come. Today is included in that "times to come." How fortunate are we that God is unchanging and continues to reveal truth to us, through His prophets and through the Holy Ghost, so we don't have to wander this life in confusion!
In a revelation given through a modern day prophet, Joseph Smith, in 1831 the Lord also affirmed:
"And again, verily I say unto you, O inhabitants of the earth: I the Lord am willing to make these things known unto all flesh...
"...For behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth abideth forever and ever."
(Doctrine & Covenants 1:34, 39)
I also believe that God is the same today, yesterday, and forever, which is to say that He does not change.
- "But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end." - Psalms 102:27
- "For I am the Lord, I change not" - Malachi 3:6
- "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." - Hebrews 13:8
- "For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him." - 1 Nephi 10:18
- "For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?" - Mormon 9:9
- "...for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever." - Moroni 10:7
- "And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men." - Moroni 10:19
- "Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old;
"Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever." - Doctrine & Covenants 20:11-12 - "Listen to the voice of the Lord your God, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, whose course is one eternal round, the same today as yesterday, and forever." - Doctrine & Covenants 35:1
- "From eternity to eternity he is the same, and his years never fail." - Doctrine & Covenants 76:4
- "And God spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name; for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless?
"And, behold, thou art my son; wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands, but not all, for my works are without end, and also my words, for they never cease." - Moses 1:3-4
In a world where everything seems to be constantly changing, I am grateful that God has a hold on things. I know that He will guide us to truth and will reveal His way to us through the Spirit if we truly want to know, will act on the answer He gives, and ask Him. I'm grateful to know that He will always give us guidance if we seek it, be solid and stable and unchanging, and can provide safety and security and stability in our lives if we put our trust in Him.
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