Entering the Presence of the Divine

[webbles]

42 minutes ago, Navidad said:

Do you understand that to be taught in the Bible, or is it a uniquely LDS concept stemming from a modern revelation to an LDS leader? Thanks for your time and care in responding. I really appreciate it.

Good question.  I've heard that phrase for so long that I had to go search to see where it might originate from.  I believe the it originates from D&C 121:46

Quote

46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant ^acompanion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of ^brighteousness and truth; and thy ^cdominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

But we believe the same idea was taught in the Bible, just with different language.

[Dario_M]

13 hours ago, manol said:

Thank you Dario.

 

You're welcome. 

Btw....i can't find that topic that you have made. Is it removed? Or placed somewhere else or so? 

[Sara H]

13 hours ago, Navidad said:

Interesting, however the majority, if not all of the LDS folks I talk with use the light of Christ as a distancing mechanism to distance themselves from the non-LDS Christian

Remember that we believe that many simple and priceless facts were lost from Christianity when God removed the actual true gospel from the world and permitted the Christians to come up with a religion that does not hold any power or authority from God. That is the mentality you are up against, and that is why you have a hard time understanding why LDS people won't fully accept you as a real follower of Christ sometimes. Even though some won't say it, they have been taught that you follow a religion that has been corrupted by Satan, and even though they won't acknowledge it, that is why you have a hard time connectingwith some LDS. This isn't the first time I've used this example, but it really drives home the point of this comparison. Because we believe that salvation is freely provided to all people, its significance in our lives is not the same as that which it is for Christians. The same can be said for the vast majority of our traditions, doctrines, and practices. We do not recognize the practice of Christian baptism that you follow. You are in possession of a sacrament; yet, it is invalid. .And you as a Christian are able to have the spirit of God impact you just as much as a Muslim or an atheist are able to, but the Holy Ghost is something that must be worked for and then kept through our individualrighteousness.

 

Here is a wonderful example of what we're talking about from Milton R. Hunter:

 

 

 

[manol]

22 hours ago, Navidad said:

 the majority, if not all of the LDS folks I talk with use the light of Christ as a distancing mechanism to distance themselves from the non-LDS Christian. In other words, we have the light of Christ (is it the LDS perspective that a force deemed the light of Christ is indeed Biblical?) but we do not have the Gift of the Holy Ghost

It was never really clear to me, and is not now clear to me, how the "Something of Christ" (in this case "Light") is somehow less than or more limited than the "Something of the Holy Ghost" (in this case "Gift").  I understand the teachings of the LDS Church on this topic, and for years taught lessons wherein I listed on the blackboard the characteristics and duties and constraints of each.   I no longer see them through a hierarchy-centric lens. 

My personal belief is that, even if there is some technical difference between the two, the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost are functionally identical, they are both equally and completely of God, and the exact same principles apply as we seek communion with the Divine whatever our paradigm may be.

So imo whether our approach to communion with the Divine involves study or prayer or meditation or contemplation or praise or visualization or affirmation or song or service or any combination or something else, and regardless of the terminology we subscribe to, I think what is Light is Light.  

12 hours ago, Dario_M said:

Btw....i can't find that topic that you have made. Is it removed? Or placed somewhere else or so? 

You found it!  THIS THREAD is the new thread, or new topic, that I was referring to in that other thread. 

Edited September 12, 2023 by manol