This is a great question that I have pondered a lot in my life. I am eager to hear what other people have come to understand regarding this topic!
I will admit that I have felt that rush of emotion following a good movie, yet as Sean stated, those feelings did not last long after the movie was over, nor did they inspire me to the greater good. Hence, I concluded those "impressions" were not from the spirit. On the other hand, when I have truly felt the spirit in my life one of the words that describes my experiences best is "light." I either felt a greater resolve to be better, the fruits (or result) of acting upon those impressions brought greater happiness, peace or light to my life and/or I experienced a decrease in feelings of anxiety.
I love Galatians 5:22-23 which states : But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. I believe that as we follow true revelation from the spirit we will experience these emotions, often after acting upon, and proving faithful, to the impression. When I have followed impressions that were simply my emotions, or desires of my heart, I have experienced either an increase of anxiety or a sense of despair following my decision. In Moroni 10:22 it states: And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity. I am not saying that I am filled with iniquity because I followed my emotions, but I do feel like the impressions I receive in those moments are a subtle form of iniquity, or deception, because the revelation is not from the Lord.
Now, with that being said...I feel more comfortable with discerning emotion from revelation after I have acted. Learning to discern it quickly upon first impression seems to me to be like learning a new language...learning how the spirit speaks to us. I try to find similarities to prior experiences that I feel confident were the Spirit and compare new impressions to what I experienced in those moments. Admittedly, I feel I am still on a journey towards mastery with this language, but I do feel more confident as I follow these principles and gain further experience.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
How Can I Tell The Difference Between The Spirit And My Own Emotions: Response From Sean
Sean - this is a great response. Thanks.
From Sean:
(All thoughts and Ideas here are as such and are not doctrine)It is important to understand the true mission and responsibility of the Holy Ghost first and foremost. Chorinthians chapter 2 reads:9 But as it is written, aEye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath bprepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath arevealed them unto us by his bSpirit: for the cSpirit dsearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man aknoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God bknoweth no man, cbut the dSpirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the aspirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s awisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost bteacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. I believe it is important to realize that the spirit provides us with confirmations of truth and warns us of evil. If you are watching a romantic movie and you feel a great warm feeling it is pearly emotion and not the Holy Ghost telling you to find Patrick Swazey in a pottery studio. The same goes to if you are on the best date of your life and you have great feelings it is typically not the spirit telling you to marry that girl. However, if you have decided to marry a certain person the spirit can defiantly confirm that holy decision. I love the words that Joseph smith spoke to Oliver Cowdry through revelation in Doctrine and covenants chapter 8.1 aOLIVER Cowdery, verily, verily, I say unto you, that assuredly as the Lord liveth, who is your God and your Redeemer, even so surely shall you receive a bknowledge of whatsoever things you shall cask in faith, with an dhonest heart, believing that you shall receive a eknowledge concerning the engravings of old frecords, which are ancient, which contain those parts of my scripture of which has been spoken by the gmanifestation of my Spirit. 2 Yea, behold, I will atell you in your mind and in your bheart, by the cHoly Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. 3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses abrought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground. I think one of the most important things that are thought in this scripture is that the spirit will teach us in our mind and our heart. To me this tells us that the promptings of the spirit will be both logical and spiritual. Perhaps the most important part of this scripture is that if we are living righteously the truth will dwell in our hearts and not leave us. For myself personally I never did receive direct revelation that Lynsee (my wife) was the one that I was to marry only a confirmation after I asked the lord if it was the right decision and it wasn’t a burning fire in my bosom only a feeling of comfort that I was making a good decision but the confirmation that she was who I was suppose to marry dwells in my heart and that is a confirmation of truth. Similar to my testimony of the church or Joseph smith it continually dwells in my heart. So the difference between emotion and the prompting of the spirit is that the spirit confirms truth through faith and warns you of evil and dwells in your heart and all other feeling are feeling of emotion. Direct example is that you always remember the feelings of when you were set apart to be a missionary, getting married, when you heard truth spoken trough a talk at church, or when you received confirmation that the book of mormon was true not when you had your first kiss and you swore you received confirmation that you were going to marry that girl
From Sean:
(All thoughts and Ideas here are as such and are not doctrine)It is important to understand the true mission and responsibility of the Holy Ghost first and foremost. Chorinthians chapter 2 reads:9 But as it is written, aEye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath bprepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath arevealed them unto us by his bSpirit: for the cSpirit dsearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man aknoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God bknoweth no man, cbut the dSpirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the aspirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s awisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost bteacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. I believe it is important to realize that the spirit provides us with confirmations of truth and warns us of evil. If you are watching a romantic movie and you feel a great warm feeling it is pearly emotion and not the Holy Ghost telling you to find Patrick Swazey in a pottery studio. The same goes to if you are on the best date of your life and you have great feelings it is typically not the spirit telling you to marry that girl. However, if you have decided to marry a certain person the spirit can defiantly confirm that holy decision. I love the words that Joseph smith spoke to Oliver Cowdry through revelation in Doctrine and covenants chapter 8.1 aOLIVER Cowdery, verily, verily, I say unto you, that assuredly as the Lord liveth, who is your God and your Redeemer, even so surely shall you receive a bknowledge of whatsoever things you shall cask in faith, with an dhonest heart, believing that you shall receive a eknowledge concerning the engravings of old frecords, which are ancient, which contain those parts of my scripture of which has been spoken by the gmanifestation of my Spirit. 2 Yea, behold, I will atell you in your mind and in your bheart, by the cHoly Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. 3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses abrought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground. I think one of the most important things that are thought in this scripture is that the spirit will teach us in our mind and our heart. To me this tells us that the promptings of the spirit will be both logical and spiritual. Perhaps the most important part of this scripture is that if we are living righteously the truth will dwell in our hearts and not leave us. For myself personally I never did receive direct revelation that Lynsee (my wife) was the one that I was to marry only a confirmation after I asked the lord if it was the right decision and it wasn’t a burning fire in my bosom only a feeling of comfort that I was making a good decision but the confirmation that she was who I was suppose to marry dwells in my heart and that is a confirmation of truth. Similar to my testimony of the church or Joseph smith it continually dwells in my heart. So the difference between emotion and the prompting of the spirit is that the spirit confirms truth through faith and warns you of evil and dwells in your heart and all other feeling are feeling of emotion. Direct example is that you always remember the feelings of when you were set apart to be a missionary, getting married, when you heard truth spoken trough a talk at church, or when you received confirmation that the book of mormon was true not when you had your first kiss and you swore you received confirmation that you were going to marry that girl
Monday, July 21, 2008
Ok, A New Topic... How Can I Tell The Difference Between The Spirit And My Own Emotions?
I can see that the last topic introduced did not capture the interest or attention of the readers, so lets discuss something else.
How do we determine the difference between feeling the spirit and our own emotion? Is it possible to tell a difference? We speak in terms of "feeling" the spirit, but is it a feeling? When I watch a romantic movie that makes invokes a feeling of love or passion, is that the spirit? How about people that get "spiritual witnesses" to acts or beliefs that are so obviously wrong (like believing the spirit told you to leave your wife, or kill another individual) how can we really know such things?
Is it possible for God to communicate truth? If so, how can we tell it is from God?
I feel strongly about the answer to this question. Before putting in my two cents I would like to see other people's thoughts...
How do we determine the difference between feeling the spirit and our own emotion? Is it possible to tell a difference? We speak in terms of "feeling" the spirit, but is it a feeling? When I watch a romantic movie that makes invokes a feeling of love or passion, is that the spirit? How about people that get "spiritual witnesses" to acts or beliefs that are so obviously wrong (like believing the spirit told you to leave your wife, or kill another individual) how can we really know such things?
Is it possible for God to communicate truth? If so, how can we tell it is from God?
I feel strongly about the answer to this question. Before putting in my two cents I would like to see other people's thoughts...
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
How Does A Physical Body Help Protect Us Against Evil?
Here are some very interesting quotes from Joseph Smith:
“Before the foundation of Earth in the Grand Counsel… the Spirits of all Men were subject to oppression & the express purpose of God in Givening [them] a tabernacle was to arm [them] against the power of Darkness.”
“For it is a Natureal thing with those spirits that has the most power to bore down on those of lesser power.”
Words of Joseph Smith, 62, 68
This is a fascinating doctrine, and powerful. We often think (because it is true) that our bodies are fallen and are the primary reason we are vulnerable to sin. But this teaching gives insight into how we can overcome sin and evil. How do we use our bodies to overcome the Adversary?
One possible answer: Through the sanctification of our bodies to our spirit - which is the submission of the flesh to the spirit - brings tremendous power and strength over the powers of darkness. How does this relate to the resurrection? What are your thoughts?
“Before the foundation of Earth in the Grand Counsel… the Spirits of all Men were subject to oppression & the express purpose of God in Givening [them] a tabernacle was to arm [them] against the power of Darkness.”
“For it is a Natureal thing with those spirits that has the most power to bore down on those of lesser power.”
Words of Joseph Smith, 62, 68
This is a fascinating doctrine, and powerful. We often think (because it is true) that our bodies are fallen and are the primary reason we are vulnerable to sin. But this teaching gives insight into how we can overcome sin and evil. How do we use our bodies to overcome the Adversary?
One possible answer: Through the sanctification of our bodies to our spirit - which is the submission of the flesh to the spirit - brings tremendous power and strength over the powers of darkness. How does this relate to the resurrection? What are your thoughts?
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Henry Eyring: Come Unto Christ
I love this talk. Elder Eyring talks about Coming Unto Christ. It has inspiried me and I wanted to post it for anyone who wants to take a few minutes to listen to it. It was recorded a while ago, so there is no video - but please listen to it and let me know what you think
Also - this is the best rendition of Come Thou Font Of Every Blessing I have ever heard. I know it is old school 1980's BYU (as you can tell by the hair) but I really love it. This is with out question my favorite hymn.
Also - this is the best rendition of Come Thou Font Of Every Blessing I have ever heard. I know it is old school 1980's BYU (as you can tell by the hair) but I really love it. This is with out question my favorite hymn.
Emma Smith: My Story
Tonight Lisa and I saw this movie, and I was surprised at how much I really enjoyed it. In fact, I think it is the best "Mormon movie" that I have yet seen. I came away with a greater appreciation for the sacrifices and tremendous diffuculties the early Saints went through, and I was inspiried by the faith displayed by Emma through the violent and sorrowful beginnings of the church.
On a different note, there was a preview for a movie called Sixteen Stones which got my blood boiling immediately. I really dislike the need for some of these LDS movie makers to commercialize and make movies about what I think are very sacred topics. This movie is about the Brother of Jared - perhaps my favorite scriptural account.
Thoughts on Mormon movies?
On a different note, there was a preview for a movie called Sixteen Stones which got my blood boiling immediately. I really dislike the need for some of these LDS movie makers to commercialize and make movies about what I think are very sacred topics. This movie is about the Brother of Jared - perhaps my favorite scriptural account.
Thoughts on Mormon movies?
Lets Start This Blog
Ok, so I started this blog a few months ago, and then didn't do anything with the site. Well, I would like to start talking about spiritual/religious topics - nothing on the fringe, I don't want to get into mysterious doctrines, it is a place to discuss faith and spirituality.
If you would like to contribute to this blog please email me at toddmclauchlin@gmail.com.
If you would like to contribute to this blog please email me at toddmclauchlin@gmail.com.
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