I have been a Latter-day Saint my whole life, and have attended church almost every Sunday, as well as many firesides, conferences, meetings, institute and seminary classes. I like to boil things down to their essence, to encapsulate them in a convenient nugget of summary. As the years have gone on, I have searched for a common thread binding all subjects taught in these many lessons, classes, schools, meetings, and also informal private conversations (like this).
What is the point of it all?
I feel that the actual answer to that question probably exceeds the grasp of a finite mortal mind, which is what I am currently using. But I feel that my answer to the question gives a good measuring stick for charting spiritual progress, including mine. While I hope my answer is continually updated (this hopefully indicates learning, growth, and progress), I am beginning to hit nearer to the mark in answering that question.
Of course, the answer is to get us back to God again. But how is this accomplished? We want to be reunited with Father in heaven, to be at one with Him. Jesus Christ suffered, died, and was resurrected, and we call this the Atonement. How do we receive the effects of the Atonement? The Holy Ghost. He is the agency that delivers the strengthening grace, and sanctifying fire of the Atonement to our minds, hearts, spirits, even our bodies. And it is not like a light switch, either. You can experience the power of the Spirit to varying degrees. The greater the portion of the Spirit, the greater the power of the Atonement inside us, and the greater that power, the more we are changed to become like Christ. Therefore, all activities we are encouraged or commanded to engage in have one common thread: they invite the Holy Ghost.
Take the necessary ordinances. Baptism is incomplete until we have received the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and incomplete until we are born again, baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost. Men are ordained to the priesthood, but when the Spirit is withdrawn from a priesthood holder because of sin, he loses authority. The final phrase of both sacrament prayers, the "therefore what" of the whole ordinance, is "that they may always have [Jesus'] spirit to be with [us]." One of the purposes of the Temple listed in D&C 109, the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple, is to receive "a fullness of the Holy Ghost." Temple marriage is not eternal until after it is sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. In 3Ne. 19:9, the Nephite Twelve whom Jesus ordained prayed for what they desired most, which was the Holy Ghost. They had recently seen Jesus in person, yet they desired the Holy Ghost more than anything. All ordinances, firesides, etc., are not of God unless the one who preaches and the one who receives both do so by the Spirit of truth (D&C 50:13-22).
"...the ability to receive and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill we can acquire in this life. With it we cannot fail; without it we cannot succeed" (Julie B. Beck, Relief Society President, Relief Society History: a Look at the Lord's Vision for His Daughters, Sept. 2011 Ensign). Now comes my "therefore what" of this blog post:
Is anything worth losing the Spirit of the Lord? That movie, book, music, friendship, etc., are they worth it? The answer is a resounding NO. There is nothing more important than having and following the promptings of the Spirit. The gift of the Holy Ghost means we may have His influence and guidance always, and He leads us to the Father and the Son, and into all truth.
Moroni's parting words are about the Holy Ghost, its guidance, gifts, and sanctifying power. I feel it is no coincidence that he speaks of final judgment and and the vital importance of the roles of the Holy Ghost in such close proximity to one another.
"...because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer..." (Moro. 8:26). Mormon teaches his son how to get and keep the Spirit, what work we have to engage in.
I have not mentioned one thing about the Spirit that is not only critical, but dear to me. That is that He is the channel through which I can receive the voice of God. In other words, when I have the Spirit, those promptings and words and messages and impressions are written, composed, and stamped by the Lord. To be with God is to be happy; we are not with God, but the Spirit gives us a taste of that premortal joy, communion, bliss, peace, hope, and love. To be separated from earthly loved ones is made more bearable through letters, phone calls, and other means of less than direct contact. If joy is the ultimate objective of all human endeavor, as some have suggested, then the Holy Ghost becomes the compass in that pursuit.
Let's avoid what we know will offend the Spirit, and do what we know will invite the Spirit, and repent when we fall short of this.
