Friday, July 10, 2015

Prior to having Couples Prayer tonight, I mentioned to Carol, "My body is craving ice cream and my spirit is craving Calling and Election Assured".   So she wisely said,  "Why don''t you have both at the same time?"

So I am eating some rocky road ice cream as I post this about Calling and Election after which I will study this document and have mighty prayer before retiring.

These 2 paragraphs come from a book entitled,  "Experiencing The Mighty Change"  and can be obtained on line by typing in  Experiencing the mighty change-shalyce    on Yahoo for free.  It is the 4th one listed.   The authors are Hal Wilcox and G. Randall Klimt.      These 2 paragraphs come at the end just before the appendix.     The appendix consists of recorded experiences of those who  "received it".

PEOPLE ARE RECEIVING THIS BLESSING TODAY 
As we mentioned earlier, since January 1993 when we began distributing this book, we have met something like half a dozen people who we know have had their calling and election made sure. We have also heard of many others. Only one or two of those we know of are at the end of their lives. Most are middle aged or younger and most have yet to serve in any major leadership position, such as Bishop, etc. Most will not say a word about what they have received, but once in a while, by listening very carefully to what is said, one can put the pieces together. Those that we are certain about we have known well enough that they have been more open with us. 

The real lesson is not only that this blessing is real and available, but that it is happening to people right now, today, all around us. And the number of those receiving it will only increase as events proceed ever more rapidly to the divinely decreed crescendo that seems to be so very near, even at the door. So for those who truly and earnestly desire these blessings, there is no better time to begin the quest than right now. 

My Calling And Election Experience by Bishop  

When I was 16, I received a testimony of the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, after years of study and much fasting and prayer. You see, even though I was born into the Church and given a name and a blessing as an infant and then baptized at age 8, I lived in a "part-member" family. My father was increasingly anti-Mormon as I grew up, and my mother was LDS, but did not really have a testimony and had no scriptural background. As I entered my teen years, my father inundated us children with anti-Mormon literature. It was very convincing to a young mind.

However, I recognized that the LDS Church held certain beliefs which were Biblical, all of which no other church taught, such as the Godhead, baptism for the dead, baptism by immersion, the importance of the priesthood with all of its offices, Word of Wisdom, gifts of the Spirit, etc. Also, there were some major flaws in the deductive reasoning in the anti-Mormon literature which even a young teenager could easily see through. It became evident that anti-Mormon authors felt that it was worth lying or using deceptive reasoning in order to save their fellow man from the monster of Mormonism. But in my little teenage brain I reasoned that if it was false, why would they have to lie and deceive to "prove" that it was false?

I finally determined, for the time being, to follow the LDS faith, which was the most Biblical of all the churches I had studied, until I found the true church. When I made that decision, the Spirit witnessed to me that it is the true Church and I understood that over time, the things which did not seem Biblical about the Church, would be explained [which they were].

Subsequently, I went on a mission and served faithfully in five bishoprics, two high councils, and many other callings over many years. I learned to hear the voice of the Lord as I progressed spiritually. One thing that stuck with me, ever since I read the Book of Mormon as a teenager, was Moroni's description of the Brother of Jared seeing the finger of God and Moroni's challenge for the reader to see Christ for himself. I always desired to receive that sacred blessing. As time passed, I learned that to see Christ in this way was known as receiving the Second Comforter. I learned that there was another spiritual experience related to the Second Comforter, known as receiving one's calling and election made sure [CE].

Over the years, I read and listened to the scriptures many times over. I had many spiritual experiences as I vicariously lived and relived the experiences of people in the scriptures. It became painfully obvious to me that few members of the Church actually read the scriptures daily, even though the prophets constantly challenge us to do so. It was so obvious because so few people could accept the possibility that we can follow Moroni's counsel and see the Savior in this life.

When I was in my forties, the Spirit witnessed to me that I would receive my CE within seven years. This was very comforting and I did not doubt that this was a real possibility.
About four years later, I found myself embroiled in an extreme spiritual trial. One day at work, I went into a storage room to pray for guidance. I knew what the Lord's will was. However, doing the right thing could possibly destroy my family, my reputation in and out of the Church, ruin me economically, etc. In short, everything I held dear was probably on the line if I did what was right. It was one of those situations in which the right thing to do was not obvious. In the storage room, I prostrated myself flat on the floor, face down in humble prayer. I promised the Lord that I would do his will. At that moment, I saw in my mind's eye the Savior prostrating himself before the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying, "Thy will be done." I understood more fully the Savior's obedience to the Father.

At that same moment, I understood that I had proven to myself that I would always do the Lord's will. I came to understand that it was not so much a test to prove to God who I was, but to prove to myself who I was. God already knew who I was. Instantly the Spirit witnessed to me that I had reached a threshold in my spiritual development. Because I would do the Lord's will no matter what the consequences, my calling and election were sure. I would receive eternal life. I felt a peaceful assurance that I had reached the goal that I had set long before as a teenager under the tutelage of Moroni.

A few months later, I was discussing the concept of the Second Comforter with a friend. The friend quoted a scripture which states that we will see him with our spiritual eyes, not our physical eyes. As I pondered this statement, it came to me that I had seen the Savior with my spiritual eyes in the Garden of Gethsemane and in other similar visions. I also realized that many times over the years, I had known precisely the Lord's will on certain topics as if he, himself, had told me.

Suddenly a whole new world of knowledge and understanding became available to me. I still had to work at it like before, but it did come faster and more abundantly. I was surprised and saddened to find out that our trials do not end when we receive our CE. I learned that Joseph Smith Jr. received his CE in 1831 [D&C 132] and subsequently suffered many trials. I soon understood that the Book of Mormon is testimony after testimony of people who had received the Second Comforter and how they had received it. Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, Enos [an explicit story of his experience], King Benjamin, King Mosiah, the Almas, Helaman, Nephi and Lehi [Helaman's sons], Nephi [the son of Nephi who met the Savior when he appeared in America], the Brother of Jared, Mormon, and Moroni had all received the Second Comforter. This was an amazing realization to know that the Book of Mormon is one big testimony about this most sacred spiritual experience.

It also became apparent to me that the temple endowment is a map of how anyone can enter into the presence of the Savior. As we live each covenant in the endowment, we move from the Telestial level of personal spirituality to the Terrestrial level and then on to the Celestial level of righteousness. It is graphic and very simple, culminating in meeting the Savior and entering into the Celestial world.

I found a talk by President Marion G. Romney challenging the men in the Church to receive the Second Comforter. This was most incredible seeing as how the topic is rarely broached in meetings or manuals. The talk is entitled "The Light of Christ" and can be found by searching the Church website.

After experiencing this for myself, I noticed that there are certain things people say and do that expose them as CEers. I was stunned to learn that many others in the Church today have received their CE and the Second Comforter! It was actually very comforting to know this. I understand that there will be a contingent of these people ready to welcome the Savior when he returns to the earth. This makes perfect sense when you think about it.

The journey continues after CE. It is not really an ending, but a new beginning. There is such a realization of how much more there is to learn and how little the CEer knows. It is like standing at the tiny little apex of the beginning of infinite knowledge and understanding. But there are angels and Gods there to help facilitate the learning. So I add my testimony and challenge in conjunction with those of my dear friends in the Book of Mormon: that it is possible and it is important to seek to know the Savior in this life and to become his friend.

-Bishop

•  

This post like some of the others on this blog is long; however, very relevant to the subject:  the subject being, "The Greater Portion".   There exists on the earth today various individuals who actually believe the scriptures as well as Joseph Smith who "beg" us to make our calling and election sure.  I continue to quote Amonhi as one of many who has, with his wife, accomplished that.

Here is his story:

 

Postby Amonhi » Fri Jul 31, 2015 5:49 am

I have a very strict policy not to share personal information related to my history. This is me following the spirit and not keeping that policy. 

I think that some of this information might add some example and meaning to some of my counsel which has been hard for some to accept because it goes against their understanding of how we should interact with God.

I was raised in the church and in my early teens I demanded that God respond with the threat that if He didn't then either 1) He wasn't there, 2) He was there but didn't have the power to respond in a way I could recognize or 3) He was there and had the power to respond but didn't care about me enough to respond, all of which was reason for me not to 1) Believe in Him, 2) respect Him as a God, 3) Care about Him and so would leave the church principles and teachings of a clean, moral life and would walk my own path which included drugs, sex, other fun like the other young teens my age were doing and making fun of me for not doing. I also told Him that if He did respond, I would Know that 1) He did exist, 2) He was powerful enough respond in a way I would recognize and 3) He cared about me enough to hear and communicate with me and that He would deserve my respect and I would do my utmost to obey and follow Him to the best of my ability. He had one change and it was that moment. 

He responded in a VERY powerful way that I could not refute. It was a very powerful turning point in my life.

A few years later, also in my teens, I had a terrible experience and demanded of God in a very angry and blaming tone, "How could you let this happen! I have done everything you told me to do and you are supposed to protect me from stuff like this!" To which He immediately responded in an equally passionate and direct tone, "I told you how to prevent this 3 times and you heard it but didn't listen!!" And I immediately remembered each of the three warnings that were VERY clear and direct via the Holly Ghost. And so I learned how to recognize the still small voice.

I have counseled others to not pray idly pray but to "demand responses from God" and "put something on the line so that you are risking something. Make it real. Make it count." I have given this advice from my own experience as I found that breaching the veil for me, and for others I have known required an attitude that I encapsulate with the word "demand". Others don't like the idea of demanding answers from God, but I don't know what else to call it or say that I did above. I learned to expect answers when I needed them, the moment I needed them. (I am somewhat impatient I guess.) 

Anyway,

I had memorized all seminary answers before serving a mission, (pray, read scriptures, attend church, obey leaders, pay tithing, etc.). But I was really very unstudied. I read the BoM before my mission like most people were you read each word and by the end of the chapter you don't know or remember anything you just read or only barely got the story line. 

On my mission, I began to study and learn what the scriptures had to say and realized that what the members believed and were taught didn't match up to what the scriptures said. I marked each scripture which required me to know what each verse meant or which doctrines it applied or related to. So, I began teaching what the scriptures said in church and pointing to them as the source while still serving as a missionary and people were astounded and thought I was wise. I simply followed the Lords counsel, 

Doctrine and Covenants 11:21

21 Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.

Once I had obtained the word through study, the Lord through the still small voice told me the moment I needed an answer what it was with scripture references and cross references. There were a few occasions when I needed some information that wasn't found in the scripture and He gave me a vision showing me in graphic detail the answer, once He pulled a nasty little trick where I read pages of information out of my own set of quad (scriptures) which was from the original text, (as written by Moses, except in English of course), which gave me great insight and detail into a particular concept. It was a nasty little trick because I couldn't go back and reread it, mark it or reference others to it because it wasn't really there. a Year later, the week I returned from my mission and had access to the internet, I looked it up and found that it was accurate to what I read but I had a little more detail than the scholars who spent their lives studying the history of those things.

Like most LDS, I married shortly after returning home while in college. My wife and I got our C&E shortly after we were married, (About 16 years ago now), Joined the Church of the Firstborn, met Christ then met God (Father and Mother), kept having revelations and visions, meeting with the Firstborn, nearly mastered receiving revelation and visions, etc. Until as expected from hindsight, but unexpected from my TBM world view, My wife and I began to have little clashes with my local leaders who were far behind behind us in their own spiritual progression and relied heavily on what I now understand to be correlated doctrine, and yet demanded obedience and wanted to play the role of god in our lives.. You know how leaders are, "God put me in this position, and God put you under me. I am your judge, and I hold your salvation in my hands. As far as you're concerned, I am God over you!"

Some were better leaders than others, but as the lord pointed out,

39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, (including leaders in the church), as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. - D&C 121:39

So, we took our plight to the Lord who said,

41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion[/u], by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.

38 Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God. - D&C 121

He explained that these verses were talking about leaders in the church who have the priesthood conferred on them and with it were given position in the priesthood and used that position and priesthood to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men (whom they believed to be under their stewardship in and out of the church). And as a result they didn't have true priesthood, ie. the powers of heaven, ie. couldn't cures or bless, ie. couldn't forgive or ascribe sin and were not recognized by God as having any validity beyond the grave, (See D&C 132:7-14). We, my wife and I, were both then called, ordained and sealed as High Priests by angels to be missionaries for the Church of the Firstborn as described here:

11 Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel—twelve thousand out of every tribe?

A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn.

And we have served diligently with others who have had similar experiences to do just that.

With that introduction, I invite you to read my first thread on this forum which was written to fulfill my calling and mission, "The Fastest Way to Make Your Calling and Election Sure"

And encourage you to consider obtaining a copy of Elliaison's "The Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - Making Your Calling and Election Sure" written by multiple contributors who have he same calling and mission.

Yes, I have researched quite a bit, but as Joseph Smith pointed out,

"Could you gaze into heaven five minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject" (TPJS, p. 324; cf. HC 6:50).

He also declared that

"the best way to obtain truth and wisdom is not to ask it from books, but to go to God in prayer, and obtain divine teaching" (TPJS, p. 191).

I would like to add that while I am a prophet, I don't want to be your prophet. It is not my intention to set myself up as a standard or a leader to be followed. My wife and I adamantly reject followers and have gone to great lengths to prevent Prophet seekers like those who commonly put their faith in President Monson and the other 14 men who lead the LDS church or put their faith in Denver Snuffer and go to him with every little question regarding how to live their lives and what to do to build and live in Zion, etc. If you ask me a stupid question like, "what kind of tooth paste does God want me to use?" I will likely give you a stupid response like, "You tell me some irreverent information first and declare it to be God's will and then I will answer your question in like manor."

My goal is the Lord's goal as spelled out in the Preface to Doctrine and Covenants as given by the Lord,

17 Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments;

18 And also gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world; and all this that it might be fulfilled, which was written by the prophets—

19 The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh—[/color]

20 But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;

We don't need more prophets over you, we need more prophets OF you.

Peace,

Amonhi

There are those individuals who are unconvinced that it is possible to see God while in mortality and they say that, "if it's not in the scriptures, I won't believe it."

Here are 62 scriptures which not only verify the possibility of seeing God, but some of them  maintain it is our responsibility to seek his presence.

John 14:21 "he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him."
Matt. 5:8 (3 Ne. 12:8) the pure in heart shall see God
JST-Matt. 11:27 "and no man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son and they whom the Son will reveal himself; they shall see the Father also."
Heb. 12:14 "follow peace and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
Gen. 12:7 Lord appeared unto Abraham
Daniel 10:5,6 Daniel sees the Lord; describes his appearance.
Ezek. 1:1 Ezekiel sees "visions of God."
Acts 7:55 Stephen sees "God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God."
Gen. 26:2 Isaac sees the Lord.
Gen. 28:13 Jacob sees the Lord in a dream.
D&C 67:10-12 Faithful elders shall be quickened by the Spirit and see the face of God.

	It is your privilege
	A promise to those that have been ordained unto this ministry
	Inasmuch as ye strip yourself from jealousies, fears humble yourself before me
	the veil shall be rent, you shall see me and know that I am
	not with carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual
	No man has seen God at any time in the flesh except quickened by the Spirit
	Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind.

D&C 88:67,68 eye be single to my glory, whole body filled with light, no darkness, comprehendeth all things, sanctify yourselves, days will come . . . you will see him, he will unveil his face, in his own time, own way, own will
Gen. 31:24 "God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night"
Gen. 32:30 Jacob: "I have seen God face to face"
Gen. 35:9 "God appeared unto Jacob again."
Exodus 3:2 Moses "angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire" "the bush burned with fire [but] was not consumed."
Exo. 24:9-17 Moses, Aaron, Nabab, Abihu, 70 of the Elders of Israel, and nobles of the children of Israel "saw God . . . and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone; and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness." "sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel."
1 Kings 3:5 "Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night."
2 Chron. 1:7 "God [did] appear unto Solomon."
D&C 84:20-24 By power of Melchizedeck priesthood is the "power of godliness manifest" ordinances and authority thereof, without which no man can "see the face of God, even the Father, and live." Moses taught this to the children of Israel, sought to sanctify them, they hardened their hearts, could not endure his presence, God's anger kindled; they should not enter into his rest (while in wilderness); rest is fullness of his glory.
D&C 93:1 forsake sins, come unto Christ, call on his name, obey his voice, keep his commandments, "shall see my face and know that I am."
D&C 97:15,16 Do not suffer unclean things to enter the temple, my glory will rest on it, my presence shall be there, I will come into it, all pure in heart who enter shall see God.
D&C 101:38 "And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life"
D&C 109:5 "Build a house to thy name [temple] so that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people."
Num. 11:25 "Lord came down in a cloud"
Num. 12:6,8 "If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream . . . and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold."
Num. 22:9,20 "God came unto Balaam."
Num. 23:4 God met Balaam
1 Sam. 3:21 "And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh" to Samuel
Ezek. 1:26-28 Ezekiel sees throne of God, sapphire stone, as the appearance of a man, brightness of a fire, as the appearance of a rainbow around.
Amos 9:1 Amos sees the Lord
Acts. 7:2 God appeared to Abraham
2 Chron. 18:18 Micaiah said, "I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, and all the hosts of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left."
D&C 110:1 Lord appears to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.
D&C 110:7,8 "I will manifest myself in mercy unto my people in this house." will appear to my servants and speak unto them, if they keep my commandments, do not pollute the holy house.
Alma 12:29 "[God] send angels to converse with them, who caused man to behold of his glory."
D&C 136:37 "Ye are not yet pure; ye cannot yet bear my glory; but ye shall behold it if ye are faithful in keeping all my words
Moses 7:4 Enoch sees the Lord
Abr. 1:15 Abraham sees Jehovah
Moses 8:22 Shem, Ham, and Japeth "walked with God"
JST-Gen. 14:30,31 "everyone ordained after [the order of the Son of God]. . . should have power . . . to stand in the presence of God."
Mormon 1:15 Mormon sees the Lord at age 15
Ether 9:21,22 "Emer executed judgment in righteousness . . . he saw the Son of Righteousness, and did rejoice and glory in his day; and he died in peace."
Alma 36:22 Alma saw God as Lehi did and the numberless concourses of angels and longed to be there.
Ether 12:39 Moroni said Jesus "talked with me face to face, . . . he told me in plain humility, even as one man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things."
Daniel 7:9 Daniel "beheld...the Ancient of days...whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool: his throne was like a fiery flame...thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand [100 million] stood before him: the judgment was set"
Daniel 3:22,25 after Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fire, the king's counselor said, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire . . . and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."
Moses 1:5 "No man can behold all my works except he behold all my glory, and no man can behold all my glory, and afterwards remain in the flesh on the earth."
1 Ne. 2:16 the Lord "visits" Nephi.
2 Ne. 2:4 Jacob "hast beheld in thy youth his glory"
1 Ne. 1:8 Lehi "saw God"
D&C 107:49 "and [Enoch] saw the Lord, and he walked with him, and was before his face continually."
D&C 107:53,54 Lord appeared unto Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah at valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman.
2 Ne. 25:14 "after the Messiah hath risen from the dead, and hath manifested himself unto his people, unto as many as will believe on his name..."
Ether 12:12 The Lord shows not himself to the children of men until after their faith.
Alma 19:13 king Lamoni said "I have seen my Redeemer, and he shall come forth, and be born of a woman, and he shall redeem all mankind who believe..."
Alma 36:22 Alma "saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising God."
Alma 36:26 "because of the word that [God] imparted to me [Alma], many . . . have seen eye to eye as I have seen, therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know."
Mormon 1:15 Mormon "being 15 years of age and being somewhat of a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus."
2 Ne. 10:2,3 Jacob (Lehi's son) and Isaiah "have seen my Redeemer even as I [Nephi] have seen him."

Other references found since the above compilation:

Rev. 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
3 Ne. 11:8 (3 Ne. 11:1-28:15) "they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them..."

 

This testimony comes from a sister known only as Mary on the internet.

-Receiving Calling and Election and the More Sure Word of Promise-  
My husband came across the doctrine of Calling and Election while on his mission.  Before and after we were married we read all we could find about it and studied the Gospel in general, but still had many questions which weren't answered in our searching.   Some of the things we read were accurate, some were not.  Here is my story...
     I had some business in Salt Lake City, Utah, home of the Salt Lake LDS Temple.  I had wanted to go to the Temple the night before but instead babysat for the friends with whom I was staying and cleaned some messes the children had made.  I felt sad that I hadn't been able to attend that night and when I went to bed I was very prayerful about it.  I told my friends that I would be attending an early session the next morning.  I had many questions on my mind, one of which being, "Where is the Holy of Holies?"  We had been told that in order to make one's Calling and Election Sure, there had to be a call from the prophet inviting us to the temple where he would escort us to the room called the "Holy of Holies."  There we would be privileged to meet with the Savior.  This was heavily on my mind as I drove through the rain storm which the morning brought.  I went alone.    The Spirit was very strong in the car all the way to the Temple and it continued to be very strong as I dressed and then waited in the Chapel for my session to begin.  I had felt the Spirit most of my life, but this morning it was exceedingly strong and bright.  The Spirit was increasingly stronger throughout the endowment session and as I entered the Celestial Room.  I wanted to sit and pray and commune with the Lord and so my eyes panned the room to find the spot where I would feel comfortable as I did this.  My eyes fell on a single chair which was on the far side of the Celestial Room, by itself on the left looking from the Veil and close to the corner.  I sat in that chair and began to pray.  As I was praying a voice came to my mind as if it were verbalized out loud, but it spoke to my soul, spirit to spirit.  It was like Enos' description of the voice he heard.  
     I was first told to look to the left.  There were three rooms there with closed doors.  There was a large urn in front of the one in the center.  I was told, "This room is the Holy of Holies."  I was then told, "Thy sins are forgiven thee and thou are acceptable unto me."   I thought, "How can this be?", but I knew the Lord would not lie and I felt peace and more joy than I had ever felt before.  It was so sacred to me that I told no one until I got to my home, though there were no instructions given to keep it secret. 
     I told my husband when I was home again.  He wondered what this could have been.  How could I have been given this priceless gift without all the fanfare that we believed was necessary?   I KNEW  the Lord loved me despite my sins and shortcomings and that I could be with Him again if I were acceptable to Him and I had been told just that!   I dared not hope that I had received the More Sure Word of Promise, even though I had, indeed.  It was September, 1989.
      Moving into the future, in 2007 I was given a vision while I was sleeping.  In my vision I was in the Monticello, Utah Temple.  I was in the Terrestrial room, about 3 rows back from the front, and was the only one in the room.  The room was lit brightly as it always is.  As I sat there it was made known to me that I was to rise and go to the veil.  I have been told by the Spirit not to reveal intimate details more than I will write here except in person as the Spirit dictates, but I can say that the nail marks in the Savior's hands are  much larger than I expected.  There is much scar tissue in the center of His right hand.  His voice permeated my soul, soft and kind and loving.  When I was face to face with Him, He looked down at me with such deep love! (I am 5'2" and He is much taller than I am.)   His love permeated my whole soul and I felt love like I had never felt before in this mortal probation.  He embraced me and I knew that I would someday be with Him forever and ever, never to go out, no more pain or sadness.  When I woke I wanted to tell everyone but I didn't.  I relayed it only to my husband.  I pondered it in my heart.  
     I have heard since that it is common to first hear that you will receive, then after a period of time, which is different for each individual, the presence of the Lord is given. 

This also came from, "Experiencing The Mighty Change"...

While we do not know personally the individual in this story, his story has impressed us deeply. A man had been praying for some time to meet one of the three Nephites. The Spirit spoke to him and said in substance, “Why pray to meet one of them? Why not pray to meet the Savior?" So he began to pray to meet the Savior. Not long thereafter his new prayer was answered at which time his calling and election was also made sure. This man subsequently explained to my friend who told me this story that the Savior loves us so much, it's like a child who wants a new bike that costs $150 but the child only has $1. Simply by putting forth a sincere effort and putting up the $1, the Savior then makes up the difference. We think it also worth noting that the Lord did not simply appear to him, HE HAD TO ASK FOR IT before the Lord appeared. 

Prior to having Couples Prayer tonight, I mentioned to Carol, "My body is craving ice cream and my spirit is craving Calling and Election Assured".   So she wisely said,  "Why don''t you have both at the same time?"

So I am eating some rocky road ice cream as I post this about Calling and Election after which I will study this document and have mighty prayer before retiring.

These 2 paragraphs come from a book entitled,  "Experiencing The Mighty Change"  and can be obtained on line by typing in  Experiencing the mighty change-shalyce    on Yahoo for free.  It is the 4th one listed.   The authors are Hal Wilcox and G. Randall Klimt.      These 2 paragraphs come at the end just before the appendix.     The appendix consists of recorded experiences of those who  "received it".

PEOPLE ARE RECEIVING THIS BLESSING TODAY
As we mentioned earlier, since January 1993 when we began distributing this book, we have met something like half a dozen people who we know have had their calling and election made sure. We have also heard of many others. Only one or two of those we know of are at the end of their lives. Most are middle aged or younger and most have yet to serve in any major leadership position, such as Bishop, etc. Most will not say a word about what they have received, but once in a while, by listening very carefully to what is said, one can put the pieces together. Those that we are certain about we have known well enough that they have been more open with us.

The real lesson is not only that this blessing is real and available, but that it is happening to people right now, today, all around us. And the number of those receiving it will only increase as events proceed ever more rapidly to the divinely decreed crescendo that seems to be so very near, even at the door. So for those who truly and earnestly desire these blessings, there is no better time to begin the quest than right now. 

It is very common to doubt. Many people even receive the promise and don't realize it for years. The nice thing is that you can go to God as many times as you need for reassurance and witness.

C&E is like baptism. And 8 year old child can know enough to be baptized and then spend a great deal of his life learning more about it, what it means, how it works, why we do it. So it is with C&E... You don't get it because you read all the books and memorized the scriptures. You don't get it because you attended church that 10,000th time or got 100% on your home teaching or lived all the commandments perfectly. It isn't about what you did or do at all. And this is what seems to trip people up more than anything, they are so focused on what to do that they miss the point which is who to be?

Mormon tells us in Moro. 7 that and evil person can do no good and that a good person can do no evil. He tells us that if an evil person prays and a good person prays, then one is blessed and the other cursed, even though they DID the same thing. It is the WHY and the HOW and not the WHAT that makes all the difference. 

And as you experienced, God IS LOVE. First we receive love and then give love. All the scriptures and all the meaning of things will come as you explorer your blessing from this context, looking back on your life and seeing the path you have traveled and the path you will travel. Now that you have the blessings is the time to begin to understand it. You have learned the true Order of Prayer and conversed with the Lord through the veil. You have received the name of the Second token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, from the Lord through the veil. Go back to the Lord with the desire to enter His presence and let him pull you through...

Peace and love Brother,
Amonhi

My Journey to Beholding the Face of God and Receiving the Second Comforter

by Carol J. Ehlers

You could say my journey to come unto Christ began at the age of twelve when I began to study the scriptures in earnest.  From the beginning, I believed what the scriptures said.  By age fourteen I rendered my will unto the Lord asking only to know His laws so I could keep them.  I prayed the Lord would protect the man I would marry and keep him pure for me.  The man who was to become my husband and I knelt and prayed together on my front porch on the night of our first date.  We married two years later and all of our children were born "in the covenant".  We were active members of our church, always taking our children to church with us.  Life was good!

It was when great trauma hit my life that I began to study more than a token daily reading of the scriptures.  Additionally, I read Bruce R. McConkie's Messiah Series of six volumes.  It took me a year to study each one in depth which was how long my son was in the hospital not expected to ever walk again.  I burned with the spirit that whole year notwithstanding the sorrow and anguish for my child.  The first and last two chapters of the first volume, THE PROMISED MESSIAH, spoke not only of our privilege, but our responsibility to Seek the Face of the Lord and become living witnesses of Him.  From that day I realized the reality of that charge, and it became the earnest of my existence.  I remember sharing that desire with one in authority, and he warned me not to feel bad when it didn't happen.  But I knew the scriptures were true and I hadn't the slightest doubt it would happen.  Many years later, someone ask me if I hadn't wondered if it was not available for women.  That thought never had even entered my mind.  I had felt His love all of my life.  I had no doubt He loved His daughters as much as His sons, and I knew I would see His face while yet in mortality to receive the promise of my place with Him for the world to come.  And I knew the very purpose of seeing Him face to face was to receive the promises of calling and election from His own mouth to me.

I had already received the Baptism of Fire, so overwhemingly sweet, yet so intense I thought I might be consumed and die, but not caring at that moment if I died, because the event was so overpoweringly euphoric I was filled with nothing but joy.  I remembered Joseph Smith stating that water baptism is but half a baptism without the Baptism of the Fire or the Spirit.  It had been an undeniable specific event!  I could record the date and time in my personal journal.  I also knew it was a prerequisite to obtaining the promise of Calling and Election.

So in my logical female mind I took out cards from my recipe box and placed my name on the top of several of them.  I broke my life down into categories and placed a category next to my name on each card.  Then I made an "add and subtract list" of what I prayerfully felt I needed to do or delete in each facet to qualify for the promises.  What, I asked myself, in each of these areas, could be keeping me from the promises? At the same time I took inventory of my material possessions.  Did they represent "exceeding fine" or "idolatry"?  Would they be considered "more" than my peers possessed?  In other words, did they comply with the Zion society description of  "there were no rich or poor among them."  I gathered up what didn't fall in that category (exempting my graduation gift watch from my mother and my wedding rings from my husband--as I determined they were "gifts," and when we reject a gift we reject the giver of the gift...) I placed my material wealth such as it was, and gave some to friends, and the rest I took to Deseret Industries.  I went inside and found a woman about my size and invited her to my car and gave her the rest.  I'm not saying this is necessary for anyone else, but I felt it was necessary for me. I had only begun to work on my "add and subtract list" when I had a dream in which the Savior was standing in my home, smiling at me and handing me pure white cards.  He said, "I see no disorder here."  I realized He was very much aware of my quest and He knew exactly how I was trying to do it!

The next event took place when I had become very ill.  I was six weeks pregnant and had bronchitis.  I was afraid to take too much medication for the sake of the baby  within me.  I had to sit up all night to breathe.  I became so exhausted one night I heard myself almost involuntarily say, "I give up." I immediately had the sensation I was lying face down in a dark pit.  Fear gripped me and I suddenly came back to myself and was upon my bed.  I both saw and heard the Savior standing at the foot of my bed dressed in white.  He said, "Your garments are made white in the blood of the Lamb".  It was so real, it left an indelible imprint upon my heart and my mind.  I honestly did not know if I had seen and heard it with my spiritual or my physical eyes or heard it with my spiritual or physical ears.  But I knew I burned with the Spirit in validation of its source.  I wondered at the time if I had needed the added humility of being so sick to be worthy of that pronounced designation?

Joy filled my heart, but I wasn't sure if this represented the fullness of the available promise.  Was it the "crowning event" of Calling and Election?  I continued to pray with all the energy of my soul to know my place with Him.  All together it was three years from the time I began the quest in earnest until I knew without a shadow of doubt the promises were mine.

I had a recurring dream that my husband and I were sitting in sacrament meeting and were asked to come to another room.  Then the dream would end.  One night the dream began again, but this time it did not end.  I awakened in the midst of it and it continued in open vision.  I was literally "caught up in the spirit" and taken to a room where "washings and anointings" were being given.  I was so excited to be there.  The other women didn't seem to be as excited as I was.  I determined they were from the spirit world and had waited a long time.  It wasn't that they were not happy, but not as excitedly happy as I was to be there from mortality.  After receiving spiritual washings and anointings, I found myself in a hallway with open doors on either side.  I was standing before the first very tall and large doorway with huge ornate double doors opened.  I saw individuals seated in graduated seating, and I just seemed to know they were the General Assembly, or in other words the authoritative body of the leadership of the Church of the Firstborn on the other side of the veil.  They acknowledged my presence.  I then found myself further down the hallway and looked into a room where people were weaving glorious luminous fabric on very large looms.  I again just seemed to understand it was the fabric for the robes of the righteous. Farther down the hall on the same side I saw people folding robes into packets.  On the other side of the hallway, in yet another doorway, I was bidden to enter, and I sat down on a chair before a table that seemed to go on forever.  On the other side of the table was a male angelic individual dressed in white who told me to hold my hands forward.  I did so, and he placed hot coals in my hands.  It did not burn, and I determined once again I must surely be in the spirit, or it would have hurt.  He placed steel rods in my legs, and again I noted it did not hurt.  Then he handed me a packet of clothing with robe and dress and not a veil, but a crown.  Suddenly I was back in my bed and fully awake and as if afire with the Spirit.  I was excitedly pondering what had just happened when suddenly an angel was standing in my room holding forth what appeared to be two jackets in  white and green color.  He said as he held them forth, "From this day forward, both you and your husband will have the designation, Members of the Church of the Firstborn."

I understood it had all been a "spiritual experience", experienced in the spirit.  But it was far more real and vivid then and in memory now than any physical experience.  When Moses, the classic example of one who had both walked and talked with God as one man talks face to face with another, stated in Moses, Chapter 1:11: " But now mine own eyes have beheld God; but not my natural, but my spiritual eyes, for my natural eyes could not have beheld; for I should have withered and died in his presence..."

The swellings of the Spirit lasted for weeks.  Every time I pondered the experience, I felt overpowering floodings of the Spirit.  I did have one concern.  What if I make a mistake?  I have received the promises and worried even the smallest of transgression might place me in the category of sin against the Holy Ghost, and a daughter of perdition.

I once again turned to Bruce R, McConkie's writings.  In the  third volume of the DOCTRINAL NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY, in the section on Second Peter, under the heading "Calling and Election", I found greater insight.  It stated that even the sanctified need daily, hourly repentance and the atonement of Jesus Christ continues to cover it.  He further specified only murder or adultery after having had the heavens opened and receiving the "divine pronouncement" from the Lord's own mouth to your ear would constitute the unforgivable "sin against the Holy Ghost."  He also stated those who had been made partakers of this "divine gift" of calling and election now enjoyed a new status with the Lord. They would receive angels, the spirits of the just made perfect, and the Son would take up His abode and even bring the Father from time to time.

The "crowning event of receiving  your calling and election is not the end, it is but a glorious  beginning.  Such individuals are taught from on high, shown the visions of eternity, are ministered to, are caught up to the spirit world and the very throne of God.  They are shown events of the past and things yet to come.  The beginnings of the Book of Revelation lists the promises to the righteous.  I testify these are real, they are ministered unto those who have qualified.  He places before them  "an open door", and they receive the "Morning Star" who is Christ, the Second Comforter.  They receive a "new name" and "there eyes are anointed with eyesalve" by the angels themselves.  They partake of "living waters" received from the Lord's own hand, and "hidden manna" and He wraps them in His robe, and "carves their name upon the palm of His hand".  Volumes are filled and new ones started to record the blessings shed forth upon them.

As I pondered your invitation to share my experiences, I wondered if it would be appropriate to share that which is sacred on the internet.  But I have seen His tears because even so many of those who have qualified do not seek His face because they don't know they are supposed to.  I feel if even one more soul determines to COME UNTO CHRIST through my testimony, it would be of great worth.

Carol

Epilogue Note:

Carol did not find it requisite to leave her church, and in very fact credits its teachings with the incentive to enter upon her personal quest to "seek the face of the Lord" and the promises of calling and election.

The last post was copied off the ELLIAISON web site and was a short story of Amonhi.  I could have copied off a long story of Amonhi's experiences with C&E, Second Comforter and Church of the Firstborn: however, I already have two LONG experiences and thought a short one was in order.

This is something that happened to me today.  Last night I prayed "deeply" that I wanted to know what the Father would have me to do and to please answer me in a dream (I don't dream or at least I don't remember dreams) or in a vision or whatever.   Today I had two separate answers and I am shaking just thinking about them.  A Gospel Doctrine teacher (we have 6 of them in our Ward--3 classes--) called me and asked about John 14:16 as he did not understand it and after I explained it by quoting Joseph Smith (T of the PJS  p. 151), he asked if I would take about 7 minutes Sunday during his lesson to explain it.    Then 30 minutes later I went to the church to report my home teaching and ran into a member who shook my hand and then pulled me aside and said that he wanted me to explain what I believed was coming.  He wanted to meet me for lunch and have a long conversation about it.   I do not think that these 2 will be the last and I believe I have received at least a partial answer to my heartfelt prayer.

I figure I had better put my money where my mouth was, so here is how I got it.

While receiving a revelation on another topic, I was told among other things, "Blessed art thou Amonhi, for thy work is found acceptable to the Lord and thou shalt have eternal life."

It was witnessed by the Holy Ghost, and I knew it was true.

I have since that time received all the blessings associated with the Second Endowment. (D&C 76:50-70)

Amonhi

(Amonhi's testimony of his receiving his C & E as well as The Second Comforter, and his membership in The Church Of The Firstborn is witnessed in his many posts on LDSFF and Elliaison).

Dear whomever may benefit from this,

The long story of our background is worth the time to hear, but is far too extensive for the purpose of this Post. So here is the short version: 

Mrs. Seeker and I were both born and raised as active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Seeker's Brief Background:

Both Mom and Dad were persecuted by members of their family because of their devotion to the church. Regardless of these persecutions, they remained active and strong in their testimonies and church activity. They met at the Reno Institute during their first year of college and were married 3 years later in the Provo Temple.

Growing up, we were considered the role model family and the envy of many parents whose kids were not so perfect. (If they only knew...LOL) This was partly because my Father was a well respected Bishop and high council member multiple times and my mother held various ward and stake callings in which she also gained significant recognition. The byproducts of such notoriety were that their children were expected to be proper bishop's children. Our family also had "higher standards" than others aside from required appearance of good portrayed to others.

Prior to serving a mission I met a foreign exchange student from Sweden named Cornelia. She was beautiful, smart and active in the church. She stole my heart during a youth conference dance. I immediately began dating her and continued to date her for 2 months before she returned home to Sweden. I then continued to communicate with her via regular letters and weekly phone calls which I paid for myself. This went on for over a year.

When I was 19 and a half, I received my mission call to the Ireland Dublin mission. A week before I left on my mission I called Cornelia for the last time in 2 years. I "broke up with her" over the phone. I told her that I loved her but that I could not give my all to the Lord as I served on my mission if I was trying to maintain a relationship with her. I told her not to expect anything from me and to date freely. I couldn't make any commitments to her and let her know it.

My brothers and I had a rude awakening when while serving missions, we found that not all missionaries are created equal nor do they all have testimonies or even desire to serve. My trainer had a girlfriend in the ward we were serving in and plans to marry her after he got home. I didn't realize it at first, but found out later that he would make opportunities to kiss her and who knows what else.

I finally figured out that I wasn't better than they were, even though they were not keeping the mission rules while I was. I had my own challenges caused by being at the other extreme. I learned a lot from these backward missionaries, but never broke the rules like they did, (if at all possible).

I also had some companions that were incredible. I still keep in touch with my favorite companion. We had many revelations and miracles as we served together. One experience we had together was when I was sick. I was upstairs sleeping while he was praying downstairs. I heard his prayer and saw the glorified being that answered his prayer. I'll share that in another post.

That night he received his promise of exaltation which is known as "making your calling and election made sure." He also met the savior. He tried to tell me about it the next day but realized that he needed to ponder it in his heart for the time being as I wasn't quite ready to hear it.

We had many, many other wonderful and miraculous experiences. For both of us, it was our favorite companionship. 

Shortly after returning from an honorable mission, Cornelia who I had written and received letters from throughout my mission, visited me in the U.S. (Reno) we reestablished our relationship and began courting again before she returned to Sweden. In my mind, we were engaged without a ring. 

I loved everything about her except that she could not relate to my many spiritual experiences. She would listen intently to what I would share and seemed to think it was wonderful, but she couldn't really relate and didn't seem to have any similar experiences. Although I found her lacking in spiritual experiences, she was a strong member with a testimony and by far a better match for me in all other areas than anyone I had found up to that point. In every other way we seemed to be well matched. This was a difficult settle for me as I had seen how my mom and dad were not spiritually compatible and the effect this had on their marriage and family. I really didn't want that in my own eternal relationship. And so I remained not completely committed to marrying Cornelia...

Mrs. Seeker's Brief Background:

Mrs. Seeker's Dad was born and raised in the church and was an upstanding long time business man in their community. He was faithful and steadfast from birth to death. He was an intense gospel scholar and constitutional/political freedoms guru. His Mother's side of the family were faithful pioneers going back to Eliza, Lorenzo, and Erastus Snow's parents.

Mrs. Seeker's Mother was raised non-LDS but converted in early adulthood. Her Mother and Father were also baptized and then sealed together in the Temple because of the influence of their youngest daughter Mrs. Seeker's mom. Mrs. Seeker's grandmother was an extremely spiritual woman with some extraordinary spiritual gifts from birth.

Both of Mrs. Seeker's parents have served the church in many ward and stake callings.

Mrs. Seeker was raised to stand for right and freedom and each evening consisted of lively political/spiritual discussions. Her Father had many visions that he would also share with the family during meal times. Mrs. Seeker followed in his footsteps and also had many dreams and visions, many of which foretelling the future. From a very young age she actively participated in making decisions that would benefit the family because of her proven ability and accuracy in these matters. 

She gained her testimony of Temples, Sealings and the Eternal Nature of the family at the age of 5 through an incredible vision which she has only told to two people in her lifetime. Her Mother and myself.

Mrs. Seeker had had various dreams of her future husband since about 5 years old, (as well as various spiritual experiences through which she could relate to me). From a very young age, she had told her family all about her future husband, tried to draw him and had a list of about 200 attributes and qualities he possessed. She knew him both by physical appearance, personality and intimate spiritual details. But she hadn't met him in this life and by the time she was 21, she was finally convinced that she'd somehow missed finding him. 

On a lighter note, she was engaged 6 times before we met! (This is why her family were holding their breaths as she said "yes" over the alter! They wondered if she would once again "run".) When we met, she had been engaged to a friend of hers who really hung around and wanted to marry her for about two years. She had put that relationship on tentative hold because he was not committed to a Temple marriage as she was and she was very frustrated with the men she was hooking up with in Las Vegas. 

Finally she had decided to go on a mission and was considering the option to just never marry. And that was when she came to Provo at the request of her sister to go out with a friend, sort of a blind date. Through a convoluted series of events, she ended up at my apartment for a party with my roommate (who she didn't even know) and that's when she met me. 

Our Brief, (very brief), Story:

The night we met was magical. It was a Saturday night Mrs. Seeker had a date at the governor's mansion that fell through and was invited to go with a friend to a "Tuba Party" with the BYU orchestra's tuba players. It so happened that this small party was being held in my apartment as my room mate was one of the tuba players.

Mrs. Seeker fit right in with new people and had been getting to know my roommate. She placed a call from our apartment phone to her sister at who's house she was staying for the weekend, (visiting from Monticello Utah), and told her where she was and not to wait up for her. 

Looking around, she saw some pictures on our wall including one of Cornelia and me taken before my mission. My roommate told her that it was a picture of his roommate and his fiancé who lived in Sweden. (This is how when I came in she knew I was the roommate from the photo who was engaged to a Swede.) 

I (Seeker) was out visiting the other apartments in the complex trying to get a group together to do something fun and had found that everyone was busy with other things which was typical for a Saturday night. Finally realizing that my plight was hopeless, I returned home to my apartment where the small tuba party had already begun. 

Although she had never met me in this life, when I opened the door and walked in, Mrs. Seeker immediately recognized me as the man from her visions. She felt like her spirit stood up and her heart raced. (She didn't tell me any of this until after we were married.) I was initially oblivious to the fact that I was in the presence of my future bride. To me, she was just another pretty face.

My roommate who was a tuba player for BYU saw me enter and immediately invited me to join the party which was more of a social gathering which included eating pizza and light conversation. I have never been one to turn up pizza and having nothing else to do was excited to be invited, even if it was a "tuba party".

Mrs. Seeker was dying to know everything about me that she could and began to subtly guide the conversation into deeper water. She would bring up a subject among the group and then ask for various peoples' opinions and then ask for my thoughts so as not to appear over zealously focusing on me. 

Her inquisitions continued on various subjects and I was oblivious. One question she had asked was, "How many kids do you want?" She didn't ask me directly as that would have been very awkward, and to this day I can't remember how she brought up the subject without seeming awkward. But she asked the group focusing on my roommate and then someone else and slowly work her way to me. 

When she asked me, I said for everyone to hear, "Well, there are two that I know of", referring to some experiences I had had. I didn't expect that anyone would catch what I was saying or they would interpret it according to their own understanding and I was right, except for Mrs. Seeker who heard and understood exactly what I meant. She moved closer and said, "Two that you know of?" She felt that I had seen a vision and had spiritual experiences that caused me to say it in that tone; and this intrigued her. She also had an intuitive sense as to what I had experienced concerning these things. 

I was shocked and she had gotten my attention. I knew that people don't recognize things they were not familiar with and the fact that she recognized and could so easily relate meant to me that she was familiar with such things. The same thing happened 2-3 more times where I would say something to the whole group and only she would recognize the depth of my response and each time she waited for the group to move on to other discussion and then she would let me know that she heard and understood what everyone else had not heard. This left me more and more surprised and curious.

Within an hour we were sitting at a table having a lively and deep private conversation. I was mesmerized and she seemed to be enjoying our interaction quite well also. Then a curious thing happened. Suddenly without reason she stood up and announced that she was ready to go. (She had proven conclusively in her mind that I was in fact "THE ONE" she thought I was, and realizing that I was engaged and therefore taken, she was too late and didn't want to endure any further pain in this realization.) 

Her friend was happy to oblige as he wanted to spend more time with her alone. As they got ready to leave I informed her that it was only 11:30pm and that the BYU apartment curfew was 12:00am which only meant that women were not allowed in the men's apartments and that we could continue our conversation outside. It was completely incomprehensible to me that she would want to stop short such a deep, rare and fluid discussion. But she was adamant that she leave and right away

From her perspective she knew who I was and through our conversation she had removed all doubt. She had loved me since the first time she had seen me in vision at 5 years old. And she had mostly given up hope ever meeting me and here I was telling her all about how I was planning on marrying another woman. She felt that God was showing her what she could have had but wouldn't get because she had lost faith and gotten engaged to another man/men. She realized that she was only torturing herself and didn't want to make it worse for herself. So she left.

As she was walking out the door, she turned and looked one last time only to see me standing in bewilderment with eyes pleading for her to stay. She realized that I wanted her to stay and considered that I might not be quite as dedicated to Cornelia as my words had expressed.

I had met this person now who was relating to me on a spiritual level that I had never experienced with Cornelia, and here I had only just met her. I was dumfounded at our connection.

When she arrived at her sister's house, her sister was still up. Mrs. Seeker walked in the door and her sister instantly felt what had happened and said, "You met him didn't you?!?"

Mrs. Seeker immediately began to cry and told her sister that she did meet me but that I was engaged. They had a long discussion reviewing the night and all the details. Her sister told her that "Engaged" was not "Married" and suggested that she make arrangements to spend more time with me. But Mrs. Seeker had no way to contact me. She knew where I lived, but it didn't make sense to show up at my door hoping I was available. Nor had she ever had to take the pursuing roll with the opposite sex, and didn't believe in doing so AT ALL, even in this circumstance.

Then her sister realized that Mrs. Seeker had called for my apartment and that my number should be on the caller ID. They went to check it and found that her sister's husband had already deleted the call log. Knowing that they checked through what was left on the log and found that all the calls both before and after her call from my house were deleted but the call in question was still there and for unknown reasons was not deleted. 

Her sister convinced Mrs. Seeker to call me on Sunday morning even though Mrs. Seeker had never called a guy who had not called her first. While I was at church, she left a message on my apartment's voice mail stating that she was staying in town and would like to get together before she left.

My good friend Lamar had been dating a girl for some time and wanted to ask her father for permission to marry her. Lamar was going to drive an hour to sit on the door step of his girl friends father until he came home from church. He wanted me to drive with him for moral support. I agreed to go as long as I could take someone with me to keep me company while he waited and talked to his future father-in-law.

I had gotten the voice mail from Mrs. Seeker, but thought that it might be awkward having only met her, so I wasn't sure I wanted to take her and risk 3-5 hours being stuck with her if it didn't go well. I had one other person in mind who I had known for months and knew would be good company but she was not available.

I decided that I would be able to deal with the awkwardness of bringing Mrs. Seeker if she could and that if our time was anything like the night before then we would both enjoy ourselves. Mrs. Seeker was extremely nervous to go with two men she didn't know, most especially Lamar, but since she felt the deeper connection with me she agreed to come along. So we left with Lamar driving and us in the back seat. 

Lamar was so nervous and requested that we each say a prayer and bare our testimonies to each other to help him have the spirit and hopefully gain courage and calmness. This was a typical request from Lamar and I was used to it, but Mrs. Seeker was not. However she calmly participated.

We arrived and Lamar sat on the front porch while Mrs. Seeker and I walked to a nearby park and talked. We talked for about 5-6 hours before Lamar returned. We talked about our experiences, philosophies and ideas. We talked about relationship concepts, what makes them work, what destroys them. Visions (in a general sense, not a lot of specifics at this juncture) revelations, and other spiritual manifestations we had experienced throughout our lives.

I was amazed by her during the few hours of conversation we enjoyed the evening we first met. We spent 12 or more hours on Sunday together talking as well. She lived in Monticello UT and was going back on Tuesday, so I took work off and we spent the entire day Monday together too. Within these 2 days of visiting with her I was strongly questioning my decision to marry my Swedish girlfriend. I soon realized Mrs. Seeker was everything I wanted and had been looking for in my wife and over the course of about 6 days over a 2-3 week period, we called our previous engagements off and got engaged to each other. Feeling inspired, we got married two months later against the strong suggestions of others.

Within about 6 months of being married, we found ourselves engaged almost full-time in spiritual pursuits. Mrs. Seeker was serving in the Provo temple between 30-48 hours a week as an ordinance worker performing various priesthood ordinances such as Washings and Anointings on other women, acting as a Veil worker, and "officiator" for the women's endowment, and being a general "Temple Angel" with all the other women ordinance workers that worked in the Provo temple, etc...

We were both called as Gospel Doctrine teachers in our young married couples ward, 100% home and visiting teachers, and basically being the best people we knew how. We both had a veracious appetite for learning true principles and discussing everything! While I was at work, (and when Mrs. Seeker was not substituting for other workers at the temple), she spent her time reading books included in the Gospel Link Library reference program. She would read from it during the day and we would discuss it during the evening. In this way, she was able to read every book in the entire digital library once through and I was able to benefit from that study as well. We learned incredible things!

Revelations were very common regarding fulfilling our callings, understanding various principles and in achieving our missions and personal goals. And so was opposition, which came mostly from my family who didn't seem to like various inspired decisions we were making like not sending Mrs. Seeker to work to put me through college and our decision for me to drop out of college and become a certified network engineer. Somewhere along the path in my life, I must have learned to be comfortable doing what I knew was right regardless of the opposition of others. 

I believe that following our personal revelation which led us in a contrary path to society/family norms and having gained new view points on applied gospel principles from our extensive studies largely caused us to be labeled as "the black sheep". But we continued to happily follow what we felt was revealed to us.

During this time we decided to study the temple endowment in detail. We focused on understanding the covenants we each made. We searched the "law of God" and "the law of Christ" and pondered on questions like, "Why do the women covenant to obey one law and the men another?" 

While seeking for these answers, Mrs. Seeker recommitted to do what God expected of her. She gave in and sincerely told the Lord that she would do whatever was required even if it was against her personal wishes. At that moment, she received a revelation that said she would not have to live contrary to her own desires and that she would have the eternal life which she had seen in her previous visions. The revelation also included the promise of eternal life, but we didn't recognize it at the time.

A week later, while we were both discussing the Temple Covenants, we both received the same revelation together. It included new insights and a reiteration of the revelation Mrs. Seeker had received a week before. The main part of the revelation was a promise that we would be exalted and have eternal life. 

This was the most incredible experience of our lives, (up to that point in time). The result of which was that we were given the promise of eternal life and exaltation. We had heard of this promise and were pretty sure it was call Calling and Election made sure. But it didn't happen the way we thought it would. We were also far too young to have received a promise that we thought took a life time to achieve. I was 22 and Mrs. Seeker was 21 at the time and we had only been married about 6 months.

(Mrs. Seeker later realized that she had received the same promise about a week before and didn't recognize it as her Calling and Election made sure. (This and other experiences made us realize that because people don't know the doctrine regarding this blessing, they focus on the wrong criteria or often times receive the promise, but don't realize it, like the "Lamanites who were baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost and knew it not", 3Ne. 9:20.) 

As we discussed what had just happened, we couldn't believe that we had actually received the promise. My dad and Mrs. Seeker's parents had sought it much of their lives, and at that point had not received the promise for themselves. We weren't anyone special! Also, it didn't happen the way we were told or expected it should and finally we didn't feel we qualified, (we were basically questioning God's judgment because we thought we knew ourselves better than God did - LOL). After sincere and serious study of the subject we received another major and very spiritual experience in which we were given the promise again and having studied the topic extensively for 2 weeks, we knew for certain what it meant. 

We were also told/commanded to share our experience with our family and later others with the intent of helping them to receive the same. This was and always has been a difficult task. As the "black sheep" or as my younger brother lovingly says, "more like gray sheep", we never/rarely met the expectations of others. We have a hard time with sharing such precious pearls with people who see us with darkly colored glasses. 

We first shared with our parents on both sides with mixed results. Dad was very supportive and Mom wasn't. (We didn't really know how to share this as we weren't very practiced. Like young missionaries.) Mrs. Seeker's dad was a gospel scholar who had studied the blessing and when we talked to him and his wife, the spirit was very strong. At first he believed us but because he knew so much about how, where and who gave the blessing he soon forgot the spiritual witness and relied on his extensive study, just as we had. He also got stuck on, "Why them and not me?" It took about a year of emails and discussions and study before he finally accepted that what we were telling him was true. In the process, we learned the doctrine very well. (He eventually received the same promise shortly before he died.) 

A very short time after receiving the promise for ourselves, we had our first visit from Christ and received the second comforter. (We might share some of those experiences later.) 

We began to learn faster and faster through personal revelation, angel or messenger visits and various assignments we were given. These among other things were new and exciting experiences at first but then became more common place and a part of normal living. We found that receiving our calling and election made sure was not the end that we expected it to be. It was in fact a new beginning. Everything became new and we were again like children learning and growing faster than ever. 

As we continued to study and ask questions, we began to slowly understand the meaning of the blessings we had received and how it enabled us to progress faster. Our spiritual experiences increased in frequency and insight. What others consider miracles became part of our daily lives.

In conclusion, we add our voice to the throng of ancient and modern prophets by encouraging you each to receive the same blessing for yourselves. Learn to listen to the many comments in conference talks, manuals and throughout the scriptures which are so often teaching the principles and doctrines related to this blessing, but above all, listen to the Holy Spirit which will teach you all things and show you all things what you should do. 

This is a very important blessing to receive and is essential to our exaltation. D&C 76 tells us that only those who receive this promise which happens when we are "sealed by the holy spirit of promise" are made Gods and will come forth in the resurrection of the just with all the blessings of the Celestial Kingdom.

We leave you with our special witness of the Christ. Christ lives! We have seen him, we have felt his hands and side, and we have walked with him and talked with him. We have been held in his loving embrace. We are excited with the hope that through the sharing of our testimony you may receive the same and also come to feel comfortable sharing your own experiences with us.

With Love,

Mr. & Mrs. Seeker