What a Gift We Have in Jesus!

Helaman 4:24 “The Spirit of the Lord Does Not Dwell in Unholy Temples”

Let’s first examine what is The Spirit of the Lord?  When we have it, how does it help?

• Wisdom – Mosiah 2:17-19
• Gratitude – Mosiah 2;17-19
• All things good – Moroni 7:16; 18
• Energy
• Power
• Influence
• Life and light
• Conscience – Moroni 7:16; 18

I gathered this list from reading the Overview on The Light of Christ (https://www.lds.org/topics/light-of-christ?lang=eng)  I’ve decided to leave it in this post.  I hope that’s legal. 

Let’s talk about it.  I’ve had a few opportunities (opportunities I’d rather not experience) to be exposed to people who are covenant breakers, i.e. those who have made covenants in the House of the Lord, aka temples, and broken those sacred covenants.  As I was talking with my friend recently, her lawyer told her there is not a stupider person than one who denies Christ and breaks the covenants he has made.  I tend to believe that.  I’m stunned at the stupid things people do.  And they think nothing of it.  They actually justify their actions in the craziest.  Once a person has crossed that line, the Spirit of the Lord, does not dwell with them.  The influence of the Holy Ghost leaves the moment the line was crossed as well.  The moral conscience is gone!

Why?  Helaman 4:24 makes it quite clear: "The Spirit of the Lord does not dwell in unholy places."  

I am so grateful for the influence of the Holy Ghost.  I’m grateful for the Light of Christ that is given to all people that they might know good from evil, aka conscience (Moroni 7:16;18). I’m grateful to know we can have the influence of the Holy Ghost if we choose to.  Without that influence, we are left to our own devices, which doesn’t necessarily bode well for us given the fact that “….the natural man is an enemy to God” (Mosiah 3:19)  The words from a song I'm reminded of:  "What a gift we have in Jesus!"  We are so blessed.

From the Overview of The Light of Christ:

The Light of Christ is the divine energy, power, or influence that proceeds from God through Christ and gives life and light to all things. The Light of Christ influences people for good and prepares them to receive the Holy Ghost. One manifestation of the Light of Christ is what we call a conscience.

The Light of Christ "proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space." It is "the light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed" (D&C 88:12-13; see also D&C 88:6-11). This power is an influence for good in the lives of all people (see John 1:9; D&C 93:2). In the scriptures, the Light of Christ is sometimes called the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, or the Light of Life.

The Light of Christ should not be confused with the Holy Ghost. It is not a personage, as the Holy Ghost is. Its influence leads people to find the true gospel, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (see John 12:46; Alma 26:14-15).

Conscience is a manifestation of the Light of Christ, enabling us to judge good from evil. The prophet Mormon taught: "The Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. … And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged" (Moroni 7:16, 18).