A couple of mornings ago I was reading and a light bulb turned on, so to speak, and I saw/learned things I had not seen before. I was reading in 3 Nephi 12 where the Savior gives the Nephites a sermon similar to the New Testament Sermon on the Mount. I only got through one verse. (slow reader :-).
I don't think I'll try to write a polished essay, but instead share some of the things I wrote in my study journal as I chased footnotes, found things in the Topical Guide (Holy Ghost, baptism of), had other verses come to mind, and wrote my thoughts about what I was discovering.
In 3 Nephi 12:1 the Savior says "Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you." This is true today, both the blessings we receive by giving heed to the Twelve and the fact that He chooses them. Jesus says He has given the 12 power to baptize, then promises that He will baptize us "with fire and with the Holy Ghost."
After we are baptized we are confirmed and told to "receive the Holy Ghost." We receive the Holy Ghost later when we feel the influence of the Holy Ghost in our life.
John 14:26 The Father will send the Comforter in my name.
John 20:22 When Jesus appeared to His apostles, after His resurrection, He said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." (The same thing that is said when we are confirmed.)
Then in Acts 1:4-5 in His final instructions before His ascension, He commanded them to remain in Jerusalem until the promise of the Father was fulfilled, for John baptized with water, but they would be baptized with the Holy Ghost "not many days hence."
2 Nephi 31:12 Nephi heard the voice of the Son say, "He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost."
1 Nephi 10:17 Nephi wants to see, hear, and know for himself the things his father Lehi saw in the vision of the tree of life. He knows he can by the power of the Holy Ghost which is the gift of God to all who diligently seek Him, yesterday, today, and forever.
Some of these verses say the Father sends the Holy Ghost, other say the Son sends it. Nephi called it the gift of God. I think this is a case where because the Father and the Son are "one,"--if either one of them sends it, it is the same. But of course the power of the Atonement, the "baptism of fire," that accompanies the reception of the Holy Ghost comes from the Savior.
The promised baptism of fire
Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist declared, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me ... he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire."
John said he would baptize them, which he did, but the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost that would come through the Savior would come later in a personal experience, known and felt by the one who received it.
D&C 33:15 Instructions to missionaries--confirm those who have faith [and are baptized, v. 11] by the laying on of hands, and "I will bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost upon them." Then I wrote, "This is so cool! How did I not know this?"
If you're still with me you might be wondering what I saw that was so cool. Of course I was familiar with all of these verses and understood these concepts. But somehow in this study experience the Spirit brought them together in a new way that was both edifying and uplifting. I have known since my mission that when we confirm someone we say "receive the Holy Ghost" then invite them to live in such a way so they actually do receive it. What I didn't realize was the personal involvement of the Savior in its reception. As a missionary, after humbling myself and paying the price of prayerfully reading the Book of Mormon I received an unforgettable outpouring of the Holy Ghost that let me know the Savior lives and that the Book of Mormon and the other truths of the Restoration are true. I have also felt God's love in a similar way and have come to realize that they go together--feeling His love and receiving a witness or inspiration from the Holy Ghost most of the time (maybe always) go together. When we feel the Spirit we will feel God's love and we feel God's love by way of the Spirit.
I guess what I didn't realize was the personal involvement of the Savior in this baptism of fire that comes with the reception of the Holy Ghost. It is a gift from Him, thus the phrase "the gift of the Holy Ghost." Elder McConkie taught that while eternal life is the greatest gift we can receive in eternity (D&C 14:7) the gift of the Holy Ghost is the greatest gift we can receive in mortality. Recently I have wondered about this and wondered if the gift of the Holy Ghost was a greater gift than forgiveness and the other blessings we receive from the Atonement. But in these verses I have learned how they go together. When I baptized by fire and the Holy Ghost I am being purified by the blood of Christ's Atonement through the sanctifying influence of the Holy Ghost.
3 Nephi 27:19 No unclean thing can enter heaven; only those can enter who are washed clean by the blood of Christ because of their faith, repentance, and faithfulness to the end.
3 Nephi 27:20 "Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day."
So John was right (silly statement), though he or any other priesthood holder baptizes us, the reception of the Holy Ghost and the baptism of fire from the Savior will often come later as an incomparable gift from the Savior accompanied by His love. And through the continued outpouring of the Spirit we will be sanctified and become clean through the blood of the Atonement.
To return to where I began:
3 Nephi 12:1 Blessed are ye ... I have given power to the Twelve to baptize you with water. "And after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost."
3 Nephi 12:2 And others who haven't seen Me as you have, who (only) believe in your words, who come down in humility and are baptized "shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins."
I have received this baptism of fire. I understand better now that it is a gift from the Savior. I felt this gift in a quiet, sweet way yesterday when I partook of the sacrament. I hope to be able to endure in faith to the end so that through this continued baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, I may be clean and worthy to be received back into the presence of God.
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