On Fire

How does a person know if he or she has felt the influence of the Holy Ghost? How do we recognize communication from the Holy Ghost and receive personal revelation? The Lord told Oliver Cowdery "Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation;" (D&C 8:2-3). This episode explores the variety of ways in which the Holy Ghost can communicate with us and how we can recognize revelation when it comes. We also discuss things that might interfere with or block the spirit from influencing our lives.

There is a new (or maybe old) religion taking hold of our society. Its followers know that indoctrinating children and youth is essential if the movement is going to grow. They are having much success, even among Christians and Latter-Day Saints. The principles and philosophies of this new religion are not compatible with the gospel of Jesus Christ. An angel told the Book of Mormon prophet Nephi as he was experiencing a vision of our day, "Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth. (1 Nephi 14:10)  This episode compares some of the popular philosophies and trends of our day with the words of modern prophets and ancient scriptures and issues a challenge to make a choice between the two.

What goes into writing a book? How feasible is it that Joseph Smith could have written or dictated the Book of Mormon as a fraud or a work of fiction? Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught "For 179 years this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history—perhaps like no other book in any religious history. And still it stands. Failed theories about its origins have been born and parroted and have died—from Ethan Smith to Solomon Spaulding to deranged paranoid to cunning genius. None of these frankly pathetic answers for this book has ever withstood examination because there is no other answer than the one Joseph gave as its young unlearned translator." This episode looks at what goes into authoring and publishing a book and poses a challenge to the viewer/listener to attempt to write their own version of the Book of Mormon.

The dispensation of the fullness of times (our current dispensation) will gather together all doctrine, priesthood, keys, truth, and power of all previous dispensations of this earth, including the doctrine of translation. We read in the scriptures about Enoch, Melchizedek, Moses, Elijah, John, the three Nephite disciples and many others being translated. What does this mean? What does it have to do with the last days? Who are the 144,000 spoken of by John in the book of Revelation? This episode seeks to explore these questions.

“We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object. When wars come, we shall have to flee to Zion. The cry is to make haste.  (Joseph Smith Jr. - History of the Church, 3:390) This episode examines successful and unsuccessful efforts throughout the history of mankind to establish Zion--a holy city, a peaceful society who are of one heart, one mind, and who have no poor among them. The commandment from the Lord to build the latter-day Zion remains in effect. How can we in our day become Zion individuals, families, and communities?

“Sadly enough, my young friends, it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much, comfortable gods, smooth gods who not only don’t rock the boat but don’t even row it, gods who pat us on the head, make us giggle, then tell us to run along and pick marigolds." -- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland 

In our day, some try to portray God as one who expects very little of His people and who winks at sin. While our Savior Jesus Christ is the very definition of love, he cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. This episode examines some false ideas about God and Identifies the true way to be reconciled to Him.

For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. (2 Nephi 2:11)

In order for muscles to grow and gain strength, they must be broken down through strain. Likewise, we must pass through affliction and face opposition in order to grow and develop. This episode discusses the principle of opposition and why it is necessary for us to experience it in this life. 

And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;

And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. (Book of Mormon - Mosiah 27:25-26)

This episode discusses the essential doctrine of spiritual rebirth and experiencing a mighty change of heart.

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved." (The Book of Mormon - 2 Nephi 10:24)

Through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, we have been given a miraculous gift--the gift of repentance. Rather than justice enacting the punishment affixed to it, the mercy of Christ allows us to escape eternal punishment and to be forgiven and healed. This episode explores the life-changing experience of a young man and how you and I can obtain similar blessings.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The Savior promised His disciples that He would not leave them comfortless, but would come to them and that He and the Father would make their abode with them. This episode explores the available blessing of the Second Comforter or the personal appearance of Jesus Christ to a person, as well as how one can qualify through keeping their temple covenants to be a member of The Church of the Firstborn.