Light Of Christ

"The gift [baptism by fire] of the Holy Ghost, which members receive by laying on of hands, is very real and different than the spirit [light of Christ], which is given to all men, regardless of religious faith. This is known as the "Light of Christ" [conscience]. It is a light that when followed, will lead a man into the truth [Mormonism] of all things.
When that Truth [Mormonism] is received, and covenants made, then the Father, as taught in the Bible, will send the gift [baptism by fire] of the Holy Ghost, as a representative of the Son Himself. The gift [baptism by fire] of the Holy Ghosts' personal companionship, to an individual, is one of the greatest gifts that God can bestow on those, here upon the earth." (LDS Nana, Ask Mormon, Hubpages, brackets added, bold type added)

"The light of Christ [conscience] is a doctrine of the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that most people would call conscience. This doctrine teaches that the Holy Ghost itself is a divine personage and member of the Godhead. All people are able to feel the influence [spirit, light of Christ, conscience] of the Holy Ghost from time to time. But repeatedly going against the Light of Christ [conscience] will eventually make one "beyond feeling" the influence [spirit, light of Christ, conscience] of the Holy Ghost. The baptism of water spoken by Jesus to Nicodemus was a literal baptism as practiced in the church. The baptism by fire [gift] is to receive the Gift [baptism by fire] of the Holy Ghost, or the opportunity to always feel the Holy Ghosts' companionship, as long as one remains worthy of it." (www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Light_of_Christ, brackets added, bold type added)

Light of Christ does not appear in the Bible.

"Christ is" the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World." (D&C 93:2; John 1:9.) This enlightenment is administered to all men through the Spirit of Christ, or the Spirit of the Lord, or the Light of truth or the light of Christ [conscience] all of which expressions are synonymous. This spirit fills the immensity of space, is in all things, and is not to be confused with the Personage of Spirit as the Holy Ghost (or Spirit of the Lord.) (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 38-54) The light of Christ [conscience] is the Spirit of the Lord which leads men to accept the gospel [Mormonism] and join the Church [LDS] so that they may receive the gift [baptism by fire] of the Holy Ghost... Men are born again [converted to Mormonism] by following the light of Christ [conscience] to the actual enjoyment of the gift [baptism by fire] of the Holy Ghost. (Mosiah 27:24-31; Alma 36.) It is because of the light of Christ [conscience] that all men know good from evil and enjoy the guidance of what is called conscience [light of Christ]. (Moro. 7:12-19.) It gives life to all things, is the law by which they are governed, and the power of God is manifest through it. (D&C 88:6-13.) (Mormon Doctrine, Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, Utah, Bruce R. McConkie, pp. 446-447)

"The phrase "Light of Christ" does not appear in the Bible, although the principles that apply to it are frequently mentioned therein. The precise phrase is found in Alma 28:14, Moro. 7:18, and D&C 88:7. Biblical phrases that are sometimes synonymous to the tern "Light of Christ" are "spirit of the Lord" and "light of life" (see, for example, John 1:4, John 8:18). The "spirit of the Lord," however, sometimes is used with reference to the Holy Ghost, and so must not be taken in every case as having reference to the light of Christ.
The light of Christ should not be confused with the personage of the Holy Ghost, for the light of Christ is not a personage at all. Its influence is preliminary to and preparatory to one's receiving the Holy Ghost. The light of Christ will lead the honest soul, who "hearkeneth to the voice" to find the true gospel [Mormonism] and the true church [LDS] and thereby receive the Holy Ghost (see D&C 84:46-48). (www.thefaithfuldissident.blogspot.com, bold type added, brackets added)

"Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith, Deseret Book Company, p.149)

According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Non-Mormons have: The Light of Christ ONLY, and Mormons have: The Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit by GIFT. To qualify for that GIFT of the Holy Ghost, you must by baptized into the Mormon church and receive the Holy Ghost by those who are in authority via laying on of hands.

"...the Holy Ghost enlightens their minds and enables them to know the truth [Mormonism] when they have faith in Christ and seek sincerely in order that they may accept and obey the truth [Mormonism]. However, there is no promise that the Holy Ghost will remain as a comforter and companion with even such as they [non-Mormons], except upon their acceptance of the truth [Mormonism] and their obedience to its requirements. (A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, LeGrand Richards, Deseret Book Company, 1978, p.119, bold type added, brackets added)

Mormonism teaches that it is the Holy Ghost who came on the Day of Pentecost, however, it was not the true Holy Ghost. It was merely the "Light of Christ." It states in the book, "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder" that the early apostles did not understand the scriptures, being without revelation, being without the priesthood of God, and they had to depend upon their own interpretation of the scriptures for their guidance. This book also states that they [meaning the early Christians] received the Holy Ghost [Light of Christ] to convince them of the truth as preached by Peter, nevertheless, they [meaning the early Christians] had not received the Holy Ghost as a gift [baptism by fire], in other words, laying on of hands by those in authority to receive such a gift.

Ask a Mormon about the Day of Pentecost, most likely, he/she will not fully know much about it.

2 comments:

Greg November 22, 2009 at 11:43 AM  

I believe the distinction in these teachings is beautifully illustrated in the Gift of the Holy Ghost a Higher Endowment. This gift was not bestowed upon the apostles until after the Lord's resurrection when they frequented the temple (Luke 24:53).

handmaiden November 22, 2009 at 8:28 PM  

Welcome Greg!,
So nice for you to join in.
Jesus Christ opened the minds of His disciples just prior to His ascension into heaven. Jesus states that, "I am going to send you what my Father has promised," (Luke 24:49). Meaning the coming power of the Spirit, fulfilled in Acts 2:4. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not a "higher endowment" as you insert. That is strictly a Mormon term. Again I say, "Gift of the Holy Ghost" is strictly a Mormon term. The Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, and is within the Christian body of believers of the 'true' Jesus Christ. Amen
God bless you for search for the truth.
handmaiden

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I spent a lot of time deciding if I should write this blog or not. I'm not a great writer and I'm not going to pretend to be. I need to share what I have learned and I might not make some people happy with what I am saying. This blog is a way for me to release the thoughts and feelings that come with knowing I grew up in the wrong religion. A healing process if you will.

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Please start with the month of February 2007 and read backwards. This is the most effective way to understand, in order, why I say what I do.

Handmaidens Creed

1.I believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit as one God without beginning or end.
2.I believe the Bible to be the Holy Inspired word of God with full truth and righteousness. No other writing is.
3.I believe that the work of the Lord comes first. Before any temporal thing or person.
4.I believe that grace is a gift and Christ gives that gift freely to all who believe.
5.I believe that the beauty of a woman is contained inside of her and not by what she looks like on the outside.
6.I believe that marriage is sacred and represents the Godhead on earth; two are one just as three are one.
7.I believe that love is more powerful than any other power. Remember, God is love.
8.I believe that tithing is not a part of God's new covenant, free will offerings are. And that doesn't mean just money.
9.I believe that the Aaronic, Levitical, and Melchizedek priesthoods are abolished and Christs Holy Priesthood whom Christ is the "Great High Priest" is eternal.
10.I believe that every believer is a priest in the "Priesthood of Believers".
11.I believe that when two are one, nobody is to separate the one.
12.I believe that Christ is the only way to heaven.
13.I believe that our bodies are temples, not man made buildings.
14.I believe that liars make fools out of others and the liar hates the fool.
15.I believe that all believers are in authority to preach the gospel.
16.I believe that the word 'organization' to describe Christs body is evil and has no place with God.
17.I believe the Americas are not the land of Zion and Christ will return to His origonal land-Israel in the Middle East.
18.I believe that God has set out correct ways of worshiping Him, not man.
19.I believe in holding to the truths of the Bible and not mans understanding of it.
20.I believe that the world is full of evil and Satan can easily gain control over the minds of those who do not profess Christ of the Bible to be their only Messiah.
21.I believe that Saints are those who know the real Savior, Jesus Christ, of whom the Bible speaks of; not the jesus of a cult.