The word ‘fulness’ is used numerous times in the scriptures; used to signify ‘completeness,’ ‘all that is therein’ and ‘full.’ as identified in Strong’s Concordance. The Lord, for example, in Psalms 16:11 states:

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

representing the idea that the object could not receive any more joy. The less pleasant use of the word can be found in 1 Nephi 17:35:

“…But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse the land against them…”

It is easily conceived that the ‘fulness of the wrath of God’ doesn’t leave much room in the ‘glass.’ The word is also used to signify that a period is complete as is found in Ephesians 1:10:

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.”

The same can be said by the attribution to the gospel. The fulness of the gospel, as cited in the above scripture in Section 20, represents all that is contained in the gospel. As such, the Book of Mormon contains all that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. This idea is reinforced in 1 Nephi 15:13 which reads:

“And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fulness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years, and many generations after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fulness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed—“

As can be seen by the above references, both the Doctrine and Covenants and the Book of Mormon represent that the fulness of the gospel is contained in the Book of Mormon. The Joseph Smith History found in the Pearl of Great Price helps to zero in on the location of this information speaking of Moroni’s message to Joseph Smith in verse 34:

“He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants;”

The visit of Jesus Christ to the ‘ancient inhabitants’ is found in 3rd Nephi; specifically between his descent from heaven in Chapters 9-11 and his subsequent departure found in Chapter 28 verse 12. It is made even easier since, rather than leaving it to speculation, the Lord was very specific on this topic. As with any good speaker, the Lord told us what he was going to tell us, told us, and then told us what he had told us. This is found in 3rd Nephi, Chapter 27 starting with verse 13:

“13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.
14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—
15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.
16 And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.
17 And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father.
18 And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words.
19 And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.
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.
21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;”

Based on the scriptures cited above, the fulness of the gospel, as delivered by the Savior, is;

* Christ is the author of our salvation
* All men will be judged of their works
* We must repent and be baptized and endure to the end to be held guiltless
* To enter his kingdom, we must be cleansed by the atonement of Jesus Christ through faith and repentance
* We are cleansed or sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost

The Lord summarizes this treatise of the fulness of the gospel in verse 20: Repent, come unto me, be baptized, receive sanctification through the Holy Ghost. The theme of repent and come unto me is found throughout the scriptures. The message here is that we must repent of our sins and then seek Him out.

The question that now needs to be addressed is: How does one become ’sanctified?’ Sanctified, in this context, means to be purified and free from sin. We also know that it comes from the reception of the Holy Ghost as defined in 3rd Nephi.

There are two more scriptural references relating to the definition of the gospel and the need for sanctification that can help with this question. The first is found in Doctrine and Covenants, Section 33:11-12:

“11 Yea, repent and be baptized, every one of you, for a remission of your sins; yea, be baptized even by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost.
12 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel;…”

The second is found in Doctrine and Covenants, Section 39:6:

“And this is my gospel—repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom.”

We become sanctified by receiving a remission of our sins. The believer receives a remission of sins through baptism, first by water, then by the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. Many of you may have been taught that the baptism of water is sufficient for the remission of sins. This is NOT the case. Baptism by water is only the first of two critical components as shown in Mormon 7:10:

“…and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment.”

Both baptisms are necessary for a remission of sins. Completing only the first part of the equation is not sufficient. This is clearly demonstrated by the following verse from Chapter 31 of 2nd Nephi:

“17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.”

As shown here, a remission of sins comes by fire and the Holy Ghost. To become sanctified, we must be born of water (water baptism) and born of the spirit (baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost). This duality is also presented by Christ in John, Chapter 3:

“3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

The first reference in verse 3 to being born again is a prerequisite to ’seeing’ the kingdom of God. The original Greek in this case could also be translated as ‘perceiving’ or ‘having knowledge.’ Our first step, being born of water, gives us the ability to gain knowledge of the kingdom of God. The second step, ‘born of the Spirit,’ gives us the ability to ‘enter’ the kingdom of God. This is the same idea that we must be purified and sanctified before we gain entry to the kingdom of God. Being born of the Spirit is the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. The restoration of the gospel was necessary to provide a clear roadmap for us to return to the presence of God.

And who administers this baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost? The answer is found in the following. Speaking of the twelve disciples that Christ selected as described in 3rd Nephi, Chapter 12, He said:

“…Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am.”

It is important to note those twelve designated by Christ were given the authority to baptize with water but that Christ will baptize us with fire and the Holy Ghost. This baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost is necessary for us to receive a remission of our sins. Once we have received our baptism by water and a remission of our sins by fire and the Holy Ghost then we read in 2nd Nephi 31 continuing after verse 17 above:

“18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.”

It is interesting and revealing that baptism by water AND baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost are necessary for us to be on the strait and narrow path to eternal life. As such we should all seek to receive this gift of God.

There is little information in the bible regarding this second baptism. In Matthew Chapter 3, we have John the Baptist proclaiming just prior to the baptism of Christ:

“11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”

Also in Acts, chapter one we find:

“4 And, being assembled together with them, (Jesus) commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

This again confirms that Christ will administer this baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. The only other cross reference in the Bible comes in the 11th chapter of Acts and the story of Cornelius. As you may recall, Cornelius had been fasting for four days and was visited by an angel. The angel presented the message that he was to send for Simon Peter. When Peter arrived and began to preach the Cornelius and his household, the Holy Ghost fell upon all who were listening. Later, in reciting the event to his fellow apostles and brethren, Peter said (Acts 11):

“15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?”

It is interesting to note that Cornelius apparently first received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, then Peter commanded that he be baptized by water to complete the requirement. Cornelius received the same baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost that the apostles received on the Day of Pentecost (Acts chapter one)

Paul also can be considered a recipient of the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, following his vision of Christ. Ananias came to him, and pronounced this blessing upon the head of Saul/Paul found in Acts chapter 9:

“17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”

As with Cornelius, Paul received his baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost before his baptism by water.

Given the scant information in the Bible, it would seem logical that the Book of Mormon would contain information regarding this critical central theme of the restored gospel. There are four events related to the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost in the Book of Mormon that are of note, the people of King Benjamin, Enos, Alma and, finally, the Lamanites of the Book of Helaman.
The people of King Benjamin

In the early chapters of the Book of Mosiah, King Benjamin sends out a proclamation calling all the believers together to hear the word of God. King Benjamin’s sermon is a proclamation of the gospel as given him by a messenger from God. While there is much to cover in the several chapters containing the sermon, I would like to focus on the characteristics described relating to the remission of sins achieved through the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost.

In Mosiah, chapter 3 verse 13, King Benjamin summarizes the gospel as such:

“13 And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them.”

He also challenges his listeners to become sanctified in verse 19:

“For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”

As you can see, the core of King Benjamin’s sermon is a plea for the people to become sanctified by receiving a remission of their sins. When he had finished speaking, King Benjamin gazed upon the people. Here is what then transpired beginning in verse 1 of Mosiah chapter 4:

” …he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them.
2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.
3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.”

These people applied the gospel of Jesus Christ and were blessed with sanctification. Their hearts were purified and they were filled with joy. Upon seeing this, King Benjamin spoke again and included this admonition found in Verse 11 and 12:

“11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.
12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

It is important to note that the recurring theme of ‘remission of sins’ and the attending ‘great joy’ characterizes the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. Again, as we found in 2nd Nephi, chapter 31:17, remission is sins is achieved through the baptism of fire. The last phrase of the verse just cited should be compared to the quote earlier for Doctrine and Covenants, Section 39 which states that ‘the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom.’ This sermon also gives us a roadmap on how to ‘retain a remission of sins.’ While the baptism of fire as described here is a singlular event, the admonition is to maintain this blessing throughout our lives. This requires us to maintain humility, prayer, and faith in the core of our lives.

In the remainder of Mosiah chapter 4, King Benjamin rehearses the charge to those who wish to retain a remission of their sins. Here are some of the points expressed (please read verses 13 through 30)

* you wiill not have a mind to injure one another
* live peaceably
* render to every man that which is his due
* not suffer the children to go hungry or naked and not suffer that they transgress or quarrel
* succor those who stand in need of your succor without judgement

This is summarized in chapter 4, verse 26:

“…that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.”

And what was the effect on the people who experienced this baptism of fire? This is found in Chapter 5:

“2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.
3 And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things.
4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.
5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.

The people made this covenant with God and received the following:

“And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.”

This mighty change that came upon the people was a result of their baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. It brought a purifying fire to their hearts and brought great knowledge of the events of the future. This event changes people; it brings them indescribable joy and peace in their hearts. King Benjamin’s sermon is a roadmap of what the gospel is meant to be in our lives. It represents the gate that we all must enter in order to be on the strait and narrow way to eternal life in and through the atonement of Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer

Enos

Enos recounts his ‘wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.’ He went out into the forest pondering the words of eternal life that often came from his father. These concerns moved him to seek out the Lord as found in the 4th verse of Enos:

“4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.
5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.
6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.”

Enos also received his remission of sins in a singular event. His heart was purified as his sins were washed away. It was a result of a prayer that went well into the night. He wrestled with God to receive a remission of his sins. He heard a voice that pronounced him ‘clean.’. What a beautiful story of one person’s challenge to apply for the blessings described by his own father.

Alma the Younger

Alma was the son of the high priest, Alma. Despite his rich spiritual environment, he did not begin to follow the teachings of his father. In verse 8 of the 27th chapter of Mosiah, Alma was characterized as ‘…a very wicked and an idolatrous man. And he was a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities.” As described in the narrative, he went about, with the sons of King Mosiah, attempting to destroy the church of God.

Prompted by the prayers of his father and concerned friends, Alma and his cohorts were visited by an angel which puts him into an apparent coma-like state in which he could not communicate. This lasted for two days as his father and friends fasted and prayed for his return. Finally he regains his ability and states in verse 24 of Mosiah chapter 27:

“For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.”

Later in life, Alma recounts his experience of being born again, born of God to his son Helaman in the 36th chapter of Alma:

“17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.”

It is also important to note that Alma also made reference to implications of the second baptism found in the 27th chapter of Mosiah:

“25 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;”

Alma’s message from Christ also contained the reference to becoming the offspring of God. It is incumbent upon all of us to be born again; to receive a remission of our sins through the baptism of fire which purifies our hearts.

As with the people of King Benjamin, Alma felt the incredible joy that came from receiving a remission of his sins. To achieve this, though, he went through a harrowing repentance experience that left him nearly without any hope. This is until he caught upon a memory of his father’s preaching of the Jesus Christ who was to come. Here is a man who, by his own admonition, was seeking to destroy the church of God. As with Paul, it was necessary to shake the foundations of his belief and give him a chance to rebuild his true faith. Alma’s experience turned him into a steadfast follower of Christ.

The Lamanites

The two sons of Helaman began a significant missionary effort about 30 years before the coming of Christ, first among the Nephites and then moving to the Lamanites in the land of Zarahemla where they met with great success. Moving on to the land of Nephi, they encountered a different reception spending many days in prison without food awaiting execution. When the Lamanite guards came for the two brothers, they found them ‘encircled about as if by fire, even insomuch that they durst not lay their hands upon them for fear lest they should be burned (Helaman 5:23).’ As fear set in on the Lamanites, so did a darkness that prevented them from exiting the scene. Three times a voice was heard and they ‘beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul— (Helaman 5:30-33).’ Among the Lamanites was a man by the name of Aminadab who saw that the faces of Nephi and Lehi were shining through the darkness. He beckoned the Lamanites to look at the brothers. The following dialogue is recorded in the 5th chapter of Helaman beginning in verse 38:

* Behold, what do all these things mean, and who is it with whom these men do converse? (The Lamanites)
o They do converse with the angels of God. (Aminadab)
* What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us? (The Lamanites)
o You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you. (Aminadab)

These frightened people did not know what was happening to them. As the 300 Lamanites prayed, the darkness dissipated and they found themselves also encircled with fire as described in Chapter 5:

” 44 And Nephi and Lehi were in the midst of them; yea, they were encircled about; yea, they were as if in the midst of a flaming fire, yet it did harm them not, neither did it take hold upon the walls of the prison; and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.
45 And behold, the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words.
46 And it came to pass that there came a voice unto them, yea, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying:
47 Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world.

As with the other demonstrations, the Holy Ghost purified the hearts of these Lamanites and they partook of unspeakable joy. While it is not clear whether the 300 Lamanites were made up of those who were in prison or of the guards who came to slay Lehi and Nephi, we can say that there were no ‘friends’ in the group. These people did not understand what was happening to them but it was within God’s purposes to experience this baptism of fire and carry the word throughout the country. Because of this event, most on the Lamanites were converted.

It is important to note the footnote associated with verse 45 of Helaman, Chapter 5. The cross-reference is to 3rd Nephi 9:20 which casts more light on the event. In 3rd Nephi, Christ is appearing to those who had gathered in the wake of destruction throughout the land. As He descends, his voice is heard:

“18 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
19 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.

Some have taken this verse in isolation to indicate that the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost can happen over a considerable amount of time. Given that none of the events regarding the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost recorded in the scriptures indicate a gradual and imperceptible event, it is likely that this type of thinking is not correct. The baptism of fire, the second baptism, the bestowal of the Holy Ghost is a point event and changes a person’s life and outlook. It is something to be sought and cherished; an anchor in times of calamity and chaos. By accepting the idea that it can be a gradual change, you will miss out on a necessary and critical component of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the events described above one can find two ‘mass’ baptisms of fire, one for a group of believers and one of non-believers. You will find a person’s testimony that once fought against God and one individual who prayed without ceasing until his desire was granted. This life changing event could come to anyone. Those of us, though, will likely have to take the route of Enos in acquiring this priceless gift, the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. It results in a ‘new creature’ as the natural man is thrown off. It burns out the dross from our hearts and sanctifies us. It carries with it the potential for great knowledge and insight and brings to us indescribable joy and peace. Anyone who has experienced this baptism is different. It is, as described above, the gateway to the strait and narrow way to eternal life. Each of of should seek to understand the gospel and apply the examples in our own lives. The Lord has said many times, ‘Repent and come unto me.’ This is done through the act of being born again - baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost.

Most people are inclined to reject the idea that the gospel can be so concisely defined as in the scriptures cited earlier under the Gospel section. How can this be true when we are taught that the gospel contains all truth ever revealed to man? I can only encourage you to make this a matter of prayer and contemplation.

Where do all the precepts of truth then reside if they do not belong in the gospel? This is a legitimate question; one again answered by the scriptures. To find this answer, let’s go to the beginning of the book that is billed as containing the fulness of the gospel - 1st Nephi, Chapter 1, Verse 1:

“I, NEPHI, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.”

For many years I read this verse without catching a significant nugget of truth. Nephi explains that he had a great knowledge of the mysteries of God. What are these mysteries? Are we not taught to avoid the mysteries of God and focus instead on the gospel? If one accepts the definition of the gospel as presented in the scriptures and reiterated in this exposition, then there must be a place in our lives for the other precepts and truths that have been revealed to us. These are identified scripturally as the mysteries. Here are some examples.

First, consider Chapter 40 of the Book of Alma:

“1 NOW my son, here is somewhat more I would say unto thee; for I perceive that thy mind is worried concerning the resurrection of the dead.
2 Behold, I say unto you, that there is no resurrection—or, I would say, in other words, that this mortal does not put on immortality, this corruption does not put on incorruption—until after the coming of Christ.
3 Behold, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. Now, I unfold unto you a mystery; nevertheless, there are many mysteries which are kept, that no one knoweth them save God himself. But I show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God that I might know—that is concerning the resurrection.”

In these verses, Alma is speaking to his son, Corianton and touches on an item of his concern - the resurrection of the dead. Have you ever considered that this topic could be considered a ‘mystery?’ In the verses and chapters following this introduction in Chapter 40, we gain many insights into the spirit world that we will encounter at death. Has the definition of the gospel and the mysteries of God changed between the time of Alma and today? I think not. I encourage you to read Alma, Chapters 40 through 42, and present yourself with one of the mysteries God has chosen to reveal to us through the Book of Mormon.

Another example comes from another very familiar scriptural quotation, Doctrine and Covenants, Section 76. Here we are presented with a glorious vision given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. Prior to the treatment of the vision itself, we are offered some wisdom beginning in verse 5:

“5 For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
6 Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.
7 And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.
8 Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations.
9 And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught.
10 For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.”

In this scriptural quote, we see the Lord promises to reveal all mysteries to those that serve him. This can be understood as to apply to all of us, not just a prophet or other great leader.

After the vision was unfolded, we find the following information:

“114 But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom which he showed unto us, which surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion;”

Here is the acknowledgement that the vision of Section 76 is defined as a mystery. The three degrees of glory, Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial, foundations in our understanding of God’s plan for all his children was revealed, again, to us. It is another of the mysteries that God has promised to reveal to us.

You may recall the story of Amulek and Alma and their confrontation with Zeezrom beginning in Alma Chapter 10 Amulek introduces himself and states:

“4 And behold, I am also a man of no small reputation among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds and friends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my industry.
5 Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people.”

Here Amulek states that he has been presented with information he calls the mysteries of God. He then, among other topics, covers the resurrection as found in chapter 11, verses 42 through 44. As Amulek finishes, Zeezrom begins to ask sincere questions as described here in Chapter 12:

“7 Now when Alma had spoken these words, Zeezrom began to tremble more exceedingly, for he was convinced more and more of the power of God; and he was also convinced that Alma and Amulek had a knowledge of him, for he was convinced that they knew the thoughts and intents of his heart; for power was given unto them that they might know of these things according to the spirit of prophecy.
8 And Zeezrom began to inquire of them diligently, that he might know more concerning the kingdom of God. And he said unto Alma: What does this mean which Amulek hath spoken concerning the resurrection of the dead, that all shall rise from the dead, both the just and the unjust, and are brought to stand before God to be judged according to their works?”

In answer to Zeezrom’s question, Alma prefaces his answer with information about mysteries as found here:

“9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.
10 And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.
11 And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.”

Alma then describes the second death or spiritual death in his sermon on the mysteries of God. The message here for us is not just about our probation in this life or the conditions in the afterlife. More importantly, we are encouraged to seek knowledge and wisdom, the greater portion of his word - the mysteries of God. Alma tells us that if we harden our hearts, we will receive less of the knowledge of the mysteries of God to the point that we are captive of the devil. By Alma’s words, we must seek the mysteries of God or be lost from God. Have you ever stopped to contemplate what could be contained in the mysteries of God? It is available to you. As we read in the early verses of Section 76, God want to provide this information to those that seek Him.

This message is reinforced in 1 Nephi Chapter 10:

“17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.
18 For he is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.
19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.”

Here is Nephi, probably quite a young man at the time, presented with marvelous revelations from his father. He decides that he wants to know these thing for himself. He also states that this is a template for all of us. If we earnestly seek the mysteries of God, they will be unfolded unto us. This is what God has in store for those that love Him and seek after him.

By applying the gospel in our lives, by repenting and following our Lord into the waters of baptism, then receiving the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, we are purified and sanctified. We then can have Doctrine and Covenants Section 39:6 apply to us - the Comforter will show us all things. The gospel is the gate not only to eternal life (2nd Nephi 31:18) but to all the mysteries of God.