A Witness

2000-1-13 20:40:00

Sterling writes:
Jesus is set forth as a pattern for us. As he does, we are to do. He obeyed the will of his Father, as we are to do. He did that by being obedient to his Father as the Father's will was manifest to him through the power of the Holy Ghost.

"Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Even as I am."

J.J.'s model is not one that can be duplicated except by one person at any given time, contradicting the teaching that all of us can overcome and do as Jesus did."

Not so. All of us have the same promise. Jesus said: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if ANY MAN (or woman) hear my voice, and open the door, I WILL COME IN TO HIM, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:20)

There is probably no single scripture I can give doubters to prove the overshadowing principle, but there is a way to find the truth of all things and it is found in the Book of Mormon that you hold so dearly.

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." Moroni 10:4-5

One important key here is to "ask with a sincere heart, with real intent." I would also add to ask as a little child. Forget everything you know and ask as a "little child" that knows nothing, but just wants the answer.

I teach the overshadowing, not as some theory or something I believe, because of a book I have read (and yes others have written about this), but I teach it because the principle has been demonstrated to me with great power to give me a witness, so I can teach with knowledge and surety, having no doubts about it. You can receive a sure witness also if you will but ask God in the name of Christ with an open mind really wanting to know.