When people read difficult passages of scripture, and especially when they read pointed commentaries that reveal just how plainly the scriptures condemn them personally, they develop a certain uneasiness in the pit of the stomach. It doesn’t feel good to have someone suggest you might be wrong, especially when the thing you might be wrong about is a closely-held and long cherished notion. It’s easy to misinterpret that as the Holy Spirit telling you it’s something you should avoid. But to do so misunderstands the Holy Spirit and its function.
“The First Comforter or Holy Ghost has none other effect than pure intelligence,” Joseph Smith teaches us. Nothing there about good feelings, and in fact, we shouldn’t be surprised, because the scriptures also teach us the job of the Holy Ghost is to testify of truth, and if we happen to be wicked, truth might not be friendly: “wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.”
But we can get even better examples. We’ll start with Joseph Smith. Remember how he went out to pray, and the first thing he felt was “some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.” Had Joseph leapt to the conclusion that this first feeling came from the Holy Ghost, and was intended to tell him to back off, we might live in a different world today.
One other example comes from Christ himself, and I need to say that the Lord pointed me at this particular example while I was pondering this topic. This is the story of the young man who had an evil spirit of a variety that “cometh forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting,” and we’ll start in Mark chapter 9.
14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
So the scribes and multitude are having a discussion, and I imagine it was a bit intense. I can’t prove that, of course, but there must have been some reason the multitude were so excited to see Christ when he walked up:
15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
Christ wanted to know why there was all the hubbub. Note that he addresses his question to the scribes, but one of the multitude answers.
16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
Incidentally, how good are we, in our day, at identifying evil spirits in people? I have to say that right now, at least, I don’t know what to make of this particular verse.
19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
But here’s my point. Notice what happens to the boy when Christ approaches.
20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
Did you notice what happened? This boy was brought to Christ, the light and life of the word, and the first feeling he felt was … the evil spirit tearing him, and throwing him in the dirt. And I ask, therefore, should the son use this first impression as his opinion of the Savior? Let’s keep reading.
21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
Here we go again. Christ casts out the “foul spirit”, and the first thing it does is “[rend] him sore.” How’s that for a reliable first impression?
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
Only now does the boy have experience enough to judge whether this man that has come to him is good for him or not. I submit we ought to allow ourselves time to be sure we understand the Holy Ghost correctly.
“The First Comforter or Holy Ghost has none other effect than pure intelligence,” Joseph Smith teaches us. Nothing there about good feelings, and in fact, we shouldn’t be surprised, because the scriptures also teach us the job of the Holy Ghost is to testify of truth, and if we happen to be wicked, truth might not be friendly: “wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.”
But we can get even better examples. We’ll start with Joseph Smith. Remember how he went out to pray, and the first thing he felt was “some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.” Had Joseph leapt to the conclusion that this first feeling came from the Holy Ghost, and was intended to tell him to back off, we might live in a different world today.
One other example comes from Christ himself, and I need to say that the Lord pointed me at this particular example while I was pondering this topic. This is the story of the young man who had an evil spirit of a variety that “cometh forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting,” and we’ll start in Mark chapter 9.
14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
So the scribes and multitude are having a discussion, and I imagine it was a bit intense. I can’t prove that, of course, but there must have been some reason the multitude were so excited to see Christ when he walked up:
15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
Christ wanted to know why there was all the hubbub. Note that he addresses his question to the scribes, but one of the multitude answers.
16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
Incidentally, how good are we, in our day, at identifying evil spirits in people? I have to say that right now, at least, I don’t know what to make of this particular verse.
19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
But here’s my point. Notice what happens to the boy when Christ approaches.
20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
Did you notice what happened? This boy was brought to Christ, the light and life of the word, and the first feeling he felt was … the evil spirit tearing him, and throwing him in the dirt. And I ask, therefore, should the son use this first impression as his opinion of the Savior? Let’s keep reading.
21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
Here we go again. Christ casts out the “foul spirit”, and the first thing it does is “[rend] him sore.” How’s that for a reliable first impression?
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
Only now does the boy have experience enough to judge whether this man that has come to him is good for him or not. I submit we ought to allow ourselves time to be sure we understand the Holy Ghost correctly.