The Sure Thing

Multiple Callings and Multiple Elections:

It amazes me how intelligent and cunning Heavenly Father really is. He won't allow Himself to be mocked or tricked or abused.

We have all been issued a Calling to come back to Heavenly Father. The associated Election or the Gift takes place when God grants and promises the recipient Eternal Life. It's supposed to be a comfort and a support to the individual, and it's supposed to open a New Door, New Possibilities, or New Callings that were not possible to the recipient before the Election or Gift was granted or given. It becomes truly Sure when the recipient of that particular Election actually steps into the Celestial Kingdom in the next life instead of going to Outer Darkness in the next life.

Some people are so focused on that one particular Gift or Election (the promise of Eternal Life) that they ignore all the others that God offers. They are so focused on becoming members of the Church of the Firstborn, that once they believe that they have achieved that particular Election then they think that they have graduated from the LDS Church and no longer need any of the other Blessings or Elections that God offers to us through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I sometimes wonder if God meant for it to be that way, in order to test the people's faith, loyalty, and staying power. Most people can't see that God offers more than one Election or Gift or Blessing through membership in the Church of Jesus Christ.

So many people get the one that they want, and then they leave the LDS Church and leave all of the other Elections and Blessings on the table fully satisfied that they got the one they wanted and that they don't need any more Blessings or Callings from God. Remember, there is more than one sin or shortcoming that Jesus Christ atoned for; and thus, there is more than one blessing or Election or gift that He offers to us.

We have each heard of the people who proudly announce to their Bishop or Hometeacher that they no longer need to attend the LDS Church and no longer have to accept any more callings in the LDS Church because they have had their Calling and Election Made Sure. They can't even see the fallacy or the flaw in their logic or declaration. They are confident that they know exactly what they are talking about and have received from God all that they need to receive. These people have been tricked by Satan who has gotten them to stop looking for any more Blessings from God. Satan doesn't want them to have any more Elections or Blessings from God and will even make their Calling and Election Sure so that they will stop looking for any more blessings or gifts from God.

Notice what happens next each and every time in the LDS Scriptures whenever a Prophet has an Election Made Sure or is Given a Gift from God. God issues a New Calling to the individual. Elections open New Doors or New Possibilities. Every time God gives an individual a Gift, that newly re-made individual can now do things that were impossible for him to do before receiving the Election or Gift from God. Every time God gives a person a Gift or an Election, God expects that person and Calls that person to go and use that Gift to feed Christ's sheep. What incentive does God have to give a person a Gift if God knows that that person has no intention of using that Election or Gift to feed Christ's Sheep? Study the Parable of the Talents or the Parable of the Elections. What happens when someone refuses to use a Gift from God to feed Christ's sheep? That Election or Gift or Talent is taken away from the individual and given to another individual who will use the Talent to feed Christ's sheep.

If a person says that he has had his Calling and Election Made Sure, yet that person received no New Calling from God and refuses to accept any new callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then that serves as a sign that the person either made it all up or that Satan made that person's Calling and Election Sure. Having one's Calling and Election made Sure has no value to a person if the gift came from Satan instead of God. Satan doesn't have the power to grant anyone Eternal Life or entry into the Celestial Kingdom.

Over the years, I have noticed some Latter-day Saints go public with the claim that they have received the Second Comforter. The ones that I have noticed who have gone public with such a claim are now years later making the claim that they no longer need the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, because they have received such a wonderful Gift or Election from God and have now gone further than any living LDS Apostle has gone. As I see it though, the recipients of the Second Comforter should instead be asking, “What's next?” LDS Theology makes brief mention of a Third Comforter.

Each Election or Gift from God always opens a New Door to another possible Calling or Election. The LDS Scriptures counsel us not to be satisfied with the Gifts or the Elections that we have already received, and instead, counsel us to seek for even more. We are told to increase our Talents or to increase our Elections. We are told to covet the best gifts from God. This applies not only to Spiritual Gifts but also to the Best Callings and the Best Elections. There is only one time when it is righteous to covet, and that's when we are coveting to become even more like God the Father and Jesus Christ. If you receive an Election or Gift from God, the natural question to be asking is, “What's next?”

On various LDS forums and in LDS magazines, there is ongoing talk of a Second Endowment, a Second Anointing, a Second Washing, a New Calling, a New Name, and so forth. A simple Google search brings it all up, so we can see how it is all being ridiculed and mocked and distorted. I have periodically found myself asking, “Why is God doubling up and then tripling up on all of these things?” Then I read of those who have received The Second Comforter, and they have decided to leave the LDS Church or have been excommunicated from the LDS Church. I read of others who have received the Second Endowment or Second Anointing, and then they decide to leave the LDS Church for whatever reason. Then I suddenly have my answer as to why God is tripling up on some of these things. Those who don't figure out how to properly handle or incorporate the Second One will not be around to receive the Third One.

The Holy Ghost gives us our First One, of whatever Gift or Election it is that we receive in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our next Election in the series is given to us or sealed by Jesus Christ. The Third One in the series is handled by God the Father. It's a progression or a ladder. All throughout the process we have to remain a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, or the progression comes to an end. If you have received the First One in an Election or Gift series, you should be asking, “What's next?” If you have received the Second One in an Election series, then you should be asking, “What's next?”

It's all leading towards returning to God the Father. Until you have entered into the presence of God the Father to remain for the rest of Eternity, then you are NOT done or finished yet. What did the Resurrected Jesus Christ have to do before other people were allowed to touch Him? He had to return to the Presence of God the Father. Jesus had to be completed or finished by God the Father. In all things, we are told to do as Jesus Christ has done, including returning to the presence of God the Father one day for the final perfecting or the final completion. If that hasn't happened to you yet, then you are not done; and, you still have need for the Church of Jesus Christ. It might not need you, but you still need it.

Let me ask you a simple question. Have you stood in the presence of God the Father in a resurrected body and been completed or finished or perfected by God the Father? If not, then you are NOT done yet; and therefore, you still have need for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The truth is simple and plain. The Third Comforter, the Third Endowment, the Third Anointing, and the Third Election in any Election Series all take place in the Presence of God the Father. God the Father is the one who will complete you or finish you and make you perfect. With maybe the exception of the Third Comforter, all of these other “Third Elections” are only available after we have been resurrected from the dead. It's one thing to have the Holy Ghost or Jesus Christ promise you Eternal Life; but, it's a whole other ballgame when God the Father actually gives you Eternal Life.

My advice is not to apostatize from the LDS Church, until after you have received all of the possible Elections or Blessings from God that you can get through membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and know for sure that all of them are yours for the rest of Eternity. Don't jump over the cliff until you know that you have a safe place to land. You want to make Sure that you don't leave any Blessings or Elections behind when you decide to pack it all in and go someplace else. There's only one problem. How can you really be sure that you have received all of the Blessings and Gifts and Elections that God has available to give you through His Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? How can you be sure that you are not leaving something valuable behind when you decide to leave the LDS Church and never come back?

Remember, every day in the spirit world, people willingly and eagerly join the Church of Jesus Christ so that they can move from Spirit Prison into Paradise. Even they have a need for membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, even though they are no longer mortal. Remember, you are still going to have a need for your LDS Ordinances, LDS Temple Blessings, LDS Priesthood, and LDS Covenants long after you are dead and have found yourself in the spirit world. Any other Elections or Gifts from God that you have received from God will come in handy too, while you are in the spirit world, unless you have deliberately walked away from them in this life.

Scriptures to Consider:

2 Nephi 29: 9: And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.

Likening this Scripture unto This Topic:

2 Nephi 29: 9: And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I give forth my Gifts and Elections according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have given one Election ye need not suppose that I cannot give another Election; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man when he is no longer a mortal man but a Resurrected God, neither from that time henceforth and forever.

The Summation:

2 Nephi 31: 15-21:

15 And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.

16 And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.

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.

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.

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.

It's one thing when the Holy Ghost tells you that you are going to have Eternal Life. It's another thing when Jesus Christ tells you that you are going to have Eternal Life. It's a Third Thing when God the Father tells you that you are going to have Eternal Life. But, it's a Sure Thing when God the Father actually gives you Eternal Life.

Best wishes to all,

Mark My Words

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Doubling and Tripling Elections:

Whenever God the Father starts doubling up on and then tripling up on a single Election, then we know that God is trying to make that Election Sure. God is trying to perfect it. God is trying to perfect it in our lives. God is trying to make that Election an integral part of who and what we really are.

There's a progression going on here, like climbing a ladder to Heaven. One Election leads to the Next One, which leads to the Next One. And, all the Elections or Gifts from God lead to God the Father. You have to choose to climb the ladder to the Celestial Kingdom, and choose to keep climbing, or you will never reach the top of the ladder.

The Elections build upon each other. The current Election builds upon the previous Election, which builds upon the previous Election. You start with a proper foundation, and then you keep building until you have built your own Mansion in Heaven. The sad truth is that you can choose to stop building anywhere along the way, and thus your Mansion in the Celestial Kingdom will never be built.

There's nothing strange or new about any of this. This is the way God has been operating all along. Jesus Christ has told us all about it in the LDS Scriptures. It's there for those who are willing to look and see. The only thing strange is that people are unable to see it, mostly because they don't want to see it.

It seems to me that half of the Latter-day Saints are trying to figure out how to get excommunicated from the LDS Church rather than trying to figure out how to make their next Election Sure.