The Road to Hell

During a lesson last week in Priesthood meeting the teacher read a passage from the Lorenzo Snow manual about losing the Holy Ghost every time we sin. This brought a thought to me: "If that is true, then I cannot have the Holy Ghost until I'm perfect!"

I brought that up, and pushed it a little, because it runs so counter to the "church culture." The men in the room, all older than me, who have been bishops and leaders in the Church since before I was born, all tried to correct me, "You don't have to be perfect, only trying." They told me.
"But if I make another mistake, then I will lose the Spirit -- no matter how hard I try! I'm going to make a mistake, and then what...?" I'm still stuck in a dilemma. They became exasperated because I wasn't "getting it" that all I had to do was to be willing to obey God so even if I made mistakes, as long as I was trying the Lord would make up for what I lacked.

Their argument to me is "intent." The world teaches us that as long as our intentions are good we are on the path of righteousness. In other words, as long as I intend to do good I can have the Holy Ghost as my guide. This is a most damnable doctrine! It definitely counts as the "wicked traditions of our fathers!" This is a great force for evil in the world. Intention is NOT the same as doing the will of the Lord. Being good and doing right is not at all about our intentions. So much sin in this world is done in the name of "good intentions." The proverb states "The road to hell is paved with good intentions. The scriptures also tell us that "natural man is an enemy to God." (Mosiah 3:19) The heresy of good intentions being equivalent to doing good comes because of not understanding the scriptural meaning of the word.

"Good" is the will of God. I can ONLY be "good" if I am doing the will of God.
"Righteous" is continually doing God's will. A "righteous man" is one who has submitted his will to the will of God.
"Wicked" means NOT doing the will of God, no matter how good my intentions are.
"Evil" is purposely going against the will of God.
"Sin" is whenever I do anything I want to do instead of what God wants me to do, or choosing wickedness, either by commission or omission.

The Scriptures do not say that "good intentions" are sufficient. They never say it's OK to have a little wickedness, "because, after all, nobody's perfect." Rather the prophets use absolute words such as "all," "spotless," "pure," "unspotted," and "every whit" to indicate our need to become perfect.

"...he dwelleth not in unholy temples..." (Mosiah 2:37)
"...a righteous people, without spot..." (D&C 38:31)
"...keep himself unspotted from the world..." (James 1:27)
"...keep thyself unspotted from the world..." (D&C 59:9)
"...clean every whit:" (John 13:10)
"...cleansed every whit from his iniquity" (3 Nephi 8:1)
"...they shall be spotless before me..." (D&C 61:34)
"...whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white..." (Alma 5:24)
"...being pure and spotless before God..." (Alma 13:12)
"...cleanse from all unrighteousness" (Alma 7:14)
"...repent of all our sins..." (Alma 24:11)
"...but cross yourself in all these things..." (Alma 39:9)
"...repent of all your sins and iniquities..." (Mormon 7:5)
"...they truly repented of all their sins..." (Moroni 6:2)

Is there any room here for, "I sin, but it's OK because my intentions are good?" No! All intentions must be changed to become obedient to the word of God. But, how can we even know the will of God without the Holy Ghost? We're still in a conundrum.

I was discussing this dilemma with my brother, Chas, who hit upon an answer: You can be a sinner, and continually be repentant and be forgiven so you can still have the Holy Ghost. God practices "instant forgiveness!" As soon as I repent, I can be forgiven and receive the Spirit again (caveat: rebellion is harder, and may take longer). This is why the ordinances of the Priesthood are so important. Baptism is the covenant whereby we can be washed clean and receive the Holy Ghost. Thus, the gift of the Holy Ghost is given after baptism.

The is the essential understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He suffered so that I could overcome my "natural man" and change my "good intentions" to have the Holy Ghost and receive the word of God. I picture it like being on the "straight and narrow path" that leads to God. Baptism puts me on the path. As long as I'm on the path by doing what God wants me to do, I will have the Holy Ghost to guide me. The Holy Ghost gives me the word of God, and is the "iron rod." If I let go, or disobey even once, and veer off the path, I will lose the Spirit, which tells me that I am in need of repentance so I can repent, get back on the path, obeying every word of God, and can receive the Holy Ghost. This is why the ordinance of the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost is a command: "Receive the Holy Ghost." It's something we do as we do ONLY the will of God, living continually "by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)

We know we have repented of all sin when we "have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." (Mosiah 5:2) This is when we are on the path to God. We never veer off the path because our will is subject to the will of God, and we can have the Holy Ghost with us always! Our "Good intentions" are replaced by the will of God.