Greater Light
Seek Knowledge; Uncover Truth; Walk in the Light
The Calling & Election
“Oh! I beseech you to go forward, go forward and make your calling and your election sure,” Joseph Smith pleaded. To have the sure promises of the Lord, Jesus Christ, is one of the grandest blessings the Father can offer. It is beautiful and filled with peace, and becomes a centerpiece for one’s devotion of faith.
This subject occupied the young prophet’s mind on several occasions as he preached in Nauvoo. Why is it that Joseph was so adamant about this topic? And why do we not hear much about it today?
What Is the Calling and Election?
The
term “calling and election” comes out of Peter’s second letter to those of “like precious faith” to him and the other apostles. “Brethren,” he urged, “give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”
Joseph Smith spoke adamantly about Peter’s words. He clarifies Peter’s words, stating, “To have a positive promise of your own Salvation is making your calling & election sure, Viz the voice of Jesus saying my beloved thou shalt have eternal life.” In short, it is to have a promise of eternal life from the voice of Jesus Christ.
This concept runs throughout scripture, though it has always been somewhat of an ambiguous term until Joseph Smith explained it in more plain terms. “Now brethren,” Joseph replied, “who can explain this no man be [but] he that has obtained these things in the same way that Peter did.” Joseph know what Peter meant in his epistle because Joseph new the spirit of prophecy, and because Joseph had experienced the same. Joseph continued, “Yet it is so plain & so simple & easy to be understood that when I have shown you the interpretation thereof you will think you have always Known it yourselves.”
Peter: Called and Elected
In his second epistle recorded in the New Testament, Peter recalls his eyewitness account of the transfiguration of the Savior on the mount when the voice of God, the Father, called out, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Peter adds, “This voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.” Yet more important in Peter’s mind than hearing the voice of the Father proclaim the divinity of his Son was receiving a “more sure word of prophecy.”
“These are but hints at those things that were revealed to Peter,” Joseph says, “and verily brethren there are things in the bosom of the Father, that have been hid from the foundation of the world that are not known neither can be except by direct Revelation.”
Joseph revealed how to understand the doctrine taught here by Peter by expounding on his epistle. “There are two keys. One key [is] knowledge. The other mak[ing] your calling & election sure, for if you do these things you shall never fall.”
The First Key: Knowledge
In Peter’s epistle, he addresses the 
doctrine of calling and election to those “that have obtained like precious faith” with him in the Savior Jesus Christ. Peter continues:
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature.
All things that pertain to life (he is speaking about eternal life here) and to godliness (or “piety” from the Greek word ευσέβεια (eusebeian)) come because of our knowledge. And more specifically, because of our knowledge of Jesus Christ, he who called us to glory and virtue. Knowledge of truth can liberate us from bondage.
William Clayton recorded that Joseph “shewed that knowledge is power & the man who has the most knowledge has the greatest power.” He continued, “He said the more sure word of prophecy meant, a mans knowing that he was sealed up unto eternal life by revelation & the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy priesthood. He also showed that it was impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.”
Joseph demonstrates here how important knowledge is to salvation. Without knowledge…. [Click Here to continue reading the article.]
Find out how to come closer to Christ here here.
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