The Fastest Way to Make Your Calling and Election Sure

[freedomforall]

The question is whether we repent and join ourselves with the House of Israel, not whether we sin against the gospel. This whole thread is about the fullness of the gospel. We all have individual choices.....

Actually, we, the Latter-day Saints, are the House of Israel. We are the covenant people of God.

Source please? Even the title page of the BOM says otherwise.

Of the House of Israel

An excerpt:
“How can a Gentile by birth be ‘adopted’ into the house of Israel?”

In considering the principle of adoption, the Brethren consistently refer to the significant allegory of the tame and wild olive tree contained in Jacob, chapter 5. [Jacob 5] It is instructive to read and ponder that chapter in company with the following quotations pertaining to those who might be of Gentile blood who have been baptized into the Church:

BRIGHAM YOUNG: “If any of the Gentiles will believe, we will lay our hands upon them that they may receive the Holy Ghost, and the Lord will make them of the house of Israel. They will be broken off from the wild olive tree, and be grafted into the good and tame olive tree, and will partake of its sap and fatness. … It is so with the House of Israel and the Gentile nations; if the Gentiles are grafted into the good olive tree they will partake of its root and fatness.” (Journal of Discourses, 2:269.)

Joseph Fielding Smith: “Every person who embraces the gospel becomes of the house of Israel. In other words, they become members of the chosen lineage, or Abraham’s children through Isaac and Jacob unto whom the promises were made. The great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham through Ephraim, son of Joseph. Those who are not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they are baptized and confirmed they are grafted into the tree and are entitled to all the rights and privileges as heirs.” (Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954–56, 3:246.)

The clear teaching of the prophets is that few persons not of the blood of Abraham have become members of the Church in this dispensation; the terms “adopted into the house of Israel” or “assigned to a tribe of Israel” pertain only to those relatively few members.

It is important to remind ourselves that the blessings of eternity are guaranteed for all who are faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ, regardless of their lineage. Furthermore, those blessings are withheld from anyone who is disobedient and unfaithful, again regardless of ancestry. As Nephi stated: “Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God.” (1 Ne. 17:35.) And Paul reminds us, “They are not all Israel, which are of Israel.” (Rom. 9:6.)

[freedomforall]

The question is whether we repent and join ourselves with the House of Israel, not whether we sin against the gospel. This whole thread is about the fullness of the gospel. We all have individual choices.....

Actually, we, the Latter-day Saints, are the House of Israel. We are the covenant people of God.

Read 1 Nephi Chapter 13. Nephi doesn't mince words when he refers to "the gentiles" coming to this continent and scattering his brethren. Jesus refers to the seed of Lehi over and over as the House of Israel, the lost tribes as the House of Israel and the Jews as the house of Israel but over and over through the Book of Mormon the new comers to this continent are referred to as Gentiles....

I think people miss the mark when they look at the Book of Mormon and use it to condemn all the people that don't read the Book of Mormon when in reality the Book of Mormon prophets are speaking to us the readers of it and calling us to repentance.

Jacob 5. Gentiles are grafted into the House of Israel through joining the Church of Jesus Christ, being baptized into it.

[Jay]

Deleted by OP.

[Sheol27]

True we can join ourselves with Israel but do we ignore all of the Lord's warnings? Do we ignore that later that the word of the Lord goes forth from Jerusalem and not SLC? Do you guys see TSM getting a transfer call to Jerusalem? Do we ignore the warning that we do sin against the gospel? What does the scripture mean that says, "the Gentiles shall not have power over you"? He referred to Gentiles sinning against the gospel. To sin implies knowledge of the gospel. There are both spiritual and temporal natures to this prophecy. To me these scriptures are very clear warnings. That is all.

[marc]

Jacob 5 is an excellent chapter to read on the matter.

[Jay]

Deleted by OP.

[Sheol27]

Haha I shouldn't be posting right now.... too tired from too stressful of a day.... Good night.

[Libertas]

60 Now these words, O Lord, we have spoken before thee, concerning the revelations and commandments which thou hast given unto us, who are identified with the Gentiles.

61 But thou knowest that thou hast a great love for the children of Jacob, who have been scattered upon the mountains for a long time, in a cloudy and dark day.

62 We therefore ask thee to have mercy upon the children of Jacob, that Jerusalem, from this hour, may begin to be redeemed;

63 And the yoke of bondage may begin to be broken off from the house of David;

64 And the children of Judah may begin to return to the lands which thou didst give to Abraham, their father.

65 And cause that the remnants of Jacob, who have been cursed and smitten because of their transgression, be converted from their wild and savage condition to the fulness of the everlasting gospel;

66 That they may lay down their weapons of bloodshed, and cease their rebellions.

67 And may all the scattered remnants of Israel, who have been driven to the ends of the earth, come to a knowledge of the truth, believe in the Messiah, and be redeemed from oppression, and rejoice before thee.

Underline is mine. Don't these verses from the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland temple (D&C 109) seem to indicate that Joseph Smith believed that we are identified with the Gentiles?

[freedomforall]

60 Now these words, O Lord, we have spoken before thee, concerning the revelations and commandments which thou hast given unto us, who are identified with the Gentiles.

61 But thou knowest that thou hast a great love for the children of Jacob, who have been scattered upon the mountains for a long time, in a cloudy and dark day.

62 We therefore ask thee to have mercy upon the children of Jacob, that Jerusalem, from this hour, may begin to be redeemed;

63 And the yoke of bondage may begin to be broken off from the house of David;

64 And the children of Judah may begin to return to the lands which thou didst give to Abraham, their father.

65 And cause that the remnants of Jacob, who have been cursed and smitten because of their transgression, be converted from their wild and savage condition to the fulness of the everlasting gospel;

66 That they may lay down their weapons of bloodshed, and cease their rebellions.

67 And may all the scattered remnants of Israel, who have been driven to the ends of the earth, come to a knowledge of the truth, believe in the Messiah, and be redeemed from oppression, and rejoice before thee.

Underline is mine. Don't these verses from the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland temple (D&C 109) seem to indicate that Joseph Smith believed that we are identified with the Gentiles?

Read this: http://www.lds.org/ensign/1991/01/of-th ... l?lang=eng" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[freedomforall]

Jacob 5 is an excellent chapter to read on the matter.

Exactly, coachmarc. But people, don't get caught up in this situation, below. Read, ponder and pray for understanding.

Mormon 9:8
8 Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them.

3 Nephi 1:24
24 And there were no contentions, save it were a few that began to preach, endeavoring to prove by the scriptures that it was no more expedient to observe the law of Moses. Now in this thing they did err, having not understood the scriptures.

Doctrine and Covenants 10:63
63 And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.

[FoxMammaWisdom]

Since nobody has bothered to look yet, the title page of the BOM:

An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi

Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile—Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.

An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven—Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.

Translated by Joseph Smith, Jun.

Jay, HappyOne DID answer your question, but clearly the answer is not understood. This book is the most comprehensive one I know of in helping to understand the full picture and what is being said in those scriptures:

http://www.amazon.com/Passing-Heavenly- ... 0615528961" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm not sure why we must have this wrestle back and forth for you to take me up on my challenge. I would like to see you show me ONE instance in the scriptures, where any man - with or without keys, bestowed Calling and Election upon anyone. It simply is NOT a bestowal that can be made by any man. The Second Anointing ordinance is grossly misunderstood, and although the church has the authority to perform that ordinance to its members, that ordinance does not give anyone their C&E. Ordinances are done so that the power of God can be made manifest or apparent to us; so that we can see what we are ACTUALLY supposed to be doing with God; to invite us to participate in the spiritual component that must actually take place between us and God after we have gone through the physical component. The ordinances are demonstrations; teaching tools.

20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.

The church has the authority to perform those lessons via the ordinances. But again the Second Anointing ordinance is not even a demonstration of endowing one with their C&E. It is a demonstration of sealing up a couple unto godhood - assuming that they have already gone through the endowment ordinance which is demonstrative of receiving your C&E, being received by the Savior, and being brought by the Savior into the Father's presence. Again, the church does not have authority to give anyone their C&E - only to perform the ordinances that teach that we must receive this gift from our Father - as did every one of those in the scriptures who received it.

I would recommend this book too for further understanding about the temple endowment and the true symbolism contained within it:

https://www.createspace.com/4377682?ref ... ls=FB_Like" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Thomas]

How can a person be both a Mexican and an American? Don't you have to be one or the other. What about African Americans? They couldn't possibly be of both nations, right? But what really puzzles me is who are these wonderful Gentiles, spoken of in the Book of Mormon? They couldn't be us because we are the house of Israel, right?

I think we should claim to be Gentiles when they do good things like, take the Book of Mormon to the world or when they have stewardship over the house of Israel.

Mormon:5
9 And also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, who the Lord hath said should scatter this people, and this people should be counted as naught among them—therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people.

10 And now behold, this I speak unto their seed, and also to the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel, that realize and know from whence their blessings come.

But wait, we are not the Gentiles so who are these Gentiles that have a care for the house Israel? I would like to find them and thank them for their service to the house of Israel. I would also like to thank them for taking the gospel to the seed of Lehi.

15 And also that the seed of this people may more fully believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles; for this people shall be scattered, and shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us, yea, even that which hath been among the Lamanites, and this because of their unbelief and idolatry.

What a great service these great Gentiles do. In fact, I would like to be one.

3 Nephi: 21
14 Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles except they repent; for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots

22 But if they will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance;

23 And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem.

They get to do all the fun stuff like help build New- Jerusalem. Yes, it is real shame, we are not the Gentiles. I guess that makes us some second rate pretenders then.

[Jay]

Deleted by OP.

[Jay]

Deleted by OP.

[ajax]

STT...er...I mean Jay.....Oops.

[Jay]

Deleted by OP.

[ajax]

STT...er...I mean Jay.....Oops.

Okay, that went right over my head.

Don't worry about it. Just testing the waters.

[FoxMammaWisdom]

STT...er...I mean Jay.....Oops.

Transfers must have happened ;)

[FoxMammaWisdom]

Jay, HappyOne DID answer your question, but clearly the answer is not understood.

Sorry, Jules, but Happy DID NOT answer MY question, which cleary neither you nor Happy understood. Let's read it one more time:

Show me in the scriptures where it states Lord took away "the keys of the kingdom, which belong always unto the Presidency of the High Priesthood," i.e., the First Presidency. (D&C 81:2)

The Lord said, "the last shall be first, and the first shall be last." (1 Nephi 13:42) Starting with the last part first, the scripture reference, I will provide you with the entire passage, since you seem unwilling to look it up and read it for yourself.

Unto whom [referring to Joseph Smith] I have given the keys of the kingdom, which belong always unto the Presidency of the High Priesthood.

Now, certainly you will agree that the Prophet held, and still does, according to the Lord, all priesthood keys and authority--"the keys of the kingdom"--and all things pertaining to it. In his final months, prior to his death, Joseph passed ALL "the keys of the kingdom" to the Twelve:

I have now sealed upon your heads all the powers of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods and Apostleship, with all the keys and powers thereof, which God has sealed upon me; and I now roll off all the labor, burden and care of this Church and Kingdom of God upon your shoulders, and I now command you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to round up your shoulders, and bear off this Church and Kingdom of God before heaven and earth, and before God, angels and men” (Quoted in declaration of the Twelve Apostles (undated draft), reporting Mar. 1844 meeting; in Brigham Young, Office Files 1832-78, Church Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah)

Regarding the Twelve holding these "keys to the kingdom" and their succession from man to man, Elder Bruce R. McConkie explains how it works far better than I can. So let's learn from an apostle of Lord who has witnessed the process first-hand:

Now, this is the pattern; this is the system. Succession in the presidency happens in an orderly and systematized way, because the Lord has conferred upon the members of the Council of the Twelve all of the keys and powers and authorities that have ever been held in any dispensation or any age of the past. Every key is given to each apostle who is set apart a member of the Council of the Twelve. But because keys are the right of presidency, they lie dormant, as it were, in each man unless and until he becomes the senior apostle and is thus in a position of presidency to direct the labors and the work of all others. Therefore succession occurs, as it were, automatically. ("Succession in the Presidency," in Speeches of the Year, 1974, p. 25)

So we see there has been a continual unbroken passing of the "keys of the kingdom" from one prophet/president to another from Joseph Smith, at the head of this dispensation, down to Thomas S. Monson today.

So, now the first part is given last. I will reiterate my challenge:

Show me, if you can, where in the scriptures the Lord has stated He has taken the "keys of the kingdom" away from the prophet(s) at any time since their bestowal down to today.

I understand - this is something I had to learn too. The Fullness of the priesthood was taken from the church - not from Joseph as an individual. If you read those two books I recommended and study the scriptures they discuss, it will be made clear.

[stillwater]

Jay, HappyOne DID answer your question, but clearly the answer is not understood.

Sorry, Jules, but Happy DID NOT answer MY question, which cleary neither you nor Happy understood. Let's read it one more time:

Show me in the scriptures where it states Lord took away "the keys of the kingdom, which belong always unto the Presidency of the High Priesthood," i.e., the First Presidency. (D&C 81:2)

The Lord said, "the last shall be first, and the first shall be last." (1 Nephi 13:42) Starting with the last part first, the scripture reference, I will provide you with the entire passage, since you seem unwilling to look it up and read it for yourself.

Unto whom [referring to Joseph Smith] I have given the keys of the kingdom, which belong always unto the Presidency of the High Priesthood.

Now, certainly you will agree that the Prophet held, and still does, according to the Lord, all priesthood keys and authority--"the keys of the kingdom"--and all things pertaining to it. In his final months, prior to his death, Joseph passed ALL "the keys of the kingdom" to the Twelve:

I have now sealed upon your heads all the powers of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods and Apostleship, with all the keys and powers thereof, which God has sealed upon me; and I now roll off all the labor, burden and care of this Church and Kingdom of God upon your shoulders, and I now command you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to round up your shoulders, and bear off this Church and Kingdom of God before heaven and earth, and before God, angels and men” (Quoted in declaration of the Twelve Apostles (undated draft), reporting Mar. 1844 meeting; in Brigham Young, Office Files 1832-78, Church Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah)

Regarding the Twelve holding these "keys to the kingdom" and their succession from man to man, Elder Bruce R. McConkie explains how it works far better than I can. So let's learn from an apostle of Lord who has witnessed the process first-hand:

Now, this is the pattern; this is the system. Succession in the presidency happens in an orderly and systematized way, because the Lord has conferred upon the members of the Council of the Twelve all of the keys and powers and authorities that have ever been held in any dispensation or any age of the past. Every key is given to each apostle who is set apart a member of the Council of the Twelve. But because keys are the right of presidency, they lie dormant, as it were, in each man unless and until he becomes the senior apostle and is thus in a position of presidency to direct the labors and the work of all others. Therefore succession occurs, as it were, automatically. ("Succession in the Presidency," in Speeches of the Year, 1974, p. 25)

So we see there has been a continual unbroken passing of the "keys of the kingdom" from one prophet/president to another from Joseph Smith, at the head of this dispensation, down to Thomas S. Monson today.

So, now the first part is given last. I will reiterate my challenge:

Show me, if you can, where in the scriptures the Lord has stated He has taken the "keys of the kingdom" away from the prophet(s) at any time since their bestowal down to today.

I understand - this is something I had to learn too. The Fullness of the priesthood was taken from the church - not from Joseph as an individual. If you read those two books I recommended and study the scriptures they discuss, it will be made clear.

Jay's issue is keys. The "fulness of the priesthood" is different than the keys to which he is referring. The current correlated conception of Keys as the "right to rule" in the church isn't really scriptural. Neither is the further elaboration that each of the twelve holds all the keys, but only the president holds them "actively." This is usually based on DC 132:7 or DC 43, both of which have absolutely nothing to do with the issue of priesthood keys as the term is used today. That whole conceptual scheme is just the church's best attempt to explain a concept they never really understood. I don't think anybody in the history of the church has fully explained what is meant by "keys" in a way that actually conveys what Joseph gave to the twelve apostles.

Denver Snuffer has touched on it
http://denversnuffer.blogspot.com/2012/ ... -keys.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
A blogger by the name of zo-ma-rah attempted something more comprehensive, but it falls far short in my mind
http://zomarah.wordpress.com/2012/10/26 ... hood-keys/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Both explanations do a better job than the true to the faith manual, which give a fully unscriptural definition of Keys, then supports it with scriptures having nothing to do with the concepts they are talking about.
http://www.lds.org/manual/true-to-the-f ... 1?lang=eng" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

When Jay asks for proof that the "priesthood keys" have been taken away, if he is using the church's current definition of keys, then he is referring to a fictional construct describing the organizational structure of the institutional church. Since these so-called "keys" were never given by heaven, they can't be taken. If he is referring to the keys spoken of in scripture, then we have to have a much longer discussion about what those keys are, who held them, who gave them, and how can they be obtained by others. We also have to ask the question, which is always assumed to have been answered: What exactly did Joseph communicate to the twelve apostles?

[FoxMammaWisdom]

Thank you for the clarification stillwater, I appreciate it. There's a generous amount of miscommunication here, on all sides. It's clear that Jay and I are not on the same page in any case.

[Jeremy]

As we have seen a bazillion times on this forum, the discussion of priesthood power/keys/authority goes nowhere. Some have gleend much knowledge from these discussions but what might carry most weight on the matter are examples from the scriptures and testimonies from humble recipients of the promise. So while at this time I am choosing to not reply to "authority" related matters when it comes to man, I am choosing to share with individuals who choose to focus on that point. I am an individual who recognizes I hold no authority outside of experience and knowledge...though within my stake others might recognize me as holding some authority by virtue of office. This is simply not the case.

With that said, please let me share a few scriptures relating to one receiving the promise. There are many others but I happen to really enjoy this simple account.

...I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins...
Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart. And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens. And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed. And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away. And I said: Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ...

Don't dismiss this as a simple account of one being baptized by fire. The promise is assured. "Thou shalt" is a promise and "be blessed" is a phrase that carries much more meaning to those who have heard it than the two words on a printed page can possibly convey to those who have not.
This account maybe simple and even forgotten to some. But for those who have been "in the forest" and received the promise, this account by Enos is a beautiful witness that God and heaven most certainly work with men "in the forest" and when one asks "how is it done" there is no mention of authority/power/keys/etc. It is because of "faith in Christ".

[Gad]

As we have seen a bazillion times on this forum, the discussion of priesthood power/keys/authority goes nowhere. Some have gleend much knowledge from these discussions but what might carry most weight on the matter are examples from the scriptures and testimonies from humble recipients of the promise. So while at this time I am choosing to not reply to "authority" related matters when it comes to man, I am choosing to share with individuals who choose to focus on that point. I am an individual who recognizes I hold no authority outside of experience and knowledge...though within my stake others might recognize me as holding some authority by virtue of office. This is simply not the case.

With that said, please let me share a few scriptures relating to one receiving the promise. There are many others but I happen to really enjoy this simple account.

...I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins...
Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart. And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens. And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed. And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away. And I said: Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ...

Don't dismiss this as a simple account of one being baptized by fire. The promise is assured. "Thou shalt" is a promise and "be blessed" is a phrase that carries much more meaning to those who have heard it than the two words on a printed page can possibly convey to those who have not.
This account maybe simple and even forgotten to some. But for those who have been "in the forest" and received the promise, this account by Enos is a beautiful witness that God and heaven most certainly work with men "in the forest" and when one asks "how is it done" there is no mention of authority/power/keys/etc. It is because of "faith in Christ".

Also, one way to look that the phrase "thou shalt be blessed" since capitalization and punctuation wasn't included in the original manuscript could be as "Thou shalt be, Blessed." as in Enos was given a new name of Blessed, much like others had received new names.

[FoxMammaWisdom]

As we have seen a bazillion times on this forum, the discussion of priesthood power/keys/authority goes nowhere. Some have gleend much knowledge from these discussions but what might carry most weight on the matter are examples from the scriptures and testimonies from humble recipients of the promise. So while at this time I am choosing to not reply to "authority" related matters when it comes to man, I am choosing to share with individuals who choose to focus on that point. I am an individual who recognizes I hold no authority outside of experience and knowledge...though within my stake others might recognize me as holding some authority by virtue of office. This is simply not the case.

With that said, please let me share a few scriptures relating to one receiving the promise. There are many others but I happen to really enjoy this simple account.

...I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins...
Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart. And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens. And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed. And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away. And I said: Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ...

Don't dismiss this as a simple account of one being baptized by fire. The promise is assured. "Thou shalt" is a promise and "be blessed" is a phrase that carries much more meaning to those who have heard it than the two words on a printed page can possibly convey to those who have not.
This account maybe simple and even forgotten to some. But for those who have been "in the forest" and received the promise, this account by Enos is a beautiful witness that God and heaven most certainly work with men "in the forest" and when one asks "how is it done" there is no mention of authority/power/keys/etc. It is because of "faith in Christ".

Thank you for this example in the scriptures of Enos receiving the Promise via God.

[swiftbrook]

Lehi’s grandson Enos so hungered after righteousness that he cried unto the Lord until “there came a voice unto [him], saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.” (Enos 1:5.) Years later Enos revealed the nature of this promised blessing when he wrote:


“I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father.” (Enos 1:27.)

To Alma the Lord said,

“Thou art my servant; and I covenant with thee that thou shalt have eternal life.”

(Mosiah 26:20.)To His twelve Nephite disciples, the Master said:

“What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father."

“And they all spake, save it were three, saying: We desire that after we have lived unto the age of man, that our ministry, wherein thou hast called us, may have an end, that we may speedily come unto thee in thy kingdom.

“And he said unto them: Blessed are ye because ye desired this thing of me; therefore, after that ye are seventy and two years old ye shall come unto me in my kingdom; and with me ye shall find rest.” (3 Ne. 28:1–3.)

As Moroni labored in solitude abridging the Jaredite record, he received from the Lord this comforting assurance:
“Thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.” (Ether 12:37.)

Paul, in his second epistle to Timothy, wrote:

“I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.” (2 Tim. 4:6–8.)

In this dispensation many have received like assurances. In the spring of 1839, while the Prophet Joseph and his associates were languishing in Liberty Jail, Heber C. Kimball, our president’s grandfather, labored against great odds caring for the Saints and striving to free the brethren who were in jail. On the sixth of April he wrote:
“My family having been gone about two months, during which time I heard nothing from them; our brethren being in prison; death and destruction following us everywhere we went; I felt very sorrowful and lonely. The following words came to mind, and the Spirit said unto me, ‘write,’ which I did by taking a piece of paper and writing on my knee as follows: …

“Verily I say unto my servant Heber, thou art my son, in whom I am well pleased; for thou art careful to hearken to my words, and not transgress my law, nor rebel against my servant Joseph Smith, for thou hast a respect to the words of mine anointed, even from the least to the greatest of them; therefore” —listen to this—“thy name is written in heaven, no more to be blotted out for ever.” (Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, Bookcraft, 1975, p. 241; italics added.)

To the Prophet Joseph Smith the Lord said:
“I am the Lord thy God, and will be with thee even unto the end of the world, and through all eternity; for verily I seal upon you your exaltation, and prepare a throne for you in the kingdom of my Father, with Abraham your father.” (D&C 132:49; italics added.)

Now my beloved brethren, by way of summary and conclusion, I bear witness to the verity of these great truths. I know that the Spirit of Christ enlighteneth “every man that cometh into the world; and [that] the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.” (D&C 84:46.)

I know that everyone who, following the whisperings of the Spirit, develops faith, is baptized, and receives the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands by those having authority, may, by compliance with the teachings of the gospel, receive the gifts and the power of the Holy Ghost.

And I bear further witness that every such person who, having come this far, will follow the Prophet’s admonition to “continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 150), may obtain the more sure word of prophecy.” - Marion G. Romney, “The Light of Christ,” Ensign, May 1977, 43.