D&C Section Fifty

As new members came into the church, many of them tried to bring along some of the strange practices of their former churches. Some of them were convincing enough that other members believed them. In this section, the Lord explains how spiritual things are given and received and the thing I like about the way the Lord works is its simplicity and common sense approach. One of the reasons I was initially attracted to the church is the doctrine made sense. There was nothing mysterious or strange. Like Joseph Smith said, the truth tastes good. It feels right and is clarifying rather than confusing. And there are no wild rantings, strange histrionics, or over the top emotional acting with the Spirit. Spiritual experiences are always calm, peaceful, personal and dignified. Even when it becomes necessary to cast out evil spirits, the Lord says it must be done in a dignified manner.

In this section, the Lord gives a pattern for recognizing and receiving truth. He also teaches that those who are responsible for teaching the truth must do it according to his pattern or truth will not be revealed. The pattern he gives is this; if a person is going to teach spiritual knowledge, they must first be ordained or set apart. Then what is taught, must be taught by the power of the Spirit. Teaching that is not accompanied by the Comforter is not truth because the Holy Ghost will always accompany and witness what is true. When something is taught under the influence of the Spirit, the person receiving must also have the Spirit. The wonderful thing is, when the person teaching and the person receiving both have the Spirit, both end up being enlightened and taught. I think that is one reason I love to teach the gospel. Missionaries who teach by the power of the Spirit will literally see the person they are teaching come under the influence of the Spirit. At the same time, they feel it also. Both end up receiving the witness of the Spirit and both learn from the experience. The Lord goes on to say that when a person is free from sin, they can receive all things. At the end of the section, the Lord promises the pure in heart that they will hear him and see him.