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Conference tecrus::mormonism

Title:The Glory of God is Intelligence.
Moderator:BSS::RONEY
Created:Thu Jan 28 1988
Last Modified:Fri Apr 25 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:460
Total number of notes:6198

160.0. "Countenances" by MIZZOU::SHERMAN (socialism doesn't work ...) Mon Aug 29 1988 13:27

A talk recently given in Sacrament extracted portions of the book mentioned
in note 39.10.  In the book, Dr. Ritchie describes people he met who so loved
and served others (after his after-death experience) that he recognized the 
countenance of the Lord in their faces.  This clarified to the speaker and 
now to me the meaning of Alma 5:14 where Alma asks,

	And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye
	been spiritually born of God?  Have ye received his image in
	your countenances?  Have ye experienced this mighty change in your
	hearts?

At first, I thought this somehow referred to the conversion accompanied with 
baptism.  But, I believe now that it does not, as it is addressed to members 
of the Church.  Instead, it seems to refer to an even higher grace, a mighty 
change of heart, a change so powerful as to change one's countenance (facial 
expressions or appearance).  

Further insight is provided as to the countenance of Christ in 3 Nephi 19:25:

	And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto
	him; and his countenance did smile upon them, and the light of 
	his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as
	white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus; and
	behold the whiteness thereof did exceed all the whiteness, yea, 
	even there could be nothing upon earth so white as the whiteness
	thereof.

It is remarkable to me how similar the accounts of Dr. Ritchie and of others
who have had after-death experiences often are with regard to the countenance 
of Christ.  It is also remarkable to me to realize that there is yet another
change to come in this life for those who aspire to become perfect like Jesus
Christ.  And, it seems even more devious that the Adversary should offer such
poor substitutes for being 'spiritually born of God' to those hungry for the 
True Light.


Steve
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
160.1CACHE::LEIGHWed Aug 31 1988 13:077
It is interesting, Steve, that when people join the Church, they change, both
in behavior and in appearance.  When one has the companionship of the Holy
Ghost and probably greater influence from the Light of Christ, he or she does
look different.  Conversely, after people are excommunicated from the Church
due to wickedness, they also look different.

Allen
160.2Countenance ChangedSMURF::SOUSAThu Sep 15 1988 11:3053
    Steve,
    
    I want to share with you a true story which proved to me that the
    Lord can and does change our countenances.
    
    In March of 1983, while my husband and I were in the process of
    converting to Mormonism, my family and I witnessed before our very
    eyes a dramatic change in his countenance.  My husband had not
    been feeling well for several weeks prior to our investigating
    the Church.  He was experiencing chest pains quite frequently.
    One day, he decided to take a ride to Mass General Hospital in
    Boston as he did not have faith in our local doctors.  After
    having several tests performed in the out-patient section of
    the hospital, it was determined that his pains were due to his
    over indulgence in drinking up to 12 cups of perked coffee per
    day.  Having to 'give up' drinking coffee really bothered him
    previous to this exam and he felt that the Mormon's Word of
    Wisdom was 'crazy'.  However, he started to see things in a 
    different perspective after this exam.  We talked at great length
    on the way home from Boston about caffeine and its affects on our
    bodies.
    
    That night, while my husband and I were sleeping, he received a
    profound testimony from the Lord in the form of a spiritual experience
    in our bedroom which bore strong testimony to him that the Lord
    did indeed desire for us to convert to Mormonism.  He woke me up
    at 2:30 am to tell me of his experience.  
    
    Five days after this experience, we were asked to join the Missionaries
    who were teaching us the gospel, and by my Mormon brother and his family
    to attend the April General Conference at the Nashua, N.H. Stake
    Center. It was also Easter Sunday that day.  After Conference, we
    gathered for Easter Sunday dinner at my parents home.  During that
    visit, I can't begin to tell you how many family members kept going
    up to my husband and saying to him "John, I thought you were not
    feeling well, you look like a new person today, what has happened to
    you?  In fact, your face looks so 'different', you look ten years
    younger, what in the world did you do to yourself?"
    
    I had indeed remembered reading that verse you quoted from Alma
    5:14 during my conversion with the missionaries.  It rung out like
    a loud bell in my head and heart when I heard those comments from my
    family members to my husband.  I truly knew at that moment, that
    a miracle had been performed and his countenance had been changed
    by the Lord.  After that experience, it seemed as though I paid
    very careful attention to the countenance of each and every person
    in my daily life.  You can definately see the light of Chirst 
    shining on a persons countenance, it is quite obvious to me.
                                            
    I bear you this true testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
                                  
    Penny
160.3MIZZOU::SHERMANsocialism doesn't work ...Mon Sep 19 1988 01:104
    Thanks for sharing that with us!  If only we could see ourselves
    as well as others see us ...
    
    Steve