“For the Spirit of the Lord Will Not Always Strive with Man”

Joseph F. McConkie, Robert L. Millet

On the other hand, unaided man—man unillumined and undirected by that God who holds the destinies of nations and peoples in his hand—will ultimately fail in his attempts to establish peace and order in society; he is operating with limited resources.

“It has been the design of Jehovah,” Joseph Smith explained, “from the commencement of the word, and is His purpose now, to regulate the affairs of the word in His own time, to stand as a head of the universe, and take the reins of government in His own hand. When that is done, judgment will be administered in righteousness; anarchy and confusion will be destroyed.” Other man-made attempts

“to promote universal peace and happiness ... have proved abortive; every effort has failed; every plan and design has fallen to the ground; it needs the wisdom of God, the intelligence of God, and the power of God to accomplish this.” (Teachings, p.p. 250-51, 252).

“The Spirit of the Lord Will Not Always Strive with Man”

The gift of the Holy Ghost is enjoyed only by those who have been baptized and confirmed members of the Church (see Teachings, p. 199).

All men and women are born with the Light of Christ or Spirit of Jesus Christ (see John 1:9; Moroni 7:16; D&C 84:46).

One of the manifestations of the Light of Christ is conscience, the internal moral monitoring system by which every soul can know to choose good from evil.

If a person attends to the light of conscience within him, he is further directed in righteous paths and led to greater light and knowledge. If he ignores or rejects the Spirit of Jesus Christ and lives after the manner of the world, he will eventually sear his conscience and stifle the promptings toward that which is good and ennobling. “The Holy Ghost does not strive or entice,”

Elder Bruce R. McConkie has written.

“His mission is to teach and testify. But those who heed the enticements and submit to the strivings of the Holy Spirit (which is the light of Christ) are enabled to receive the Holy Spirit (which is the Holy Ghost).”

(New Witness, p. 261.)

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

References