Washing of Feet

Q.

What can you tell me about the ordinance of washing apostle's feet? Do they continue observing this in the temple?


A.

I'm informed that this ordinance is still done in the temple, by the apostles.

All ordinances are for understanding a hidden principle (John 13:7). And the reason they are hidden is so as not to confuse those not prepared to understand. So it would be unfair for me to answer the question in its entirety. However I can give you clues.

Concerning Christ the Scriptures tell us _

"After that he poured water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded." John 13:5

So Jesus Christ is demonstrating that this is an important principle that is being hidden, for even he is doing it.

"Then he came to Simon Peter: and Peter said to him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, What I do you don't know now; but you shall know later. Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I don't wash you, you have no part with me." John 13:6-8

Jesus has laid down the importance of understanding and obeying the principle.

"Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him, He that is washed doesn't need to wash anything except to wash his feet..." John 13:9-10

From this we find that Jesus is saying that this washing of feet is a principle which goes on beyond just being sinless. It is an additional washing.

We are further told _

"And shake off the dust of your feet against those who don't recieve you, not in their presence, in case you provoke them, but in secret; and wash your feet, as a testimony against them in the day of judgment." D&C 60:15

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace; that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation; that says to Zion, Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7

So this feet thing is involved with missionary work and service to mankind. I often hear people say that a particular person was a good person. What they usually mean is that they didn't rob a bank or kill someone. That just means they weren't a bad person, not that they were a good person.

Who do Evil Spirits Possess?

Q.

Obviously evil spirits do not just posses any body they would like or we would see a lot more examples. Right? What kind of people do they go after. Do they have to be weak spirited or already evil? Does someone have to openly invite the spirit in?

A.

Evil spirits possess people on various levels. It depends how much people open up to them. If the person makes a habit of listening to an evil spirit, accepting their ways and desiring them, then the evil spirit can eventually take them over completely.

Evil spirits will first attempt to get a wedge in somewhere. They can use dislike of another person (for example). They can work at this to make the wedge larger. If the person accepts to be conned like this then the evil spirit can become a stronger force of evil in them.

However the evil spirit will use any weapon it can lay its hands on. It is up to you whether you accept to supply them. They will try any distortion of ideas: Lust, greed, pride, anger. They can try them all if one isn't working. They can also try them pretending to be righteous in their application - "Oh, I can't talk to that person, he's a Catholic." Or that he murdered someone. Or performed some other crime that you might find repulsive.

A person can be conned into getting a bad perspective of things within the church. A person can look down on those that seem to dirty the chapel, for example. Or looking down on those with noisy children, don't do home teaching, don't pay tithing, smoke, drink or whatever thing the evil spirit will manage to con people into being vealous for in an incorrect manner. We should not look down on such but pray for and try to assist those with problems.

If you keep your thoughts upon loving others then evil spirits can have no place in you.

Quotes of the Holy Ghost in Scripture

Q.

Are there any scriptures e.g. verses, chapters, sections etc. whose authorship is attributable to the Holy Ghost? e.g. I Nephi 11 has been thought to be a session between Nephi and "the Spirit of the Lord." However, at least one BYU prof says "No, that's not the HG." So what are we to believe as regard to the HG as a "thus sayeth the HG author?"


A.

The message of Heavenly Father is to testify of the Son. We see this when Joseph Smith was in the grove. Also we note this at the baptism of Jesus Christ when the Father spoke from heaven.

The main thrust of Jesus Christ's message was to honor Heavenly Father. In fact the Jews went off at him when he appeared to be testifying of himself.

The message of the Holy Ghost is to testify of the Father and the Son. He has no mission to preach himself. Consequently we have no information in regard the plan of salvation for the Holy Ghost.

However it is the Holy Ghost that gives most directions of things to say within the Scriptures. He is with us as we read or write them. I can tell you of when I was in the army for some years. I sometimes would have up to a dozen soldiers around me firing questions. What the Holy Ghost would do as one of these questions came is that he gave me a few words that I should say, and said that I should say them. I had no idea what was to come next. If he let me down and gave me no more I would come out looking stupid. As I began to say the words he would immediately flood it into my mind what to say. It was a faith learning time.

These original words came directly from the Holy Ghost. The soldiers marvelled that I always had these answers, instantly, that matched the question. Many times these contained parables that fitted perfectly.

The Holy Ghost has given me the words to say sometimes on my mission when at a door. And in teaching my children. He gives advice on how to handle problems children have, and countless other things.

When I read certain scriptures I can feel the Holy Ghost in there as I read. It is true that he doesn't announce himself as the author at these times. But you will notice sometimes the amazing similarity in what he preaches to various spiritual people throughout the ages.

The Scriptures also inform us that the Holy Ghost delivers prophecy.

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:20-21