We have said that the PROCESS of repentance culminates in a discernible, divinely bestowed experience or event of change. It is certainly fair to ask, "Is it really an identifiable event? "Is there no other way?", and "Just how important is this change, really?" The focus of this chapter is to look somewhat into the scriptures, the Prophet Joseph’s and President Benson’s statements on these questions. We emphasize that this is only an overview, not a complete discussion of every relevant scripture.

We start by considering two verses from Alma upon which the title of this work is based. Note the repeated use of the word "experienced."

Alma 5:14 And now, behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances. Have ye EXPERIENCED this mighty change in your hearts?

Alma 5:26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have EXPERIENCED a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

The Prophet Joseph gave us the following description of the effects of the Holy Ghost as found on pages 149 to 150 of The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith:

Next, let us consider what we think is the single most instructive incident in all of the scriptures on the baptism of the spirit in 3 Nephi Chapter 19. The events described there occurred on the morning of the second day of the Savior’s appearance to the Nephites. That morning the twelve whom the Savior had selected the preceding day were baptized (presumably this was a rebaptism) and then received a baptism of the spirit, but only after special prayers and a single minded intense desire to receive the Holy Ghost. This is an especially interesting point today in as much as prior to this time Nephi, and presumably the other 11, had been valiant and faithful church members and leaders, even working mighty miracles, including raising the dead. [See 3

Nephi 7:19 & 19:4 where Nephi raised his brother Timothy from the dead after Timothy had been stoned to death! Not only was this a raising from the dead, but it obviously had to include a dramatic restoration of Timothy’s badly damaged body.] We begin at verse 5:

On the question of whether the change is an imperceptible process or a recognizable, discernible event, most church members who have a view on the subject seem to believe that the baptism of fire is a process that occurs unbeknownst to the recipient rather than a powerful, life-changing, personal spiritual experience and cite as support for that view the Savior’s statement in 3 Nephi 9:20 wherein He refers to "... the Lamanites, ... [who] .. were baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not." From the time that we began to seek for understanding about the Baptism of the Spirit this scripture has puzzled us because every other scripture on the subject either explicitly describes or strongly implies that the baptism of the spirit or of fire is a distinct, powerful, personal experience, rather than something that happens slowly, gradually and unbeknownst to the recipient. So we began to try to identify the specific event to which the Savior was referring.

One of the first questions we asked was whether the event was included in the Book of Mormon record. Although the references are vague at best, we began by assuming that the event to which the Savior referred was in the record, otherwise we would be forever in the dark on the meaning unless one obtained the explanation by personal revelation. And, given the attention that the Lord has given to making and preserving this record we reasoned that the event to which He was referring simply had to be in the book.

The next question is what event was it? A good friend who had pondered the same question for seventeen years after he experienced the mighty change then shared with me the answer that the Spirit had led him to. He pointed out that in the former version of the scriptures, the footnotes on this verse referenced Helaman 5:45 and Ether 12:14. Unfortunately neither of these references are now separately indicated on this verse, instead the reference in the new scriptures is to the topical Guide subject "Holy Ghost, Baptism of" which is extremely lengthy and which only the most diligent student will wade through.

After perusing the references we concluded that the event had to be the powerful experience recorded in Helaman 5. There, beginning with verse 21, we read of a series of tremendously powerful spiritual events experienced simultaneously by about three hundred Lamanites who had gone as a lynch mob to the prison to kill Nephi and Lehi. When the mob got to the prison they were "overshadowed with a cloud of darkness, and a solemn fear came upon them." Then in verses 40-49 we learn that the "cloud of darkness" was removed from around them; then "they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire" and "filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory", and "filled with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words"; finally, they were even administered to by angels! This account certainly shows that those who experienced these extraordinary events were aware that they’d had such experiences. After rereading this experience we concluded that the Savior’s statement that they "knew it not" could ONLY have meant that this group of Lamanites did not know that their miraculous experience was caused by and properly named or known as the baptism of fire, rather than the meaning that is commonly accepted in the church that the experience happened to them in such a way that they did not sense it or perceive it.

As further evidence that these three hundred people knew that they’d had an extraordinary experience let us read on in this account.

My friend experienced similar confusion during his born again experience. As he told me about it, he explained, "The experience lasted six days. It was near the end that the Lord actually revealed to me that I had been baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost." In other words, until the spirit explained to him exactly what his extraordinary experience was in scriptural terms he too did not know exactly what it was that was happening to him.

To the best of our ability to understand the scriptures, the scriptural evidence appears to be unanimous that the baptism of the spirit is NOT AN IMPERCEPTIBLEPROCESS but is a separate, distinct, clearly identifiable, and extraordinarily powerful PERSONAL SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. In short, if you have experienced it you know it. You may not know what it was, but you will definitely know that something happened to you.

To those who may wish to advance a different point of view, all we can say is that our desire is to understand whatever the truth is and are most interested in the scriptural and other supporting evidence for other possibilities. But, after all, it is not our views that matter. What matters is the way things really are. And that is what we have sought to consider in this work.

Is it possible that some may receive the baptism of the spirit without knowing that anything has happened? Obviously we do not know all things so the only honest answer we can give is, "We don’t know." We do know however, that we can not find in the scriptures even a single scripturalincident or discussion that supports the proposition that the actual baptism of the spirit is an unperceived process! One considering this question has to ask why every single one of the scriptural passages describing instances of such baptism are either explicitly or implicitly descriptions of a discernible event rather than of an imperceptible process? As we considered our experiences and the scriptures quoted here and elsewhere throughout this work the only answer to that question that makes any sense to us is that Heavenly Father really wants us to understand that the change is an extraordinary blessing that He wants us to understand and to receive.If this is not true then why are the scriptures and particularly the three modern day scriptures, especially 2 Nephi chapters 31 & 32 and 3 Nephi chapters 9-27, filled with directions about and reports of the experience?

As further evidence that the mighty change is a powerful and clearly discernible experience, has not the Lord, our master teacher, likened the mighty change to two vital life experiences, birth and baptism in such phrases as being "BORN of the spirit" and as the "BAPTISM of fire and the Holy Ghost"? Does not everyone know the dates of their own birth and baptism? Would not Adam, Enos, Alma the younger, King Benjamin’s people, and the twelve Nephite disciples chosen by the Savior, among many others, remember forever the occasions of their baptisms by fire as spiritual rebirths?

Both baptism in water and birth are identifiable events that occur at the culmination of processes. With baptism the preceding process is the development of faith which Alma in Chapter 32 of Alma has so beautifully likened to a seed and its germination and development. With birth the preceding processes are conception and a nine month gestation. With the mighty change the preceding process is known as repentance which culminates in receiving a forgiveness of your sins and the mighty change of the baptism of fire.

Perhaps you are wondering why are we taking so much time on this point? It is because we have encountered so very many who vigorously resist believing that the mighty change, the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost is a discernible event or experience. All of us who have contributed to this effort have struggled to share it with others for as long as we have had understanding about it. Would you be surprised to hear that more often than not we have encountered stiff resistence? However, on this we’re in some pretty good company. The following well known statement of the Prophet Joseph shows that he also wrestled with the difficulties of teaching things that people were not eager to hear.

We now shift our focus to the question of whether or not there is another way. What about Moroni 7:47-48 on charity, is that possibly another way? Let us examine carefully these important verses:

The last question of "Just how important is this change, really?" brings us to some additional important scriptures.

First, several key scriptures show that the baptism of the spirit brings about the remission of sins and the mighty change of heart that results in being born again. Following is a sampling of some of these:

We have sought to share some of the evidence showing that receiving the baptism of the spirit is a vital, essential, even critical step in one s personal spiritual journey. It seems so essential that according to the original Nephi, one has not even entered into the "strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life" until one has received both baptisms. Consider his words in 2 Nephi 31:17-19:

Sanctification is essential for entering the Celestial Kingdom. In D&C 88:21, the Lord plainly states that unless one has been sanctified one can not obtain the celestial kingdom:

Now, having read the preceding quotes from the scriptures and the Prophet Joseph, would you care to try to state in your own words your thoughts on just how important you think this change is, really?

What we have sought to do here is ask what we think are some worthwhile questions and then refer to what appears to us to be some relevant scriptures and prophetic teachings as we seek for the answers. We think that these questions and the material discussed will certainly get your attention, just as it has ours, about both the reality and importance of this change known by so many different names.

If you would like even more scriptures about the central importance of this mighty change then please turn to Chapter 23 entitled "One More Time - A Review" and read carefully pages 23-1 through 23-5. There we show it’s importance from four separate statements of the perfected, resurrected Christ on precisely what His gospel is.

Our whole purpose is to do our best to provide sufficient information to enable those who so desire to personally experience this mighty change. As with all blessings the Lord has clearly stated that there are laws which govern receipt of His blessings.

In Part II we will identify and discuss each of the simple scriptural elements that are the predicates of receiving this vital gift. We will also explore many of the different aspects and effects of this truly mighty change.

In case you are still wrestling with or perhaps even resisting the reality that the mighty change is a clearly discernible, even observable, powerful spiritual experience,perhaps you might ask just who it might be that might want you to believe that it is a gradually occurring imperceptible process that occurs over a long time? For, if it is an event or a short process of a few hours or days then surely you must give it your attention. However, if one can be persuaded to believe that he (or she) can not know whether or not he has experienced it because it is an imperceptible process, would he not also then readily accept the idea that he must have already experienced it, because, after all, he (or she) is a valiant, faithful member of the Lord’s true church, isn’t he? (Could this possibly be pride?) Could not this then lead to apathy and indifference towards the whole idea, for, if it is a very long, imperceptible process, there really is not any reason for one to hurry or be concerned, is there?

Can you see the possible application of the sober warning that Nephi wrote to us more than 2500 years ago?

Do you think that procrastination in this matter serves our interests or those of our Adversary? Has not Amulek told us,
 

Hopefully, our detailing the abundance of evidence that the mighty change known by so many names is a real, identifiable, discernible, landmark event or experience is helpful. In our personal discussions we have found that the biggest single barrier to understanding was the belief that it was an imperceptible process rather than a discernible event or experience. It is our hope that by addressing the matter directly at the beginning and by showing you the wealth of evidence that it is a profound, discernible event or experience, that you can then more readily follow the detailed discussion in Part II of the steps, elements or components of preparing and seeking for that change rather than repeatedly rehashing the "imperceptible process versus discernible event" question.