From the last post Hugh Nibley goes on with ‘delicious’ insights to say; “We have, of all people, Sigmund Freud to thank for showing us how our sins, even if we don’t think of them as sins and cover them up by protestations of noble and selfless motivation, nevertheless abide hidden in the subconscious, to undermine our confidence, paralyze action, and lead to all sorts of frustrations, ulcers, rashes, and nervous disorders; only with virtuous thoughts can we proceed with that total confidence which creative work requires.” The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion [that is the inspiration for which we are eligible here below],… and thy dominion [the scope of influence and control] shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means, it shall flow unto thee forever and ever” (D&C 121:45-46). What a timely message in a world that is unable to conceive of anything at all except by compulsory means. (Approaching Zion p.282)
The next page also reveals more insights as Dr. Nibley shares a question/answer format with his audience: He says, “…The solution is at hand in the very first step of our initiation into the Kingdom–an active brain. We can think of the brain as Sir John Eccles and others do, as supplying the substance of thought to the mind…”
Question: But there is still the question, ‘Men and Brethren, what shall we do?’… Answer: “You will not get the answer until you get over your present hangup.” Q: ‘How do we do that?’ A: “Do what Peter tells us to do: Have faith that there is more than you know; repent of all your present shallowness and silliness; wash off everything of this world in the waters of baptism, and be reborn, not in the self-congratulatory one-shot manner of pop religion, but to a course of action requiring perpetual, progressive repentance. Then “ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” and get the guidance you need” (Acts 2: 37-38).
Q: ‘Perpetual repentance?’ A: “At least until you are full of grace and truth, which is nowhere within the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, ‘an unexamined life is not worth living’, as Socrates said.”
Q: ‘And what do you examine?’ A: “The scope of things we can do and should be doing; the order of their priority… Q: ‘Then where do we turn?’ A: “Always to the gospel”… ~ Hugh Nibley, Approaching Zion p.282-283
His comments clarify WHY ongoing repentance is so essential. Mistakes, sin, is part of my mortal condition and training. I know that God can give me greater wisdom to completely change and avoid sin in all its forms. Christ never did sin, so he knows the formula and no doubt will train the vulnerable in all His ways. The accumulation of sin erodes my sensitive spirit, will callous over impressions from above making my life much harder. How much richer would life have been were I to have practiced all Christlike skills from early age! Again, ongoing repentance is an essential part of the process. kdm
