What is required to take advantage of the saving work done by the Savior? What must we do to receive a fullness of salvation? What then, is the doctrine of Christ?
I've been told many times that the way to be saved is through faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, which is made manifest unto individual salvation by confessing with the mouth His eternal Godhood and acknowledging His position as one's personal Savior.
This understanding is based on these few statements made by Paul:
"But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Romans 10: 8-13
I feel compelled to ask many of our Christian brothers and sisters: Why do we have the Bible at all? Why not just postcards containing that text from Paul's letter to the Romans?
For many, this calling upon the Lord is actually what constitutes the saving faith they profess. Plucking these few verses from the Bible, and taking them to constitute the whole Gospel is irresponsible. We ought to live by every word of God, according to Jesus. (Matthew 4: 4, 7: 21; Luke 4: 4; Doc. & Cov. 84: 44)
Those availing themselves of the flood of holy scriptures at large obviously know and believe that we must do more than know about and believe in Jesus as our Savior. We must follow His example. We must obey Him. We must become like Him.
We know that we must have faith, repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. How can we reconcile this understanding with Paul's plain declaration that we must only call upon the Lord?
Obviously, there is more involved in what Paul is teaching than only what we read from his writings.
Did anyone else in sacred scripture write about this same idea? What can we seek to complete our understanding of what Paul teaches regarding confessing with our mouth unto salvation?
Some marvelous, illuminating insight has come to us through the Book of Mormon. One place the entire doctrine of Christ is clearly expounded is in 2 Nephi, chapter 31.
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel."
2 Nephi 31: 13
Eureka!
It is after we've entered in by the way and received the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost that we are enabled to receive the baptism of fire, and take the further steps of sanctification that empower us to speak with the tongue of angels, and properly shout praises unto Christ, calling upon Him in the way Paul described to the Romans! I believe this is what Paul is referring to, consistent with Nephi. He is not denying the need for the ordinances of the Gospel, as many later teachers have proclaimed. I believe Paul was taking for granted the assumption that his readers had already received the Gospel by baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Angels have spoken some mighty words to mortals! I invite you to find instances of angels speaking unto men and women in the flesh.
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What does it mean for us to speak with the tongue of angels?
"Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?
Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."
2 Nephi 32: 2-3
Simply stated, if we are to speak with the tongue of angels, we must speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, since this is how angels speak.
The promises made to those who purify themselves to the point of speaking by the power of the Holy Ghost are truly amazing:
"My servant, Orson Hyde, was called by his ordination to proclaim the everlasting gospel, by the Spirit of the living God, from people to people, and from land to land, in the congregations of the wicked, in their synagogues, reasoning with and expounding all scriptures unto them.
And, behold, and lo, this is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth—
And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost.
And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.
Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants.
Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come."
Doctrine & Covenants 68: 1-6
Now, a caution. Don't confuse strong emotion with the influence of the Holy Spirit of God. Just because we feel strong emotion or even spiritual feelings, does not mean we are actually under the influence of the Holy Ghost. We must carefully guard ourselves against uncleanness that allows Satan to lead us along using spiritual influences that are not of God.
If you are always repenting and striving to be led by God, you are being led by Him. You can feel sure and safe in your efforts to live and share the Gospel. (See Moroni 7)
"And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life.
For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.
For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.
And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father.
And the Father teacheth him of the covenant which he has renewed and confirmed upon you, which is confirmed upon you for your sakes, and not for your sakes only, but for the sake of the whole world."
Doctrine & Covenants 84: 43-48
"The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh—
But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;
That faith also might increase in the earth;
That mine everlasting covenant might be established;
That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers."
Doctrine & Covenants 1: 19-23
Come unto Christ. Purify your heart. See the power and majesty of God's word. Live by every one of His words! Speak by the power of the Holy Ghost! Be an angel!
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See also:
The Ministry of Angels, by Jeffrey R. Holland
I Believe in Angels, by Carlos A. Godoy