Being baptized by fire, or being converted, is an event that happens and it is pretty much immediate. However, we don't become perfect at this point and without any further advancement or progression needed. We can have a mighty change of heart and still be in need of further progression.
Let me use an analogy. Lets suppose that the highest spiritual progression one can obtain is 1000. There is a person who is at level 3 of their spiritual progression. One day they are baptized by fire and the Holy Ghost and now, in an instant, there are on level 100 of the spiritual progression index. The change from level 3 to level 100 is enormous. It is a mighty change. The person who was at level 3 and is now level 100 is now a completely new person. They aren't the same person they were before. But, have they attained the highest level of spiritual progression after this mighty change? No, because the highest level is 1000 and they are just at 100. But, after such a mighty change and having experienced this spiritual outpouring or endowment, this person is surely converted to the being responsible for their mighty change. They know with a surety that some power outside of themselves exist.
In our spiritual progression we can have other baptisms by fire besides just this one that converts us, that elevates us and lifts us in mighty ways to a higher level of spiritual progression. All in due time.
So, yes, Elder Bednar is correct that their is a progression that comes over time and we don't attain to the highest possible spiritual level in one single moment. However, the baptism by fire and receiving the Holy Ghost and that mighty change that occurs in our life as a result, is an event and it happens suddenly and immediately.
Hopefully this analogy is helpful. It is not a perfect analogy and there are things that this analogy doesn't cover or take in to account but I think it does help make clear how being baptized by fire and the Holy Ghost or being converted is an event, even while becoming fully spiritually mature is a process.
-Finrock
Baptism of Fire or Conversion
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Zathura
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Re: Baptism of Fire or Conversion
Finrock wrote: ↑October 10th, 2017, 8:55 am Being baptized by fire, or being converted, is an event that happens and it is pretty much immediate. However, we don't become perfect at this point and without any further advancement or progression needed. We can have a mighty change of heart and still be in need of further progression.
Let me use an analogy. Lets suppose that the highest spiritual progression one can obtain is 1000. There is a person who is at level 3 of their spiritual progression. One day they are baptized by fire and the Holy Ghost and now, in an instant, there are on level 100 of the spiritual progression index. The change from level 3 to level 100 is enormous. It is a mighty change. The person who was at level 3 and is now level 100 is now a completely new person. They aren't the same person they were before. But, have they attained the highest level of spiritual progression after this mighty change? No, because the highest level is 1000 and they are just at 100. But, after such a mighty change and having experienced this spiritual outpouring or endowment, this person is surely converted to the being responsible for their mighty change. They know with a surety that some power outside of themselves exist.
In our spiritual progression we can have other baptisms by fire besides just this one that converts us, that elevates us and lifts us in mighty ways to a higher level of spiritual progression. All in due time.
So, yes, Elder Bednar is correct that their is a progression that comes over time and we don't attain to the highest possible spiritual level in one single moment. However, the baptism by fire and receiving the Holy Ghost and that mighty change that occurs in our life as a result, is an event and it happens suddenly and immediately.
Hopefully this analogy is helpful. It is not a perfect analogy and there are things that this analogy doesn't cover or take in to account but I think it does help make clear how being baptized by fire and the Holy Ghost or being converted is an event, even while becoming fully spiritually mature is a process.
-Finrock
