Experiencing God’s love

CHURCH OF LATTER DAY SAINTS

By Jim Greer

LW contributor

As a former physician, Elder Dale G. Renlund explained in a BYU devotional that “There is a type of receptor dysfunction that is eternally consequential: the inability to sense God’s love and feel his spirit. God’s love is infinite and perfect. There has never been, nor will there ever be, a deficiency of God’s love. The problem is with your receptors for his love. If you experience dysfunction of these receptors, God’s influence in your life is minimized.”

The prophet Mormon described a similar condition in his people. “For behold, they are without Christ and God in the world. They were once a delightsome people, and they had Christ for their shepherd; yea, they were led even by God the Father. But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her.”

Without the influence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in our lives, there is no sail—meaning there is no power. There is no anchor—meaning there is no stability, especially in times of storm. Without their influence, there is nothing with which to steer—meaning there is no direction. No power, no stability, and no direction are all consequences of dysfunctional receptors for their love.

The inability to sense God’s love can stem from sin or from not pressing forward on the covenant path. Elder Renlund prescribes a three-fold prescription for dysfunctional receptors for God’s love.

The first is increased purity, exact obedience. This means repentance. Repentance is a joyful process. As President Russell M. Nelson has said, “repentance is not punishment: The feeling of being penalized is engendered by Satan. If you feel that you have done something unredeemable, that feeling is not coming from the Holy Ghost. It is engendered by faulty thinking or by Satan.”

The second portion of the prescription is “earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ. Feasting, not nibbling, on the words of Christ,” especially in the Book of Mormon, has the power to dramatically change receptors for God’s love. Studying the words of Christ will put you “in a position to begin having experiences with God.” All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Third, make sure you never miss an opportunity to partake of the sacrament so that you can have the Holy Ghost with you. The Savior said, “And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock. If you do not,” then you “are built upon a sandy foundation; and when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon you, you shall fall.” Remember that he said when the rain, wind, and floods come, not if. If we have partaken of the sacrament conscientiously and worthily, then the blessings come so that we won’t fall.

If we approach the sacrament with a broken heart and contrite spirit, God renews the blessings of baptism for us, including the cleansing effect.

Through the partaking of the sacrament, we will always have his spirit to be with us.

This three-part prescription for dysfunctional receptors for God’s love restores power, stability, and direction in our lives. As we apply repentance, scripture study, and partaking of the sacrament to have the Holy Ghost with us, the prognosis when this receptor dysfunction is treated is excellent.

If you wish to receive the sacrament, contact me at (562) 344-5083.