This is a true account of one person’s experience in searching for and obtaining his Calling and Election, sent to me by a reader who asked that his name not be published.
My Journey to Calling and Election
I have decided to share my journey to my calling and election made sure because there is so much misinformation out there. I love my Father in Heaven and Savior more than life itself. I seek to do their will in my life and to contain the natural man. I also wanted to speak about it to let everyone know that they can have this journey too. You do not have to be a leader in the church or an author. You need to have the Holy Spirit as your guide on a daily basis.
This experience happened 15 yrs. ago, but it was a long time in coming through faithful obedience to the Lord and listening to the spirit. Several years before it happened I started seeking to do my Father’s will as perfectly as I was able. I sought out opportunities to listen to the spirit and to bless other people’s lives. I started praying deeply. Many of my prayers became mighty prayer and I felt a deep love for my Savior and Father in Heaven. I started being obedient to the small things in life, more and more I thought constantly about serving the Lord and thinking heavenly thoughts.
I remember one night the spirit woke me up in the middle of the night to pray. It was brought to my attention how my sins had caused the Savior so much suffering. I immediately started to cry and beg for forgiveness. I felt in a small way what He went through. This prayer lasted a couple of hours and at the end of the prayer I knew my sins had been forgiven me. I realized somewhat later that I had been Born Again. I could not believe the blessings which attended this blessing. I was changed like King Benjamin’s people. I did not desire sin. I had a special gift of charity given to me because I prayed a long time to be filled with this love, I loved everyone. I could see their potential for greatness as one of Heavenly Fathers children. This lasted approximately 6 months. Afterwards I was left with equal opposition to the blessings I received and started to struggle again. I could not believe how far I could sink after the glorious blessings that had been given me. The adversary is real and active in our lives.
I struggled about another 6 months to resumed my diligent obedience and heartfelt repentance. I once again felt the blessings of my Heavenly Father upon me. I started having great faith in the promises given to the faithful. I want to say that I am just a normal person with appetites and passions that I continually have to control. As you get further down the path and the joy of obedience comes upon you, your faith becomes knowledge as things are revealed to you. I was instructed to look at the lectures on faith and other specific scriptures and writings. I began to understand what it took to have your calling and election made sure and I was very willing to pay whatever price it took.
During this period of time in my life I saw many things of the spirit. I witnessed the adversary’s armies marching to destroy the souls of men. I felt the spirit so strong that it shook me to the very core. One evening late at night I was praying in my front room and the spirit distilled upon me. I was asked if I was willing to give everything even my life to the Lord. This was not just a cursory question but I knew it was a very serious question to me. I felt as if my life might be taken at that time. I searched my heart and told him whatever is required of me I will do. At that point I would have done anything He asked. I also knew at this time that the spirit searched my heart and soul and knew what I said was true. The Lord then said “ It is enough, You have a crown of righteousness laid up in heaven for you.” I understood very powerfully that this meant my calling and election was made sure. He said many other things to me that night which I treasure with all of my heart.
The next night I was lying in bed and my wife asked me “why are you so wonderful recently?” I laughed but I could not tell her what had happened the night before. When you have that kind of experience the spirit seems to restrain you from talking about it, even though you are anxious to bless people’s lives with your new knowledge, especially those closest to you. You pray continually to do the Father’s will. I have told only two people about this event because the Spirit has restrained me. I think the reason the Lord has allowed me to share this anonymously with the Un Blog family is because it is important for everyone to believe it is possible for anyone to have this blessing given. I am of the opinion that if I can seek and obtain these things, then it is available to the “least of the saints” because I am one of them. I know it happens in different ways to different people. There is not one “right way.”
Since that time I have been up and down spiritually though the blessings have remained with me, and I think about it continually. The natural man is so powerful in our lives. We constantly have to rebuke it and take the spirit to be our guide.
I want to close with my testimony. Arriving at this experience has been the hardest and yet the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I am so grateful to a wonderful Father in Heaven that so loves his children. He wants all of us to follow his only Begotten Son and listen to the whisperings of the spirit. It is all true. I have a sure witness of the Godhead, they live and love us. I have seen many heavenly things since then. The spirit that came with calling and election can never be denied.
This path that we are on is an incredible journey. May we all continue and be faithful to the end.
Used by permission.
© April 2012, John M. Pontius, all rights reserved. Non-commercial reproduction permitted.
UnBlogmysoul 
C&E is assured. then made sure by an ordinance. He says his assurance was made his C&E made sure without an ordinance from the president of the Church.
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It seems that ordinances and such things come in two’s. Baptism of water and baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. Aaronic Priesthood and Melchizedek Priesthood. Priesthood given by a mortal man and priesthood which comes not by lineage or man but by the voice of God. If I get the voice of God telling me that I am accepted of Him and have a place assured at His right hand, I don’t think I will worry too much about what others say or do.
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I’m so thankful to find another anonymous person over the internet who doesn’t think a second endowment is necessary to have one’s calling and election made sure! It is made sure when God tells a person specifically that they are sealed up in promise. Now that God has told you this, all you need is a priesthood blessing. What for? So that you may have living waters spring forth from your heart.
I have received the same blessing as you have and I also desire for people of the world to understand how this great blessing is actually performed. I have been restrained by the spirit for many years to not share this experience I had at age of 13 and 14 years old. But now that I am a young woman, I know that there will come a day when I must declare these things to all the world and not just over the internet anonymously. The Lord has said I shall be great and do great things, I know this thing must come to pass.
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Brother John,
I can not thank you enough for your guidance. I am blessed to read your words of great wisdom.
Thank you again,
Anja
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Like you, I give glory to my Savior who is the author of all things good. Thanks for being a part of the Un-Blog.
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Brother John,
I have two questions. Can a sister receive her calling and election without the priesthood holder/husband? Does the sister need to wait for her husband to receive his C&E before she can receive hers?
I am just learning/searching and would love any information. Thank you so much.
Anja
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Hi Anja,
Let me refer you to a previous UnBlog on that subject. If it doesn’t answer your question please ask again.
Thanks for the comment,
Brother John
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Anja, I will echo my post above to Robyn, and say YES! I testify to you that these blessings ARE available to those women who are without a faithful partner. These are INDIVIDUAL blessings. The highest blessings of the Celestial Kingdom can only be obtained with a spouse. But C&E and the Second Comforter are dependent upon the individual and his/her own place with the Lord. This website and forum (below – if I am allowed to share it via this post….), have a lot of amazing information and experiences by others like John Pontius who have received and testified of these blessings for themselves. 🙂
Jules
(http://www.elliaison.org/)
(http://www.elliaison.org/forum/index.php)
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I am so grateful to you John for sharing this wonderful story and the comments that have followed. I can truly relate to what you have posted here. I have been blessed beyond measure to know early on in my membership in the church these truths and blessings. How I have struggled and went up and down in devotion since then. Moments of sweet revelation and days of struggling and repentance from the natural man that is ever present and equally determined to rule my soul. Praise be to the Godhead for such patience, mercy, forgiveness and eternal love for my poor soul. As we must never give up on our children, we must first never give up on ourselves. Christ will be our Strength, our Guide, and our Savior and Redeemer if we will desire this with all our hearts and souls. I am humbled and grateful that He has never given up on me. Thanks again for your inspired help.
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I appreciate all of your comments. The truth is that the ups and downs are spactacular and unavoidable. We are mortals and mortals ARE the natural man. We can’t become something different on our own. It would be like a fish trying to act like a bird, and then berating himself because he just can’t fly. I agree so much that we must never give up because in Christ there truly is a way for fish to fly.
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Thank you so much for sharing. It gives me hope. Onward, upward.
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Thanks for that encouragement. My husband seems to think that these things are “looking beyond the mark” and seeking for mysteries, which to him are dangerous practices. I have quietly sought the Lord for many years.
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I have found that most couples are unequally yoked. The great challenge is to seek and find without alienating the other partner. It requires an inspired walk, love unfeigned and much patience, which anyone seeking these blessings is going to develop along the way anyway. Somehow, it all works out.
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This post on the mysteries might help your husband better understand/accept the doctrine: http://wherearetheangels.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/the-mysteries/
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That was a very interesting post. Is this your blog? I’ll enjoy looking at the older posts too. Thanks.
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I note that the anonymous C&E’er is male, Priesthood bearer, etc.
What about a female who desires the C&E but hasn’t a faithful partner? Where does this leave her?
Thanks,
Robin Carlson
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Hi Robin,
My personal opinion is that men and women share these blessings equally, and according to the same requirements and laws. I don’t believe there is any blessing men can receive that women can’t also receive. I also don’t believe an unrighteous, or uninterested partner can stop his or her companion from seeking and obtaining these gifts. All of these gifts are subject to opposition, and we must strive forward to obtain them. Most people who obtain these gifts do it against great odds, and as a personal journey nobody else seems to understand or appreciate.
“He inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.” (2 Nephi 26:33)
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It seems that D&C 93:1 give a good description on what’s needed and it mentions neither sex nor priesthood nor age nor nationality…
John – Thanks for posting this. It gave several key things the brother concentrated on and it gives me hope for myself and family.
Steve
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Robin, I testify to you that these blessings ARE available to those women who are without a faithful partner. These are INDIVIDUAL blessings. The highest blessings of the Celestial Kingdom can only be obtained with a spouse. But C&E and the Second Comforter are dependent upon the individual and his/her own place with the Lord. This website and forum (below – if I am allowed to share it via this post….), have a lot of amazing information and experiences by others like John Pontius who have received and testified of these blessings for themselves. 🙂
Jules
(http://www.elliaison.org/)
(http://www.elliaison.org/forum/index.php)
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It is wonderful to read the account of this good brother’s spiritual rebirth and that of his calling and election. I believe all of the scriptures that testify of these things but some how reading the here and now accounts from the humble followers of Christ can be so inspiring and motivational that I search for new stories all of the time. I’ve read John’s experiences on the unblog several times.
I think the reason I’m so attracted to these accounts is that I need the assurance because I can’t understand where I’m at in my own progression. My life experiences don’t seem to fit a pattern or make much sense to me. In my life I have have seen angels, heard the voices of angels, have met at least two different people who I’m sure were translated beings. When I was eleven years old a vision was opened to me and I saw Father in Heaven and Christ surrounded by others dressed in white looking down upon me from their place in Heaven. It wasn’t a visitation (receipt of the Second Comforter) but a vision that was opened for a few minutes. There was no message spoken just an overpowering feeling of joy. I didn’t understand it then and I don’t now. Because I didn’t understand it, I didn’t give it much thought at that young age and soon forgot about it – until recently.
On the other side of the spiritual scale, while growing up I was inactive in the church because my family was. I grew up with terrible influences in my life. It caused me to waste my twenties in “raucous” living. Then I decided to change my way of life. I started going to church and quit doing things that conflicted with the gospel. I met my wife about a year later, and lived the commandments well enough to get married in the temple and have remained active since then. But a few years ago I started thinking, “I don’t do the things I used to do when I was young, I don’t even want to do those things, but I don’t feel any different. I feel like the same person minus the telestial acts.”
Then about two years ago I read John’s books and I knew that the rebirth and more was what I needed in my life. Over a year ago I started to pray and fast for this. For over a year now I’ve fasted two to three times a week. I try to pray continually as much as I know how. Though I’ve felt very close to my Father in Heaven at times, this last year has been a struggle because sometimes I don’t know if I’m making progress at all. Sometimes I don’t know if I’m even following the spirit or just spinning my wheels, but I keep trying.
I’m confused about my life. I don’t know why I would have spiritual experiences in the past for doing practically nothing, and now at times the heavens seem as brass when I fervently seek the Lord’s blessings. Even so, I won’t stop seeking the grace and mercy of the Savior.
I find so much encouragement from the testimonies of those who have experienced the spiritual rebirth and have went on to receive their calling and election; and who can assure me of the reality and great worth of these glorious events. Thank you for sharing your experience.
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My personal experience is that some of the greatest spiritual growth accures during times when the Heavens seem shut and I keep trying. During these times growth is imperceptible to me but can be appreciated months or even years later. It is a paradox. I have seen the same experience with my spouse, and I can understand the frustration and confusion. It is not as easy to walk in the dark. I draw strength from knowing that even the Savior felt forsaken in His mortal journey. It must be part of the path for some if not all.
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Truly a great insight. I have also experienced that growth is gradual and hard-won. But, there are times, like at the Rebirth and C&E when the Savior just changes us. Until then, I view it as not walking IN darkness, but walking THROUGH darkness, because there is the little circle of light we stand in that Christ shines upon us when we are willing to see and hear by the Spirit. I believe one of the unanticipated virtues of the Un-Blog is that it shows us over and over, including myself, that we are not alone, that there are many who are on this journey, and that what we are experiencing and the struggles and paradoxes we overcome by faith are common to us all.
Thanks for your comment.
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John,
I would like to convey to you and the generous individual sharing his experiences that it is so very helpful. My heart has been filled with hope and gratitude in reading today’s post. Until recently I didn’t even understand that I struggled with unbelief, let along the depth of that unbelief. The unblog family provides continual inspiration and encouragement. Thanks to everyone and to our Gracious Savior.
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After reading this, etc. I’ve concluded that if we follow the “as if” principle, to act “as if” our calling and election was made sure, we would surely, in time, achieve that goal. If we direct our thoughts, deeds and actions as to how we believe one who had attained this experience would behave, it would eventually come to pass, as in “and it came to pass”.
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Dear Jowo,
I know you understand this, but let me say it for other readers. Acting “as if” is an important step for sure. I liked this account of C&E because he describes how important it is to take the Holy Spirit as your guide. This brings the Atonement to play in our lives to change us, effect the Rebirth, and upgrade our desires and faith. It isn’t possible to “do” enough good to get there, we have to be changed by the Atonement so that we “become” those things. Just doing them is a good step, but doesn’t get us all the way there.
Thanks for the comment,
John
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Thank you for sharing. I recently thought that the Lord establishes truth through 2 or 3 witnesses. That number has been exceeded by those is this day declaring these truths which are foundational to our mortal probation. These testimonies do help build my own faith.
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These additional witnesses are so encouraging. Thank you for this testimony and call to press forward.
Chris
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