“That Same Spirit” — What Does That Even Mean?

Through the years, I’ve thought a lot about Amulek’s statement that “that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.” If I wake up in the spirit world, wouldn’t that a be a clue that I was either righteous or not during mortality? Wouldn’t it be obvious that I’d want to repent before that same spirit ultimately dictated my eternal consequences?

 

Here’s the scripture in context:

 

For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

I know change is difficult and I’ve always trusted Amulek’s words, but I hadn’t had any real, tangible way to relate to this doctrine.

Moving Revealed the “Same Me”

 

This week while the words flitted through my mind, a “vision” of myself moving flashed to mind. I’ve moved 64 times in my life.

In moving from one place to another, my old identity has died and a new identity emerged. I kept my name, but parts of my identity shifted. I attended new schools. I became a wife.  My job identities changed. Anthony’s job identities changed, which shifted mine to a degree. Church calling identities changed. My address identity always changed. My apparel identity changed. My who-I-get-to-hang-out-with identity changed.

But do you know what never really changed? Me. The spirit I was in the old location was that same spirit I was in the new location. Now, experiences in those locations changed me.  I shriveled and grew in different locations. Sometimes experiences shifted my ideas and beliefs. However, as I moved from one location to the next, the move in and of itself did not dramatically change me.

Trying to Change but Haven’t

 

There are things I’ve being trying to change for years but haven’t. I know the benefits of, say, eating healthier. I’ve told myself many times, okay, on this move, I’m going to try eating more and varied vegetables. I have the knowledge. I even have a moderate desire. I’ve moved 64 times and I haven’t ever eaten more and varied vegetables. I stick with the ones I know I like. It’s easy. It’s comfortable. It’s safe.

Every new day offers possibilities of being someone completely new. Again, I have goals I’m shooting for one small step at a time.  But if I just changed my mind, I’d jump forward and accomplish those goals. Why don’t I?  Because who I am is easy, comfortable, and safe. That same spirit I went to sleep as awakens as me in the new day. Every morning I refer to all the things that remind me who I am and I continue to be that person.

Changing That Same Spirit

 

This time is the time to prepare to meet God. One way we prepare is to change ourselves so “that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life” is the one prepared for eternal life in Heavenly Father’s presence. There is a Way to change.

Through a process I can’t quantify, the grace of Jesus Christ changes one spirit into another kind of spirit. An angry, bitter spirit can become loving and compassionate. A sinful or discouraged spirit can become clean and hopeful.

Being Reborn

 

Jesus Christ turns even defunct hearts into new creatures. He invites all to be reborn.

And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;

And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

Through Christ, I can be changed here and now, reborn to the spirit which will inherit glory in the eternal world. And when I die, that same spirit will eagerly anticipate new eternal identities: a new address, new apparel, and a new name—the names of God the Father and the Savior Jesus Christ.

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

That is the spirit I want to die with—one who knows the Lord and has become like Him.