John M. Pontius

 The Baptism of Fire from
Following the Light of Christ into His Presence

[This compilation was made by Matthew T. Evans, 2004.  All of the text and formatting are taken from the following book:
Pontius, John M. 1997. Following the Light of Christ into His Presence. 3rd ed. Cedar Fort.]

Sins are fully remitted and washed away when the individual is visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost. In most cases this even occurs sometime after baptism, usually many years later when their repentance is complete. When a spiritually mature individual of powerful spiritual stature is baptized, the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost may immediately follow, making these two events essentially one. It is my opinion that this is the exception rather than the rule. Most of us participate in the ordinance prior to spiritual maturity, and then enjoy the baptism of fire when our obedience calls forth this great blessing. (p. 95)

Being born again, being changed from the carnal and fallen state of a natural man, into the righteous state of a spiritual man, is the first hallmark of spiritual greatness. The scriptures refer to it by many names because it works many vast and glorious changes upon the soul. It is referred to as being “filled with charity,” because charity is the blessed love which fills the soul of the recipient. It is referred to as being “born again,” because there is a spiritual birth from being a natural man to becoming a spiritual man. It is referred to as having your soul “filled with joy” because that is what happens. It is called “receiving the Holy Ghost as a constant companion,” because you feel the glow of his presence constantly thereafter. It is called the “baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost,” because the Holy Ghost baptizes the person in spiritual fire which purifies and cleanses. It is called “receiving a remission of sins,” because it is at this point that one realizes a total remission of their sins. It is called “becoming the sons and daughters of God,” because this spiritual rebirth adopts one into the spiritual family of Jesus Christ.
The Lord named this mighty event with divine wisdom. Being born again is a mighty change. It is much, much more than a spiritual mile marker along the path. It is qualifying to have the Holy Ghost become your constant companion and work a change within your soul which defies the [124] power of language to describe. The change is so profound, it creates a new person. A new child is thereby born, a spiritual infant—pure, clean, loving, and obedient. The old person of sin is simply burned away by the purifying influence of the Holy Ghost, and all that is left is this new creature of Christ. Gone is much of the pettiness, the selfishness, the powerful motivations to please and titillate the flesh. Gone is most of the anger, impure motives, love of wealth and possessions, and the shallow half-obediences. These impure attributes are largely removed at the rebirth. If they were entirely gone you would essentially be perfect.
This is not a state of perfection, it is a state of sanctification which burns the dross from the soul and leaves purity in its wake. Because of the power of this event, the nature of the person is changed so he no longer desires sin. He remains mortal, and subject to mortal temptations, except that most impure motives have been burned away, and without the inclination to sin, former temptations lose their power. This state of purity remains as long as the person endures faithfully thereafter.... Abandoning the path of light would plunge him back into spiritual darkness, and the urgings of the flesh would return again with renewed power. While the person thus reborn finds himself purified, perfection (such as can be attained in this life) still lies in the future. This change is the first major step toward the ultimate goal of perfection.
This powerful cleansing does not create a vacuum. In the place of impurity comes the warm and purifying glow of charity, a flood of faith, and a perspective on life which is eternal in orientation. Born anew is a spiritual infant of faith, dignity, and righteousness.
This powerful change is so startlingly real, so magnificently potent, so wonderfully life enriching, it is called “the mighty change,” in the scriptures.
Even though it is a powerful change, few people real[125]ize they have been born again until later in life when the Lord causes them to reflect upon the past. The Lord has not revealed why this is His plan. Perhaps, it is to keep us humbly striving forward rather than stopping to rest upon our achievements.
The question then begs to be answered—“Have I been born again?” There are two great witnesses which may be called to answer this question. The first is the essence and fabric of your soul. If your life is filled with charity; if you have no more desire to sin; if your love of God approaches adoration; if your soul yearns for, and rejoices in prayer; if the scriptures speak joy to your soul; if the Holy Ghost is your constant companion; if you have no desire to accumulate wealth, power, position, worldly acclaim or honor—if all these things are true without exception, then you have been born again, and did not know it.
The second great witness is the very source of truth which becomes the constant companion of those reborn. Inquire of God if you have been born again, and if you have the courage and spiritual acuity to hear the answer, He will reveal the truth to you through the Holy Ghost. If you have so ordered your life that you can ask such a question and receive the answer, you have either received the rebirth, or it will not be far distant.
The greater question may be—“Have I retained the blessings of the rebirth?” (see the whole of Alma 5, particularly verses 26–27). If you felt these refinements at one time, but no longer do, then you have fallen back, and must again earn the blessings of the rebirth. It makes no difference if you once experienced the Rebirth if you have slipped from that blessing, and do not presently possess the attendant refinements. Even if you once experienced it, the straight and narrow path again lies before you, and the rod of iron will guide you just as surely toward your goal the second time.
[He quotes John 3:3, Alma 7:14, and Mosiah 27:25–26.]
[126] “These verses end all debate on the subject of the necessity of being born again. It is simply not valid to assume (or argue) that this event is optional. For persons who never knew the gospel truths in this life, it is undoubtedly possible to accomplish these things later. In the case of those who know they must be born again, who have read the scriptures, who should understand and be living by what they teach, who have been given the gift of the Holy Ghost; for such people I tremble to think what procrastinating the day of their repentance might mean....
[He quotes 2 Ne. 9:27 and Alma 34:32.]
We were granted this life as a time to perform our labors and qualify for an eternal reward. Those of us who have the truth may not delay the rebirth until the next life. Let us, therefore, not waste the days of our probation, for awful will be our state.
How can we heed the warning and make ourselves worthy of the rebirth? There is no mystery to it, we simply allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into total obedience. This obedience calls forth profound blessings, and the Holy Ghost becomes our frequent companion. This companionship works a mighty change, which causes the spiritual rebirth to occur. Then, the frequent companionship of the Holy Ghost becomes constant companionship. And happy is he who has been thus endowed. (pp. 123–127)
Much energy has been spent in debating whether the rebirth is a process or an event. The intensity of the debate overstates the significance of the question. If we accept that [137] the rebirth is absolutely necessary, and submit ourselves to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we will be born again regardless of the form it takes.
My opinion is, the rebirth can be either a process which culminates in an event, or one lacking an event. When a person finds the courage to make absolute obedience the maxim of their lives, the rebirth lies just a short time away. To do it without this level of obedience takes years of struggle and effort. (pp. 136–137)
Arguing that the rebirth is only a process with one who has taken the more demanding path, and consequently experienced an event, is as futile as arguing with a mother that mortal birth is only a process. Yet, never having participated in the slower process, those upon the more demanding path may not even realize it exists, or doubt its value. For them, there was an unmistakable rebirth event. For all such, mortal birth and spiritual rebirth are related events infused with divinely ordained parallels.
The natural birth process begins with conception, gestation, and growth to a certain stage of maturity. Thereafter is a period of intense labor and pain which ends in a blessed birth which brings forth a pure and innocent child.
The spiritual birth process parallels this. It begins with an inception, and goes through a long gestation and growth. There follows a period of intense labor and pain, then finally a blessed event, and a pure and innocent child is born—again. (p. 139)
Does it seem incomprehensible that you could change significantly enough that your motivations and the intent of your heart become single to the glory of God? If so, you still do not comprehend how powerful the changes are that the Holy Ghost makes in the soul at the rebirth. (p. 141)
What is this song [of redeeming love, spoken of in Alma 5:26]? For some it takes the form of a prayer which occurs for the first time after you experience this mighty change of heart, which is the spiritual rebirth. Having had your soul filled with the joy of pure charity, and a bright awareness of the remission of your sins, you feel [142] such a profound sense of love that you soon seek the Lord in prayer. As you kneel in humble silence, the Holy Spirit burns within, until you are consumed with spiritual fire. You raise your voice as the Spirit gives utterance. Your words become pure praise and worship, and soon become an outpouring of worship so pure it transcends speech, eclipses poetry, and is more beautiful than music. It is the song of the angels and the incense of precious odors which ascends up before the throne of God day and night. It is the “song of redeeming love,” and is sung alone by those divinely inspired to sing it. It is soul filling, and is pure, sustained revelation. It is a two-way exchange of love of the highest magnitude, and while seeming to be only moments long, may last many hours. It refines the soul as nothing else can, and leaves the participant both fulfilled, fed, and overjoyed. This is when you finally understand the phrase, “My cup runneth over.” Ever after your prayers yearn for this celestial height, and your spoken words of praise, while pure and heartfelt, seem pallid by comparison.... It is possible that [143] the only way to understand it fully is to experience it. (pp. 141–143)
Even after enjoying a degree of sanctification through the rebirth, or calling and election, we will be mortal still, and subject to temptation and opposition of all types. We will have become pure, cleansed, and holy—not perfect. (p. 146)
The laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost is in anticipation of the time when we qualify for the constant companionship of that member of the Godhead. Being born again, receiving a remission of all sins, and receiving the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, occur simultaneously. (p. 147)
When a person has been born again he has qualified for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. This great gift infuses the recipient's life with great blessings of joy, faith, charity, and much more. It opens the door to the ministering of angels; it punctuates ones life with revelations, bursts of understanding, and views of the workings of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood begin to distill upon the soul. One finds new purpose and joy in living that defies human understanding.
The term constant should not be construed to mean permanent, for blessings after the rebirth are contingent upon obedience and righteousness, just as they were prior to the rebirth. A person thus reborn may transgress the laws of God and place themselves in a situation which does not invite the presence of the divine. In this case, they would cease to experience the presence of the Holy Ghost until they had repented.
There is a principle to be discovered here which brings further joy into the lives of the righteous. This principle becomes operative after the rebirth which causes their eyes to become single to the glory of God, and the total intent of their hearts to be obedient. The moment such a person experiences the withdrawal of the Holy Ghost, they can instantly repent, receive immediate confirmation of forgiveness, and continue on with their lives of righteousness. Needless to say, this process only operates in the case of minor transgressions committed out of weakness or ignorance, rather than rebelliousness.
The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is so profound, it literally propels the recipients into a different world. Their thoughts become the mirror of their righteous desires. Their world and possessions become a temporary collection of meaningless things which are at the Lord's disposal. Their eyes focus upon the heavens, and the world with all its boisterous and hollow pleasures fades into the background. They begin to view this life as very temporary, and everything in it of worth only to the extent that they promote eternal goals. Their former goals, ambitions, hobbies, and delights lose their allure. They look upon their former entertainments as kindergarten toys of no further value. They feel themselves being compelled to express their love and joy in service to their fellow man. They glory in their blessings, and bask in the Savior's love.
For those thus reborn, there is an implicit command, silently taught by the Holy Ghost, that they must not openly discuss these great blessings. They may be discussed only upon sacred promptings from the Holy Ghost. The reason is not that they are secret. They are so sacred, telling them to the wrong people brings feelings of resentment and envy, and thus figuratively casts pearls before swine. Even with a loved one the Holy Spirit must give sanction to speak of these things or divine displeasure follows.
Having the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is not to have constant revelation. Revelation, instruction, visions, insights, and doctrine are given only as the Lord sees fit to do so, and as we are prepared to receive them. The most notable effect of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is a constant burning in the bosom, and a feeling of love and acceptance from God. Some people experience it as an enduring devotional or spiritual feeling, or motivation to unending prayer. The scriptures speak often of praying constantly in our hearts. They are making reference to this joyful by-product of the rebirth. Even as one enjoys the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, the still small voice of the Holy Spirit still guides in all matters of eternal consequence. The Holy Ghost speaks in his true character as a powerful revelator only when the truths communicated exceed the more limited role of the Holy Spirit.
This constant companionship of the Holy Ghost has the effect of continuing to exalt and purify. Any contact with that member of the Godhead uplifts and refines. Constant companionship exalts. If one persists in their obedience, and endures their trials faithfully, they will, in time, be privileged to hear the Father's voice pronounce upon them the promise of exaltation. (pp. 148–150)