The Redeeming Effect of Personal Sanctification
Oct 15th, 2008 by larrybarkdull
Many parents have asked for scriptural proof that personal sanctification has a redeeming effect on the person for who they are praying. Here is a correspondence that lists that proof.
Hi Larry,
I am a new subscriber to the Meridian Magazine. I have enjoyed reading your articles on Wayward Children. We are dealing with two wayward children and we need as much support and encouragement as we can get. I understand that your main theme is the following:
“Every effort we put forth to sanctify ourselves has a redeeming effect on those for whom we are praying.”
I agree with this. I was wondering if you have any specific scripture references that lend support to this statement. I am teaching a RS lesson and would like to touch on this theme, so having this reference would help me.
Thank you,
Mother Seeking Proof
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Dear Mother Seeking Proof:
You asked for scriptural evidence of the redeeming effect that sanctifying one’s self can have on another. The best example that I know of is the Savior. Here are some excerpts from my upcoming book:
In his great intercessory prayer, the Savior taught that personal sanctification is the principle by which one person might save another. Just moments before Gethsemane, Jesus made the following statement: “For their sakes I sanctify myself that they also might be sanctified” (John 17:19). In other words, the first action, personal sanctification, makes possible the second action, the saving of another. We often think of sanctification in the context of being cleansed from sin-and it is certainly that-but here we see Jesus, who had no sin, sanctifying himself. Obviously, there are greater reasons to persist in the process of sanctification beyond repentance. So how did Jesus sanctify himself? We see the answer in the context of the 17th chapter of John 17: He sanctified himself through strict obedience, partaking of the sacrament, entering into a fast, making a sacrifice and offering mighty prayer (which I believe is prayer preceded by sacrifice).
In Jesus’ example we find keys to the sanctification process. In the last hours of his life what does he do? After having lived a life of perfect obedience, he partakes of the sacrament; then he enters into a fast, in which he does not eat or drink through the end of his life; then he offers an infinite vicarious sacrifice coupled with mighty prayer. Clearly, in addition to other sanctifying principles, obedience, partaking of the sacrament, fasting, offering sacrifice and mighty prayer are some essential keys to personal sanctification.
The Savior’s example of personal sanctification teaches us that we can shine a bright beam on those we love by focusing on fundamental gospel principles, such as increasing our obedience, worthily partaking of the sacrament; fasting with purpose, and offering mighty prayer coupled with sacrifice. With regard to offering sacrifice, interestingly, the sacrifice that seems to be most Christlike-or Saviorlike-is vicarious sacrifice, or proxy sacrifice. Is it any wonder, then, that some of the most powerful prayers that we offer are in the temple in the most sacred location of the temple, after we have performed a vicarious sacrifice for someone who could not otherwise achieve salvation? If we will pay attention, we will learn that parents, who are united in love and who sanctify themselves, are endowed with power to pray for angels in behalf of their children. Clearly, the prayers offered by sanctified parents for their children are only exceeded in power by the prayers of Jesus Christ.
I hope this helps you.
Larry
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Dear Larry,
Wow…….thanks for your quick response! Yes this will help me. Last night when I was in the temple I came across the following verse:
“FOR the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; else were your children unclean, but now are they holy” (D&C 74:1).
If I understand correctly, Paul was speaking to part member families and encouraging them to remain with their unbelieving counterpart because the conversion of one of the partners has brought a sanctifying influence into the family. Do you think this verse supports the theme of “Every effort we put forth to sanctify ourselves has a redeeming effect on those for whom we are praying”?
Thanks again,
Mother WITH Proof
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Dear Mother WITH Proof:
You are absolutely right. God places us in redeeming relationships to fulfill his purposes. Although I am writing about parents helping their wayward children, sometimes strong children are strategically placed by God to help their wayward parents. The same could be said for wayward spouses or wayward friends. When we find ourselves in one of these relationships, we ought to see it as an opportunity to assist in God’s work of redemption then apply the sanctifying principles to help effect a change. When we read the accounts of massive reclaiming efforts (Enoch, Melchizedek, the Sons of Mosiah, etc.), we begin to understand how Zion might be established. And won’t that be a wonderful day!
Larry
When I was reading the above I immediately thought about Alma the elder and the effect of his righteous living and prayers on behalf of his son Alma, the younger. While I know there are many who do not have this kind of experience, I believe that there are many who do, even though we aren’t privileged to know all of their stories. While I “wait” that is doing what I can do to be obedient, think always of the Savior and try to love as He loves and magnify my callings, etc. and pray for ways of rebuilding enough trust to have a positive impact on my children, I believe my prayers are being heard and will be answered accordingly.
Larry, I appreciate the great advice you have written to others. I, too, am in the depths of despair over my only son. He chose to disobey the commandments, let an underage girl tempt him from his marriage vows. He and his wife were sealed in the Temple in Dec. 1999, and had 2 sons, one of whom was born with a serious heart defect and died in 6 days. The other son is now 9 yrs. old, and being raised by his righteous mother. (She has to work 2 jobs to support them, including her 3 children from a prior marriage.)
Whether or not she decides to wait for my wayward son, while he is in a correctional institution (in Utah) for at least another 8 yrs., will be up to her. In the meantime, she cannot visit him nor even write to him (the judge’s decision,–for some unfathomable reason!) He also cannot write to her, nor his son. This is very hard on both of them…
I have 4 daus., who do what they can to visit him at least once a month, or write to him. 2 of them live in Utah, but the others are thousands of miles away, and it is physically and financially impossible for them to actually visit him in person. They are all active in the Church, and have been thru the Temple (altho one of them now has an inactive husband…
( )
I write to my wayward son at least once a week, and have the ENSIGN sent to him. I can copy and mail him articles from the Church News, but he can’t get a sub to it IN UTAH.
I also copy good articles from MERIDIAN Online and send them to him, too, plus LDS GEMS, and several other LDS Websites. I always pray for him both morning and night.
Thanks for listening,–but unless you have a LOT more time than I imagine you have, you don’t have to answer me!
His father died in Aug 2002, of a heart attack, and while he was always very hard on our son, sometimes physically beating him with a belt (as HE was as a boy, too), for almost every little wrong doing or mischief, I know that he DID love him… He just never learned himself to SHOW it in the right way!
I married again 6 mos. later, in Feb. 2003, to a kind widower, who thoroughly sympathizes with me and the Wayward Son. He makes Birthday Cards on his computer for ALL of my grand children, great grand kidlets, as well as my 4 daus., their husbands, my son and his wife.
I appreciate him SO much!
He lost his wife of 46 yrs. in Apr 2002. They had been living up near Cleveland, OH, but got very tired of all the cold and snow, so moved down between Houston and Galveston, TX. He first worked for NACA, a fore-runner to NASA, then was a Gen. Contractor for 40 yrs., also a realtor for Century21 for 10 yrs., too. When his wife died, he sold out everything and moved up to live with his only son and wife in Destin, FL, on the panhandle area. (Another older son died at age 16 in an auto accident).
His only son made a career in the USAF, flying helicopters. When he retired, the State Dept. hired him to go over to Iraq and so he’s over there now flying helicopters again, guarding supply lines for the military forces there. He does get to come home every few months, so we are looking forward to seeing him at Thanksgiving time!
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IF you feel like going into the above listed Website, then scroll down to my name, you will see what I’ve been doing: working as a Health Advisor for a noted NY Nutritionist the past 9 yrs. We write articles AND answer health questions from persons all over the world.
You can also see my PIC, and read my BIO in there! If you then have any questions of your own, please feel free to write back to me personally.
Thanks for all your help to others, too!
Carol Alexander
Panama City Beach, FL
–In the Panama City Florida Stake
(My husband, Ronald Alexander, has been the Exec. Sec. of our Panama City Beach Branch the past 5 yrs. I am the Genealogical Specialist helping people learn ONLINE genealogy, plus am one of the several FamilySearch Consultants in our Stake. We both work one day a week in the Family History Center, in the Stake Center bldg. (Did you realize that there are more LDS members now in Florida than any other state east of the Miss. River?!)