The veil of unbelief spoken by Ammon in Alma 19:16 and the brother of Jared in Ether 4:15 is like a door which when we walk through we experience 'marvelous light and glory' 'dispelling the cloud of darkness' of 'wickedness, hardness of heart and blindness of mind'.
As we continue towards rending this veil of unbelief we will eventually be lead to having the faith as the brother of Jared and experiencing miraculous manifestations of the Spirit, even seeing the Saviour in the flesh.
Ether 4: 7
And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.
We read from this scripture that faith and sanctification leads to this power or manifestation.
This is a pattern or a key to help us open the door.
In Helaman 3:35 we learn how to become sanctified
Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.
This is a repentance and sacrifice process.
We can see as we repent (pray) and sacrifice (fast) we are given the power to unlock the door of faith.
As we pray and fast, we are given keys of knowledge of what more we need to do to increase our faith.
Fasting is not just going without food once a month. Fasting is a sacrifice which is personal and meaningful to you.
For example in 2018 President Nelson invited the women to participate in a 10 day social media fast. He said "Notice and record changes, experiences and impressions during this time. The effect of your 10-day fast may surprise you."
When we sacrifice or fast we are giving the Lord something valuable with the understanding we will receive a blessing. Sacrifice is defined in the dictionary as “the act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else more important or worthy.” and we learn from the hymn Praise to the Man, "sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven.
As we pray and ask what would be a worthy sacrifice, we can be prompted of the things in our life we need to let go of for a time or a season or even all together.
"Our challenge is to unselfishly sacrifice all that we have been given, including our will. Elder Neal A. Maxwell rightly said: “The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we ‘give’ … are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us.”(Sacrifice Brings Forth the Blessings of Heaven Oct 2002, Robert K. Dellenbach)
As we participate in this sacrificing process we access the Lord's power, even priesthood power to overcome the natural man and become more like our Saviour Jesus Christ and our Heavenly parents.
As we access His power we are given knowledge or the key of knowledge. This comes through guidance and strength, revelation and inspiration. (Handbook 3. Priesthood Principles)
A key is useless until we use it. Its not until we turn that key or act in faith that we unlock the door.
As we exercise faith and obey the promptings or keys of knowledge that we receive, we will receive more keys.
Therefore we can put all this together and understand that if we
1. pray and repent
2. fast and sacrifice
3. we will receive power to become purified and sanctified
This process of repenting, sacrificing and receiving power is the process of rending the veil of unbelief.
This rending the veil process is cyclic; as we repent, we will be given keys of knowledge of how and what to sacrifice which then leads to power of more knowledge to know how we need to repent and become more like Jesus Christ.
As we follow this process or pattern; repent, sacrifice and receive power, we will be given keys of knowledge and the invitation to act in faith. And as we commit to obeying our invitations we will continue to stay in this cycle which will lead to having faith as the brother of Jared and in turn will lead to rending the veil of unbelief.
I testify these things are true and I say them in the name of Jesus Christ Amen
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