{"chapter_no":"15","chapter_title":"In the Light of Noonday","book_id":"4","book_name":"Beauty the World Has Never Seen","subchapter_no":"0","page_no":"704","page_number":"1","verses_count":0,"total_pages":2,"page_content":"

 <\/p>

Chapter 15<\/p>

In the Light of Noonday<\/h1><\/p>

 <\/p>

Mark and Kathleen breach a new frontier of spiritual gifts––The greatest blessings of God are
given freely to all. <\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

 <\/p>

 <\/p>

One summer evening in August, more than five years having passed since the
presentation of the golden plates to the world, Mark and Kathleen, now in their seventies, took a
stroll along the garden pathway of their backyard, enjoying, as always, the beautifully cut grass,
the flowers, the rows of vegetables, and the many fruit trees. It having rained earlier that day, a
few gray clouds were still visible out on the horizon, opening up just enough so that a burst of
the setting sun could be seen through the tree branches as they walked. It was a spectacular
sunset, in likeness to the couple's time on earth that was drawing to a close. <\/p>

 <\/p>

Amidst the quiet atmosphere of the garden, their walk was suddenly interrupted by the
voice of the Spirit, as though it filled the sky above and all the space around them.<\/p>

 <\/p>

\"Now you know the sanctity of your callings\" was spoken.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Mark's eyes grew wide in astonishment, and Kathleen's, too, not knowing what to think.<\/p>

 <\/p>

What <\/i>was<\/i> this?<\/i><\/p>

 <\/p>

The reader will recall the many encounters with the Spirit each of them individually had
enjoyed in the past, but never before had the Spirit spoken audibly, and in the light of noonday so
to speak, such that both husband and wife could hear the words together. <\/p>

 <\/p>

Mark and Kathleen said nothing to each other; reverence and great surprise were the only
appropriate response for something like this. They stood still in this spot, waiting to hear more,
but this would be all for now. After a while, they resumed their walk and headed back to the
house.<\/p>

 <\/p>

In dramatic fashion, they had suddenly breached a new frontier of spiritual gifts. But, of
course, the other gifts of the Spirit were still there for them. Spiritual gifts are additive. When
you receive a new one from the Lord, you don't forfeit any of those that He has previously given
to you. In this case, a fairly significant one had just been bestowed upon Mark and Kathleen. As
a result, their faith in God had never been greater. The sudden appearance of an angel, or the <\/p>

appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, on their next walk through the garden, would not
have surprised them.<\/span><\/p>

 <\/p>

Helping each individual, each married couple, each family, and each stake of the Church
reach heights such as these in their relationship with God is the goal of this book. The greatest
blessings of God on earth and in heaven are not reserved exclusively for prophets, seers,
apostles, and other Church leaders. They are given freely to all based on their love of God,
obedience, and works of faith<\/span>. <\/p>"}