An Urgently Important Goal:Help [Myself and] Others to Recognize the Holy Ghost!

The next conference talk is by Sister Vicki F. Matsumori, entitled: Helping Others Recognize the Whisperings of the Spirit. As I read the title I thought, "Yes, it is important to help others recognize the whisperings of the Spirit but first I need to improve my own ability to recognize the Spirit!"

Sister Matsumori begins by giving examples of individuals being guided by the influence of the Holy Ghost: missionaries are led to a door where someone was praying for them to come, a home teacher was prompted to call a family who is in desperate need, a young woman felt impressed not to attend a party where her values could have been compromised.

I "desire to feel the Spirit guiding [me] daily in [my life]" as Sister Matsumori teaches is possible. And I am reminded, not only is it important I learn to do so, it is also important that I teach my children to "understand the doctrine", especially about the doctrine regarding the Holy Ghost.

• "The Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil."
• "The right to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost comes as members are given that gift by the laying on of hands by those who have the proper authority."
• "This companionship can contine to be ours if we are worthy."
• "The spirit of the Lord oth not well in nholy temples"
• "As we let virtue garnish our thoughts unceasingly; then... the Holy Ghost shall be our constant companion."

I was given the Spirit of Christ. I was also given the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Now the responsiblity falls on me to be worthy each day and to let virtue garnish my thoughts unceasingly.

I think my biggest problem is I get so distracted by all I have going on that I neglect to seek the spirit and do those little things that are so important like having sincere prayers and reading the scriptures and the words of the modern day prophets daily. I've got to quit neglecting the things of the spirit!

What does this constant companionship feel like? The scriptures and prophets teach us:

• The Lord says, "I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart." ( )
• Enos said, "While I was struggling... in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind." ( )
• Joseph Smith said," When you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas."
• President Eyring described the inflence of the Holy Ghost as "peace, hope, and joy....Almost always I have also felt a sensation of light."
• I can attest that the inflence of the Holy Ghost feels wonderfull!!!

However, I am often like, I think, the Lamanites in the Book of Mormon who "were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not."

Sister Matsumori made a good point: "by sharing testimony of the Spirit in our lives, those who are unfamiliar with these promptings are more likely to recognize when they have similar feelings." That is how I started feeling the spirit by hearing of the spiritual experiences of others.

It is important for us to provide "an environment where the Spirit can be felt daily in or homes and weekly at church...pray[ing] and read[ing] the scriptures every single day...[are] activities [that] invite the Spirit into our homes and into the lives of our family members." I can definitely attest to the truth of this! Reading the scriptures and praying helps me feel the Spirit!

"Because the Spirit is often described as a still, small voice, it is also important for us to have quiet time in our lives." I'm going to try harder to make more quiet time in my own life and I'm going to try to help my family to turn off the noise of the world in order to "allow that still, small voice an opportunity to provide personal revelation and to whisper sweet guidance, reassurance, and comfort to us.

As teachers at church "If [we] accomplish nothing else ...with [our] students ... [we are to]help them recognize and follow the promptings of the Spirit, [and we] will bless their lives immeasurably and eternally."

I add my testimony to that of Sister Matsumori's. I have felt the Holy Ghost in my life. What a wonderful feeling! love how I feel when I feel the Holy Ghost! The Spirit has confirmed to me the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith and the Church of Jesus Christ. I want to feel the inflence of the Holy Ghost more often in my life! I'm going to strive more diligently to seek the companionship of the Holy Ghost! I think feeding my spirit constantly with the word of God will make it possible for the Holy Ghost to be my constant companion!

I NEED Spiritual Guidance!

Elder Richard G. Scott's October 2009 conference address was probably given just for me (and everyone else like me who has struggles in life). It is entitled "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance."

"Throughout the ages," Elder Scott begins, "many have obtained guidance helpful to resolve challenges in their lives by following the example of respected individuals who resolved similar problems. Today, world conditions change so rapidly that such a course of action is often not available to us."

Because of this Elder Scott rejoices because "it create a condition where we, of necessity, are more dependent upon the spirit to guide us through the vicissitudes of life. Therefore, we are led to seek personal inspiration in life's important decisions."

So it appears he is saying I need to be grateful for those moments when I feel: "Ah, I don't know what to do!" These moments are opportunities to grow closer to God and learn from Him. These moments are blessings in disguise!

Then Elder Scott asks great questions, questions he knew I was asking: "What can [I] do to enhance [my] capacity to be led to correct decisions in [my] life? What are the principles upon which spiritual communication depends? What are the potential barriers to such communication that [I] need to avoid?"

He then quotes President John Taylor: "Joseph Smith, upwards of forty years ago, said to me: 'Brother Taylor, you have received the Holy Ghost. Now follow the influence of that Spirit, and it will lead you into all truth, until by and by, it will become in you a principle of revelation' Then he told me never to arise in the morning without bowing before the Lord, and dedicating myself to him during that day."

What awesome advice to remember! I want to stop taking the gift of the Holy Ghost for granted and I'm going to start dedicating myself each day to the Lord beginning this very day.

Elder Scott goes on to teach us that Heavenly Father knew we would need His help to make some decisions in our life and that he included in His plan of happiness a way for us to receive help. "That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness."

Yes, I definitely want to start using this assistance and power that Heavenly Father wants me to use! I'm just not sure how?

Elder Scott says: "there is no simple formula or technique...Heavenly Father expects [us] to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy son, Jesus Christ. Were [we] to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, [we] would become weak....essential personal growth will come as [we] struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit."

He says it gets easier as we "consistently strive to recognize and follow feelings prompted by the Spirit.

"Spirituality yields two fruits. The first is inspiration to know what to do. The second is power, or the capacity to do it ....That's why Nephi could say, 'I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded.'"

Elder Scott gave a personal example of when he received personal revelation. After "prolonged, prayerful efforts to learn" he "began to receive personal impressions as an extension of the principles taught by [a] humble instructor."

He "carefully wrote it down."

Also of interest to me, is that he received more inspiration even in a situation where the teacher was not humble and was more focused on impressing the class with his vast store of knowledge than in communicating gospel principles. This teaches me that as long as I am prepared the Spirit can teach me anywhere.

Elder Scott wrote the additional impressions down, even going so far as seeking a more private location to do so. Then he "pondered the feelings [he] had received to determine if [he] had accurately expresed them in writing. As a result, [he[ made a few minor changes to what had been written. Then [he ] studied their meaning and aplication in [his] own life.... he prayed, reviewing with the Lord what [he] thought [he] had been taught by the Spirit. When a feeling of peace came, [he] thanked [the Lord] for the guidance given.

That is quite the process, but that is not all! Elder Scott felt "impressed to ask, "Was there yet more to be given? [He] received further impressions , and the process of writing down the impressions, pondering , and praying for confirmation was reapeated. Again [he] was prompted to ask, 'is there more I should know?' And there was."

Wow, I would love to experience such an out pouring of answers from God! However, I recognize Elder Scott worked hard for this blessing. Am I willing to put forth such an effort?! I hope so, but I think am going to need to exert more faith than I have ever exerted before! I can feel the growing pains already!

I love what Elder Scott says next: " I believe that you can leave the most precious, personal direction of the Spirit unheard because you do not respond to, record, and apply the first promptings that come to you." I need to start paying attention to promptings, record them, and apply them, so I can receive more. Why have I neglected to do this for so much of my life? I shouldn't neglect such spiritual blessings any longer!

Alas, I know from personal experience that the Lord does not force us to learn. We "must exercise [our] agency to authorize the Spirit to teach [us]. " As we do so we "will become more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance...[we] will recognize it more easily."

Elder Scott warns: "the inspiring influence of the Holy Spirit can be overcome or masked by strong emotions, such as anger, hate, passion, fear, or pride. " Sin is also spiritually deadening! Fortunately it can be overcome by repentance and righteousness! Satan also tries to convince us that we are not able to receive guidance from Heavenly Father.

And of course there is that horrid pornography that we must avoid at all costs in order to have the spirit guide us!

I really liked this metaphor Elder Scott used: "A feeling of remorse after a mistake is a fertile soil wherein repentance can flower."

He concludes by telling us: "Have patience as you are perfecting your ability to be led by the spirit....the Lord through the Holy Ghost, can speak to your mind and heart....I bear solemn witness that as you pray with all the fervor of your soul with humility and gratitude, you can learn to be consistently guided by the HolySpirit in all aspects of your life. I have confirmed the truthfulness of that principle in the crucible of my own life. I testify that you can personally learn to
master the principles of being guided by the spirit. That way, the Savior can guide you to resolve the challenges of life and enjoy great peace and happiness."

I am now making it my top priority in life to learn to be guided by Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, through the Holy Ghost.

I've changed my mind on how I'm going to use this blog- originally I was going to work my way through all the Ensigns I had access to starting with January 1971 and working my way forward but I have a whole stack of recent Ensigns, especially the conference editions I want to work my way through first then I can put them away and have a little less clutter. So it won't all be in chronological order and there will as I mentioned in my last post be a smattering of other really great talks I find not in the Ensign. Oh and another change- I'm actually going to blog!

Here goes again:

November 2009 Ensign

Welcome to Conference by President Thomas S. Monson

"How grateful I am for the age in which we live--an age of such advanced technology ...."

Isn't it wonderful?! So much more of the world has easy access to the Church and Gospel of Jesus Christ because of technology!

I am grateful for the opportunity I had to go with my family to both the Draper and Oquirrh Mountain Temples open houses and dedications. What a blessing to have so many temples so close. I need to attend the temple more often!!!

There are 130 temples with 16 more announced or under construction on October 3, 2009 the day this talk was given. Add to that 5 more: Brigham City, Utah; Concepcion, Chile; Fortaleza, Brazil; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Sapporo, Japan!

President Monson then says: " May we continue to be faithful in performing...ordinances for those who are unable to do so for themselves. I love the words of President Joseph F. Smith...,"Through our efforts in thier behalf their chains of bondage will fall from them, and the darkness surrounding them will clear away, that light may shine upon them and they shall hear in the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their [people] here, and will rejoice with you in your performance of these duties." "

I definitely should figure out a way to do some family history work and see if there is some temple work I can and need to do for my family.

President Monson asks us to: "befriend the new converts, to reach out to them, to surround them with love, and to help them feel at home."

We have some new converts in our ward, baptized just over a week ago. How can I befriend them? I've added them to my to do list so that I can figure out a way to show my love and support to them. Should I invite them to dinner, FHE?

President Monson also says: "I would ask that your faith and prayers continue to be offered in behalf of those areas where our influence is limited and where we are not allowed to share the gospel freely at this time. Miracles can occur as we do so. "

I had forgotten about this! I am going to bring it up at dinner tonight and then remind everyone for family prayer that we should be praying that the gospel can be shared freely all over the world. I have a special interest for this to happen in mainland China. I would love for Xiaoyi's mother to have the opportunity to hear and hopefully accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ.