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!