This blog post is taken form a talk that I gave in church last Sunday. Enjoy!
Today I was asked to talk on how following the promptings of the Holy Ghost can give us power in our lives. The concept of power in our lives is directly related to the doctrines of agency or the ability to choose. Our agency or the choices we make always have powerful effects as the end result. So to better understand the relationship between the Holy Ghost and our choices, we need to learn about the Holy Ghost and who he is.
The Holy Ghost is the third member of the God Head. He is a personage of Spirit. His role is to teach and bear witness to our spirits of the Father and the Son, testify of truth, teach us all things, brings all things to a remembrance, and to be a Comforter. We are able to feel the positive affects of the Spirit in our lives by the fruits of the Spirit which is: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. the effects of the the fruits of the Spirit in are not based around personal gratification or the influence of others. These things can only be achieved as one strives to come closer to God in their lives by living the gospel.
The hardest part about understanding the Spirit in our lives or even recognizing it, comes because it is something that we must feel after. It requires faith.
In answer to the question, "How de we recognize the promptings of the Spirit?" President Gordon B. Hinckley read Moroni 7:13, 16-17 and then said: "That's the test, when all is said and done. Does it persuade one to do good, to rise, to stand tall, to do the right thing, to be kind, to be generous? Then it is the of the Spirit of God... If it invites to do good, it is of God. If it inviteth to do evil, it is of the devil... And if you are living the right way, you will know on your heart what the Spirit is saying to you. You recognize the promptings of the Spirit by the fruits of the Spirit--that which enlightenth, that which buildeth up, that which is positive and affirmative and uplifting and leads us to better thoughts and better words and better deeds is of the Spirit of God." (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinkley)
Standing tall, buildeth up, enlightenth, positive, and uplifting are all words of power and strength.
To illustrate this concept of strength and power in our lives I wish to share a personal example that has taught me how to recognize the effects of the Spirit in my life.
My Grandfather was a convert to the church as a young adult during the Second World War. He continued in the church all his life and served in many callings that required him to be so very close to the Spirit of the Lord. Although not a perfect man, he would always strive to live his life in a way to keep the Spirit with him. He was able to achieve this by studying the scriptures daily, keeping the commandments, and striving to serve his wife and family. In the final days of his life, my grandfather had to live with a care family to assist him in his frailties'. The family he lived with is a wonderful family and they live good Christian lives, but at times their choice of TV viewing was what can be considered acceptable by the ways of the world. As different shows would come on that were slightly immoral, derogative, or laced with innuendo, my grandfather's would ask the family kindly saying, "can you please change the show, it makes my heart hurt."
When we have the Spirit with us and do, or encounter something that is wrong, we can feel its presence leave as a pain in our hearts, sadness, or discomfort. It is at these points in our lives where we need to make a stand and strive to bring the Spirit back by changing our course and making choices to invite the Spirit back.
The other way that the Holy Ghost works in our lives comes by impressions. Impressions are thoughts and feelings that come to one in their mind and heart that invite them to do good. When these thoughts and feelings come to us we need to pay close attention to them, pray about them, and most importantly act on them.
"And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still small voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it id pierce even to the very soul" (Helaman 5:30)
The idea of one's soul being pierced, comes as feelings of the fruits of the Spirit. An internally eternal feeling that rests in our hearts and minds.
"But, behold, I say unto you, that you study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore you shall feel that it is right." (D&C 9:8)
As we feel out things that are right, we make right choices. Right choices lead to power. That power comes by us, choosing the Lord's will over the adversary's.
And because of the righteousness of His (Jesus Christ's) people, Satan has no power.
One practical way to increase the influence of the Holy Spirit in your life is to ask for it. Ask for the Spirit to teach you and help you in what ever you face. Then wait, listen, and be ready to act. The most important part of any prompting or feeling of the Spirit is action. The results, blessings, will then speak for themselves as you see the hand of the Lord manifest its self before your eyes.
I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that following the promptings of the Spirit adds power and great blessings to our lives. I know that feeling of the Spirit in my life has brought me happiness and given me glimpses of what eternal joy can be, hope. I testify of these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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