Joseph Smith told Brigham Young to “tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it.” So when we think that we know something, or are sure about something, we will still be open to the Holy Ghost and accept revelations, promptings, and chastisements.

One reason I love the Book of Mormon is because it’s full of ordinary people having extraordinary experiences. Nearly every character exemplifies this principle of being open to the Holy Ghost, or not.

Unfortunately, Laman and Lemuel didn’t keep their hearts open to the Holy Ghost. They told Nephi, “for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us” (1 Nephi 15:9).

Ether began calling people to repentance during the reign of Coriantumr. Moroni wrote that “Ether did prophesy great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they saw them not” (Ether 12:5).

See, Hear, and Know

A couple of years ago, my scripture study focused on the Savior’s injunction to see, hear, and know. I couldn’t really understand what He meant by “seeing, they would not see” or “hearing, they would not hear.”

At the time, I played the organ for our ward. I got the hymn numbers from the chorister, went to practice the hymns (I even had plenty of time to practice during the week.) I really felt prepared to play the music for Sacrament meeting.

During the Sacrament hymn, I began sensing that something was wrong, really wrong. I usually mentally sing along during the hymn, but the words weren’t jiving with what I was playing. I finished the first verse, a three-lined hymn, and realized the congregation was still singing…the hymn across the page, a four-lined hymn.

My eyes dashed to the posted hymn number and then to my book. I played the wrong hymn! The chorister saw my panic. We stopped. There was just no efficient way to transition to the correct hymn.

Stop. Breathe. Reset. We started again.

I had written down the correct hymn number to practice. I saw the correct hymn number posted on the wall. I saw the correct hymn number in the bulletin. But, I played the wrong hymn. I gained understanding on my scripture study question. Seeing, I did not see. (Candidly, I wish some spiritual lessons didn’t have to be sooo public.)

So how did the Book of Mormon people open their heart to see and hear and know the things of the Holy Ghost?

Seeing Leads to Faith

After hearing Alma’s preaching, the poorest Zoramites approached him. Their leader—I can hear his dejected plea—said, “we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do?” Alma turned to them with joy and saw “that they were in a preparation to hear the word” (Alma 32:5-6).

They’d gone to a place where they could be taught. They’d gotten up and gotten out of their homes and probably out of their comfort zones. They opened themselves up.

Alma told them that, realistically, they might not understand everything they learned at first. Faith is a process. But, as they “aroused their faculties” and approached the Gospel with at least a “desire to believe” then Alma promised that the Holy Ghost would confirm their baby-steps. And step by step, their knowledge and comprehension would expand, if they maintained that desire to receive truth from God.

My first real experience with the Book of Mormon was when I was 8. My grandmother challenged me to read the whole book by myself. She said if I did, she’d give me $5. That was a lot of money to me. My family read the Book of Mormon together when I was a child, so I’d already read it through with them several times, but this was my first time to do it by myself. I finally finished.

At around the same time, my Primary teacher challenged us to pray to know for ourselves if the Book of Mormon was true. I knelt on my bed and I decided I wouldn’t leave until I received an answer. I began to pray and asked that question. Then I waited, for what seemed like forever. Clearly and distinctly, I heard a voice in my mind saying, “Delisa, you already know the Book of Mormon is true.”

During times of doubt or frustration, this experience, one of the first where I knew God communicated to me through the Holy Ghost, returned to my mind and reconfirmed what I knew to be true. “Delisa, you already know this is true.”

Do you know that the Book of Mormon is true? If you don’t, I challenge you to ask God, and to be open to whatever way He speaks to you and to hear His answer.

Hearing Leads to Repentance

Enos’s faith led to his repentance. I love the verbiage of his story.

He talked about “the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.”

Sometimes we choose to wrestle with our sins for many years before deciding to repent. God honors our choices, but we cannot find true peace and happiness until we have wrestled ourselves and our bad habits and ask God to forgive our sins.

His heart was open because words which he’d often heard sunk deep into his heart. His soul hungered. He cried to God.

And then, Enos heard the voice: “[T]hy sins are forgiven thee.” Enos said, “Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ…wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole” (Enos 1:2-8).

After opening his heart to conviction and learning that he needed to repent, King Lamoni’s father bowed down to God and cried mightily. “O God…if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee” (Alma 22:18).

Knowing Leads to Covenant

God will make Himself known to us. Through covenants.

At great peril, Alma the Elder heard, and accepted, the truth Abinadi preached. He taught other believers Abinadi’s words. They expressed their faith. They had repented. They were prepared for the next step. Baptism.

Alma taught the commitment expected by the covenant—looking outside of self towards others and the Lord. Baptism isn’t a first step for this life only, but for redemption and eternal life. Baptism precedes confirmation of the Holy Ghost.

“And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts” (Mosiah 18:11).

King Benjamin’s people demonstrate the sanctifying and purifying power of receiving the Holy Ghost.

“And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things” (Mosiah 5:2-3).

Because of the covenant, they became the children of Christ and because of Christ, they were free.

See, Hear, and Know—Enduring in Power

For me, the most impactful Book of Mormon story is of Nephi. Nephi and his brothers listened to Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life. Nephi learned later that while his brothers had lots of questions about the vision, none of them asked God for answers.

At the end of his record, Nephi’s still lamenting about people not asking God. “Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.

I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiff neckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness” (2 Nephi 32:4, 7).

After hearing Lehi’s dream, Nephi desired to see and hear and know for himself. “For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord” (1 Nephi 11:1) and he saw and heard and knew for himself.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie described how tv and radio signals are bouncing around all around us. but he said, “The minute…we tune a radio to the proper wave band and tune a television receiving set on the proper channel, we begin to hear and see and experience what otherwise remains completely unknown to us.

And so it is with the revelations and visions of eternity. They are around us all the time. This Tabernacle is full of the same things which are recorded in the scriptures and much more. The vision of the degrees of glory is being broadcast before us, but we do not hear or see or experience because we have not tuned our souls to the wave band on which the Holy Ghost is broadcasting.

The Comforter knoweth all things; he is commissioned to bear witness of the Father and the Son, to reveal, to teach, and to testify—and he is broadcasting all the truths of salvation, and all the knowledge and wisdom of God, out into all immensity all of the time.”

Joseph Smith said “The Holy Ghost is a revelator.” And, “No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations.”

The Lord’s covenanted promise to us is to reveal Himself when we seek Him. These experiences are not just for people in the scriptures!

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

The Lord promised “then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

What a blessing to be commanded to see, hear, and know. In seeing, we are seen. In hearing, we are heard. In knowing, we are known.

The Book of Mormon is our how-to guide, our direction manual to seek and find Jesus Christ. I pray we choose to live our lives so that our “hearts will be open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes to [us], [our] hearts will be ready to receive it.”

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

And there are many among us who have many revelations, for they are not all stiffnecked. And as many as are not stiffnecked and have faith, have communion with the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men, according to their faith.

This verse in Jarom was my very favorite from the Come, Follow Me chapters this week. I just loved the image of many people in the Nephite community receiving many revelations. And Jarom matter-of-factly gives the formula:

• Don’t be stiffnecked
• Have faith

That’s it. If we’re not stiffnecked (stubborn, proud, disobedient) and have faith, we can have communion with the Holy Spirit. We can. Anyone can.

The Holy Spirit manifests things according to our faith and obedience. So I don’t have to have huge faith to commune with the Holy Spirit. I just need some faith—or like Alma says, a tiny seed’s worth of faith. If I have a particle of faith, revelations can come.

Many Among Us Who Have Many Revelations

What kinds of revelations were they having?

Jarom wrote about blessings of protection, which would come through the means of revelation.

And it came to pass that they came many times against us, the Nephites, to battle. But our kings and our leaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord; and they taught the people the ways of the Lord; wherefore, we withstood the Lamanites and swept them away out of our lands . . .

 

And thus being prepared to meet the Lamanites, they did not prosper against us. But the word of the Lord was verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land.

They were enlightened by the Holy Spirit to find natural resources and invent things.

And we multiplied exceedingly, and spread upon the face of the land, and became exceedingly rich in gold, and in silver, and in precious things, and in fine workmanship of wood, in buildings, and in machinery, and also in iron and copper, and brass and steel, making all manner of tools of every kind to till the ground, and weapons of war—yea, the sharp pointed arrow, and the quiver, and the dart, and the javelin, and all preparations for war.

I’m so curious about their machinery! I’d love to see what they invented and how it benefitted their people.

They Must Be Having Big Revelation

Jarom talked about items of daily life. As I stopped to think about many people receiving many revelations, I realized I just assumed everyone was receiving big revelations about the most important things.

The Holy Ghost prompted me to consider things I’d encountered today (Friday) and to reconsider my assumption on what “many revelations” meant.

• One moment that came to mind was a conversation with a friend about reports that we shouldn’t use Ibuprofen if we had symptoms of coronavirus. I had just heard a report refuting that claim. At that moment, I knew the only way I’d know for sure what to do was to seek revelation about it.
• Another one moment that came to mind was about searching for jobs on a job board. The jobs are flying off the board right now and sometimes I worry about getting the amount of jobs I need, even though I always do. Today, I felt like I should pass on a couple of jobs that came up and refresh the board (refreshing brings up the new jobs). We get two minutes to preview a job and decide if we want to claim it. The thought came that if I was previewing those jobs, I would miss something else. After refreshing a few times, a job posted that I claimed. It was an awesome job and the content made me so happy. Had I ignored that little revelation, I would have missed out on a job I really, really loved.
• I kept bugging Anthony to go on a family bike ride this morning. He was working solidly through the morning. We all needed the fresh air and exercise. Then it began to rain, and I thought the option was off the table. I got busy with the job I just mentioned. Anthony finished around 1:00 p.m. and prepared the bikes and said we should go then. We never go during the heat of the day. We went. The roads had dried from the morning rain. As we returned home, rain began to fall again.
• I asked a question in my scripture study and followed a line of thought that came to mind that I’d never before considered. Things I learned edified and excited me.

I realized that many revelations didn’t need to be just big revelations. Many revelations can also refer to the small guidance that comes in our day-to-day lives as we’re trying to do the best we can.

We’re asking lots of questions these days about how to be safe and healthy, and ways to serve others, and how to maintain sanity, and how to fortify our spirits to prepare for general conference, and so many other things. In this day of confusion and turmoil, we are a people that can and do receive many revelations.

I just need to remember to always follow Jarom’s recipe and hear the divine Word.

Hearken and hear, O ye my people, saith the Lord and your God, ye whom I delight to bless with the greatest of all blessings, ye that hear me….

I know the Lord delights to bless. Even my little examples today show me that what matters to me matters to the Lord. If I listen to Him, I can receive His blessings that make my day-to-day mundane more exciting and joyful. And learning to hear and heed the small promptings will help me prepare to receive other more important promptings.

Jarom said we receive revelation based on the depth of our faith and obedience. I’m super grateful for promptings about when to ride our bikes and waiting for a job I love, but what my soul longs for and cherishes are the revelations pertaining to my eternal journey and salvation.

Saving Revelations

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

One of my very favorite stories of revelation in the Book of Mormon is Enos’s experience. This chapter is also part of this week’s Come, Follow Me lesson. Enos’s struggle for the remission of his sins is so relatable. He shows his formula for receiving revelation.

• Ponder on spiritual truths, words of the prophet
• Find a solitary place
• Hunger for revelation
• Humble yourself
• Pray a mighty prayer
• Expect an answer and wait for as long as it takes

Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.

And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.

And I said: Lord, how is it done?

And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.

Repenting of every sin is a requirement for receiving more revelation. Because his sins were remitted, Enos received the ultimate revelation. I love his declaration of redemption.

And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.

This is the revelation we all seek—to stand with confidence in the presence of God and receive eternal life.

How awesome it is to live in the midst of a tumultuous world and be a people who receive many revelations from the Lord of revelation! I’m so grateful for Jarom and Enos, who shared a glimpse into how revelation is accessible and how it impacted their lives.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

My dear friends, today I wish to share with you a special invitation. There are a few wonderful occasions in the scriptures when our Heavenly Father personally introduced His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, with a specific charge to “Hear Him!”

 

Today, this most-important invitation from our loving Heavenly Father to listen to the voice of the Lord and to follow His teachings is extended to us. In this special year as we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the First Vision, I invite you to think deeply and often about this key question: How do you hear Him?

President Nelson testified that our God pleads with us to listen to the voice of His Son, Jesus Christ, “Whom the Father anointed and appointed as our Mediator, Savior, and Redeemer.” He asked us to share how we hear Him.

Developing the Ability to Hear

When I was five years old, I lost almost all of the hearing in my left ear. I still hear very deep tones, but that’s it. So since childhood, I’ve actively positioned myself to best hear others in physical proximity, staring at their mouths, and noticing body language for context when conditions aren’t ideal. I usually really want to hear what’s being said.

Because I can’t always hear someone’s actual voice, I’ve learned other ways to “hear” someone, like their body stance, their facial expressions, and of course reading their lips. Sometimes I hear based on something someone is showing me or doing.

However, sometimes, despite my best efforts, I cannot hear what is being said. Because of my collective life experience, I resonate with the tri-fold “hearing” lesson of the people in 3 Nephi 11.

And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.

 

And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.

 

And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.

 

And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:

 

Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

President Nelson extended that invitation to us.

How do you hear Him?

Do You Hear Him Like Elijah?

Elijah fled for his life and then lived in isolation for forty days and forty nights. Frustrated by the people’s rejection of the Lord, Elijah at one time prayed to die instead of live. Elijah heard the word of the Lord in a still, small voice.

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

 

And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

 

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

 

And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

 

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

 

And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

 

And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

Do You Hear Him Like Hannah?

Hannah prayed at the door of the tabernacle for a son. The Lord answered her through the words of the (initially judgmental) priest. She left rejoicing with full confidence that his words were from the Lord.

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.

 

Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

 

And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

 

And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.

 

Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

 

Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

 

And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

Do You Hear Him Like Jonah?

Jonah on the Beach at Nineveh, by Daniel A. Lewis

Jonah sought the Lord in a time of serious distress and prayed for salvation. Jonah knew the Lord heard him as He changed Jonah’s circumstances.

Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,

 

And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

 

For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

 

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.

 

And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Do You Hear Him Like Tabitha?

Tabitha served people diligently but grew sick and died. Through the administration of a priesthood blessing, Tabitha heard the voice of the Lord and hearkened.

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

 

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. …

 

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

 

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

 

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

Do You Hear Him Like Oliver?

The Lord promised Oliver Cowdery that he would hear Him in his mind and heart. If Oliver had a stupor of thought, he’d know the Lord’s answer was a no. If his bosom burned, then he’d received a yes. Oliver’s experience is a staple for beginning to understand how to hear the Lord and identify the Holy Ghost.

Yea, behold, 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.

 

Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

and

Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

 

But, behold, I say unto you, that you must 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.

 

But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.

Do You Hear Him Like Abish?

Abish heard the Lord through a vision. Her story also encapsulated just knowing something in a circumstance. She saw a situation and knew what she should do. That knowing is also a way we hear Him.

[O]ne of the Lamanitish women, whose name was Abish, she having been converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father—

 

Thus, having been converted to the Lord, and never having made it known, therefore, when she saw that all the servants of Lamoni had fallen to the earth, and also her mistress, the queen, and the king, and Ammon lay prostrate upon the earth, she knew that it was the power of God; and supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known unto the people.

Do You Hear Him Like Nephi?

Nephi sought the Lord after hearing about his father’s revelation. He was caught away in the Spirit and saw and heard answers to the questions he had.

For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot.

 

And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what desirest thou?

 

And I said: I desire to behold the things which my father saw.

 

And the Spirit said unto me: Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?

 

And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father.

Do You Hear Him Like Joseph?

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

Joseph sought the Lord’s guidance in answer to a question. The Lord answered his question in an amazing way.

I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

 

It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

President Nelson promised that God has a vision for each of us!

“God loves all of His children and has a vision for each of us. Just as He listened to Joseph’s prayer in 1820, He listens to you and yearns to speak with you through the Spirit.”

We can hear Him so many different ways, and most importantly, the exact way that is best for us in our particular circumstance. How amazing that our God, the Master of the Universe, speaks directly to each of us to answer our questions and our pleadings in ways that we understand! We are blessed to be the children of such a gracious Father!

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

Preparing My Mind to Receive the Prompting

After enjoying an amazing time in Utah for my sister’s wedding and extra time with family, Mom and Dad took me to the airport to return home.

My return trip looked like this: 11:24 a.m., leave Salt Lake City, arrive in San Diego at 12:23 p.m. 1:05 p.m., leave San Diego, arrive in Los Angeles at 2:02 pm. 4:05 p.m., leave Los Angeles, arrive in Honolulu at 8:20 p.m.

The short connection between the San Diego and Los Angeles flights surprised me, but I figured it must be doable since it was the option selected by the airlines for my flight. However, when I checked the gates prior to leaving, I realized I’d need to change terminals, too. Stress began to rise.  There were still so many unknown factors.

I’ve only missed a couple of flights in all my years of travel, so I feel generally confident at making connections, but this hung in the back of my mind. I decided to choose to remain calm.

The previous weekend I’d heard a statement that really impacted me:  “Impatience shows your belief that what you want is not going to happen.”

I feel impatient when portions of my plan are out of my control. This comment really struck me and I pondered it a lot (and am still pondering it).

I had a chance to test my impatience versus faith beliefs on the drive to the airport. I kept that saying in my mind. It actually held the anxiety and worry at bay!

I kept that statement in mind when the TSA line seemed a mile long and when folks in front of me seemed startled by the requirement to remove shoes, coats, and iPads. Throughout the process, I felt calm and respectful.

I believed that what I wanted would happen, so no need to feel impatient. I realized later that this thought process was a constant prompting flow by the Holy Ghost to keep me in a peaceful, non-agitated state so I could receive the most important direction of the day.

Receiving The Prompting

I arrived at my gate as folks were pre-boarding. As I found a seat and was about to sit down, I heard an overhead announcement that the flight was oversold and they needed three people to take a later flight.

That announcement felt highlighted in my mind and I felt like I should immediately go ask about it even though I had three flights that day and wanted to get home that night. I walked to the counter and said I was available to take a different flight if there were other options.

The woman said the next available flight would leave at 5:40 p.m. and arrive in San Diego at 6:40 p.m. I thanked her for the information and said I was trying to get to Honolulu that day.

Instead of stopping her rapid keystrokes, they continued. Another lady at another counter who I hadn’t even noticed involved in my conversation at all said something. She was rapidly typing, too.

The first called another gate to see if they had seats on their flight to Los Angeles.

Yes, they had one seat.

She asked if I’d take the flight to LAX, bypassing San Diego. I said sure. She told me to rush to gate C3 (from C12) because they were boarding that flight to LAX at that moment.

It was 10:45 a.m. The flight’s departure time was 11:05 a.m.

I made it down the terminal quickly and waited behind one woman with a problem the gate agent was trying to answer with someone else on the phone.

“Impatience is…..”

The pre-boards and premiums had already boarded.

I stood in limbo without confirmation on the new flight and with my other flight suspended.

The woman stepped away from the counter and I stepped up and handed over my ID with a one-sentence explanation. He expected my arrival. But then he couldn’t update my itinerary! He called for help as Boarding Group 1 boarded.

I felt such peace. It was incredible.  Instead of feeling freaked out, I saw the man helping me. He was good-natured and smiled. He had no idea how to manage my itinerary change, but managed his stress and maintained his polite demeanor. Time stood still as everyone rushed and bustled around us.

We had a delightful little short conversation and he accepted my compliments and thanks as he handed me my new boarding passes. Without mentioning it, he bumped up my boarding group on the Honolulu flight to Group 1.

I took my boarding passes and boarded the plane at 11:00 a.m.

The one remaining seat was an aisle seat.

My new flights looked like this:  11:05 a.m., leave Salt Lake City, arrive in Los Angeles at 11:23 p.m. 4:05 p.m., leave Los Angeles, arrive in Honolulu at 8:20 p.m.

At 11:05 a.m., the airplane doors closed.

At 11:24 a.m. (my original flight’s scheduled departure), we still sat on the tarmac because of some congestion the airport experienced. At 11:38 am, we lifted off.

As the time on the tarmac ticked by, I realized my original flight’s buffer would have also deteriorated. I would have felt such stress and felt like I would have probably missed both flights.

But my circumstances had changed because I believed that what I wanted would happen and I followed a small prompting to do something I very rarely do. That direct flight to LAX was a gigantic miracle to me!

I celebrated and praised God! My heart bursted with gratitude as we sat on the tarmac with time ticking away, but not jeopardizing my return flight home.

Hearken and Hear, The Lord Delights to Bless

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

“Hearken and hear, O ye my people, saith the Lord and your God, ye whom I delight to bless with the greatest of all blessings, ye that hear me…” (Doctrine and Covenants 41:1).

So besides the flight change being super awesome for me, was it any big deal?

President Russell M. Nelson’s admonition to recognize and heed the voice of the Holy Ghost caused me to strengthen my relationship with the Holy Ghost and Deity. I prayed to be guided and directed by the Holy Ghost. I also committed to following any direction given.

I don’t feel like the Holy Ghost’s promptings are idle games or superfluous tasks. The Lord really will direct my path for good and with abundant blessings! He really will direct your path!

Promptings of the Holy Ghost are personal commandments. When given, the Lord expects me to obey.

“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;

A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day:

And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day…” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).

I can clearly see the blessing and curse associated with the prompting to approach the gate agent when she announced the oversold flight. This example simply demonstrates that cause and effect, the potential blessing or curse, of following the Holy Ghost’s promptings. Often I don’t see the blessings and curses so easily.

The principle and pattern were certainly easily discernible as I sat comfortably in LAX studying my scriptures about Lehi’s witness of how the Lord blessed him and his family because they heard and hearkened to divine promptings. I felt the prompting. I acted. The Lord blessed me. And then He prompted me to share the story. So I am.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

I’ve always trusted the Lord had a plan for me and my life. Especially when my life started looking different than my friends’ lives, I turned to the Lord declaring that I trusted Him and His plan for me. That didn’t mean I always liked it, but if the whole purpose of life is to work out our exaltation through the Savior’s atoning grace, then by golly, I had to trust that the bumps and potholes in my road could really be used to bless my mortal experience.

I get the big life path things. I believe in a strait and narrow way. But what about the small awkward and painful things intended to smooth out rough edges? The end result isn’t as clear. I don’t always understand. Sometimes change is really hard.

Trust the Lord

Laie Hawaii Temple

When I leave the temple in the early afternoon, I have two options to get home. They lead in opposite directions around the island. Barring obstacles, they both take about the same amount of time to reach my house. One includes my favorite ocean and mountain views. I typically drive the other route to the temple, so enjoy when I get my own semi-circle island tour.

Doing one temple session plus the driving usually involves 4-5 hours of my day. It’s vital, indispensable time, but I work full-time so want to return home as expeditiously as possible. So I always check navigation to see if there are any obstacles and regardless of the extra scenic route’s enticing beauty, I almost always choose the fastest route.

Thursday as I checked navigation before driving away from the temple, I noticed both routes had similar estimated times of arrival. I had a big job due later that day and needed to get home and back to work.

I felt nudged to go the extra scenic route. I felt surprised that it mattered. “Trust the Lord” was the response. OK. I’ll trust Him and enjoy my drive!

As I turned onto Kamehameha Highway, I didn’t have anyone in front of me! That’s a miracle. “I TRUST YOU, LORD,” I gleefully shouted in my car.

Putting My Trust to the Test

However, right outside of Laie, I caught up to a vehicle and settled into follower mode. It’s really typical to drive in a line of cars around the island. I enjoyed my few minutes of freedom and expected to leisurely watch the views as I drove home.

Not so. The driver of the Dodge in front me was super distracted. I felt like I saw his face more than the back of his head. His speed varied so drastically that I dared not venture a side glance at the sea or mountains. His driving totally frustrated me.

“Trust the Lord, huh?” OK.

At one point, when he’d gone the same speed for nearly half a mile, I decided to ask the Lord why He nudged me this way if it was going to be so psychologically painful.

The driver turned around again as he reached for something on the back seat floor. His speed immediately dropped from 40 down to 25 mph. I geared up for potential passing lane opportunities. Oncoming traffic prohibited the pass.

“He is so distracted! His driving is erratic and he’s an obstacle for all the other drivers.  Seriously, please help me learn something from this!” I felt the stress of impending deadlines creeping across my shoulders.

A new thought infiltrated the frustration. “Wouldn’t his driving be more efficient if he concentrated solely on the road?”

Yeah. Totally.

“Because he’s distracted, even though he’s on the right path, his journey is haphazard with self-imposed risks, right?”

Yes…

Where was this series of obvious questions going?

The Frustrating, Erratic Driver Was Me!

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

Suddenly a personal commandment received from the Lord came to mind. When the Lord commanded it, I recognized it as an instructive assignment from Him. I hadn’t been told I had to adjust immediately and I didn’t really understand the purpose. So while I started implementing the changes necessary to obey the commandment, I proceeded pretty half-heartedly.

In a flash, I was the Dodge driver proceeding with purpose and intention and then suddenly getting distracted and looking over my shoulder at something behind me, something in the past, something that I clung to unnecessarily. My speed slowed. My steering became erratic. Becoming distracted introduced counterproductive risks and obstacles on my way.

My journey became insecure and tenuous as I kept looking back. My journey became intentional and purposeful as I focused on the path ahead.

“I trust you, Lord.” I got it. I saw it. The imagery seriously clarified my internal struggle.

Thank you, stranger, for being at the right place at the right time for me.

At the moment I understood my application, after 12 excruciatingly painful miles, the road ahead opened up and I passed the man, who I felt grateful for, who expedited such a pivotal lesson.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

Do you ever find yourself in similar situations?

Tested to the Very Uttermost

The power of the gospel is that it makes “bad men good and good men better.”

Two quotes from John Taylor have offered me insight into those unexpected, and generally unwelcome, scenarios.

“If any man or woman expects to enter into the celestial kingdom of our God without being tested to the very uttermost, they have not understood the gospel. If there is a weak spot in our nature, or if there is a fiber that can be made to quiver or to shrink, we may rest assured that it will be tested” (The Kingdom of God or Nothing, pg. 345).

 

“We are all aiming at celestial glory. Don’t you know we are? We are talking about it, and we talk about being kings and priests unto the Lord; we talk about being enthroned in the kingdoms of our God; we talk about being queens and priestesses; and we talk, when we get on our high-heeled shoes, about possessing thrones, principalities, powers, and dominions in the eternal worlds, when at the same time many of us do not know how to conduct ourselves any better than a donkey does. Notwithstanding our talk and our short comings, there is a reality in these things, and God is determined, if possible, to make something of us.

 

In order to do this, he has to try us and prove us, to manifest principles unto us, to develop the evils that are within ourselves, and to show us, by placing us in various positions and subjecting us to various trials, what we are,—to show us our weaknesses and follies, in order that we may be made to lean and depend upon him alone. He will try men and prove them, to see if their hearts are pure; for he designs to take a course with us that will bring out the evil; and he will touch them in that part that will develop it, for he knows what part to touch in order to make us develop that which is in us” (Journal of Discourses, 6:166).

So many times I thought the lesson was an individual lesson on patience or endurance or compassion. Here, President Taylor taught that the lesson was to rely upon Him alone!

…relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.

Being able to discern the truths of a divine lesson and to truly rely upon the merits of Christ requires discernment through the Holy Ghost.

Template for Receiving the Holy Ghost While You’re Being Tested

In “Unleashing the Dormant Spirit,” F. Enzio Busche shared his family’s template for passing through life and its ensuing trials with the Holy Ghost. Some of these are struggles in an of themselves for me. But I see their value as principles to strengthen weaknesses and follies.

• Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.

 

• When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward God.

 

• In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.

 

• First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don’t permit anything to detract you from this awareness.

 

• You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ.

 

• Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.

 

• Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church.

 

• God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.

 

• God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us—everything will fall into its place.

 

• Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.

 

• When you cannot love someone, look into that person’s eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.

 

• Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.

 

• If someone hurts you so much that your feelings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.

 

• Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.

 

• Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.

 

• Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.

 

• You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do.

 

• The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.
• Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.

 

• And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson God wants to give you something better.

 

[W]hen we are constantly aware of this fight [against the adversary’s deceptions] and we let the Light of Christ help us stand in our responsibilities, we may be able to stay on this narrow path where we will see, with clarity, that we are lost without the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are lost without the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

This gives new purpose in being tested——gratitude to God for testing every quivering fiber, striving for the companionship of the Holy Ghost (who not only teaches how to transcend the trial, but reveals Him who descended below all things with me in my trial), and my need for a Redeemer.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

Huh? How could that be? I knew I’d just unplugged the phone.

I walked back into the bedroom to inspect and also to take the charger into my workspace. The phone had indeed been plugged into the charger, but the charger wasn’t plugged into the wall.

The discovery wasn’t catastrophic. There have been a couple of times over the years when I needed the phone ready and charged and it wasn’t. I plugged in the charger and phone to charge it while I worked, remembering the shock of expecting the phone to be charged and finding that it wasn’t because it wasn’t plugged into the source.

Was I Plugged Into the Source?

I’d felt that shock recently in another way. I’d been reading someone’s ideas I’d recently found. Because the ideas were so interesting to me, I rapidly read them without my usual truth tests comparing them to scripture and foundational revelation. The ideas claimed to be built on those foundations and I eagerly read them.

There were a couple of things that bothered me. I assumed I’d find their reconciliation. I noticed the interesting ideas began seeping into my consciousness. I thought about them a lot trying to understand how they fit in the construct of my faith.

Suddenly one day at a long red traffic light, as I mulled over the concepts in my mind, a warning message sliced clearly through the mulling. The Holy Ghost absolutely commanded my attention and I gave it. The chastisement was direct and painful.

I endured His rebuke—

For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.

And behold, how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men. (Doctrine and Covenants 3:4,6).

I thought I’d been plugged into the Source and was shocked to realize I wasn’t. In an instant, the Holy Ghost brought the ideas I’d been pondering side-by-side with scriptures and doctrines. The little things that nagged me but I’d put to the side had been my warning indicators that something was wrong and I’d essentially ignored them while continuing to consume the other interesting ideas.

When I got home, I took the time to compare what I’d been learning with my fundamental truths. I felt prompted to use the temple recommend questions as a guideline. As I went through the questions, ideas that this person presented quickly came to mind as I made my list. Some of the conflicting comments initially seemed semi-trivial, but as the Holy Ghost brought them to mind in this context, I could see their collective import. As I compared them to the temple recommend questions, I felt shocked to discover that challenges to doctrine conflicted with over half of the temple recommend requirements!

The one intriguing concept caused me to ignore others that warned me that I was not plugged into the Source.

I acted immediately and removed the content from my life. I felt great peace as I took my charger and plugged it firmly into the Divine outlet again.

Ask and Receive

The most distinct and lingering impact from my red light moment with the Holy Ghost was a sorrow the Lord felt that I preferred to receive insight from random people than from the true Source, the Creator of Earth and Redeemer of the World!

“Ask and receive,” Jesus Christ promised!

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

He has fulfilled this promise to me before. How easily I forget when looking for quick answers to my questions.

I’m grateful that the Savior reached out His hand in a way that I’d understand and couldn’t ignore. His invitation is constant and His promises are sure.

And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I am near—

 

Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

 

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

 
Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you;

 

And if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation.

 

Behold, that which you hear is as the voice of one crying in the wilderness—in the wilderness, because you cannot see him—my voice, because my voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.

 

And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

Let me use an example.

People even use white noise simulators to help them sleep! via Snooz

Maybe you are familiar with the term ‘white noise’—maybe not. The whole concept is fascinating if you stop and think about it.

When I look for an instance of “white noise” in my own life, what comes to mind is taking a nap as a child. My sleeping quarters was near our laundry room, so I would frequently hear the cadence of the washer or the hum of the dryer, and that sound would lull me to sleep when I would lie down for a nap.

Funny enough, that noise would actually help me fall asleep better. But this was not unique. Many are comforted by the sounds around them: a gurgling stream, crickets chirping at night, or the lullaby of a favorite song can all do this really effectively. Wouldn’t it be great if you could enjoy this benefit all the time?

We can. For me, that is where this article gets really interesting, because it deals with something I have failed to recognize largely throughout my entire life. Maybe you have, too. There are lots of reasons why. I will provide one.

In this amazing world of change and technological breakthroughs, it is easy to take these blessings for granted. Email, the Internet, television, cell phones…the list goes on and on. I know a person who gets so many emails, their inbox is constantly full of new, unread messages. That’s not a bad thing, but there is a cost. If an important email comes through, it is buried in the dozens of immaterial, unimportant messages that clog the inbox.

Does that ever happen to you? I believe we all fall victim to that in one way or another—all of us. After a vacation ortime away from the office, there are loads of unanswered emails to which we must peruse and reply. But when the inbox is jammed with so many irrelevant and unrelated messages, it is hard to focus on those that really matter.

In terms of email messages, if everything is highlighted as important, then nothing is important. This principle applies to other things as well. Let me use a couple more examples.

Many people mark their scriptures. When the words of the prophets help us feel comfort or understand concepts better, it is not uncommon to mark these verses in red. They touch us significantly, so we mark them to make them easier to find and help the passages stand out. But if we use our red pencil to mark every passage in red, then nothing stands out. Every verse is lost in a sea of red.

One more example follows—and it is the reason for this article.

It is not uncommon at my house to see one of my children sitting in front of the television with ear buds on, a cell phone in one hand, and an iPad in the other with the notebook computer on their lap. Okay, maybe that is a bit extreme… but not really.Though these technologies are wonderful and give us never-before available opportunities like they do now, sometimes we overstimulate ourselves to the point of exhaustion. For instance, I have grandchildren that are proficiently accessing and using games on a cellphone before they can even speak. So what’s the big deal?

Nothing is wrong, really—unless these diversions jam the signals that are really important in our lives. We are all faced with similar situations. Whether it is the radio turned on in the car, conversations at the office, melodies playing in the department store, or cell phones and telephones ringing to grab our attention, there is a chance that these diversions are lessening our ability to hear the Spirit and follow its promptings. But it doesn’t have to be this way, does it?

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have all been endowed with the gift of the Holy Ghost. This blessing is often referred to as the still small voice.

The True to the Faith manual refers to the Gift of the Holy Ghost this way:

“After you were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders laid their hands on your head and, in a sacred priesthood ordinance, confirmed you a member of the Church. As part of this ordinance called confirmation, you were given the gift of the Holy Ghost…

 

“Full enjoyment of the gift of the Holy Ghost includes receiving revelation and comfort, serving and blessing others through spiritual gifts, and being sanctified from sin and made fit for exaltation in the celestial kingdom.” (See more at lds.org)

I once read a quotation that goes something like this: “The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.”

The gift and blessing of the ability to read includes enormous advantages and opportunities. Yet when left unused, a person loses all the value the ability has to offer.

To read more articles by Walter Penning, please click here.

This concept is also true for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Are you struggling? Do the solutions you seek keep eluding you? Many feel these sentiments and are frustrated looking for answers. But don’t let the white noise distract you. The gift of the Holy Ghost is the answer. We can access and use this gift every day, and it can make all the difference.

Walter Penning

In 1989, Walter Penning formed a consultancy based in Salt Lake City and empowered his clients by streamlining processes and building a loyal, lifetime customer base with great customer service. His true passion is found in his family. He says the best decision he ever made was to marry his sweetheart and have children. The wonderful family she has given him and her constant love, support, and patience amid life’s challenges is his panacea.

Her thoughts were based on President Henry B. Eyring’s “His Spirit to Be with You” and Elder Larry Y. Wilson “Take the Holy Spirit as Your Guide.” Tracey said, “The best way to learn something is by repetition. Since we have been given lessons and talks on the Holy Ghost so often, it must be very important to know who the Holy Ghost is and let him into our lives.”

I feel the same way so wanted to share her words.  The following is from a Sacrament meeting talk Tracey recently gave in our ward.

Who is the Holy Ghost?

The scriptures refer to Him as the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of truth. He is a member of the Godhead and one with the Father and the Son. In D&C 130:22 we learn that “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones but is a personage of Spirit.”

Jesus referred to the Holy Ghost as a male person when speaking to His disciples in John 16:7: “It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. When he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth.”

What does the Holy Ghost do?

The Holy Ghost confirms truth

The Holy Ghost not only bears witness to the divinity of the Father and the Son, He also bears witness to truth, particularly to gospel truths. Moroni 5:10 says “By the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things”.

President Brigham Young stated: “The Holy Ghost opens the vision of the mind, unlocks the treasures of wisdom, and they begin to understand the things of God. They comprehend themselves and the great object of their existence.”

President Eyring stated, “The companionship of the Holy Ghost makes what is good more attractive and temptation less compelling . . . Just as the Holy Ghost strengthens us against evil, He also gives us the power to discern truth from falsehood.”

The Holy Ghost testifies of God and Jesus Christ

Marion G. Romney stated, “Every person who knows or has ever known that Jesus is the Christ received that witness from the Holy Ghost.”

I was not raised in the church, but all of my friends growing up were. My friend’s ward had a Super Saturday and she invited me. We went roller skating, attended a class that taught us how to check the oil and tire pressure on a car, and there was a dance that night.

I spent that night at my friend’s house and went to church with her family the next day. I attended Sunday classes with my friends and remember feeling that what the teachers were saying was true, and I wanted to know more. My mother and I started taking the missionary discussions a couple years later and we were both baptized and confirmed members of the Church on the same day.

The Holy Ghost is a Comforter

I’ve been friends with Kara since high school. One summer, Kara was sending her two oldest sons to Boy Scout camp in the Olympic Mountains. This was the first year her second son was old enough to go. The boys were very excited to go together with their dad who had recently been called as Scoutmaster.

After breakfast, the boys got permission to go with their two-by-two partners to explore the steep mountainside near the lake.  Kara’s sons and their friends walked towards the other side of the lake, which was really steep and covered in rocks, boulders, and moss. They found a huge log and decided to push it down the steep hill into the water.

Because he couldn’t find his coat, Kara’s younger son wore a jacket that was too big for him.

As the 1,000-pound log began to roll, its branches caught the boy’s jacket and pulled him over then under the heavy branches. When the log stopped, he lay face down on the ground.

The boys yelled for the adults’ help and the men rushed to the scene. Their father didn’t know for sure if his son was dead or alive. While giving a Priesthood blessing, the father knew his son wouldn’t survive.

My husband Mike and I attended his funeral to support Kara and her family.  During the funeral, Kara walked to the pulpit, looking out at everyone who came to mourn her son and told us with assurance to not be sad. She said her son completed his mission here on Earth and is happy with Heavenly Father.

This assurance can only come through the Holy Ghost. He is the Comforter. As the soothing voice of a loving parent can quiet a crying child, the whisperings of the Spirit can calm our fears, hush the nagging worries of our life, and comfort us when we grieve. The Holy Ghost can fill us with hope and perfect love, and can teach us the peaceable things of the kingdom.

The Holy Spirit Teaches, Guides, and Warns

President Monson taught, “As we pursue the journey of life, let us learn the language of the Spirit. The Spirit speaks words that we feel. These feelings are gentle, a nudge to act, to do something, to say something, to respond in a certain way.”

I was trying to think of a story to share when the Holy Ghost guided me, and I immediately thought of when Mike and I met. We were set up on a blind date by his best friend. We saw a movie on that first date and couldn’t talk much to get to know each other. While driving home, I thought he wasn’t interested and that I would never hear from him again.

He called me a couple days later and we talked for hours and set up another date for that following week. He met me after my institute class for our second date with a single rose. It was the day before my birthday and he brought it as a birthday gift. I was surprised since I wasn’t aware he knew when my birthday was, because I didn’t tell him.

While driving myself home after our date, I was listening to the song “Will He Really Answer Me” by Michael McLean, which is about the Holy Ghost. I glanced at the passenger seat where the rose sat. I felt a strong confirmation from the Holy Ghost that Mike and I knew each other prior to this life and would be sealed for time and all eternity. After dating a month, we casually talked about marriage. We were officially engaged the next month and were married six months later.

How Do We Keep the Holy Ghost With Us?

Now that we know what He does, how do we keep the Holy Ghost with us? I searched on LDS.org and the same scripture kept coming up, D&C 20:77, explaining to have the Spirit sent to us, we must “always remember the Savior and keep his commandments.”

President Eyring said, “We have the priceless promise of the Holy Ghost as a companion, and we also have true directions on how to claim that gift. When confirmed a member of the church we are told to ‘Receive the Holy Ghost.’ At that moment you and I have the assurance He will be sent. But our obligation is to choose to open our hearts to receive the ministration of the Spirit over a lifetime.”

The Prophet Joseph Smith set an example for us of how to receive continual spiritual direction and comfort through the Holy Ghost. First, he chose to humble himself before God. His second step was to pray with faith in Jesus Christ. Third, obey. (This may mean to move quickly, to prepare, or wait until you receive further instructions.) And fourth, pray to know the needs and hearts of others and how to help them for the Lord.

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

So the Holy Ghost is a witness of the Father and the Son, a comforter, a teacher and the bearer of valuable gifts of the spirit such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, discernment and direction.

In D&C 11:12-13, The Lord promises, “And now, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy.”

We have been promised that we may have the Holy Ghost as a companion throughout our lives if we remember the Savior and keep his commandments. When I have the Holy Ghost with me, I feel like I am home—and there is no place I would rather be.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.