True Manifestations of the Holy Ghost

This week, one of the prompts in the Come, Follow Me manual asked us to look throughout D&C 50 for principles that help us understand how to recognize true manifestations of the Holy Ghost. My favorite principle was found in verses 23-25: If something fills us with more light then it comes from God. This principle reminded me of a quote by Parley P. Pratt that I heard a couple of years ago that was shared at one of my Stake Conferences. Since then, I've seen it quoted in lots of other talks:

"The gift of the Holy Spirit...quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, invigorates and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being."

As we allow ourselves to be guided and directed by the Holy Ghost, then we will continue to receive more light. That light can (and will!) grow brighter and continue to enlighten our minds and give us more understanding and knowledge. 

 

A Pattern for Conducting our Lives

As I studied this weeks' sections of Come, Follow Me, the principle that really stood out to me was in Section 46:2. In answer to the question of "how should we conduct our meetings?", the Lord gives the answer that it should be a combination of using "those things which are written" and "directed and guided by the Holy Spirit."

In the podcast “Book of Mormon Central”, the host cited an analogy of this principle that was given by Elder and Sister Renlund in their book "The Melchizedek Priesthood".  In this book they give an analogy of how to administer things in the church. The analogy is this: picture in your mind a playing field (like for soccer or basketball). The boundaries of this playing field represent "those things which are written" (v 2). Those boundaries are the scriptures, words of the living prophets, the church handbook of instruction and direction from your local leaders. Those things that happen in the middle of the playing field are "directed and guided by the Holy Spirit" (v 2). 

An example of this process is given within the next few verses of section 46. In verses 3-6 the Lord gives very specific instruction on who can come to public meetings (boundaries), but in verse 7 the Lord also instructs them to  "ask of God, who giveth liberally" (playing field).  So you end up having a lot of freedom to navigate and find good solutions to your problems by striking a balance between the written words and the guidance of the Spirit.

As we work to implement this pattern, verse 7 also gives us some promised blessings. It says that "ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of the devil, or commandments of men." What a blessing to know that as we strive to obey the written words and be guided by the Holy Ghost that we will be blessed with the gift of discernment to know and follow what comes from God.

Principle of Preparation

Doctrine and Covenants 45 is filled with prophetic signs we can look for as we anticipate the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. There are both positive and negative signs that are given for us to look for. We are living in a day when there has never been so much evil and so much good in the world at the same time. As we witness the prophecies of wars, the earth being in commotion, and desolating sicknesses covering the earth (v 26-31) we are also seeing missionaries leave at a younger age, the introduction of Come, Follow Me, and 20 temples announced in one General Conference!

In the closing verses of section 45 the Lord reminds us of the parable of the ten virgins from Matthew 25. I think the placement of this parable at the end of this section is significant. After being told what calamities and blessings will be upon the earth, we are reminded that our responsibility is to make sure we are spiritually prepared all of the time. How do we know if we have spiritually prepared ourselves enough to be ready when those wedding doors open for us? Verse 57 gives us some insight on what a wise virgin would look like.

They that are wise have...

• received the truth
• taken the Holy Spirit as their guide
• not been deceived

And when you are counted as one of the wise, you receive certain promised blessings...

• you shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire (v 57)
• you shall abide the day (v 57)
• the earth shall be your inheritance (v 58)
• you shall wax strong (v 58)
• your children shall grow up without sin (v 58)
• the Lord will be in your midst (v 59)
• His glory shall be upon you (v 59)

Signs are intended to help prepare us for what lies ahead. Just think of different traffic signs; a stop sign, a speed limit sign, an exit sign.  All these signs help prepare us to know what to expect on the roads and to be able to drive safely and confidently. The signs of the second coming work the same way. As we see these signs we are being made aware of what's ahead and how to prepare to navigate safely and confidently through this life. “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” (D&C 38:31). 

Teach the Principles of my Gospel

This past week I studied Elder Bednar's most recent general conference talk entitled The Principles of my Gospel.  I noticed that the title of his talk was based on a scripture found in the Come, Follow Me study for this week. D&C 42:12 states "And again, the elders, priests and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fullness of my gospel." The Come, Follow Me manual also suggested to search these sections (41-44) for some of the principles that the Lord uses to guide His church. Here's a list of principles that I found:

• Principle of hearken and hear the Lord (41:1, 43:1,17)
• Principle of assembling together (41:2, 43:8)
• Principle of urgency (41:4, 43:17-18)
• Principle of fulfilling commitments (41:5)
• Principle of missionary work (42: 4-9, 11-17, 56-58)
• Principle of order (42:11)
• Principle of teaching (42:12-15)
• Principle of controlling our behaviors (42: 18-29)
• Principle of consecration/caring for the poor (42: 30-35)
• Principle of stewardship (42:32, 70)
• Principle of simplicity (42:40)
• Principle of work/self-reliance (42:42)
• Principle of faith in the healing process (42: 43-52)
• Principle of unity (42:45)
• Principle of receiving personal revelation (42:61,68)
• Principle of obedience to laws (42:79-87, 43:35)
• Principle of reconciliation (42:88)
• Principle of prophets receiving revelation for the church (43:2-7)
• Principle of instructing and edifying each other (43:8)
• Principle of sanctification (43:11, 16)
• Principle of repentance (43:11, 21-22)
• Principle of teaching by the Spirit (43:15)
• Principle of preparation (43:20)
• Principle of compassion (44:6)

Joseph Smith said "I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves." It's empowering to know that as we teach correct principles the Spirit can then guide and direct individuals through personal revelation. We can act on this revelation to change and make improvements that the Lord would have us make. Additionally, as we understand that everyone can receive revelation about the changes they need to make in their own lives, we learn to be less judgmental. We don't need to compare the changes that we are making to what others are doing. We can trust that everyone is governing themselves according to the principles they've been taught and how the Spirit is inspiring them to live.

Doctrine of Gathering

As I was preparing for General Conference a few weeks ago, I read an article by Elder Bednar in the Church News (Learn Elder Bednar's pattern for studying conference messages). In this article he talked about one way we can study the general conference messages every six months. He said, “the basic pattern is to identify the fundamental doctrine or principle that is being taught, find invitations to act related to that doctrine or principle, and then also recognize the promised blessings that will come as we act in accordance with that invitation.” By following this counsel, I've been able to see how the Come, Follow Me study program has been organized to help us find and study these patterns.

While reading D&C 37-40 this week, one of the principles that was emphasized was that of gathering. The commandment/invitation that was given to the saints was to move to Ohio (37:3). Section 38 contains the following blessings related to gathering:

• strength (v. 15)
• confidence (v. 15)
• greater blessings (v. 17)
• learn how to be one (v. 27)
• safety and protection from the enemy (v. 28-31)
• receive God's law (v. 32)
• endowed with power from on high (v. 32)

As I looked over that list I realized that as we follow the latter-day commandment/invitation to gather people together in our stakes, wards, branches, homes and temples, we also are given these same promised blessings which are invariably much greater in scope than what we are asked to do.

Missionary Work

There were a couple of things that I felt were emphasized to me as I studied about missionary work this week in Doctrine and Covenants 30-36.  

First: missionary work is for everyone. In Section 30 we read of three brothers (David, Peter and John Whitmer) who were all given missionary assignments, but they differed in their scope and reach. David was told to start first in his father's home, then to minister to the church and finally to the world and regions round about (v. 4). His brother, Peter was asked to go on a journey to declare the gospel to the Lamanites (v. 5-6), and John was told to go to Phillip Burroughs' home and then to the region round about (v. 10). In these verses I see different places that missionary work can take place...

• In our own homes 
• Through our church callings. 
• Full-time mission (Peter was told to travel and share the gospel with the Native Americans)
• Through ministering (John was given a specific person to go to-like ministering assignments)

Second: companions are important. Peter Whitmer was told to go with Oliver Cowdery (v. 5), and they would be joined by Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson (Section 32).  In our homes, most of  us have a spouse. When we minister, we are assigned a companion. In most church callings you are linked to one or more people to work with. It is important to use these different "companions" we are given to help us in our missionary efforts because they each have been given different gifts, strengths, talents, knowledge, backgrounds and insights that can compliment what we have to offer. As we learn to combine our abilities, we can become more powerful and effective missionaries.

Third: declare gospel with the voice of a trumpet. I love the imagery of a trumpet that is used in connection to sharing the gospel (30:9, 33:2, 34:6, 36:1). To me this means that we should not be ashamed about our beliefs and what we are teaching, and in order to have that kind of confidence we need to be living what we are teaching. Trumpets are powerful instruments and they are not quiet. We can be powerful instruments for the Lord as we speak up and share our knowledge and testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. In history, trumpets have also been used to call soldiers to the battlefield. As we declare the gospel with the voice of the trumpet we are helping to gather the soldiers that God needs in His army to fight against Satan.

No matter what stage of life we are in, we can participate in missionary work and we can make a difference.

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

As I approached this week of Come, Follow Me study for Easter, I read through the manual and figuratively rolled my eyes at the suggestion to write an additional verse to the hymn "I Know That My Redeemer Lives, thinking to myself "how could anyone add anything of importance to that majestic and tender hymn?" But as I listened to the Podcast called "Don't Miss This", they encouraged their listeners to break apart the hymn into different categories in order to study it more in depth. The three categories I chose to make were...Who He Is, What He does, and What does this knowledge do for me. Based on the lyrics of this hymn, here is what I discovered.

Who He Is....

• my ever-living Head
• kind
• wise
• heavenly Friend
• Prophet
• Priest
• King
• my Savior
• still the same (constant)

What He Does....

• blesses me with His love
• pleads for me above
• feeds my hungry soul
• blesses me in times of need
• grants me rich supply
• guides me with His eye
• comforts me when faint
• hears my souls complaint
• silences my fears
• wipes away my tears
• calms my troubled heart
• imparts all blessings to me
• loves me to the end
• grants me daily breath
• gives me the ability to conquer death
• prepares a mansion for me and a way to bring me safely to it.

What does this knowledge do for me...

• brings joy
• brings comfort
• makes me want to sing
• I feel glory for His name
• brings sweetness into my life

After I looked over these lists I challenged myself to think of other words that I associate with Jesus Christ that weren't listed in the original hymn. These are the words that came to my mind...lifts up, mercy, light, forgiving and understanding. With these words as my guide, here's my attempt to write an additional verse to the hymn "I Know That My Redeemer Lives." 

"He lives to understand my needs.

He lives to listen when I plead.

He lives to lighten my dark path.

He lives to walk me safely back.

He lives to forgive all my sins.

He lives and I know I shall win.

He lives to show me mercy, how?

He lives to lift me up right now."

Happy Easter Everyone!!!