"Unspeakable Gift from God"....

Couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to speak in sacrament meeting - I thought I'd go ahead and post my talk here.

One of my favorite TV quotes is from Stargate Atlantis when Sheppard is telling Dr. Weir that “it's the right thing to do; why? Because it it.” Oddly enough this explains what I do a lot of the time – it was very relate-able. Now I ask you, what does this have to do with General Conference? I'll tell you. During the first session of conference on Saturday, Elder Craig Christensen spoke about the Holy Ghost and how its the “Unspeakable Gift from God,” it's more of a feeling you can't explain rather than a voice that teaches us the things we should do. This topic is very near and dear to my heart because the last 17 months have been...incredible – I've learned things in ways I never would have learned had the Lord not seen fit in his mercy to teach me, He has comforted and guided and has been so incredibly patient, He has sent people, inspiration and guidance when I needed it the most.

First - what is the mission of the Holy Ghost?

Quoting straight from Elder Christensen's talk:

The Holy Ghost works in perfect unity with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, fulfilling many important roles and distinct responsibilities. The primary purpose of the Holy Ghost is to bear witness of God the Father and of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to teach us the truth of all things. A sure witness from the Holy Ghost carries far more certainty than a witness from any other source. President Joseph Fielding Smith taught that “the Spirit of God speaking to the spirit of man has power to impart truth with greater effect and understanding than the truth can be imparted by personal contact even with heavenly beings.”

I've heard it described as speaking spirit to spirit, working through feelings and impressions.

Going back to his talk:

The Holy Ghost is also known as the Comforter. During times of trouble or despair or simply when we need to know that God is near, the Holy Ghost can lift our spirits, give us hope, and teach us “the peaceable things of the kingdom,” helping us feel “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.”

I would like to share a personal experience with you if I may – almost two months ago there was a major restructuring at work, and it made me feel very insecure, very nervous and very paranoid. And scared. After I received the news – I immediately started praying. I explained my problem to the Lord, told Him what was going on and why I was so upset and after listening to me – He helped me calm down, whereas before I felt like I could not continue on and my world was over, He told me that it would be okay, that I'd be fine and that there was something I was suppose to learn from this experience. I felt so much calmer and more at peace in that moment, than I had in a long time – it was like the Lord had reached down and given me a heavenly hug. Nothing has changed – work is still incredibly stressful but my ability to cope with it has increased – I know that I am where I'm suppose to be and that my time is not up, yet.

It was really cool though because afterwards there was this song that kept coming to mind and would replay itself over and over again all day long until I could get into see the bishop that night. It was very encouraging and gave me the strength to continue on.

Thru test and trial we’ll have our fears,
But we will not despair.
We’re here to serve a righteous cause;
Truth gives us strength to dare.
We’ll love, and learn, and overcome;
We’ll sing a joyful song,
As Zion’s youth in latter days,
Triumphant, pure, and strong.

Elder Christensen goes on to say:

The Holy Ghost is a teacher and a revelator. As we study, ponder, and pray about gospel truths, the Holy Ghost enlightens our minds and quickens our understanding. He causes the truth to be indelibly written in our souls and can cause a mighty change to occur in our hearts. As we share these truths with our families, with fellow members of the Church, and with friends and neighbors in our community, the Holy Ghost becomes their teacher as well, for He carries the message of the gospel “unto the hearts of the children of men.”

The Holy Ghost inspires us to reach out to others in service. For me, the most vivid examples of heeding the promptings of the Holy Ghost in the service of others come from the life and ministry of President Thomas S. Monson, who said: “In the performance of our responsibilities, I have learned that when we heed a silent prompting and act upon it without delay, our Heavenly Father will guide our footsteps and bless our lives and the lives of others. I know of no experience more sweet or feeling more precious than to heed a prompting only to discover that the Lord has answered another person’s prayer through you.”

Another experience I would like to share – a couple of years ago, I was in the MTC with my family dropping off my younger brother for his mission and my dad leaned over and asked me if I would come home that summer and get my CNA license, he sited financial reasons and always having a job but also, that it felt right. It felt right to me too – so I went home and did it. I often think about that one decision and the rippling effect it has had on my life – I have been blessed in more ways than I can count to come into peoples lives and help them at a time when they needed it, I've been told on numerous occasions that I have been an answer to prayer – which makes me even grateful that my dad and I both listened to the Spirit years ago.

Elder Christensen goes on to say:

We all have experiences with the Holy Ghost, even though we may not always recognize them. As inspired thoughts come into our minds, we know them to be true by the spiritual feelings that enter into our hearts. President Boyd K. Packer has taught: “The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear. … While we speak of ‘listening’ to the whisperings of the Spirit, most often one describes a spiritual prompting by saying, ‘I had a feeling … ’.”It is through these sacred feelings from the Holy Ghost that we come to know what God would have us do, for this, as stated in scripture, “is the spirit of revelation.”

In thinking about ways the Spirit has spoken to me – its through thoughts and impressions, feelings when I've been driving in the car (I spend a lot of time in the car), sometimes its when I'm in with a patient (I'm a hospice CNA, I work with terminal people right before they die) but it's also when I'm studying the scriptures, praying, at church, all over – anytime anywhere.

I was having a tough day at work a while ago and a series of scriptures from the Old and New Testament were coming to mind:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. (John 14:27, Isaiah 49:14-16, 2 Kings 6:16-17)

The Lord knew what I needed to hear because He knows me and knows “the thoughts and intents of our hearts. He loves us and wants us to be happy, and since He knows the challenges we will face, He can guide us and teach us all things we must do to return and live with our Heavenly Father once again.”

Early last fall – I was having a terrible day. I had a pounding headache. I hadn't eaten anything all day, and I was hungry. I was stuck in traffic, my car was over heating. I was late to my next appointment. And the sun was shining much too bright. I was fuming in my car and was complaining and muttering to myself. Finally it was like a voice had said, “Stop.” It took me by surprise because I was all alone in the car and it was like an audible voice. I was still perturbed and was rather snappish in my mental reply, “What?” A very calm soothing reply “What's the problem?” I explained about my headache, and how I hadn't eaten, and being stuck in traffic and the sun shining too bright. After each problem, the Spirit was like “Can't do anything about it, move on.” At the conclusion of this, I realized that there's not a lot I can control, the only thing I can do is control how I respond to it. It was like a lightbulb had gone off and I was like “ohhh” I felt the Lord gently laughing at me that day – I think about that a lot when I start over-reacting and getting upset at traffic and my car and life in general.

One last scripture, 1 Kings 19:11-12:

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.

I know that these things are true – that the Lord speaks to us in ways we'll understand, whether that's an impression, a scripture or hymn coming to mind, a song on the radio or through someone else. I know that the Lord is aware and loves us very much. I know that the scriptures are the word of God, I'm grateful for the opportunity we all had to listen to General Conference a couple of weeks ago. I know Thomas S. Monson leads and guides the church today and is the Lord's mouthpiece in moving His work along – I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.