I’m grateful for the time Erin was able to serve a full-time
mission. It was wonderful to hear of her experiences during the 18 months that
she was in Tennessee. It is a great blessing to see the growth that she
has made in her testimony and knowledge of the Gospel. Besides this great
blessing for her, our Heavenly Father gives many blessings to parents. So, I
have felt conflicted to be able to welcome missionaries home but then to have
to say good-bye to the blessings that accompany their service. One blessing in
particular that I have been wishing I could keep with me is the extra portion
of the Spirit that has accompanied me.
In Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance.” This calm, serene exterior that I had been carrying around has
been fruit of the Spirit.
A missionary serves full-time, meaning every second of their
life is a sacrifice of service to the Lord, thus, they are deserving
of the blessings of our Heavenly Father continually. Can anything in real
life be deserving of the blessings of our Heavenly Father in that way? I found
at least four things that might help keep the Spirit with me.
First of all, we know from the promise given in the Sacrament
prayers that the partakers are to “always have His spirit to be
with them.” (Moroni 4:3) All we have to do is: 1) take upon ourselves the name
of Jesus Christ; 2) strive to keep all of His commandments; and 3) always
remember Him. So, this is the way to have the Spirit, but haven’t I been doing
this for years? Since my baptism? Is there more to this?
Douglas D. Holmes, First Counselor in the Young Men General
Presidency, explained in the October 2016 conference talks that receiving the
Holy Ghost to a greater degree further moves us along the path of being born
again. He said, "In the sacrament, we learn that the process of being born
again is a step-by-step process, [where] little by little, week by week, we are
transformed as we repent, covenant, and through increased endowments of the
Spirit [become like the Savior].” Elder Dale G. Renlund described the
process of enduring to the ends as follows: "We may be perfected by
repeatedly exercising faith in Christ, repenting, partaking of the sacrament to
renew the covenants and blessings of baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost as a
constant companion to a greater degree." Elder Holmes goes on to
say, "As we then symbolically sacrifice our hearts and our sins upon the
sacrament altar, we receive the Holy Ghost to a greater degree."
Secondly, again while reading the conference talks, I found a talk
entitled "There is Power in the Book," by Elder LeGrand R. Curtis,
Jr., referring to the Book of Mormon. Through his talk he cites several
promises that were given in years past. One in particular is by President
Ezra Taft Benson who taught: “There is a power in the book which will
begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book.”
Another promise is by ”President Marion G. Romney, formerly a counselor in
the First Presidency: “I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read
from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with
their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes
and all who dwell therein… Parents will counsel their children in greater love
and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of
their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure
love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake
peace, joy, and happiness." These blessings are fruits of the Spirit,
and that power is a gift of the Spirit.
Also, Pres. Thomas S. Monson said: “Read the Book of Mormon.
Ponder its teachings. Ask Heavenly Father if it is true.” Elder Curtis goes on
to say, "During that process you will feel the Spirit of God in your
lives. I testify that the Book of Mormon is true. I have learned from its pages
and felt the Holy Ghost as I have read it.
Third, James 1:27 reads, “Pure religion and undefiled before God
and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,
and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Elder Don R. Clarke, of the
Seventy, said, "If you ask missionaries why they loved their missions,
almost always they will say because of their love for the people. The day
missionaries start to care more about others than themselves, they become happy.
It is that way for all of us. Our lives will always be happier if we care for
and love others. If you want to be happy, feel the Holy Ghost, and grow closer
to the Savior, then practice pure religion." Love, happiness and
joy from service are fruits of the Spirit, and I have felt these through
service.
Finally, through the temple endowment, we may seek “a fulness of
the Holy Ghost.” In the Doctrine & Covenants 109:14,15, besides being
the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple, the Lord teaches some important
truths. It says, "And do thou grant, Holy Father, that all those who
shall worship in this house may be taught words of wisdom out of the best
books, and that they may seek learning even by study, and also by faith, as
thou hast said; And that they may grow up in thee, and receive a fulness of the
Holy Ghost,... So, temple ordinances are seen as a means for receiving
inspiration and instruction through the Holy Spirit and for preparing to return
to God’s presence. I can testify to the truth of receiving
inspiration from the Holy Ghost through temple attendance.
***Nearly three years after he was killed, the Prophet Joseph
Smith appeared to President Brigham Young and said: “Tell the people to be
humble and faithful and [be] sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord and it will
lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will
teach [you what] to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the
kingdom. 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. They
can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other spirits. It will whisper peace
and joy to their souls, and it will take malice, hatred, envying, strife, and
all evil from their hearts; and their whole desire will be to do good, bring
forth righteousness, and build up the kingdom of God. Tell the brethren if they
will follow the Spirit of the Lord they will go right.”***
These are great blessings and worth working for. Brian K. Ashton,
Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, said, "The gift
of the Holy Ghost, if we receive it, allows us to have the constant
companionship of a God and continual access to the grace that inherently comes
with His influence. As our constant companion, the Holy Ghost gives us
additional power or strength to keep our covenants. He also sanctifies us,
which means to make us “free from sin, pure, clean, and holy through the
atonement of Jesus Christ.” Each time we receive the Holy Ghost into our
lives, we are changed until step by step, little by little we become like
Christ.”
I’m grateful for my membership in God’s true
church, which allows me the privilege of constant companionship with the Holy
Ghost. I pray that we all may seek a greater portion of its Spirit to be with
us.
