Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Keeping the Holy Spirit - Talk for Erin's homecoming




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.

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