The Holy Ghost - Relief Society Lesson - January 23, 2011
About 8 years ago, Matt bought a piano for me as a combined Birthday/Mother’s day Gift. Now, I actually enjoy playing the piano (for myself,) but I haven't worked long enough or hard enough to play well in front of others. I couldn’t sit at this piano and accompany the sister in singing without having practiced the song for quite a while.
And I've noticed something about having this gift. When I use the piano more regularly and practice, not only does my playing improve, but I find that I enjoy the gift more. And the longer time stretches between using the instrument, I find that my ability weakens and I have to spend time relearning what I once knew.
I still have the piano - I still have the gift he gave me - but if it sits unplayed, it isn't being used to it's fullest potential.
(D&C 88:33) we read... “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift”
A gift must be received...
QUOTE #1 Wilford Woodruff said that “the gift of the Holy Ghost is the greatest gift that can be bestowed upon man. …[It] is not restricted to men, nor to apostles or prophets; it belongs to every faithful man and woman, and to every child who is old enough to receive the gospel of Christ” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff (2004), 49).
Like truly receiving a gift, we must receive the Holy Ghost.
QUOTE #2: Elder Bednar said, "These four words—“Receive the Holy Ghost”—are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26). The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words are spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that we indeed “receive the Holy Ghost” and its attendant spiritual gifts."
With that quote in mind... how do we really Receive Holy Ghost?
The Prophet Joseph Smith explained that “The Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, cannot be received through the medium of any other principle than the principle of righteousness” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 95–96).
So, what then is the real purpose of the Holy Ghost in the gospel of Jesus Christ?
From the Scriptures:
- D&C 20:27-28 (Bear witness of God & Christ, member of the Godhead)
- Acts 10:44-48 (integral part of baptism by water AND by FIRE, miracles by the Holy Ghost, gift of tongues, Magnify God)
- D&C 36:2 (teacher, comforter, peace giver)
- D&C 11:12 (lead to do good, deal justly, walk humbly, judge righteously)
- D&C 10:5 (Know truth of all things)
- D&C 35:19 (gives faith, comforts, knoweth all things)
- D&C 6:23 (speaks peace, gives a witness from God)
- D&C 121:26 (gives knowledge of mysteries of God, "unspeakable" gift)
- D&C 8:1-5 (gives knowledge, tells you in your mind and heart, dwells in your heart, spirit of revelation, worketh miracles, deliver you from enemies, Remember you gift!)
Elder Bednar Said, “What should we do to make this authorized admonition to seek for the companionship of the third member of the Godhead an ongoing reality? Let me suggest that we need to (1) sincerely desire to receive the Holy Ghost, (2) appropriately invite the Holy Ghost into our lives, and (3) faithfully obey God’s commandments.”
1. DESIRE: We must desire the gift.
3 Nephi 19:9 "And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them."
Think of a time in your life when you REALLY desired the Holy Ghost. Was it for comfort, for instruction, for help in an urgent time of need?
Experience A: When we bought bunk beds for the boys, I was tucking Gabe into the top bunk for the first time, and I was filled with a terrible anxiety for his safety. Gabe can be a very deep sleeper and unaware of his movement at night, so I was legitimately worried. What I really wanted was for Matt to give him a priesthood blessing, but Matt was traveling and unavailable, so the best I could do was pray for my sons protection. I had Gabe join me in prayer at the bedside as we asked for our Father in Heaven to watch over him every night and protect him from falling out of this bed. This was one instance when I felt the Spirit so strongly, that felt it as an actual presence in the room and not just in my heart. I was given a sense of peace and I KNEW through the Spirit, without a doubt, that the power of the Lord was present, and tangible, and standing guard over my son.
Desire for the Holy Ghost is powerful. It motivates us to seek after the Holy Ghost, and I really treasure those experiences when I felt that powerful desire for the Holy Ghost and what happened afterward, but it reminds me of the scripture that says “If you have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, can ye feel so now?” And if we have felt that sincere desire for the Holy Ghost, do we feel it now? Do you seek it every day?
QUOTE #3: (Elder Bednar) “Do we likewise remember to pray earnestly and consistently for that which we should most desire, even the Holy Ghost? Or do we become distracted by the cares of the world and the routine of daily living and take for granted or even neglect this most valuable of all gifts? Receiving the Holy Ghost starts with our sincere and constant desire for His companionship in our lives.”
2. INVITE: How do we invite the Holy Ghost?
From Elder Bednar's Talk on how to invite the Holy Ghost...
- make and keep of covenants;
- pray sincerely as individuals and families; Doctrine & Covenants 42:14 “And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith.
- search the scriptures diligently; Elder Jensen said of the Book of Mormon, “This book is saturated with the Spirit of the Lord.”
- strengthen appropriate relationships with family members and friends;
- seek after virtuous thoughts, actions, and language; and
- worship in our homes, in the holy temple, and at church.
QUOTE #4: Elder Bednar said, “We more readily receive and recognize the Spirit of the Lord as we appropriately invite Him into our lives. We cannot compel, coerce, or command the Holy Ghost. Rather, we should invite Him into our lives with the same gentleness and tenderness by which He entreats us...”
3. Faithfully OBEY
The Sacrament we take each week is a reminder to keep the commandments that we MAY HAVE the SPRIRIT to be with us continually.
QUOTE #5: (Elder Bednar) “Praying, studying, gathering, worshipping, serving, and obeying are not isolated and independent items on a lengthy gospel checklist of things to do. Rather, each of these righteous practices is an important element in an overarching spiritual quest to fulfill the mandate to receive the Holy Ghost. The commandments from God we obey and the inspired counsel from Church leaders we follow principally focus upon obtaining the companionship of the Spirit. Fundamentally, all gospel teachings and activities are centered on coming unto Christ by receiving the Holy Ghost in our lives.”
If obedience to the commandments invites the Holy Ghost with it's peace and joy, then DISOBEDIENCE brings serious consequences. We must not ignore spiritual promptings. We cannot expect to turn our back's on the commandments or the direction of the Spirit without great sorrow and the loss of the Spirit.
As King Benjamin taught his people, “And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved” (Mosiah 2:36).
D&C 121:37-38 "That they may be conferred upon us (or that the Holy Ghost is confirmed upon us), it is true ; but when we undertake to acover our bsins, or to gratify our cpride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or ddominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens ewithdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to akick against the pricks, to bpersecute the saints, and to cfight against God."
Quote #6: Several years after the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred, he appeared to President Brigham Young and shared this timeless counsel: “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.” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 98).
I testify that the Holy Ghost is REAL. He is the member of the Godhead who can be with us at all times. If we live our lives in harmony with the commandments, then we can invite him to guide us, to comfort us, to teach us and and strengthen our testimonies. He can do all of this as well as increase our understanding, work miracles in our lives, protect us from our enemies and leads us to do all that is good. I so testify, and pray that we will more fully receive the Holy Ghost into our lives each day, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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