The Savior promised his
followers that He would send the Holy Ghost to them after He ascended to
heaven. The Holy Ghost is the third
member of the Godhead. He can teach us
all things and bring all things to our remembrance (see John 14:26). Part of our responsibility as gospel learners
is to seek the companionship of the Holy Ghost to inspire us as we study the
gospel whether we are studying individually or as a group. Learning by the Spirit involves praying for
His influence and then listening for promptings to enlighten our understanding
as the prophet Alma taught in the following scripture.
“Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be
planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do
not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord,
behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these
swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves – It must needs be
that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge
my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to
be delicious to me” (Book of Mormon –
Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Alma 32:28).
The
Holy Ghost fills a variety of roles as explained in the following scriptures.
The Holy Ghost will guide us to
the truth: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into
all truth: for he shall not speak of
himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John
16:13).
The things of God are understood
only by the Holy Ghost: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor
ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God
hath prepared for them that love him.
“But God hath revealed them unto us by his
Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all
things, yea, the deep things of God.
“For what man knoweth the things of a man,
save the spirit of man which is in him?
Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which
is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with
spiritual.
“But the natural man receiveth not the things
of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:9-14).
The Holy Ghost will reveal the
mysteries of God if we diligently seek them.
“For he that diligently seeketh
shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power
of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in
times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one
eternal round” (Book of Mormon, 1
Nephi 10:19).
Through the Holy Ghost we can
know the truth for ourselves: “And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things
myself? Behold, I testify unto you that
I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their
surety?
“Behold, I say unto you they are made known
unto me by the Holy Spirit of God.
Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things
of myself. And now I do know of myself
that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his
Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me” (Book of Mormon, Alma 5:45-46).
We can know the truth of all
things and gain a testimony of the Book
of Mormon through the Holy Ghost: “Behold, I would exhort you that when ye
shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that
ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men,
from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these
things, and ponder it in your hearts.
“And when ye shall receive these things, I
would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of
Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart,
with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto
you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
“And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may
know the truth of all things” (Book
of Mormon, Moroni 10:3-5):
The Holy Spirit enlightens our
minds: “And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit
which leadeth to do good – yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge
righteously; and this is my Spirit.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will
impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill
your soul with joy;
“And then shall ye know, or by this shall you
know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things
of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive” (Doctrine and Covenants 11:12-14).
As we can see from these scriptures,
we must seek the influence of the Holy Spirit while we are studying the gospel
of Jesus Christ; otherwise, we will not understand and know the truth. I know this from personal experience. If I fail to have the companionship of the
Holy Ghost as I study the gospel, I merely read the scriptures; however, I
discover the truths of the scriptures with the power the Holy Ghost.
Elder A. Roger Merrill suggested
three things that we must do in order to learn by the Spirit. “As I have become more aware of this principle,
I find that the scriptures are replete with the doctrine of receiving. As President Boy K. Packer has said, `No
message appears in scripture more times, in more ways than, `Ask, and ye shall
receive’” (“Reverence Invites Revelation,” Ensign,
Nov. 1991, 21).
“At the very core of our mortal
probation is the choice to receive Jesus as the Christ. The Apostle John taught: `He
came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he
power to become the sons of God’ (John 1:11-12).
“One
cannot help but wonder how many gifts and blessings surround us that we do not
receive. The Lord has said: `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’ (D&C 88:33).
“In
our Church meetings, in our personal and family scripture study, and even this
day as we listen to the Lord’s prophets and apostles, some of us will receive
more than others. Why? I am learning that those who truly receive do
at least three things that others may not do.
“First, they seek.
We live in an entertainment world, a spectator world. Without realizing
it, we can find ourselves coming to conference or going to church with the
attitude, `Here I am; now inspire me.’
We become spiritually passive.
“When we focus instead on
seeking and receiving the Spirit, we become less concerned about a teacher or
speaker holding our attention and more concerned about giving our attention to
the Spirit. Remember, receive is a verb. It is a principle of action. It is a fundamental expression of faith.
“Second, those who receive, feel.
While revelation comes to the mind and heart, it is most often
felt. Until we learn to pay attention to
these spiritual feelings, we usually do not even recognize the Spirit.
“In a recent conversation I had
with one of our daughters-in-law, she suggested that we can help even young
children become aware of these feelings of the Spirit. We can ask them questions such as `How do you
feel as we read this scripture together?
What do you feel the Spirit is prompting you to do?’ These are good questions for us all. They demonstrate the desire to receive.
“Third, those who receive by the
Spirit intend to act. As the prophet Moroni instructed, to
receive a witness of the Book of Mormon,
we must ask `with real intent’ (Moroni 10:4).
The Spirit teaches when we honestly intend to do something about what we
learn.” (See Elder A. Roger Merrill,
Sunday School General President, “Receiving by the Spirit,” Ensign, Nov. 2006, 92-94.)
I am learning the same things as
Elder Merrill listed. In order to learn
through the power of the Holy Ghost, we must seek His influence, we must feel His
presence, and we must act on what He tells us.
I know that we can learn more and receive blessings as we study the word
of God with the influence of the Holy Ghost.
“Your gospel study is most effective when you
are taught by the Holy Ghost. Always begin
your gospel
study
by praying for the Holy Ghost to help you learn. He will bring knowledge and conviction that
will bless your life and allow you to bless the lives of others. Your faith in Jesus Christ will
increase. Your desire to repent and improve
will grow.
“This kind of study prepares you
for service, offers solace, resolves problems, and gives you the strength to
endure to the end. Successful gospel
study requires desire and action. “For he that diligently seeketh shall find;
and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy
Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old” (1 Nephi 10:19). Like Enos, as you hunger to know the words of
eternal life and as you allow these words to `[sink] deep into [your] heart’
(Enos 1:3), the Holy Ghost will open your mind and heart to greater light and
understanding.
“Learning the gospel is also a
process of receiving revelation (see Jacob 4:8). To Oliver Cowdery the Lord said: `Behold,
you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when
you took no thought save it was to ask me.
But behold, I say unto you that you must study it out in your mind; then
you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom
shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right’ (D&C
9:7-8). As you study, pay careful
attention to ideas that come to your mind and feelings that come to your heart,
particularly regarding the people you are teaching.” (See Preach
My Gospel, p 18.)
I know the value of acting on
the impressions that come from the Holy Ghost.
I have been blessed on many occasions by His promptings and intend to
continue to seek His influence in my life.
I know that we can know the truth of all things through the power of the
Holy Ghost!
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