Any time I need to regain my spiritual footing, the most sure-fire way for me is to study the Holy Ghost. I've had a couple of rough weeks and instead of getting closer to God, I have somehow stepped further away. So I studied the Spirit.
Robert Millet said that eternal life is the greatest of all the gifts of God, but that it will only be bestowed after this life ends. So what is the greatest gift of all the gifts of God in this life?
The Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Here is why I think the Spirit is so important for me:
- It grounds me. It always brings me back to my Spiritual safe-haven. How?
- It reminds me of the truth. Most times when I am off, it is because I allow myself to believe something that is not true. So it helps me to remember important truths that are fundamental to my daily progress and daily motivation. For example, Satan tries to get me to believe that I failed in accomplishing the thing that was most important in life (marriage). But when I feel the Spirit, I remember the truth. I remember the power of the atonement, and of forgiveness and that God understands much more than I do and has a plan that is all-encompassing. And that I have all the potential (and more) that I ever had.
- It brings perspective. It's like the talk by Neal A. Maxwell: Grounded, Rooted, Established and Settled. The Spirit helps me to look at the bigger picture. It enlarges my memory backwards to the times that I was my highest self, and it stretches my vision forward to my potential as a higher self. It reminds me of the fact that the purpose of this life is becoming. Becoming more like a being who would be comfortable in the presence of godlike characters - and even in the presence of God Himself.
- As a part of the above, it reminds me of who I really am. The scripture I just memorized says that the "Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not" and "it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be..." and I would add to that, that the Spirit also speaketh of things as they always have been.
- It purifies me
- While I feel or receive the Spirit, it acts as a purification process. It purifies. Anytime you feel the presence of the Holy Ghost, it lifts your soul to a higher level. You are cleaner inside than you were before. It's like walking through a filter that purges you of your carnal desires. I literally feel lighter. Last week I ran a trail race in Southern Utah and it rained the whole time - this made it into a mud run. Every stride resulted in more mud getting caked to my shoes. And my shoes just kept getting heavier and heavier until I would just stop and kick the mud off or scrape it off with a rock or a stick. And at the very end of the race, I just took my shoes to the shower and totally purged them of the mud and clay. I thought that was a perfect visual because this life is like that. We are running a mud-race and our shoes get heavier with every step through this mortal life. If I stop and get the mud off with the Spirit, I can run faster and overtime, probably do better personally than if I ran with heavy feet. The Spirit makes me lighter and cleaner. I just feel cleaner and lighter with the Spirit.
- It sanctifies me
- When I truly receive the Holy Ghost and partake of the Spirit, I am given a new me. I am born anew. I am lifted to a higher level. It takes me from being the every-day Andy who is just an internet nerd that is trying to earn enough money and pay the bills, to a holier Andrew Scot Proctor that is the one who was valiant from before the foundation of the world, who fought for truth and agency with the mighty angels in the war that began in heaven.
- It teaches and confirms the truth
- Anytime I am reading or learning in any way, the Spirit helps me to know when something is a true principle. I feel it and I am quickened.
- It increases my confidence
- There is an absolute difference between the confidence that I have after I have been Spiritually recharged and when I am not. It is tangible. It is stark. It's the difference between being naked in a public place and being clothed. I am backed and I am freed to become my highest self. Like D&C 121:45-46 says: "...then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God...The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion..."
- It gives me a new vision
- Elder Maxwell said it best:
- "With the Holy Spirit as our guide, our conscience stays vibrant and alive. Things which we had never supposed come into view. Seeming routine turns out to be resplendent. Ordinary people seem quite the opposite. What we once thought to be the mere humdrum of life gives way to symphonic strains. Circumstances or a mere conversation which look quite pedestrian nevertheless cause a quiet moment of personal resolve, and a decision affecting all eternity is made. Sometimes you and I even sense it as it happens, but there are no bands playing, and there are no headlines. What seems commonplace seldom is..."
- It reveals
- I have dreamed vivid dreams that I know were messages from heaven. I have seen things that God wanted me to do, and done them. I have had strong impressions from above. I have heard voices of encouragement and warning. I have had scriptures opened up to me and my mind's eye was opened to an expanded view.
- D&C 42:61
- If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things--that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.
- "There is no limit to the revelations [we] may receive" - Bruce R. McConkie
- It fills me with light
- I just feel brighter. People have even told me this. Those who have and feel the Spirit are lighter and brighter. They have a heavenly resonance that you don't experience otherwise. You can literally feel their warmth. I think of Gloria Carvajal, Daniel Summerhays, Anna Hargadon, Dena Smith, and so many others who in certain instances have just shown with light because of the Spirit that they possess.
"The gift of the Holy Ghost adapts itself to all...organs and attributes. It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, expands and purifies all the passions and affections; and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears and life to the whole being. In the presence of such persons, one feels to enjoy the light of their countenances as the genial rays of a sunbeam. Their very atmosphere diffuses a thrill, a warm glow of pure gladness and sympathy to the heart and nerves of others who have kindred feelings, or sympathy of spirit." (from The Key to the Science of Theology, p. 101).This is what I want more than any other thing. 3 Nephi 19:9 makes much more sense now:
And they did pray for that which the most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.
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