listening to the promptings of the holy ghost

I asked myself, Why hadn’t I heard that melody before? However, it was only very recently that, as I was sitting at my desk in a quiet, thoughtful moment, I heard the door open, and as it closed I heard a unique melodic sound. President Boyd K. Packer taught: My guess is that the door has been making that sound since it was first installed, yet it took me over two years to recognize and respond to that small, soft, melodic sound. Thankfully for me, Heavenly Father is patient—perfectly patient—and was patient with me on that occasion. That is Christlike service. © Brigham Young University. But as I shut the gate firmly and then looked at their tearful faces, my anger melted. Was this the first time that the melodic sound had occurred? I asked my girls, who were looking out the window into the yard, “Can you see the boys?”, “But when you called them, did you see them?”. However, I learned I must also be open to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I pray for and invite the Holy Ghost to be with each of us today as we discuss this most important topic. Why is it important to listen when the Lord speaks to us through the Holy Ghost and/or our church leaders? While it would have started out as a great job, it would have been short lived. The narrator then asks, “But did you see the gorilla?”. Heeding the Promptings of the Holy Ghost Most of us, at one time or another, have trouble heeding the promptings of the Spirit. Their offer was for me to be the assistant director of the Kathryn M. Buder Center for American Indian Studies and a lecturer in the School of Social Work. Third, immersing ourselves in the scriptures invites the constant companionship of the Spirit. The last part of this verse adds an additional element of hope: “and him that seeketh so to do.” I am thankful that as I make mistakes and neglect to heed promptings but “seeketh so to” keep the commandments, a loving Father in Heaven and Savior are always there to help me get back on course if I will but keep repenting and keep trying. Let me share with you what Elder Bednar said about this: Let me suggest that many of us typically assume we will receive an answer or a prompting to our earnest prayers and pleadings. In living the gospel, our handbooks of instruction are the scriptures and the revealed word of God through His prophets. I have to admit that the first time I saw the video I did not see the gorilla. Where we may stay But regardless of the pattern whereby this blessing is received, the light it provides will illuminate and enlarge your soul, enlighten your understanding, and direct and protect you and your family (“The Spirit of Revelation” General Conference 2011). They hadn’t been outside very long before I felt a voice instructing me, “Call the boys in.”  I had planned to let them stay outside a little bit longer. Obviously there are times we need to ask for help and guidance, but I know I can spend more time giving thanks in my prayers. The gate was standing open. Together the verses in these two sections teach us that when Heavenly Father speaks to us through the Spirit in its most familiar form, it most often comes to us through our thoughts and feelings. (Discuss ideas.) Or, when the promptings do come, can we tell the difference between the Spirit’s promptings and our emotions? Listen to Elder Tyson Stoker's story of the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit! Scriptural immersion provides us with a unique insight into how others have received and responded to the promptings of the Spirit. They started shouting out the window, “Hey, Nyiko! I have heard of cases where a young man told a young woman she should marry him because he had received a revelation that she was to be his eternal companion. These types of addictions negatively impact “our ability to recognize and respond to the promptings of the Holy Ghost” (Bednar, “Receiving”). Then, during my faculty visit to the school, things went from bad to worse. [“‘Line upon Line, Precept upon Precept’ (2 Nephi 28:30),” BYU–Idaho devotional address, 11 September 2001; emphasis in original]. These are all examples of what we feel when the Spirit is present. When was the last time you said a prayer and only expressed gratitude? This experiment has been done on a number of occasions, and typically about half of the participants are so focused on counting the number of passes that they do not see the obvious gorilla walking through the players. That first experience prepared me to listen more closely to the Spirit the next time, to have an increased level of gratitude for how the Lord works in our lives, and to remember “that all things work together for good [in the Lord’s time frame] to them that love God” (Romans 8:28). 9 [1999]: 1059–74) in which participants are asked to watch a video of players in white and black passing a basketball and to count the number of passes the white team makes. To share eternal life. Michael Jones, a first-year MBA student, said what stuck out to him was the reminder of the nature of the Holy Ghost and how people need to listen, then act upon the promptings. Here is another key element regarding finding a spouse. I was excited. I went to a few Brazilian Evangelical churches on my mission, though unfortunately I had neither the humility, open-mindedness, nor security in my own faith to recognize the services for what they meant to the congregants. [“Prayer and Promptings,” Ensign, November 2009, 44; emphasis in original]. Although this was a great opportunity, it was not a tenure-track position—something I definitely wanted. we engage are reflective of our understanding of the Holy Ghost and the degree to which we obey His promptings. In the meantime, she is under no obligation to heed it. In our fast-paced, immediate-gratification world we can become so preoccupied with good things that we neglect the most important things. and, more specifically, as stated by Elder David A. Bednar, How can I tell the difference between my emotions telling me what I want to hear and the Holy Ghost telling me what I need to hear? I was so taken aback that I got up from my desk, walked out of my office, opened the door, and listened again to the melodic tone as it closed. “The gift [of the Holy Ghost] can come only after proper and authorized baptism, and is conferred by the laying on of hands. The Holy Ghost testifies of Christ, can act as a voice of warning or direction, lead us to service, brings peace to our, hearts, and testifies of all truth. I prayed, felt good about it, and was moving forward. . The quiet promptings of the Holy Ghost can teach us valuable lessons, especially if we listen to them. Then I got it again, even more forcefully. That night as I went down to read to them, I was in a hurry to finish a talk I had coming up in my Church assignment—as well as being a little frustrated with my son’s behavior. In sections 6 and 8 of the Doctrine and Covenants, through revelation given to Oliver Cowdery, we learn some important concepts of this two-way divine communication. Well, I didn’t get the offer. Another key element in sincere prayer is gratitude. I felt prompted to use some of my extra time to visit Don Workman. I suddenly stood up. But, it is equally important to remember that there are other kinds of promptings that we can experience besides the leadings of the Holy Spirit. Mama is calling you!” They had obviously just seen their brothers and sounded convinced the boys were coming in. President Gordon B. Hinckley observed: The trouble with most of our prayers is that we give them as if we were picking up the telephone and ordering groceries—we place our order and hang up. That Relief Society president knew what it meant to follow the promptings of the Spirit and be an answer to someone else’s prayer. o That the Holy Ghost can warn us when we are in physical and spiritual danger o The importance of keeping the commandments so that we are in tune with the promptings of the Holy Ghost MATERIALS Radio SUGGESTED SONG "Let the Holy Spirit Guide" #143 in Hymns LESSON IDEAS 1. Bishop Anderson explains the importance of identifying and listening to the Holy Ghost October 31, 2018 “Acting on spiritual promptings is acting on righteous instincts,” said Bishop Jared Anderson, senior enterprise systems developer, at a devotional on Oct. 23. Following baptism we were confirmed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and were given the gift of the Holy Ghost. This time I followed the prompting. Together, all of those simple answers over a period of time helped me to receive an appropriate spiritual confirmation that I should ask her to marry me. . He said, “During the entire time we have been holding family home evenings with students, I cannot remember a single time when some version of this question was not asked” (“Receiving, Recognizing, and Responding to the Promptings of the Holy Ghost,” Ricks College devotional address, 31 August 1999). I don’t visit other congregations now, primarily for lack of time. That day I gained a personal testimony of the power of the Holy Ghost. It is clearly the case that the Lord did not change His mind; rather, you and I must learn to better recognize the Lord’s pattern as a series of related and expanding answers to our most important questions. ENCOURAGE UNDERSTANDING (seeing an object lesson): Explain that we have to learn to listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost by paying attention to thoughts in our minds and feelings in our hearts (see D&C 8:2). During that time I felt something—a feeling—that I should stop and give him a hug and tell him that I loved him. Servants of God learn to recognize and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and those with experience do so instantly. Show several signs warning us of danger (see below). I had started with my old standby, definitions from the Bible Dictionary, but that wasn't producing anything new. Numerous times as she was driving by a sister’s home or thinking of a particular sister, the Spirit would prompt her to stop by, bring dinner, or ask to watch the sister’s children. In order to hear and feel the holy spirit and Holy Ghost’s promptings and guidance, disconnecting is necessary. He did so and looked at me and asked, “What?” like he was expecting to get another lecture like the night before. Brothers and sisters, what are the influences in your life and mine that negatively impact our ability to feel the Spirit? As President Boyd K. Packer noted: That sweet, quiet voice of inspiration comes more as a feeling than it does as a sound. She is outside his stewardship. Elder Bednar gave a great CES fireside talk entitled “A Reservoir of Living Water” (4 February 2007)—that I highly encourage you to read or reread—in which he talked about feasting on the word by searching the scriptures for connections, patterns, and themes. (Discuss ideas.) Recognizing and understanding this pattern is an important key to obtaining inspiration and help from the Holy Ghost. Some can be good promptings, while others can be bad: Your heart can “prompt” you to give (Exodus 25:3). We had a Relief Society president in my ward who would often pray and ask, “Father, help me to be an answer to someone else’s prayer today.” Then, as she was going into work or coming home, she would drive around the ward enlisting the Spirit’s prompting to determine if there was a sister who needed her help. He said, “During the entire time we have been holding family home evenings with students, I cannot remember a single time when some version of this question was not asked” (“Receiving, Recognizing, and Responding to the Promptings of the Holy Ghost… As a child hiking with his father in the desert, Elder Stevenson recalls how a prompting from the Holy Ghost kept him from potential danger as he ventured off the beaten path. In fact, while he was president of BYU–Idaho, Elder Bednar said that this last question was the question most frequently asked by the students with whom he met. In Doctrine and Covenants 6:15 the Lord said, “Thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind . The experience was nothing spectacular, but it was a tender mercy, and I am thankful for a second prompting from the Spirit to do what I should have done the night before. I just wanted to sit down to finalize a talk I had been assigned. Fourth, service invites the constant companionship of the Spirit. In striving to live worthily I am also encouraged by the discussion in section 46 of the Doctrine and Covenants about the gifts of the Spirit. I’m grateful I listened to the promptings from the Holy Ghost” John H., age 9, Suffolk, England. My presentation didn’t go well, the faculty members didn’t seem to like me, and there was just something that was not right. My office is located next to that door, so I am very aware of every time the door opens and closes. It’s not usually a case of rebelliousness, but more a product of not understanding what we’re being told. How did Peter and the other Apostles follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost? This guidance comes as thoughts, as feelings through promptings and impressions. Relying on the Holy Ghost means I have to trust someone other than myself. The question then is often asked, “Why did the Lord give me two different answers?” In like manner, a student may sincerely seek to know if the person he or she has been dating is “the one.” A feeling of “yes” at one time may appear to be contradicted by a different feeling of “no” at another time. For our family, the story of the lost binoculars and how my daughter, McKenna, prayed and knew almost instantly where to find them has become legendary and is used as an example of a big answer to a single prayer. However, “we should not feel spiritually inadequate or unqualified if we do not receive a big and immediate answer to a request or plea for help the first time we ask” (Bednar, “Line upon Line”). Learning Strategies Recognize and Act on Promptings from the Holy Ghost. Since the Holy Ghost speaks in a still, small voice, it is difficult to discern a prompting over personal thoughts. Creating an environment where the Savior’s spirit and the Holy Ghost are prominent is key to our growth and even our survival. Sees familiarity with the Spirit's voice as vital to maturing as a disciple. Running for the kitchen door as fast as I could, I passed by the kitchen window and glanced out. Learn to Recognize the Promptings of the Spirit. [“Go Go Go Joseph” (London: The Really Useful Group, 1991)], Similarly, our Heavenly Father has a plan for us—a perfect plan of happiness—and I testify that as we learn to better recognize and respond to the promptings of the Spirit, we will find answers to our prayers and have increased capacity to know how and whether those promptings are from the Holy Ghost—especially during this “decade of decision” for many of you. The Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one. [“Revelation,” BYU devotional address, 29 September 1981]. We’ve had this mechanism on the door for over two years. I don’t ever recall receiving a one-time spiritual confirmation that she was “the one.” However, the more we interacted, the more we talked, and the more we learned about each other in different situations, I received many small, simple, and quiet promptings that she was a special, talented, spiritual woman. In my mind this job was made for me. Now, your experiences or others’ experiences with important decisions may be different. The Holy Ghost had prompted him to move to keep him safe from being trampled or even killed. [“Our Savior’s Love,” Hymns, 2002, no. Learning how the Holy Ghost works is like conducting a bunch of science experiments. I considered inserting something from the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, or maybe some quotes from a General Conference talk when my children started chasing each other through the house. Therefore, it shouldn’t be difficult for us to understand why we are counseled by our Church leaders to avoid anything that negatively impacts our ability to receive promptings through our thoughts and feelings (see Bednar, “Receiving”). But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Jude 1:20 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. 113]. (Discuss ideas.) However, during the middle of the experiment, as participants are counting the passes, a person in a gorilla suit walks between the players and off the other side of the screen. I have often thought back to the birth of each of my four children. When He speaks to us, He does so through revelation. [TGBH, 469]. … The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost” (Bible Dictionary, “Holy Ghost”). So why is it that after praying and feeling good about this job, things didn’t work out? The man can receive revelation to guide his own actions, but he cannot properly receive revelation to direct hers. I am guessing many of you, like me, have asked this question. May I simply suggest that what we initially believe is “the” answer may be but one part of a “line upon line, precept upon precept,” ongoing, incremental, and unfolding pattern of small answers. 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