The gentle tug of the Spirit

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday Afternoon Session of the April 2014 Conference.

This week I loved Elder Boyd K Packer's powerful testimony of Jesus Christ. He spoke like He knew God personally, maybe had even seen Him. Now for sure he has! I also liked Elder L. Tom Perry's talk  about obedience:

An obedient horse which is part of a well-trained team of horses needs little more than a gentle tug from the driver to do exactly what he wants it to do. This gentle tug is equivalent to the still, small voice with which the Lord speaks to us. Out of respect for our agency, it is never a strong, forceful tug.…

So the lesson my grandfather taught me was always to be ready to receive the gentle tug of the Spirit. He taught me that I would always receive such a prompting if I ever veered off course. And I would never be guilty of more serious wrongdoings if I allowed the Spirit to guide me in my decisions.

I have noticed many times that when I'm getting frustrated or angry with my children (or whoever, I guess, but it's usually only my children 😩), there is a moment where I could stop. It's like the moment when you hear your alarm to wake up, and you could wake up, but if you go back to sleep right then you'll think later, "Hey, I never even heard my alarm!" Likewise when I'm really getting overwhelmed or carried away by my anger, there's a moment I know it, and can stop. Sometimes I do stop. I take a breath, lower my voice, close my mouth, or whatever else I can manage. But sometimes I don't stop, and those are the times I feel so regretful or discouraged afterwards. Those are the times I think sadly later, "Parenthood truly does allow us to exercise unrighteous dominion."

I guess it's just comforting to me to know that there (usually? maybe always?) IS that moment so I will HAVE that choice. The Spirit will whisper, "stop now" or "go now," but it will only whisper it, and it's up to me to choose to hear!

I also recently read a quote about "believing blood" somewhere, about how some people are blessed to have an easier time believing, but we should also have compassion for others for whom it doesn't come as easily. This part of Elder Perry's talk reminded me of that:

I recognize that the challenges associated with having faith in Jesus Christ and obedience will be more difficult for some than others. I have had enough years of experience to know that the personalities of horses can be very different and, therefore, some horses can be easier or more difficult to train and that the variety of people is far greater. Each of us is a son or daughter of God, and we have a unique premortal and mortal story. Accordingly, there are very few one-size-fits-all solutions. And so I fully recognize the trial-and-error nature of life and, most importantly, the constant need of the second principle of the gospel, even repentance.

I'm sure this is true. For some reason, the belief that Heavenly Father and Jesus live and love me is almost a natural as breathing to me. I feel I have always known it. But still:

Strong, proactive obedience is anything but weak or passive. It is the means by which we declare our faith in God and qualify ourselves to receive the powers of heaven. Obedience is a choice. It is a choice between our own limited knowledge and power and God’s unlimited wisdom and omnipotence. According to the lesson my grandfather gave to me, it is a choice to sense the spiritual bit in our mouths and follow the driver’s lead.

Anyone can make that choice! And when we miss our moment, when we ignore the Spirit we know we should follow, we can repent and turn back, and choose a better obedience next time. I love knowing that.

5

After the workings of the Spirit

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday Afternoon Session of the October 2011 Conference.

I really liked Elder Matthew O. Richardson's talk about teaching. As I read it I was thinking about how much my teaching methods and preparation has changed over the years. I think I have always fancied myself a pretty good teacher. I used to prepare such great (I thought) Young Women's lessons for my Laurel Class! And they participated so well and were so appreciative! It was a joy to teach them. But teaching my own children as they got older was…not at all the same. Ha! Some of them were NOT appreciative (quite the opposite) and did NOT participate. And lesson prep for Home Church had to be so different because it was every week, on top of whatever else was going on for church, so my mindset and processes had to change, and they have basically kept changing ever since! I have definitely struggled with this balance:

While we are all teachers, we must fully realize that it is the Holy Ghost who is the real teacher and witness of all truth. Those who do not fully understand this either try to take over for the Holy Ghost and do everything themselves, politely invite the Spirit to be with them but only in a supporting role, or believe they are turning all their teaching over to the Spirit when, in truth, they are actually just “winging it.”

And I've seen more and more how essential it is to remember this:

Those who teach after the manner of the Spirit understand they teach people, not lessons. As such, they overcome the urge to cover everything in a manual or teach all they have learned on the subject and focus instead on those things that their family or class members need to know and do. Parents, leaders, and teachers who mirror how the Spirit teaches learn quickly that real teaching involves much more than just talking and telling. As a result, they intentionally pause to listen, carefully observe, and then discern what to do next. When they do this, the Holy Ghost is in a position to teach both learners and teachers what they should do and say.

I rarely feel like I do this very well in the moment—I'm always realizing later that I should have said (or not said) something, and when I'm teaching my own children there are sometimes so many logistical and managerial problems (to say nicely what I mean, which is that the kids fight and distract each other)—that I can barely string two thoughts together, let alone "carefully observing and discerning" anything! But Elder Richardson has an encouraging analogy at the end of his talk about climbing a mountain with his daughter, and he says this:

I think back on my experience hiking with my children. We agreed that every time we stopped to catch our breath, rather than focusing exclusively on how much farther we needed to go, we would immediately turn around and look down the mountain. We would take in the scenery and say to each other, “Look how far we’ve come.” Then we would take a deep breath, quickly turn, face uphill, and start climbing again one step at a time. Brothers and sisters, you can parent, lead, and teach after the manner of the workings of the Spirit. I know you can do this. I testify you can do this, and lives will change.

I like that, and it seems like a good idea—to resolve to focus on how far you've come rather than how far you have to go. I definitely have a long way to go with teaching like the Savior did, but I am certainly getting a lot of practice, so I guess that's worth something!

Other posts in this series:

The Song They Could Not Sing—by Rozy

2

He will whisper peace and joy to our souls

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday Afternoon Session of the October 2010 Conference.

Elder Bednar's talk on receiving the Holy Ghost is so good and Elder Bednar-ish—clear language, specific invitations, careful repetition to reinforce a point. I always learn so much from his talks! I've been thinking about the Holy Ghost this week and how I can seek His companionship more deliberately. First off, I was struck by the fact that Elder Bednar always refers to the Holy Ghost as "Him." I of course know that the Holy Ghost is a "him," but have often found it easier to use "it" in a sentence—e.g., "I need the Holy Ghost; it helps me daily." But after hearing so many "Him"s in this talk, the "it" sounded almost rude! And it kind of changes how I think about "having the Spirit with me" when I think "having HIM with me"!

Elder Bednar says that we can't coerce the Holy Ghost but must invite Him to be with us, and then elaborates:

Our invitations for the companionship of the Holy Ghost occur in many ways: through the making and keeping of covenants; by praying sincerely as individuals and families; by searching the scriptures diligently; through strengthening appropriate relationships with family members and friends; by seeking after virtuous thoughts, actions, and language; and by worshipping in our homes, in the holy temple, and at church. Conversely, casualness about or the breaking of covenants and commitments, failing to pray and study the scriptures, and inappropriate thoughts, actions, and language cause the Spirit to withdraw from or to avoid us altogether.

I like the idea that just attempting to "strengthen relationships" can invite the Holy Ghost which will then assist us in that strengthening. And I think it's comforting that it's not exactly just sin, or breaking covenants, which causes Him to withdraw, but specifically casualness about breaking those covenants. That gives me hope that when I fall short in how I treat my family or others, I can quickly re-invite the Holy Ghost through being sorry and asking forgiveness.

I also really like the end of this quote by Joseph Smith. I have read the first part many times, but I don't know if I've seen the whole thing before:

A few 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."

Again if I think "He" here (though Joseph Smith uses "it," so that must not be an incorrect way to speak of the Holy Ghost), it is just nice to think about how this would happen. Just as I often adopt the ideals, mannerisms, vocabulary, etc. of the people I spend the most time with, if I spend time with the Holy Ghost—listening to Him, enjoying His presence, and learning from Him—just like a good friend would, He will "whisper peace and joy to my soul"! And He will help me have that mighty change of heart I want so much, helping me desire only goodness and righteousness. I love that thought. 

Other posts in this series:

Rest Unto Your Souls—by Rozy

1

Following our Liahona

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday Afternoon Session of the April 2006 Conference.

Elder Bednar must have made such a study of the Holy Ghost. I feel like he's always coming up with good insights about it. The one in his talk this session that stood out to me was this: 

As we strive to align our attitudes and actions with righteousness, then the Holy Ghost becomes for us today what the Liahona was for Lehi and his family in their day. The very factors that caused the Liahona to work for Lehi will likewise invite the Holy Ghost into our lives. And the very factors that caused the Liahona not to work anciently will likewise cause us to withdraw ourselves from the Holy Ghost today.

I learned, probably in seminary, that the Liahona was a symbol of the scriptures. And I think ever since then, I've just read the verses about the Liahona and thought, "Yes, it's like the scriptures all right. The scriptures are a small thing that brings to pass great things. The scriptures point the way we should go, and change from time to time according to our diligence." All true, of course, but somehow thinking about the Holy Ghost in those contexts was new to me. Elder Bednar elaborates:

The Liahona was prepared by the Lord and given to Lehi and his family after they left Jerusalem and were traveling in the wilderness. This compass or director pointed the way that Lehi and his caravan should go , even “a straight course to the promised land.” The pointers in the Liahona operated “according to the faith and diligence and heed” of the travelers and failed to work when family members were contentious, rude, slothful, or forgetful.

The compass also provided a means whereby Lehi and his family could obtain greater “understanding concerning the ways of the Lord.” Thus, the primary purposes of the Liahona were to provide both direction and instruction during a long and demanding journey. The director was a physical instrument that served as an outward indicator of their inner spiritual standing before God. It worked according to the principles of faith and diligence.…

As we each press forward along the pathway of life, we receive direction from the Holy Ghost just as Lehi was directed through the Liahona.…The Holy Ghost operates in our lives precisely as the Liahona did for Lehi and his family, according to our faith and diligence and heed.…And the Holy Ghost provides for us today the means whereby we can receive, “by small and simple things,” increased understanding about the ways of the Lord.…The Spirit of the Lord can be our guide and will bless us with direction, instruction, and spiritual protection during our mortal journey.

Our family is heading off on a tiny journey of our own* (I'm writing these next couple General Conference posts in advance, in fact…sneaky of me), and it's funny how much all the scriptures about journeys and heading off into the wilderness have been resonating with me! As we go into the unknown, I want so much for my children to trust, as I am slowly learning to trust, that the Holy Ghost can guide us whenever we seek it—in spite of our limitations, blind spots, and fears. And that if we show "faith and diligence" toward God's will, we really can learn what each next step in our journey should be. I'm holding onto these truths from this Boyd K. Packer quote I love, which my friend Nancy shared with me just when I needed it several weeks ago (thus self-confirming the promise of the quote itself!):

When the servants of the Lord determine to do as He commands, we move ahead. As we proceed, we are joined at the crossroads by those who have been prepared to help us.

They come with skills and abilities precisely suited to our needs. And we find provisions; information, inventions, help of various kinds, set along the way waiting for us to take them up.

It is as though someone knew we would be traveling that way. We see the invisible hand of the Almighty providing for us. …

When we are ready, there will be revealed whatever we need—we will find it waiting at the crossroads.

*To Quebec for five months. During Sam's sabbatical leave from BYU. I wasn't trying to be cryptic! The details just didn't seem to be relevant to that paragraph. :)

Other posts in this series:

Latter-day Masculinity—by Nathaniel Givens

God Decides—by Rozy

0