Strengthened by the Power of the Holy Ghost

Julie Wilkinson taught our lesson today. It was #4 from the Lorenzo Snow manual, "Strengthened by the Power of the Holy Ghost."

In 1864, then-Elder Lorenzo Snow was called to serve a mission in Maui. As they approached the island in a small boat, the boat capsized and Elder Snow and two of his companions were thrown into the ocean. Elder Snow drowned. His companions rolled him over a barrel in an attempt to revive him, without success. The Holy Ghost whispered some CPR basics to them, they followed the promptings, and Elder Snow was saved.

Just as the power of the Holy Ghost saved President Snow's life when he was a missionary, it can have a great impact on our lives. Julie taught us five ways we can increase the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives:

1. Pray for the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

President Snow taught that after you've been baptized and given the gift of the Holy Ghost, you have great guidance always at your disposal. You don't need to take every problem and question to your church leaders. If you pray, the Holy Ghost will often prompt you what you should do. (See page 76 in the lesson manual.)

2. Be obedient.

The Holy Ghost is a principle of intelligence and revelation different from what is seen in the secular world. It is a principle that reveals things past, present and to come, and these gifts of the Holy Ghost are to be received through obedience to the requirements of the gospel. (See page 74.) 

How are the Holy Ghost and obedience tied to our happiness?

• The Holy Ghost ties the whole gospel and our membership in the Church together. It is the power that truly converts us, helps us serve, and guides our actions. The Holy Ghost ties my whole life together. -Ronda
• Doctrine & Covenants 88:67 talks about having an eye single to the glory of God. If your eye is single to God's glory, that invites the spirit to be with you and brings you light and joy that you wouldn't have otherwise. -Jolie
• I've noticed that the Holy Ghost has more influence on my grown children when they are more obedient to the principles of the gospel. -Leslie
• We don't realize how blessed we are to have the power of the Holy Ghost. As a convert to the church, I felt such a difference having the gift of the Holy Ghost. As a Methodist, I don't remember anyone ever talking about such a gift. As members of the church, we have the Holy Ghost to help us with our temple duties and teaching. -Pat N.
• Obedience is like the entrance into a powerful circle: You obey the commandments, and you have the power of the Holy Ghost. In turn, the Holy Ghost gives you the power to obey commandments and do things that you couldn't have done on your own. As you do these things, you just feel happier and happier. It's so encouraging! -Terri

3. Exercise faith.

We need to believe that the Holy Ghost can confer such power that we will be able to stand in the midst of opposition and not shrink.

President Boyd K Packer said, “There are two kinds of faith. One of them functions ordinarily in the life of every soul. It is the kind of faith born by experience; it gives us certainty that a new day will dawn, that spring will come, that growth will take place. It is the kind of faith that relates us with confidence to that which is scheduled to happen … There is another kind of faith, rare indeed. This is the kind of faith that causes things to happen. It is the kind of faith that is worthy and prepared and unyielding and it calls forth things that otherwise would not be. It is the kind of faith that sometimes moves things. Few men posses it. It comes by gradual growth. It is a marvelous, even a transcendent, power, a power as real and as invisible as electricity. This following part wasn't part of the lesson, but I love it so I'm including it anyway:
"In a world filled with skepticism and doubt the expression “seeing is believing” promotes the attitude, “You show me, and I will believe.” We want all of the proof and all of the evidence first. It seems hard to take things on faith. When will we learn that in spiritual things it works the other way about – that believing is seeing? Quoted in The Eye of Faith by Ron McEntyre - couldn't find original source

Debbie read this from the lesson manual: We are entirely dependent upon the spirit of inspiration, and if there ever was a time... when the Spirit of God was more needed than at the present time, I am not aware of it. the signs of the times, and the rapid approach of scenes that will try the hearts of the Latter-day Saints and their integrity, demand that we now seek earnestly the Spirit of God, and Divine assistance, for it will certainly be needed in the scenes now rapidly approaching. (See page 77.)

What can we do now to ensure that the Holy Ghost will enable us with this kind of faith?

• I need to pray for strength to handle my 2-year-old. When I do, I feel empowered to help my children grow & thrive. -Mary
• Have a desire & seek the Holy Ghost--and you'll find it! -Sue
• It's a gradual process to fall away. You don't have to be "over the top churchy," but do the small things every day to stay in the right way. -Valorie
• Listen to good music to inspire the spirit. Read the scriptures; that's like putting on the armor of God. Then make sure you have some quiet time, so the Holy Ghost can speak to your heart and mind. I've noticed that when I feel the spirit, it's usually quiet. -Misty
• Constantly listen and respond to the Holy Ghost in little ways. You'll find that you get more and more power as you do so. -Janice
• Pray always. Quiet the critical voice that's pulling you away from where you want to be. Remind yourself of your worth as a daughter of God. -Jolie
• None of us are perfect, but we can repent and have our slate wiped clean through the Atonement. Keep your covenants. Don't try to keep one foot in Babylon. Choose what it uplifting. -Julie
• The Holy Ghost is the basis of my testimony. You need to invite the spirit into your life. The Holy Ghost will change your focus. I often get inspiration for how to teach my classes at UVU when I'm mindful of the promptings of the Holy Ghost. -Margaret H.
• Trena's son lost a friend. At the friend's memorial service, someone remarked how she had a special gift of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is like a GPS, and we're like cars. We have different cars, but we're all entitled to the top-of-the-line GPS. Listen! -Trena

When the Holy Ghost descends on us as members of the Church, we are armed with righteousness and the power of God.

4. Trust in the Lord and in His timing.

"We need assistance. We are liable to do that which will lead us into trouble and darkness, and those thigs which will not tend to our good, but with the assistance of that comforter which the Lord has promised his Saints, if we are careful and listen to its whisperings, and understand the nature of its language, we may avoid much trouble and serious difficulty." (See page 77.) 

At one point during college, Julie was engaged to a great guy. He was so wonderful and had to many things going for him. However, when they got engaged, Julie just felt depressed. She wondered if it was Satan trying to sway her from happiness, but the feeling persisted. She fasted and prayed and felt she should break off the engagement. She did so, and she felt such peace. She couldn't see why, but she knew it was the right thing to do. In time, the guy graduated and was very successful in business. However, he also made choices that led him away from the church. Julie knew that if she had been married to him, she would have suffered. In time, she met the wonderful man who is now our stake president. He has always been a faithful and true companion for her. Julie is so grateful she listened to the Holy Ghost and followed its promptings.

5. Keep our covenants and live humbly.

Anissa read from the manual: "Make up your minds to live humbly and in such a way that you will always have the Spirit of the Lord to be your friend, to make such suggestions to you from time to time as shall be needed under the peculiar circumstances in which you may be placed. ...We should endeavor, as far as possible, to forget all worldly matters which grieve and vex us, and fix our minds upon the Lord, having a sufficiency of His Holy Spirit that we may be enabled to receive such knowledge and suggestions as will help us in our onward path." (See pages 79-80.)

• Center your mind on Christ in every choice. -Misty
• The Holy Ghost gives us power. -Sue

Julie concluded with a story and her testimony. When she was in her second pregnancy, she had many difficulties and spent a month in the hospital with no improvement to her baby. Finally she went home. One day, she felt something was wrong, though there was no pain or outward sign that that was the case. Her husband and her doctor trusted in her feeling, and she went to the hospital for tests. It turned out that her baby's heart was slowing down dangerously, and she needed an immediate c-section. Jon was born shortly afterward. If she had not listened to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, they would have lost him and all the blessings he has brought to their family and to others.

The Holy Ghost is second only to the Atonement as gifts from Heavenly Father. It will bless our lives if we are worthy to receive it and if we obey its promptings.