6- 3/6/23 Reinforcements to Testimony

6-  Hello Family,

This week I was studying with the kids, leading up to their missionary retreat, the 1st two chapters of Preach My Gospel. In learning more about the Holy Ghost and His infinite capacity and willingness to influence our lives if we choose to allow Him, took me back to re-read President Nelson’s talk a year or so ago about the importance of having a Firm Foundation. You will remember that talk as he took us on a tour underneath the Salt Lake Temple renovation.

Here are a couple of things that really stood out to me in his message. 

“My dear brothers and sisters, these are the latter days. If you and I are to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, it is imperative that we each have a firm spiritual foundation built upon the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

So I ask each of you, how firm is your foundation? And what reinforcements to your testimony and understanding of the gospel are needed?”

In lightly of the most recent temple changes, I love this prophet statement that he gave:  “Under the Lord’s direction and in answer to our prayers, recent procedural adjustments have been made. He is the One who wants you to understand with great clarity exactly what you are making covenants to do. He is the One who wants you to experience fully His sacred ordinances. He wants you to comprehend your privileges, promises, and responsibilities. He wants you to have spiritual insights and awakenings you’ve never had before.”

He can’t make our choices for us. But part of the perfect plan of our loving Heavenly Father is His desire to make promises (covenants) with us during this “preparatory” period of mortality. These promises will protect and guide us in our decision making, and ultimately back into His presence. We still have to be the ones to choose, but His gospel is not hard if we qualify ourselves for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. 

I love this quote from Elder Christofferson a year or two ago, “ God provides an almost incomprehensible gift to help covenant-makers be covenant-keepers: the gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift is the right to the constant companionship, protection, and guidance of the Holy Spirit.”

 

Our right! Isn’t that powerful? It is a promise assured us from God. We just need to decide individually that it is the most important thing in our lives, to be constantly influenced by His power.

Invitation for the week - Identify when you feel the Holy Ghost most in your day to day lives. And then increase that, whatever and whenever “that” is. We don’t have to “run faster that we are able” but we can eliminate some things that take up valuable time, and replace it with “that”.

I love you all, and hope you have a great week!