Introduction.
When I was writing this post, my dad and I were talking and thinking about the times I’ve felt the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I could think of a time when it was a big experience, but most of the time it isn’t a big thing. Elder Bednar said: sometimes as latter-day saints we talk and act as though recognizing the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives is the rare or exceptional event. We should remember, however, that the covenant promise is that we may always have His Spirit to be with us. This blessing applies to every single member of the church who has been baptized, confirmed, and instructed to receive the Holy Ghost.
Today my post is on “how can I receive the gift of the Holy Ghost?”
Howards Christmas
Picture this, it’s Christmas morning and the Howard family is gathered around the Christmas tree. Sister Howard hands Dagan a gift. He makes no move to receive it and the gift falls to the floor. Then Brother Howard hands Jensen her gift. She, too, doesn’t reach her hands to grab it and it falls to the floor as well. Sister Howard says, “Lennon, are you ready for your gift??” and Lennon gets all excited and starts running around and climbing on things, like the Christmas tree. But when Sister Howard hands her the gift, Lennon calmly watches it fall to the ground and doesn’t do anything (which I can’t imagine actually happening). Brother Howard puts a new toy in front of Afton and she just looks at it. Each of them were given a gift, but they didn’t receive it. I know these kids well and I know that this would never happen. We will see at the end of the post what would really happened.
Each given a gift
Each of us as members of the Church have been given a new gift. When we were confirmed members of the Church, we were instructed to receive the Holy Ghost. How often have we received the gift and how often have we just let it fall to the ground, so to speak.
Four words: Receive the Holy Ghost
Elder Bednar said, “The simplicity of this ordinance may cause us to overlook its significance. These four words—“Receive the Holy Ghost”—are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26). The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words are spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that we indeed “receive the Holy Ghost” and its attendant spiritual gifts. “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift” (D&C 88:33).” In other words, Elder Bednar was saying that you must actually take action to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is not just given to you without you doing your part. Receive is an action verb.
Youth Conference
At this last Youth Conference, we played a game where a specific person threw a ball to you, and then you would throw it to another specific person. With many balls flying everywhere, it was really hard to concentrate on catching the ball thrown to you. We learned that it was important to always focus on the person throwing the ball to you. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be able to catch it. You wouldn’t be able to receive. This is again like receiving the Holy Ghost. If you don’t keep your focus on being prepared for the promptings, then you can’t receive them.
Grapes and sandwiches
We need to learn how to recognize and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. When I was little, I was trying to understand how to recognize a prompting from the Holy Ghost and I came to the conclusion that it was whatever random thought popped in my head. I remember running to my mom yelling, “Mom! Mom! The Holy Ghost told me sandwich!!!” She was all “whaaaat?” and then I ran back into my room to see what the “Holy Ghost” would say next. Then I ran back to my mom all excited saying, “MOM! MOM!! Now He told me GRAPES!!!” and that’s when my mom decided that we probably needed a home evening lesson about the Holy Ghost.
Sister Dalton
Since then, I’ve learned to better recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I am not super good at it yet, but I’m proud to say I have moved beyond grapes and sandwiches. I now recognize that promptings are more like, “You should go talk to that person” or “that person seems sad or awfully quiet today, you should go cheer them up”. Another thing that I recognize that the Holy Ghost has told me Sister Dalton was speaking at my girls camp. It really hit me when she talked about her gift of seeing a young women as a daughter of God, and not the tattoo on her arm and also seeing the girl for who she is and not the blue hair. And I knew that she could see me and who I was too. The Holy Ghost told me that what she said was true.
Wish I could have that feeling all the time
I love the feeling I had when Sister Dalton spoke to me and I wish I could have that feeling all the time. I actually could because in the sacrament prayer it says, “that we may always have His Spirit to be with us.” How do we do that? Elder Bednar said that you must have a sincere desire, appropriately invite the Spirit, and obey the commandments.
Sincere desire
In 3 nephi 19:9 it talks about some people who sincerely desired to have the Holy Ghost with them:
“And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them”
Appropriately invite
Next, We should appropriately invite the Spirit to be with us. Elder Bednar said:
We more readily receive and recognize the Spirit of the Lord as we appropriately invite Him into our lives. We cannot compel, coerce, or command the Holy Ghost. Rather, we should invite Him into our lives with the same gentleness and tenderness by which He entreats us
Faithfully Obey
Finally he said: Faithfully obeying God’s commandments is essential to receiving the Holy Ghost. We are reminded of this truth each week as we listen to the sacrament prayers and worthily partake of the bread and water. As we pledge our willingness to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, to always remember Him, and to keep His commandments, we are promised that we may always have His Spirit to be with us
Howards story part two
Back to the story about the Howard’s Christmas morning. We can learn from this story that in order to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, you must take action. Now picture it this way: Sister Howard hands Dagan a gift. This time, he eagerly receives the gift and opens it to find an electronic chess set. Brother Howard hands Jensen her gift. She reaches out her hands to receive her gift and excitingly opens it to find a American Girl Doll that she has been wanting for a year. Sister Howard says, “Lennon, are you ready for your gift??” and Lennon jumps up and down , grabs her gift, opens it, and it’s herd of my little ponies. Brother Howard puts a new toy in front of Afton and she picks it up and sticks it in her mouth joyfully. Each of them were given a gift and this time they eagerly and thankfully received it. Again, receive is an action verb.
So, in order to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we must sincerely desire it, appropriately invite the Spirit, and obey God’s commandments.
Testimony
I know that I have to do something to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Receive is an action verb and it requires you to do your part. I know that I have been blessed with promptings, teachings, and comfort. Amen.