To Acquire Spirtual Guidance

Two weeks ago, we attended church in Provo with Melissa and her family. One of the speakers spoke on a topic from General Conference in October 2009. The topic was about spiritual guidance and was given by Elder Richard G. Scott.

He said, “What can you do to enhance your capacity to be led to correct decisions in your life?” He then quoted John Taylor: Joseph Smith, upwards of forty years ago, said to me: ‘Brother Taylor, you have received the Holy Ghost. Now follow the influence of that Spirit, and it will lead you into all truth, until by and by, it will become in you a principle of revelation.’” He then said, “Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability to decide correctly.” Later, he said, “I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice of the Spirit.” As the talk progressed, Elder Scott said, “Spirituality yields two fruits. The first is inspiration to know what to do. The second is power, or the capacity to do it. These two capacities come together.”

The woman in Melissa’s ward (Sis. Sharp) told us we will have spiritual impressions and we need to follow them and also write them down. She of course, based her talk on her own experiences and Elder Scott’s talk. Elder Scott towards the end of his sermon said this: “I bear witness that the Lord, through the Holy Ghost, can speak to your mind and heart. Sometimes the impressions are just general feelings. Sometimes the direction comes so clearly and so unmistakably that it can be written down like spiritual dictation.”

Something happened while I was in Sacrament meeting during that talk. I received an impression of what I need to give my daughters for Christmas in 2010. The thought prompted me to write on a piece of paper so I would not forget. I later discussed with my wife and we are now working on the gift. Hopefully, it will come to fruition and bless my daughters and their families.

Today in a leadership meeting at church, a family was discussed, that is facing difficult challenges. One of the family members is kind of bitter about those experiences. I immediately thought about the people in Haiti who have suffered so much in the last two weeks following that large earthquake. I thought that perhaps the bitter family could change places with a family in Haiti. I didn’t say anything, just thought it. If I have learned one thing in life, it is that when you think your problems are bad, there is always someone having a worse day than you.

In Sacrament meeting, a new member of our ward spoke. He spoke about fishing and getting his line all tangled up. He would get so frustrated trying to undo all the knots. His dad would then tell him to take a break and come back in five minutes. Many times, the break would give him some time to think and regroup his attitude and frustration. He then thinks at a different level. He spoke of taking breaks in our lives to overcome and solve some of our pressing problems or challenges. He quoted Albert Einstein. I already knew the quote as I discovered it many years ago. It is a great thought and is so true. “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.”

I also was reading in Moses this last week in preparation for our Sunday School class. I ran across a scripture that caught my eye and caused me to ponder it throughout the week. I have read it many times but it never “spoke” to me like this. “But of the fruit of the tree which thou beholdest in the midst of the garden, God hath said—Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.” (See Moses 4:9 and also Genesis 3:3). The highlighted area is what I had never seen. We can be guided spiritually as Elder Scott says. I have had several of those experiences recently and my eyes seem to open further and my knowledge expands.

Where did I take the picture on this entry?