Personalizing the Holy Ghost

Last month, I was asked yet again to speak on the Holy Ghost at an investigator baptism on February 11. It would be the third time, in addition to numerous church talks on the same subject. Also, the baptism was of the parents and oldest children of a family, so I had to consider the varying ages. I was trying to think of what I could say that I hadn't already said to make it more meaningful. It then came to me that I should share how the Holy Ghost can help each family member specifically. I found scripture verses for the Spirit's role relevant to each person.

Family member: second oldest daughter
Trial: bullying issues at school
Spirit's relevant role: Comforting us
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, John 14: 16-18

Family member: oldest daughter
Trial: boy problems
Spirit's relevant role: Helping us feel God's love
Scripture: 1 John 3:16, Romans 5:5

Family member: mother
Trial: parenting
Spirit's relevant role: Revealing to us everything we need to do
Scripture: 2 Nephi 32:5

Family member: father
Trial: being the priesthood leader of the family
Spirit's relevant role: Being our constant companion as we stay worthy of his presence
Scripture: D&C 121: 36-37

I ended by sharing how they could tell if the Spirit was active in their lives (Galatians 5:22-23).

I received more compliments on this talk than any other I have given on the Holy Ghost. It confirmed to me the importance of personalizing the gospel.

Sharing Time: In what way has the Holy Ghost played a significant role in your life?

Comments

Anonymous said…

I think personalizing anything is the key to effectiveness. Thank you for the reminder and so glad it was a success!

March 25, 2017 at 10:33 AM

A Few Degrees

"I have learned that the difference between happiness and misery in individuals, in marriages, and families often comes down to an error of only a few degrees," said President Uchtdorf in General Conference April 2008 . To illustrate this point, he explained that if your course flying around the world were just one degree off, by the time you got back around, you would be 500 miles (800 km) off course. It almost seems unfair that a small mistake can have such a negatively dramatic effect on our lives. However, it is not one small error that does this, but many "small errors and minor drifts away from the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is therefore of critical importance that we become self-disciplined enough to make early and decisive corrections to get back on the right track and not wait or hope that errors will somehow correct themselves. "The longer we delay corrective action, the larger the needed changes become, and the longer it takes to get back ...

How to Know if the Book of Mormon Is True

photo from lds.org A previous set of elders put me on the 12-week course for new missionaries. Last night as I was finishing up the week on revelation through the Book of Mormon, I came upon this study activity: Read Moroni 10:3-5 and discuss how these verses show what an investigator must do to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon. Discuss the meaning and importance of real intent and how to help investigators develop real intent. I considered skipping it since I had read that scripture passage countless times, especially with studying Preach My Gospel , and because the discussion seemed to focus on real intent, which had been covered thoroughly in that week's study. But I decided to humor myself and do it anyway. And what I learned surprised me. There are actually four steps an investigator must complete before asking God with real intent and receiving an answer: Read the Book of Mormon. How can we know if something is true if we haven't even read it? We have to b...

Why Organized Religion?

Some people say they are spiritual but not religious; they don't believe in organized religion. With so many scandals across denominations, it is understandable why people avoid joining churches. So many are run by corrupt leaders or have judgmental members. Such evil has been found even in our church, unfortunately. So why did Jesus organize a church when He was on earth and have it restored through Joseph Smith? Why organized religion? A House of Order To receive exaltation we must make covenants with the Lord through special ordinances performed by one who has the authority to do so. We know who can do it and how they should do it because "mine house is a house of order" ( D&C 132:8 ). The Lord reveals everything we need to know through the proper channels: to the prophet for the whole church, to other leaders for their respective areas and callings, to parents for their families, and to individuals for their own lives. By following this order, we ensure that...

Brightening My Light

Search This Blog