Promptings of the Spirit by Elder Gary E. Stevenson was so timely for me. I revisited this message when I was in the thick of Christmas preparations. I was up late night after night trying to finish scrapbooks for my kids. It is a project of love and I am so grateful for them (and grateful that my kids love them!) – but they take a lot of time and effort.
Enter this message. Elder Stevenson begins to speak about spiritual gifts. This topic has always intrigued me but then he took a direction I didn’t expect when he said: “The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest spiritual gifts Latter-day Saints enjoy.”
It is very likely I am the last one to make this connection but I never thought of the “gift of the Holy Ghost” in the same light as a “spiritual gift”. Writing that out makes it feel very obvious – but I just never did! When I think of spiritual gifts I think of the gift of faith, or of healing, or the gift of tongues. But what an amazing spiritual gift we have in the Spirit. Truly, in the words of President Nelson, we would not be able to survive without its testifying and revelatory power.
But another connection (and perhaps what was timely about this message for me) was that Elder Stevenson shared how these God-given gifts (such as the gift of the Spirit) require “spiritual exercise“. We have been promised that gift but if we do not make the daily effort to “exercise” that gift – we are not going to see the fruit of that gift. It was such an interesting thought.
And I thought of what a precious gift it is from our Father in Heaven. I was spending night after night, hour after hour, trying to make these gifts because I love my kids and wanted to give them something meaningful, comforting, and joyful. And our loving Father in Heaven wanted to give us a gift that would do the same for us. I am so grateful for it.
Elder Stevenson went on to list four guiding principles to help invite and recognize the promptings of the Spirit:
- Stand in holy places.
- Stand with holy people. <– I feel so strongly about this one!
- Testify of holy truths.
- Listen to the Holy Spirit.
There is so much more I could say, but I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit. I am grateful for the promptings I have received in my life. I have been able to look back at my life and see how following the promptings of the Spirit have shaped and led my life in places and directions I never would have planned for myself – but have molded me into who I am today. There is a whole lot more molding that needs to happen, but I am grateful that I have a friend in the Spirit to walk beside me. I am grateful for my Father in Heaven who gave me this gift out of love. I hope I can exercise that gift and invite and recognize the Spirit more readily in my life.
Highlights
“God endows His children with many spiritual gifts, making them spiritual gifted people. Covenant-keeping members of the Church are bestowed with gifts of the Spirit…The Lord invites us to earnestly seek the best fits, even spiritual gifts. He gives spiritual gifts to bless us and to use in blessing others.
Exercising spiritual gifts requires spiritual exercise.
As we listen and act on spiritual promptings, the Holy Ghost magnifies our abilities and capacities to far exceed what we can do on our own. These precious spiritual gifts will help us in every aspect of our lives.
The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest spiritual gifts Latter-day Saints enjoy.
I have found a universal longing by everyone to know how to invite and recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
Let me offer four guiding principles that may be of assistance to you in inviting and recognizing the promptings of the Spirit.
The first is to stand in holy places.
If you hope to feel the Spirit, be in a place where the Spirit can easily dwell.
Our temples and homes are the most sacred of these dedicated spaces. In them we more easily invite and recognize the Spirit…Stand in holy places.
Second, stand with holy people.
The Spirit cannot be restrained from attending a gathering of holy people. If you hope to feel the Spirit, be with people with whom the Spirit can easily dwell…Choose to be with people and go to places where righteousness is found. Find your strength in numbers. Find good friends. Be good friends. Support one another wherever you are. Stand with holy people.
Third, testify of holy truths as often as you can. The Comforter always shares His voice when we testify with our voice.
As you seek and take opportunities to share your testimony with others, you will create moments to recognize the Spirit for yourself.
The final principle is to listen to the Holy Spirit. He can be our constant companion, but He speaks in subtle, quiet tones.
Find a quiet place, a holy space where you can seek to receive direction from the Spirit.
As you consider these principles to invite and recognize the Spirit, consider the following words of cautionary guidance.
Confirm your spiritual impressions.
Be certain that the feelings you receive are consistent with your assignment.
Spiritual matters cannot be forced.
Use your own best judgment.
Latter-day Saints should be gifted, covenant-keeping people. Nonetheless, it remains for each of us to seek to exercise our spiritual gifts and then to invite and learn to recognize promptings of the Spirit.
Your ability to invite and recognize the promptings of the Spirit will develop a step at a time.
Please remember that as Latter-day Saints you are gifted.
I add my testimony to you, gifted Latter-day Saints, of God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, who bears testimony of Them.”
FULL test and video of Elder Gary E. Stevenson’s message can be found HERE.
Other messages from the October 2023 General Conference that I have found particularly impactful:
- Think Celestial! by President Russell M. Nelson
- In the Path of Their Duty by Elder David A. Bednar
