Day 11: How can the Holy Ghost help me be more like Christ?
Read: 3 Nephi 27:20
Doctrine and Covenants 11:12
Doctrine and Covenants 46:11-26
Doctrine and Covenants 121:45-46
Moroni 10:4
John 14:16-17
John 14:26
Ponder: What are my gifts of the spirit?
Why is it important to know the truth?
Do I really desire the Holy Ghost to be my constant companion?
In one of those difficult times that the faithful and dedicated young Nephi had with his rebellious brothers, he reminded them of the following guide to obtaining a testimony. The Lord declared, "If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with dilligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you."
First, don't harden your heart. In other words, have an intense, consuming desire to know. Give place for a seed to be planted in your heart. And if you do this, do you know what the promise is? Alma tells us, "He that will not harden his heart, to him is given. . .to know the mysteries of God."
Second, ask in faith. In your study of the scriptures, have you noted how many times the phrase "believing that ye shall receive" accompanies the commandment of praying and asking? In the process of asking for knowledge, we have to exercise faith - believing before receiving. To illustrate this part of our conversation, Alma gives us a good example when he explained how he obtained his testimony:
"Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me."
Third, keep the commandments. I think that the words of the Book of Mormon point out the blessings that we can obtain if we abound in good works. King Benjamin delared to his people, "If you believe all these things see that ye do them." And the great missionary Ammon said, "Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing - unto such it is given to know the mysteies of God."
. . . We have analyzed the different steps we should follow in our search for a testimony. But there is yet the most important help available that can give us confirmation and absolute assurance, and it is your right when you live worthy to receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Remember the promise in Moroni: "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may kow the truth of all all things." Pay attention that I said to bring light and understanding to our lives, but we must pay the price to seek and win His companionship.
Elder Marion G. Romney once wrote: "It is the mission of the Holy Ghost to reveal the truth of heaven to those who qualify to receive it. Every one of us, if we will, may so qualify. We must ever keep in mind, however, that he will not dwell in an unholy environment. He is used to the society of God for he is an associate of the Father and the Son. When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we are commanded to receive him; he is not commanded to come to us. But if, with all our hearts, we truly seeek him, he will come to us and guide us in the making of decisions at every crisis for lives."
The Holy Ghost is given to us to witness of the Father and the Son; that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, that there is a prophet upon the earth who resides over the true church that carries the Savior's name, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and that all the works and promises of God will be fulfilled in His time and in His own way.
From "Your Own Personal Testimony"
Augei Abrea
Preisthood Session, 1 April 2000
Second, ask in faith. In your study of the scriptures, have you noted how many times the phrase "believing that ye shall receive" accompanies the commandment of praying and asking? In the process of asking for knowledge, we have to exercise faith - believing before receiving. To illustrate this part of our conversation, Alma gives us a good example when he explained how he obtained his testimony:
"Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me."
Third, keep the commandments. I think that the words of the Book of Mormon point out the blessings that we can obtain if we abound in good works. King Benjamin delared to his people, "If you believe all these things see that ye do them." And the great missionary Ammon said, "Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing - unto such it is given to know the mysteies of God."
. . . We have analyzed the different steps we should follow in our search for a testimony. But there is yet the most important help available that can give us confirmation and absolute assurance, and it is your right when you live worthy to receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Remember the promise in Moroni: "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may kow the truth of all all things." Pay attention that I said to bring light and understanding to our lives, but we must pay the price to seek and win His companionship.
Elder Marion G. Romney once wrote: "It is the mission of the Holy Ghost to reveal the truth of heaven to those who qualify to receive it. Every one of us, if we will, may so qualify. We must ever keep in mind, however, that he will not dwell in an unholy environment. He is used to the society of God for he is an associate of the Father and the Son. When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we are commanded to receive him; he is not commanded to come to us. But if, with all our hearts, we truly seeek him, he will come to us and guide us in the making of decisions at every crisis for lives."
The Holy Ghost is given to us to witness of the Father and the Son; that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, that there is a prophet upon the earth who resides over the true church that carries the Savior's name, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and that all the works and promises of God will be fulfilled in His time and in His own way.
From "Your Own Personal Testimony"
Augei Abrea
Preisthood Session, 1 April 2000
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