Following the Guidance of the Holy Ghost

First off we must understand what the Holy Ghost is, and what we must do to be able to follow it. The Holy Ghost is part of the God head and he testifies of the Father and of the son Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost also teaches us the truth of all things and guides us to do what is right from day to day.  So what are some of the attributes of the Spirit or Holy Ghost?  Galatians 5: 22-23 says 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. So when these fillings come into our lives we know that the Holy Ghost is in our life and trying to guides us to do the right thing. It also is trying to teach us something so we know how to follow in the Saviors footsteps and do the things he would want us to do

Now how do we follow the Guides of the Holy Ghost because I know it’s not always the easiest thing to do in my life I sure do try my hardest, but let us learn from my favorite person in the book of Mormon Nephi what did he do. 1 Nephi 4: 6-13

 6 And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.

 7 Nevertheless I went forth, and as I came near unto the house of Laban I beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth before me, for he was drunken with wine.

 8 And when I came to him I found that it was Laban.

 9 And I beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the sheath thereof; and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel.

 10 And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.

 11 And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our property.

 12 And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me again: Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands;

 13 Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief.

I Love Nephi’s example in following the spirit, But has this ever happen to you when something keeps coming to mind to do something or say something to someone? I know it has to me! THIS IS THE SPIRIT! I would like to share one experience with you all. So as most of us know the storm Debbie just past Florida and it has flooded some part luckily not where I’m at but there were some pig puddles that where here that I had to drive in, anyways Tuesday Elder Madden and Elder Andrade were on a tradeoff and Elder Madden was driving that night I get a call saying we are stuck… Great! So they drove in a puddle and for some reason the car just stopped and turned off while they were going into it and they were able to push it out but it wasn’t starting and they wanted to know what to do. I stopped and thought for a second and said a little prayer in asking what to do because I didn’t know either. I started to ask questions on what they have done and then a thought came to mind tell them to start the car! What? TELL THEM TO START THE CAR… ok I’ll do it. Elder when have you tried starting the car? 2 min ago.  Try starting it now! Ok…. And what happened it started! I am so grateful for the prompting of the spirit and was able to help my companion.  

            I know that the Holy Ghost can ALWAYS be in our life. And I  know that if we allow it he will help us every day in our trails and tests in each day. I would like to close with two things a quote that helps us keep the spirit in our life and also a hymn.

“The gift of the Holy Ghost comes after one repents and becomes worthy. . . . The Holy Ghost bears witness of the truth and impresses upon the soul the reality of God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ so deeply that no earthly power or authority can separate him from that

Knowledge.”

– PRESIDENT JAMES E. FAUST

“THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST—A SURE COMPASS,”

ENSIGN, APR. 1996, 4

1. Let the Holy Spirit guide;
Let him teach us what is true.
He will testify of Christ,
Light our minds with heaven’s view.

2. Let the Holy Spirit guard;
Let his whisper govern choice.
He will lead us safely home
If we listen to his voice.

3. Let the Spirit heal our hearts

Thru his quiet, gentle pow’r.
May we purify our lives
To receive him hour by hour.

 

The Book of Mormon!

         The reason for this weeks post is for those who don't know what the Book of Mormon is. I have use tons of scriptures in my last couple post so I thought i would share what it is today. The Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ and it is a record from the people here on the american continent. The Book of Mormon is evident's that God has called a prophet again in these last days! The Book of Mormon crowning event is when Christ comes to the people here and lets them fill of prints in his Hands and Feet!
          The Book of Mormon has blessed me in my life and it will bless those who apply what it teaches in there life. One way it has done for me is helped me become a better reader! when i was a child i had reading problems and still do today but i tried in school to read but it wouldn't work so finally my mom read me a verse from Either 12;  27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. 
so i did what it says ask God for help and be humble and i read the Book of Mormon while doing it. an other Blessing the book of Mormon gives us is from the introduction  Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”
this is true I have been able to come closer to Jesus Christ from reading this book and it has helped me to become a better person.
              I would like to end with a promise to all those who read! PRAY ABOUT IT!!! Only God know what is true so its best to ask him who wrote it all! the Book of Mormon ask us to do the same it comes from the last Prophet in the book Moroni 10: 3-5

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how ^amerciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ^bponder it in your ^chearts.

 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ^aask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not ^btrue; and if ye shall ask with a ^csincere heart, with ^dreal intent, having ^efaith in Christ, he will ^fmanifest the ^gtruthof it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may ^aknow the ^btruth of all things.

How true this is God will answer your prays as you ask with a sincere heart and the real intent to know what is true and acting on the answer God will give to you. I KNOW the Book of Mormon is true and i know that God has called a prophet on the earth today and that he loves all his children.  

Rise Up O Men/Women of GOD

The last couple of  days a scripture has kept coming to my mind, 2 Nephi 1:21 the last half is what I keep thinking about and it says this, arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity. This has impacted me so much! It has also made me think how I can arise from the dust. So what does it really mean arise from the dust, it is telling me to get out the dirt and dust myself of or should I arise and stop doing things that are holding me back to progress in this life? lets go with the second one Arise and stop being lazy, hard headed, judgmental, nit picky, etc. So if we have to arise what do I need to do?  well lets read the verse right before this one verse 20  And he hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence. This is how, keep his commandments and apply his teaching in our life or what I like to call the Doctrine of Jesus Christ, which is Faith, Repentance, Baptism, receive the Holy Ghost and Endure to the End! Most of all we must apply the Atonement in our life because he is the only one that can help us get over these things. Now if you say that is hard well there is only one other suggestion I can give and that is from the talk of Pres.Dieter F. Uchtdorf

''This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:

Stop it!''

This can apply here. If you really want to arise STOP EVERY THING that is going to stop you! 

I know that as we allow the savior to help us ALL of us CAN AND WILL ARISE AND BE MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD! I know that we will live a happier life and the abundant life that all are seeking for! I know that Jesus is the Christ and that he will help when we call on his name in prayer!

I would like to close with a hymn.

324
Rise Up, O Men of God

1. Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and soul and mind and strength
To serve the King of Kings.

2. Rise up, O men of God,
In one united throng.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.

3. Rise up, O men of God!
Tread where his feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!

Three Sisters' Faith Hope And Charity

            Today I want to talk about three Sisters’ Faith, Hope, and Charity!

First Faith what is it? And why do we need it? Faith to me is things that we can’t see but we know that it is true. For example I know that Jesus Christ is a real person and that he lived on this earth but I’ve never seen him. Someone I’ve always looked up to and has showed me is Nephi in the Book of Mormon it tells us this about him. 1^st Nephi  7:17-21 

17 But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.

18 And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again.

19 And it came to pass that they were angry with me again, and sought to lay hands upon me; but behold, one of the daughters of Ishmael, yea, and also her mother, and one of the sons of Ishmael, did plead with my brethren, insomuch that they did soften their hearts; and they did cease striving to take away my life.

20 And it came to pass that they were sorrowful, because of their wickedness, insomuch that they did bow down before me, and did plead with me that I would forgive them of the thing that they had done against me.

21 And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them all that they had done, and I did exhort them that they would pray unto the Lord their God for forgiveness. And it came to pass that they did so. And after they had done praying unto the Lord we did again travel on our journey towards the tent of our father.

What great faith Nephi has in the hardest time in life he asked for help and hope for the good in life and it turned out good for him!

            That brings me to Sister number Two Hope. Hope is really close to Faith and it goes hand in hand with each other. So hope is not what we think it means. When most people say oh I hope for this I hope for this like the change in the weather or in a better world. Yes that true in the world meaning but in a spiritual meaning is a sure and unwavering and active! Let’s read from Ether about hope ether 12:4 says 4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

Hope has blessed me so much in my live to know that things WILL go better and will turn out for the good. I have a sure foundation knowing things will happen for my best interest. But faith and Hope are like I said hand in hand with out one you don’t have the other.

                This leaves the last Sister. Charity now what is charity I’ve heard so many thing what it is and how we can have charity. So is it giving 1 million dollars to the Red Cross once a year? Is it waking up early to make mom breakfast? or is it going out of you way to make someone’s burden lighter that day? YES to all but charity to me is what the savior would do go out of his way and make someone life goes smother that day. Something that I love about charity is taught in the bible in 1^st Peter 4: 8 which say.  8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. So as we develop charity it will help us make better choices and not have as many temptations?  Yes but it doesn’t mean that life will be easy it means that we will be able to overcome are trails and that the savior  will help us in everyday things.

I would like to end with one last scripture found in Moroni 8:41-48  41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

 42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

 43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.

 44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

 45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

Brothers and sister I know that the things I have shared today are true and I would ask for y’all to ask God if the things are true Pray and ask and I promise that he will answer your pray tonight! Let us go and become more like are Savior and develop these three sisters'!