I overheard a conversation from a couple of sister missionaries a few days ago. One of them had done something nice for the other, and the sister who was on the receiving end of the kind gesture said, "Awww, you did not have to do that!" to which the other sister responded, "I felt like I had to, so I had to."
I cannot TELL you how many times those words ran through my mind this week.
Brothers and sisters, when we FEEL like we should or shouldn't do something, "those impressions are the holy ghost attempting to direct [us] for good or warning [us] away from harm" (Elder Neil L. Anderson, 2011).
God speaks to us by the power of the holy ghost, and anything God tells us to do is a commandment. Although we all have agency, God has said, "And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit" (2 Nephi 2:28).
When we choose to ignore or push aside spiritual promptings, we disobey God. Disobedience to God is also known as sin. When we sin, His spirit withdraws, and we are sad.
But thank the HEAVENS that God has given us the spirit to teach us everything we should do! "Every member of the church—and that means each of [us]—will never make a serious mistake without first being warned by the promptings of the holy ghost" (Anderson).
This is why our eternal progression depends on how well we recognize and act on the promptings we receive. As we listen and act, we come closer to God; when we disobey, we distance ourselves from Him.
I am SO passionate (but definitely not perfect) about following the promptings of the Spirit. I know that to the degree we act on the promptings we receive is to the degree God will give us more. Who wouldn't want MORE guidance from our all-knowing, loving Heavenly Father?
I was a primary student when I first heard the song, "I Hope They Call Me On a Mission." I remember EVERY TIME we sang that song the thought came, "You need to go on a mission." When it was about time for me to start filling out my papers in college, I started to doubt my decision. I thought, "Wow...I haven't even prayed about this. What if I'm not supposed to go? What if I'm supposed to stay and go to school?" As soon as I started questioning my decision, I got really confused and didn't know what to do. Thankfully, General Conference was right around the corner and I knew what my question was going to be. I prayed that something the prophets would say would help me make my final decision.
In that session, Elder Ronald A. Rasband was the answer to my prayer. He said:
"We must act on the first prompting.
" Remember the words of Nephi. 'I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless,' he said, 'I went forth.'
"And so must we. We must be confident in our first promptings. Sometimes we rationalize; we wonder if we are feeling a spiritual impression or if it is just our own thoughts. When we begin to second-guess, even third-guess, our feelings—and we all have—we are dismissing the Spirit; we are questioning divine counsel. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that if you will listen to the first promptings, you will get it right nine times out of ten."
I KNEW I had gotten the prompting many years back that I needed to serve a mission, and "I went forth"! I will forever be grateful for the subtle yet piercing promptings of the spirit.
So when you "feel like you have to" do something, remember—YOU HAVE TO! God himself has sent you a message by the holy ghost to show you how to be safe and happy. I pray that we may all have the courage to act on spiritual promptings, and as Nephi faithfully say, "for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey, Amen."
Hermana Hayes
No comments:
Post a Comment