The Holy Ghost as Your Companion By President Henry B. Eyring

The Holy Ghost as Your Companion
By President Henry B. Eyring

INTRODUCTION

SAY: The conference talk that I have been asked to teach from is 'The Holy Ghost as Your Companion' By President Henry B. Eyring.  The quote at the top of the talk is, "We can, if we live worthy of it, have the blessing of the Spirit to be with us, not only now and then but always."

LEARNER READINESS

SAY: Story about being prompted to visit my mother-in-law.
Q: Why do you think the Holy Ghost wanted me to visit my mother-in-law? (to comfort her, for me to receive assurances that he cares about me)

READ

My purpose today is to increase your desire and your determination to claim the gift promised to each of us after we were baptized. During our confirmation we heard these words: “Receive the Holy Ghost.” From that moment, our lives changed forever.

Q: What is God's glorious promise to us when we partake of the sacrament each Sunday?
Q: Why is it important to have the Spirit with us?

LEARNER INVOLVEMENT

SAY: President Eyring enumerates some of the things the Holy Ghost will do for us.

READ

To always have the Spirit with us is to have the guidance and direction of the Holy Ghost in our daily lives. We can, for instance, be warned by the Spirit to resist the temptation to do evil.

For that reason alone, it is easy to see why the Lord’s servants have tried to increase our desire to worship God in our sacrament meetings. If we partake of the sacrament in faith, the Holy Ghost will then be able to protect us and those we love from the temptations that come with increasing intensity and frequency.

Q: What are some general categories of temptations? (morality, deception, apostasy)
Q: Have you had experiences where the Holy Ghost has helped you resist temptation? (story when I was 15,

READ

The companionship of the Holy Ghost makes what is good more attractive and temptation less compelling. That alone should be enough to make us determined to qualify for the Spirit to be with us always.

SAY: Let's read another wonderful role of the Holy Ghost

READ

Just as the Holy Ghost strengthens us against evil, He also gives us the power to discern truth from falsehood. The truth that matters most is verified only by revelation from God. Our human reason and the use of our physical senses will not be enough. We live in a time when even the wisest will be hard-pressed to distinguish truth from clever deception.

Q: Is there clever deception out there?
Q: Why is it that our human reasoning and our use of our physical senses will not be enough?

SAY -  (Harmstonite story in Nephi - the spirit of discernment came over me)  I am grateful for the Holy Ghost.

Q: Do any of you remember what Bishop Parish taught at Dover Hunt's funeral about our physical senses and the Holy Ghost?  (internet attack about the HG being a bunch of chemical reactions in our brains, how we know that our eyes can easily be deceived with all the new tech advances and old deceptions that are out there - can't tell what is real or just computer generated).

READ

The truths that mark the way home to God are verified by the Holy Ghost. We cannot go to the grove and see the Father and the Son speak to the young Joseph Smith. No physical evidence or any logical argument can establish that Elijah came as promised to confer the priesthood keys now held and exercised by a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson.

Q: What does President Eyring mean when he said, The truths that mark the way home to God are verified by the Holy Ghost?

READ

Confirmation of truth comes to a son or daughter of God who has claimed the right to receive the Holy Ghost. Since falsehoods and lies may be presented to us at any time, we need a constant influence of the Spirit of Truth to spare us moments of doubt.

SAY: I think this is what Nephi meant by this scripture: 2 Nephi 26:13

13 And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith.

Q: Why did I use this verse of scripture?  (Because it is the right of a believer in all ages to have spiritual things manifested unto them by the power of the Holy Ghost).

SAY: I believe THIS IS the norm for believers.

SAY: Let's listen to one more reason why the constant help of the Holy Ghost is important.

READ

We need that constant help from the companionship of the Holy Ghost for yet another reason. The death of a loved one may come unexpectedly. It is the witness from the Holy Ghost of the reality of a loving Heavenly Father and a resurrected Savior that gives us hope and comfort at the loss of a loved one. That testimony must be fresh when death occurs.

READ

So, for many reasons, we need the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. We desire it, yet we know from experience that it is not easy to maintain. We each think, say, and do things in our daily lives that can offend the Spirit. The Lord taught us that the Holy Ghost will be our constant companion when our hearts are full of charity and when virtue garnishes our thoughts unceasingly.

Q: Where in the scriptures is this standard given?
Q: What is the standard?

LEARNER APPLICATION

READ

For those who are struggling with the high standard needed to qualify for the gift of the Spirit’s companionship, I offer this encouragement. You have had times when you have felt the influence of the Holy Ghost. It may have happened for you today.

You can treat those moments of inspiration like the seed of faith that Alma described. Plant each one. You can do that by acting on the prompting you felt. The most valuable inspiration will be for you to know what God would have you do. If it is to pay tithing or to visit a grieving friend, you should do it. Whatever it is, do it. When you demonstrate your willingness to obey, the Spirit will send you more impressions of what God would have you do for Him.

Q: What is the most important inspiration for you to know?
Q: If we are struggling to feel the influence of the Holy Ghost, what does President Eyring suggest?

READ

As you obey, the impressions from the Spirit will come more frequently, becoming closer and closer to constant companionship. Your power to choose the right will increase.

You can know when these impressions to act for Him are from the Spirit rather than from your own desires. When the impressions square with what the Savior and His living prophets and apostles have said, you can choose to obey with confidence. Then the Lord will send His Spirit to attend you.

Q: Why is it so important to recognize the impressions of the Holy Ghost and act on them?

CONCLUSION

READ Jacob's encounter with Sherem. Jacob 7

4 And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil.
5 And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken.

SAY: As we have the companionship of the Holy Ghost in our lives, we also will not be shaken!  All the doctrines of men that are all around us cannot create doubt in us - if we are have and continue to have the comfort, promptings, and cleansing of the Holy Ghost.  All these things are signs, evidences and assurances that God is with is!

Amen.


SAY: I would like to read to a few hymns. As I read you thy hymn, think about them in context of the Holy Ghost.

97

Lead, Kindly Light

31243, Hymns, Lead, Kindly Light, no. 97

1. Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom;
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene—one step enough for me.

2. I was not ever thus, nor pray'd that thou
Shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path; but now,
Lead thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.

3. So long thy pow'r hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone.
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!

1. Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;

With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

3. Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.