“When you reach up for the Lord’s power in your life with the same intensity that a drowning person has when grasping and gasping for air, power from Jesus Christ will be yours. When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do.” – President Russell M. Nelson
The Holy Ghost is our guide, but he can only guide us if we listen. I have two stories to share where the Holy Ghost started early with preparing the heart, and then when the situation came, it not only taught a lesson to the one listening, but set the stage for helping others as well.
First, I was going on my daughter’s 8th grade class trip to Chicago. It was the first time I had left the kiddos behind for a weekend. This was going to be quality time with my oldest, and some peace and quiet for myself. I soon realized that we had an odd number of chaperons, so I had my own quiet hotel room. As I sat there after a long day of exploring Chicago, I decided to watch a movie. I turned on the tv, and then felt a strong impression to read my scriptures instead. I decided to follow the prompting, and opened my scripture study with prayer. About 15 minutes into my scripture reading, there was a knock on the door. I opened the door to three boys, “Can you teach us about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?” Then Brooke, my daughter, popped around the corner with a gigantic smile on her face. We sat down and had a wonderful discussion, and I was forever grateful for the prompting of the Holy Ghost who knew that I needed my mind and heart prepared, as well as the spirit in the room before this important discussion took place.
“As we navigate the seas of life, following the impressions of the Holy Ghost is essential.” -Quentin L. Cook
Situation #2: The other day, my daughter, Chelsea, was watching her movie after all the little ones had gone to bed, when she had a feeling that she should read a conference talk. She turned off her movie and opened her gospel library app. She decided to read a talk about loving others. After reading the talk, she remembered that in Young Women (church class) that week, one of the girls had told a story about her grandmother who would pray for trials. Chelsea thought about that, and how she understood that trials give the opportunity for us to grow, but at the same time she really wasn’t ready to ask for her own trials. So she prayed to see others’ trials and to give her a way to help aid them.
The next morning I packed Chelsea a lunch–I usually pack enough for her breakfast as well because she has early morning cross country. I also pack enough for after school, because she goes straight to seminary. This morning Chelsea wasn’t running before or after school, so I still packed a hearty lunch but just not as much as usual. After eating breakfast, as she got ready to head out the door, she looked at her lunch and said “Mom, this isn’t enough.”
(Later, while retelling me the whole story she explains that she was shocked that it wasn’t enough in her mind, because she was stuffed full from breakfasts.) Chelsea made herself a sandwich and threw in a couple extra bars.
Chelsea had to talk to her teacher, making her 15 minutes late to her next class, which was right before lunch. She passed the lunch room on the way to her class, where all the freshman were eating. As she walked down the quiet hall to her class, she noticed a little boy hugging his knees, sitting along the wall. He said to her, “It’s not lunch there aren’t classes right now!” She explained that she was a junior, and so she had class. Then she asked him why he wasn’t eating lunch. He responded, “I’m broke and lazy!” (with greater emphasis on the word “lazy” so as to not make her think he was broke.) Chelsea had quite a bit extra in her lunch that day because she had stuffed it full that morning. So she offered him food, which he gladly took. As she walked away, she looked back and watched as he stuffed the sandwich in his mouth. She could feel his hunger.
As she retold the story, she was amazed at how the Holy Ghost had prepared her to be ready to help this little boy. It started with her listening to a prompting to read a conference talk instead of watching her movie, so her heart would be prepared to help this little boy. That, in turn, helped her learn to listen, and helped her see that not only do others have trials all around her, but that she has the ability to help others, especially if she is open to the prompting of the Holy Ghost.
“Let us encourage our children and others to follow the direction of the Holy Ghost. In doing so, let us follow the example of the Holy Ghost ourselves, leading through gentleness, meekness, kindness, long-suffering, and love unfeigned.” -Robert D. Hales
-Sherri Jorgensen
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