Saturday, December 3, 2011

John 14-16. The Savior's Instructions about the Holy Ghost

What the Holy Ghost does:
        Comforter
        Dwell with and in us
        Teach all things
        Bring all things to our remembrance
        Testify of Christ
        Reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment
        Guide us to truth
        Tell us of things that will happen
        quickens all the intellectual faculties 
        purifies our nature and makes us better people in all ways 
        Instructs and enlightens minds
        Carries out the will of Heavenly Father and Christ
        Cleansing and purifying agent
        Witness of the truth of the gospel  
What we do to receive it:
        Keep the commandments
        Make the right covenants
        Proper and authorized baptism
        Laying on of hands
        Be worthy
After the Savior's death, the apostles were given the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This gift was integral to their successful service of the Lord's mission for them.  It testified to them of the truth of all aspects of the gospel. It cleansed them from their sins when they committed them, and it would have been hard to preach and convert without being clean and worthy.  It comforted them when their tasks were difficult or they had other afflictions.  They received enlightenment and instruction to help they carry out the Lord's purposes.  And it gave them the ability to know and tell of things that would happen.  

One of my major struggles in life is my tendency to doubt my decisions.  I always ruminate over whether or not the decision was right, or if I was wrong and should change my decision.  And, unfortunately, doubt leads to fear and makes it hard to feel confident in any decision, especially if you were right the first time.  A specific incidence of this happening had to do with my most recent major change, to English.  I'd had a growing feeling that a change needed to happen, so I prayed, and that feeling was solidly, irrefutably confirmed to me.  Over time, I prayed more, and came to feel that I needed to change my major specifically to English.  I listened, but of course it wasn't that simple.  This is my first semester majoring in English and it's hard.  I haven't felt inspired in my classes always and I don't feel like I'm that great at what I'm doing.  But recently I've been praying to Heavenly Father to help motivate me and make me feel like I'm doing the right thing to help me get through and even enjoy my schooling.  Since then, I've been able to feel the Holy Ghost testify to me in little ways and at different times that I'm doing the right thing, and inspire me to make the best out of this opportunity.  I've felt inspired to do my schoolwork and do it well, and I've felt inspiration in how I can make writing a really beneficial part of my life.  

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