Is the Holy Ghost a part of your life?

Today's lesson was taken from The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, Chapter 12: Seek the Spirit In All You Do which you can read HERE.

 

One piece of counsel that President Benson gave on a regular basis was this: 

 

"In this work it is the Spirit that counts....the Lord is close to His servants, even within whispering distance."

 

Several years after Joseph Smith was martyred, he appeared to President Brigham Young with a very similar message..."Tell the people to be humble and faithful and be sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right.  Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach you what to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom.  Tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction, so that the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it."

 

President Benson was sure to make it very clear this was not just a message to the Brethren and leaders of the Church, this was a message to all.

 

As we are taught "the most important thing in our lives is the Spirit",

... do you feel it in your lives Sisters?

 

We can know by the way we feel..."The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance" Galatians 5:22-23

 

"When you DO good, you FEEL good, and that is the Holy Ghost speaking to you.  The Holy Ghost is a wonderful companion.  He is ALWAYS there to help you."

 

"Seek the spirit in all you do.  Keep it with you continually.  That is our challenge"

 

"The Holy Ghost causes our feelings to be more tender.  We feel more charitable and compassionate with each other.  We are more calm in our relationships.  We have a greater capacity to love each other.  People want us to be around us because our very countenances radiate the influence of the Spirit.  We are more godly in our character.  As a result, we become increasingly more sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and thus able to comprehend spiritual things more clearly."

 

President Benson counsels three ways to ensure the Spirit is part of our lives.

 

1. Sincere Prayer & Fasting

2. Daily Scripture Study

3. Obedience to God's Laws

 

 

We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet

Today's lesson is taken from The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, Chapter 11: Follow the Living Prophet which you can read HERE.

 

From a tiny child President Benson learned from his father that when "the Presidency has spoken, this is the word of the Lord to us!" and to always obey.  It was a lesson he went on to teach his own children and in turn the members of the Church.

 

He taught: "Learn to keep your eye on the prophet.  He is the Lord's mouthpiece and the only man who can speak for the Lord today.  Let his inspired counsel take precedence."

 

 

 

 

President Benson taught: " The most important prophet, so far as we are concerned, is the one who is living in our day and age.  This is the prophet who has today's instructions from God to us.  God's revelation to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark.  Every generation has need of the ancient scripture, plus the current scripture from the living prophet.  Therefore, the most crucial reading and pondering that you should do is of the latest inspired words from the Lord's mouthpiece."

 

Can you remember what President Monson, our living prophet, has taught recently?  

 

If not, maybe now is the time to take a few moments and relook at his recent counsel.

 

"If you want to know how well we stand with the Lord then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain - how close do our lives harmonize with the Lord's anointed - the living Prophet - President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency."

 

"The story is told how Brigham Young, driving through a community, saw a man building a house and simply told him to double the thickness of his walls.  Accepting President Young as a prophet, the man changed his plans and doubled the walls.  Shortly afterwards a flood came through that town, resulting in much destruction, but this man's walls stood.  While putting the roof on his house, he was heard singing, 'We thank thee, O God for a prophet!'"

 

May we too follow the prophet and bring such blessings on our own families.

Smiles :)

Sisters, wasn't Stake Conference just amazing today!!!

 

We hope the messages we heard have touched your heart and will make a difference to both you and your families over coming weeks.

 

As you discuss Elder Holland's powerful testimony and teaching of the Book of Mormon with your family you may wish to review this video, where he shares his feelings (taken from his General Conference talk in October 2009):

Also, a little update on Big Hearts, our Stake RS Service Project.  At Women's Day we collected 88 strips which have been sent off to be made into blankets.  Along with the strips we have donated 5 boxes of other donations of knitted items and hygiene items to Rachel's Place in South Africa and the Kenya Children's Centre as well as a full box of angel baby items which are being sent to Preemies UK.

 

Just look at the smiles on these beautiful little faces when they receive a little teddy bear: it makes our hard work all worth the effort!!!