Swallowed up in the Joy of Christ

Most often, the Holy Ghost assists us by helping us do our best work with the information that we have received or helps us to notice things we wouldn’t otherwise notice. In contrast, the Holy Ghost rarely plants new ideas completely out of the blue with no foundation or relation to our own processes unless it is really expedient for some reason. For example, the Holy Ghost might prompt me to think about what someone is feeling (something I desire to and know I should do but might forget if left to my own strength), help me observe that someone’s down-cast eyes might be a sign of weariness, bring to memory something I have learned or practiced to do in this situation that I have all but completely forgotten (John 14:26), help me by drawing my attention to problems in my instinctual response, and so forth. In essence, God is a god of miracles, but he loves for us to do as much of the work for ourselves and for each other because he knows we will learn and grow from it and find great me...

The different names by which God is referred to in the scriptures come with different rings and feelings. Perhaps one reason why we sometimes view God in a fearful way and forget that he loves us with mercy and everlasting kindness (Isaiah 54:8) is because of our experiences with learning about or interacting with various "lords" in our lives. For example, we have landlords, which might have a reputation of being disinterested, unforgiving, and strict. We learn about lords in history who let underlings live as long as they didn't mess up. But really, at the heart of the word "Lord" is the idea that God is in control of all things and has all power. We often think of Him as "lording" over us, but we ought to consider more often that perhaps the reason he loves to introduce himself to people as "I, the Lord" is not because he wants to scare, intimidate, or subordinate us as much as that he wants to remind us that He has power over all of the en...

    If you are intentional and consistent in seeking out, recognizing, and following the commandments of God and personal direction you receive from Him, you will eventually get to where you need to be, say what you need to say, and end up becoming the person you need to become.      There are many parallels between our paths to various opportunities, careers, experiences, and blessings and the journey of Lehi and his family to the promised land. The Lord's guiding them to the promised land begins simply with the instruction to depart. Lehi and His family have no idea that they are going to have to go back to Jerusalem twice; they just go. They don't know that they are going to end up journeying for eight years, that they are going to break their bows, that they will almost perish several times, and so forth. And they have no idea when they get to Bountiful that the Lord is going to ask them to go farther. They think they have arrived.     Perhaps it i...

  Just because the Holy Ghost shows you a way that you could be better doesn’t mean that you have to do it right away and that God will be displeased if it takes you a little bit to get around to it. I receive way more revelation and inspiration about where and how I can improve than I can possibly work on. That’s because I strive to constantly study the word of the Lord,which is really good at showing all of us how we can improve to become more like the Savior, because I am constantly attending various church meetings where every talk or comment leads to an invitation to act, and also because I am constantly asking the Lord for revelation myself–to know what I can do to bring my life more in line with His will. The first promise of Ether 12:27 is certainly true–the more that I come unto Christ, the more he shows me my weakness!  God does not, however, want us to feel hopeless or defeated, which can happen if we erroneously assume that God expects us to make an enormous effort...