Helping Others Recognize the Whisperings of the Spirit

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Helping Others Recognize the Whisperings of the Spirit, by Vicki F. Matsumori
Second Counselor in the Primary General Presidency


How do you describe what the companionship of the Holy Ghost feels like? We have the listing from Galations (see 5:22-23), but I enjoy, as does Sister Matsumori, the description she shared from a newly baptized eight-year-old boy: "It felt like sunshine."


I can imagine the warmth of the Spirit and of sunshine as I imagine myself physically in the picture of the Sacred Grove (above). In fact, just thinking of it sends a warm shiver up my arms and spine!

A few weeks ago, Maryann gave a wonderful family home evening lesson on listening to the "still, small voice," with a story from the Friend, "The Candy Ball" (link), as an aid. This is a story of how a father came to the rescue of his daughter because he heard and heeded a spiritual prompting.

The very next day, as I neared home on my bike commute, I was thinking of this lesson, wondering if I would ever be in a similar situation: Would I hear and hearken, too?

Just then, I felt a mildly rebuking reminder that that very commute was filled with guidance. As I had left work, I felt that I needed to take an alternate route home for some reason. Despite not knowing the way (I figured that if I was being guided, then I wouldn't get lost), I found my way home on foreign roads—and I made it home safely!

It's one thing to feel and follow whisperings of the Spirit; it's another thing to remember and recall. How silly of me to have forgotten so quickly (or at least to not have made the connection between being distinctly prompted and longing for promptings).

Well did Sister Matsumori teach:

When we come to understand the whisperings of the Spirit, ... we will be guided and protected. And we can cultivate this gift in our lives as we follow those spiritual promptings. Most importantly, we will feel Him witness to us of the Father and of the Son.

I'm grateful for the "unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost" (D&C 121:26), and for the big and small promptings—those that are suited for teaching moments and those that are too sacred to openly share.

To Acquire Spiritual Guidance

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

To Acquire Spiritual Guidance, by Elder Richard G. Scott
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles


Sometimes it seems that life is more like a maze than it is amazing. With the blind turns, unclear decisions, and often getting lost, how can we find the way to our ultimate goal?


Consider the difference between a real-life maze (pictured above)—where you cannot really see where you want to go or where you came from—and the more newspaper-esque maze (below) where the path can be more clear (in theory).


If we are in the more real maze, it is easy to imagine situations where we become entirely stuck—seeing no way to get out. As I reviewed Elder Scott's talk, I thought of this life maze as he taught that "some decisions [are] beyond [our] own ability to decide correctly." In times like this, we have the following assurance:

In His plan of happiness, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness.

In those pitiful times of feeling lost, abandoned, and alone, it is comforting that there is hope. In a real sense, we only need to look up—to look outside of the maze to the One who can guide us. Nevertheless, Elder Scott reminds that:

Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would become weak and ever more dependent on Them. They know that essential personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit.

This isn't to suggest, I imagine, that there is any comfort taken in watching us struggle, but, rather, that it is through the struggle that we learn to look up.

It's comforting to be reminded of the benefits of learning to trust in the Lord and listen to the Holy Ghost:

Spirituality yields two fruits. The first is inspiration to know what to do. The second is power, or the capacity to do it.

It seems, then, that after we face a struggle (or get stuck in a corner of our life maze) and successfully look up for guidance, that we can either be led around the right corners, or given power to break down walls.


Either way, the end result is both rewarding and surprising! (Compare 1 Nephi 4:6)

Welcome to Conference

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Welcome to Conference, by President Thomas S. Monson


I've long been amazed by simultaneity. I remember listening to songs or watching videos as a young boy wondering if anyone else in the world was doing exactly what I was doing—listening to the very same song or watching the very same video. While there wasn't a clear way for me to determine this, it was still fun to wonder on.

Much has been said of King Benjamin and the means he used to help as many people as possible hear his final address (see Mosiah 2:5-8), how the people faced the temple (where he was speaking), that he used a tower to stand on, and that his words were recorded and distributed. As we listened to the prelude music at this conference, watching the feed live vie Internet, we marveled that at that very moment (delayed only by the speed of light—not much of a delay, really), what we were seeing was happening.


Every six months, I'm amazed that I can participate in real-time with church leaders and members in wonderful conferences. Say what you will of the perils and pitfalls of technology; President Monson (and I) is grateful for them:

How grateful I am for the age in which we live—an age of such advanced technology that we are able to address you across the world. As the General Authorities and auxiliary leaders stand here in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, our voices will be reaching you by various means...

Talk about simultaneity!

It's fun to know that many people, all over the world, are doing just what I'm doing, when I'm doing it.

However, I still wonder if anyone is listening to the very talk I'm listening to when I ride my bike to work in the wee hours of the morning...

New Photos

We've posted a few pictures from our January adventures on our family website (click here).


Enjoy!

Customer Service

Do you have experiences dealing with customer service representatives that make you want to call and report on the interchange? I do. In fact, I've been having more and more lately. This makes me wonder if there is a trend in customer service (where I live), or if something has just changed in me.

I decided some time ago that when something like this happens, I would take a couple of minutes and call and let supervisors know just what happened. I figured that I would try to change the world—one phone call at a time!

Here's what usually happens: I call and ask if I can speak with someone to give some feedback. Almost immediately, I sense a nervousness—and even a hesitancy to connect me. This is followed by apologies and promises that my complaints will be handled.

What follows next is perhaps my favorite part: I say, "No, I'm not calling to complain; I'm calling to say that [so-and-so] was amazingly helpful. I wanted to make sure he/she receives recognition."

Every time, this is followed by an astonished, "Wait, what? Really? You aren't calling to complain?"

[Question: Did you, likewise, assume I was going to complain?]

After I'm connected to management and give my report, there is a similar exchange, followed by a promise that so-and-so will be recognized.

I think it's great fun to do this. Not only does it make me feel better, but I get the feeling that at least three other people feel good too—the person who answered the phone initially, the manager/supervisor, and the person I'm calling to report on.


Earlier I wondered if this is a local trend or the result of a change in me. I hope that it's both. In fact, it may be a sort of chicken-egg conundrum: Which came first, the good service or having eyes looking for the good service (compare to Matt. 13:15-17).


While the genesis of this question isn't really important, I think that the effects are. In fact, I'm hoping that if I can continue to do this, that I can really change the world—one phone call at a time.

And in the process, change myself.