Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Holy Ghost: The Greatest Gift

3 Nephi 19:1-13   Doctrine and Covenants 45:56-57   John 3:5   John 14:26-27  Galatians 5:22-25

Why is the Holy Ghost the greatest gift?

The Holy Ghost teaches you the truth of all things.  It allows you to discern between truth and error, good and bad, that you will not be deceived.  It is your personal guide to a life of happiness.  By following the Spirit, you are led to develop Christ-like attributes, and you are then blessed with the fruits of the Spirit, which are numerous.

I like how the 14th chapter of John begins, "Let not your heart be troubled."  These are troubling times, and I am besought with troubling challenges.  How do I face them, in a world like this?  Verse 26th gives me the answer:  "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  I turn myself and all my troubles and cares to the Lord, and through the gift of the Holy Ghost, He sends me peace.

The fruits of the Spirit are:
love
joy
peace
longsuffering
gentleness
goodness
faith
meekness
temperance

And this reminds me of another of my favorite scriptures, James 3:17-18:
"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
"And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."

I use this scripture as a yardstick to see how well I'm following the Spirit.  It shows up first in the home.  If I am gentle, easy to be intreated, and merciful in the home, then our home is peaceful, and I know I'm on the right track.

2 comments:

  1. I have been working tirelessly on temperance lately. Temperance in all things. It has been an eye opening experience. I am not a naturally temperate person.

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  2. And I'm working on longsuffering. There's always something more, isn't there?

    ReplyDelete