After a Long Silence…

It has been an incredibly long time since I last wrote here. It is my hope that I continue coming back here to post frequently. I decided that I needed this outlet to help keep things in perspective. 

The following is based on something I read in Following the Light of Christ into His Presence by John Pontius. This book has forever changed the way I perceive the Holy Ghost and what it means to become perfect "even as my Father in heaven is perfect." I find that my understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ is broadened and moved deeper into my soul. A good number of you may look at this and say, "Duh!" That's ok because after I discovered it that's exactly what I said to myself. 

What is the Holy Ghost? How does he speak to us? Growing up I seemed to grasp the answers almost automatically, without really understanding what they were. 

There are three distinct voices in my head. Myself, always questioning and doubting; the Holy Spirit, always pointing out the good, the true and pushing for improvements in me; and the tempters, real quick to convince me that what was suggested by the Spirit isn't practical or is a waist of time and effort.

While I was younger I naturally gravitated to the Holy Spirit's voice. That is not to say I recognized it as his voice or followed it every time, as I am sure my parents can attest. As I got older I thought I knew what the Spirit was and how he communicated with me. Then while serving a mission my first companion, the one who was training me, played a joke that made me question and even doubt that feeling. At that time, and most of my adult life, I believed the spirit was only a feeling, a burning in the bosom and nothing more. If I felt that burning then that was the spirit. That is what I followed for confirmation that the church was true. For confirmation that I should serve a mission.

It never occurred to me that anything else was associated with the Spirit.

So while yes there are feelings that the Spirit brings, there are also thoughts that pop into the mind, that are good. Sudden realizations of understanding. Recognizing truth when you hear or see it.

Reading the scriptures with this new insight into the Spirit, has opened my mind with a new understanding. When Nephi says he was having a conversation with the Spirit of the Lord, it may have been exactly like mine. I, the student, asks the Teacher, the Spirit, a question. To which, the Spirit gives answer. I have resolved many concerns in this way, while not recognizing the source.

The counsel from the church is to compare what the Spirit tells you with what the prophets have said, i.e. Scriptures and living prophets, so you know whether it is of God or not. The tempters have gotten very good at imitating the Holy Ghost and can and do lead people astray. I can only suppose, that by following this model, I will eventually find the subtle differences between the voices and see the counterfeit for what it is. That over time, with great practice, the good will be easily heard and followed.

Nathan