Unity Through Revelation

Dear Family:

Yesterday, the highlight of our ward conference came in the combined Priesthood/Relief Society meeting, where we were crowded close together in the Primary Room.  After a offering few opening remarks and bearing powerful testimony of Christ, Andy  Shumway, a counselor in our stake presidency, requested that the rest of the meeting be a testimony meeting, with members of the ward bearing witness of the Savior.  In quick succession, many members of the ward stood and bore humble, sweet, powerful testimonies of how the Savior had blessed their lives.  It was a powerful, moving, deeply spiritual experience.  I was overwhelmed by a pervasive feeling of love for the fellow members of the ward as we shared deeply-held feelings about Jesus Christ and his impact in our lives.  I shall always treasure the memory of those few minutes we spent together.

This morning as took my exercise walk, I listened to Elder Eyring's talk in October 2008 general conference, "Our Hearts Knit as One." I was particularly impressed with his counsel about gaining unity through revelation from God:

  " ... there are principles we are following as a people which are leading to greater unity.

One of those principles is revelation. Revelation is the only way we can know how to follow the will of the Lord together. It requires light from above. The Holy Ghost will testify to our hearts, and the hearts of those gathered around with us, what He would have us do. And it is by keeping His commandments that we can have our hearts knit together as one."

Yesterday, I experienced that.  A powerful feeling of joy and unity came to a small group of Saints in Mesa, Arizona, who were focused on the Savior and who received revelation through the Holy Ghost as we shared the tender feelings of our hearts.

This same priniciple applies to our families.  As David, Rachel and Devlin sang "A Child's Prayer" in Sacrament Meeting yesterday morning, where we were gathered to hear Rachel's brother give his farewell missionary talk, the same thing happened.  We turned our hearts to the Savior and felt the powerful witness of the Holy Ghost ratify the truth of the words they sang so beautifully.  We rejoiced together in the spirit of the sealing power and were unified in a spirit of love.

I know this priniciple is true.  As we jointly focus on the Savior, teach and testify of him to each other, and seek to follow his counsel, we will receive an outpouring of the Holy Ghost, will be filled with love for each other and will be unified in a manner not possible in any other way.

Love,

Dad/Mark

Guidance of the Spirit

Dear Family:

As I was reading this week in Elder Eyring's book "To Draw Closer to God," that I received for my birthday, I was impressed to share this quotation from Marion G. Romney which Elder Eyring referenced:

"If you want to obtain and keep the guidance of the Spirit, you can do so by following this simple four-point program.

"One, pray. Pray diligently. Pray with each other. Pray in public in the proper places ...

"Learn to talk to the Lord; call upon his name in great faith and confidence.

"Second, study and learn the gospel.

"Third, live righteously; repent of your sins by confessing them and forsaking them. Then conform to the teachings of the gospel.

"Fourth, give service in the Church.

"If you will do these things, you will get the guidance of the Holy Spirit and you will go through this world successfully, regardless of what the people of the world say or do."

Marion G. Romney, "Guidance of the Holy Spirit," Ensign, January 1980, p.5

I pray that we may all be able to follow Elder Romney's counsel and receive guidance from the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Love,

Dad/Mark

The Holy Ghost - Don't Leave Home without Him

Hello Family!

Today, Eric accompanied a high council representative to speak in the Harmony Park Ward sacrament meeting. Eric recounted experiences from his mission in Mongolia that illustrated how important it was to have the Holy Ghost with us every day. The talk could have been entitled, "The Holy Ghost - Don't Leave Home without Him."

Elder Bednar addressed this topic in his April 2006 general conference address entitled, "That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us":

As we study and ponder the purposes of the Liahona and the principles by which it operated, I testify that we will receive inspiration suited to our individual and family circumstances and needs. We can and will be blessed with ongoing direction from the Holy Ghost.

The Liahona was prepared by the Lord and given to Lehi and his family after they left Jerusalem and were traveling in the wilderness (see Alma 37:38; D&C 17:1). This compass or director pointed the way that Lehi and his caravan should go (see 1 Ne. 16:10), even “a straight course to the promised land” (Alma 37:44). The pointers in the Liahona operated “according to the faith and diligence and heed” (1 Ne. 16:28) of the travelers and failed to work when family members were contentious, rude, slothful, or forgetful (see 1 Ne. 18:12, 21; Alma 37:41, 43).

The compass also provided a means whereby Lehi and his family could obtain greater “understanding concerning the ways of the Lord” (1 Ne. 16:29). Thus, the primary purposes of the Liahona were to provide both direction and instruction during a long and demanding journey. The director was a physical instrument that served as an outward indicator of their inner spiritual standing before God. It worked according to the principles of faith and diligence.

Just as Lehi was blessed in ancient times, each of us in this day has been given a spiritual compass that can direct and instruct us during our mortal journey. The Holy Ghost was conferred upon you and me as we came out of the world and into the Savior’s Church through baptism and confirmation. By the authority of the holy priesthood we were confirmed as members of the Church and admonished to seek for the constant companionship of “the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:17).

As we each press forward along the pathway of life, we receive direction from the Holy Ghost just as Lehi was directed through the Liahona. “For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do” (2 Ne. 32:5).

Just as Lehi and his family took the Liahona with them to guide them through the wilderness to the promised land, the Holy Ghost will guide our families through the wilderness of our mortal lives to our promised land, the Celestial Kingdom. Let's make sure we don't leave home without him.

Love,

Dad/Mark