Letter from President Alba, 11-12-2012
My
dear missionaries,
So
many of us would like to be closer to the Spirit and to specially know His
promptings and how to follow them.
Today, I would love to share this talk given by Elder Scott in the
October 2009 General Conference.
Elder
Scott is one who has developed this great skill in recognizing the Spirit and
how to follow it without question and great blessings of inspiration have
flowed to him as he faithfully obeys the sweet whisperings of the Spirit.
Faithfully
read this article and let us develop a
greater desire to be led by the Holy Spirit in all we do as missionaries. With greater faith follow Him and with
greater faith receive the blessings He provides to us all through the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
All
my love,
President
Alba
To Acquire
Spiritual Guidance
Elder Richard G. Scott
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Throughout the ages, many have obtained guidance
helpful to resolve challenges in their lives by following the example of
respected individuals who resolved similar problems. Today, world conditions
change so rapidly that such a course of action is often not available to us.
Personally, I rejoice in that reality because it
creates a condition where we, of necessity, are more dependent upon the Spirit
to guide us through the vicissitudes of life. Therefore, we are led to seek
personal inspiration in life’s important decisions.
What can you do to enhance your capacity to be
led to correct decisions in your life? What are the principles upon which
spiritual communication depends? What are the potential barriers to such
communication that you need to avoid?
President John Taylor wrote: “Joseph Smith,
upwards of forty years ago, said to me: ‘Brother Taylor, you have received the
Holy Ghost. Now follow the influence of that Spirit, and it will lead you into
all truth, until by and by, it will become in you a principle of revelation.’
Then he told me never to arise in the morning without bowing before the Lord,
and dedicating myself to him during that day.” 1
Father in Heaven knew that you would face
challenges and be required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own
ability to decide correctly. 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.
I am convinced that there is no simple formula or
technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided
by the voice of the Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that
divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. 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.
What may appear initially to be a daunting task
will be much easier to manage over time as you consistently strive to recognize
and follow feelings prompted by the Spirit. Your confidence in the direction
you receive from the Holy Ghost will also become stronger. I witness that as you
gain experience and success in being guided by the Spirit, your confidence in
the impressions you feel can become more certain than your dependence on what
you see or hear.
Spirituality yields two fruits. The first is
inspiration to know what to do. The second is power, or the capacity to do it.
These two capacities come together. That’s why Nephi could say, “I will go and
do the things which the Lord hath commanded.” 2 He knew
the spiritual laws upon which inspiration and power are based. Yes, God answers
prayer and gives us spiritual direction when we live obediently and exercise
the required faith in Him.
Now I share an experience that taught me a way to
gain spiritual guidance. One Sunday I attended the priesthood meeting of a
Spanish branch in Mexico City. I vividly recall how a humble Mexican priesthood
leader struggled to communicate the truths of the gospel in his lesson
material. I noted the intense desire he had to share those principles he
strongly valued with his quorum members. He recognized that they were of great
worth to the brethren present. In his manner, there was an evidence of a pure
love of the Savior and love of those he taught.
His sincerity, purity of intent, and love
permitted a spiritual strength to envelop the room. I was deeply touched. Then
I began to receive personal impressions as an extension of the principles
taught by that humble instructor. They were personal and related to my
assignments in the area. They came in answer to my prolonged, prayerful efforts
to learn.
As each impression came, I carefully wrote it
down. In the process, I was given precious truths that I greatly needed in
order to be a more effective servant of the Lord. The details of the
communication are sacred and, like a patriarchal blessing, were for my individual
benefit. I was given specific directions, instructions, and conditioned
promises that have beneficially altered the course of my life.
Subsequently, I visited the Sunday School class
in our ward, where a very well-educated teacher presented his lesson. That
experience was in striking contrast to the one enjoyed in the priesthood
meeting. It seemed to me that the instructor had purposely chosen obscure
references and unusual examples to illustrate the principles of the lesson. I
had the distinct impression that this instructor was using the teaching
opportunity to impress the class with his vast store of knowledge. At any rate,
he certainly did not seem as intent on communicating principles as had the
humble priesthood leader.
In that environment, strong impressions began to
flow to me again. I wrote them down. The message included specific counsel on
how to become more effective as an instrument in the hands of the Lord. I
received such an outpouring of impressions that were so personal that I felt it
was not appropriate to record them in the midst of a Sunday School class. I
sought a more private location, where I continued to write the feelings that
flooded into my mind and heart as faithfully as possible. After each powerful
impression was recorded, I pondered the feelings I had received to determine if
I had accurately expressed them in writing. As a result, I made a few minor
changes to what had been written. Then I studied their meaning and application
in my own life.
Subsequently I prayed, reviewing with the Lord
what I thought I had been taught by the Spirit. When a feeling of peace came, I
thanked Him for the guidance given. I was then impressed to ask, “Was there yet
more to be given?” I received further impressions, and the process of writing down
the impressions, pondering, and praying for confirmation was repeated. Again I
was prompted to ask, “Is there more I should know?” And there was. When that
last, most sacred experience was concluded, I had received some of the most
precious, specific, personal direction one could hope to obtain in this life.
Had I not responded to the first impressions and recorded them, I would not
have received the last, most precious guidance.
What I have described is not an isolated
experience. It embodies several true principles regarding communication from
the Lord to His children here on earth. I believe that you can leave the most
precious, personal direction of the Spirit unheard because you do not respond
to, record, and apply the first promptings that come to you.
Impressions of the Spirit can come in response to
urgent prayer or unsolicited when needed. Sometimes the Lord reveals truth to
you when you are not actively seeking it, such as when you are in danger and do
not know it. However, the Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise
your agency to authorize the Spirit to teach you. As you make this a practice
in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with
spiritual guidance. Then, when that guidance comes, sometimes when you least
expect it, you will recognize it more easily.
The inspiring influence of the Holy Spirit can be
overcome or masked by strong emotions, such as anger, hate, passion, fear, or
pride. When such influences are present, it is like trying to savor the delicate
flavor of a grape while eating a jalapeño pepper. Both flavors are present, but
one completely overpowers the other. In like manner, strong emotions overcome
the delicate promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Sin is addictive; self-degenerating; conducive to
other strains of corruption; deadening to spirituality, conscience, and reason;
blinding to reality; contagious; destructive to mind, body, and spirit. Sin is
spiritually corrosive. Unrestrained it becomes all-consuming. It is overcome by
repentance and righteousness.
I share a warning. Satan is extremely good at
blocking spiritual communication by inducing individuals, through temptation,
to violate the laws upon which spiritual communication is founded. With some,
he is able to convince them that they are not able to receive such guidance
from the Lord.
Satan has become a master at using the addictive
power of pornography to limit individual capacity to be led by the Spirit. The
onslaught of pornography in all of its vicious, corroding, destructive forms
has caused great grief, suffering, heartache, and destroyed marriages. It is
one of the most damning influences on earth. Whether it be through the printed
page, movies, television, obscene lyrics, vulgarities on the telephone, or
flickering personal computer screen, pornography is overpoweringly addictive
and severely damaging. This potent tool of Lucifer degrades the mind and the
heart and the soul of any who use it. All who are caught in its seductive,
tantalizing web and remain so will become addicted to its immoral, destructive
influence. For many, that addiction cannot be overcome without help. The tragic
pattern is so familiar. It begins with curiosity that is fueled by its
stimulation and is justified by the false premise that when done privately, it
does no harm to anyone else. For those lulled by this lie, the experimentation
goes deeper, with more powerful stimulations, until the trap closes and a
terribly immoral, addictive habit exercises its vicious control.
Participation in pornography in any of its lurid
forms is a manifestation of unbridled selfishness. How can a man, particularly
a priesthood bearer, not think of the emotional and spiritual damage caused to
women, especially his wife, by such abhorrent activity?
Well did inspired Nephi declare, “And [the devil]
will … pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, … and thus [he]
cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.” 3
If you are ensnarled in pornography, make a total
commitment to overcome it now. Find a quiet place; pray urgently for help and
support. Be patient and obedient. Don’t give up.
Parents, be aware that the addiction of
pornography can begin with youth at a very early age. Take preventative action
to avoid that tragedy. Stake presidents and bishops, warn of this evil. Invite
anyone you consider captured by it to come to you for help.
An individual with foundation standards and an
enduring commitment to obey them is not easily led astray. Someone who is
increasingly repulsed by grievous sin and who exercises self-restraint outside
human influence has character. Repentance will be more efficacious for such an
individual. A feeling of remorse after a mistake is a fertile soil wherein
repentance can flower.
Have patience as you are perfecting your ability
to be led by the Spirit. By careful practice, through the application of
correct principles, and by being sensitive to the feelings that come, you will
gain spiritual guidance. I bear witness that the Lord, through the Holy Ghost,
can speak to your mind and heart. Sometimes the impressions are just general
feelings. Sometimes the direction comes so clearly and so unmistakably that it
can be written down like spiritual dictation.
I bear solemn witness that as you pray with all
the fervor of your soul with humility and gratitude, you can learn to be
consistently guided by the Holy Spirit in all aspects of your life. I have
confirmed the truthfulness of that principle in the crucible of my own life. I
testify that you can personally learn to master the principles of being guided
by the Spirit. That way, the Savior can guide you to resolve challenges of life
and enjoy great peace and happiness. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
1. Notes
2.
1. John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom,
ed. G. Homer Durham (1943), 43–44.
