How to Become a Spiritual First Responder

God sometimes asks us to be a first responder to a spiritual emergency, but how do we open our hearts to hear his Spirit’s call?

In emergencies, first responders such as police officers, firefighters, and paramedics are usually the first ones on the scene. Just as they are called to respond to certain emergencies, we are called by the Lord to respond to others—but sometimes it’s hard to hear the call. In Elder Ronald A. Rasband’s talk “Let the Holy Spirit Guide,” he suggests four things we can do to open our hearts to the Spirit and become spiritual first responders:

1. Live worthy of the Spirit. If we want the Spirit to dwell in us, we need to live righteously. As we obey God’s commandments, we will be worthy to “always have his Spirit to be with [us]” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77).

2. Be willing to receive the Spirit. If we want to hear God’s voice, we have to be willing to listen to what he has to say. Sometimes the Spirit asks us to do difficult things, but we need to trust that the Lord has a plan. 

3. Recognize the Spirit when it comes. Everyone feels the Spirit differently, so it is important to learn how the Spirit speaks to you. This can be tricky, but as you pray and study, the Lord will help you learn the language of the Spirit. 

4. Act on the first prompting. When the Spirit prompts you to do something, don’t hesitate. Do it. If we trust God and follow his first prompting, we will be led to those in need. 

Elder Rasband testifies, “The Lord knows the needs of all His children—and He knows who is prepared to help. If we let the Lord know…we are ready, He will call on us to respond.” As we respond to his call, we will be able to bless the lives of others and witness miracles.

Read or watch Elder Ronald A. Rasband’s talk “Let the Holy Spirit Guide” to learn more about how you can become a spiritual first responder. 

Source: ChurchofJesusChrist.org  

—Hannah Charlesworth, Latter-day Saint Insights 

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Find more insights 

Read “How the Spirit Can (and Will) Help You Minister” from the Ensign to help you apply these principles to your ministering calling.

Click here to watch the biography of President Thomas S. Monson, an expert spiritual first responder.

Find more insights in the Latter-day Saint Insights article “How Can I Feel the Spirit More?”

Learn more about the language of the Spirit in President Thomas S. Monson’s address “‘The Spirit Giveth Life.’”