As we follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, he will guide us in our efforts to help loved ones come back to the fold.
One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the Holy Ghost. Jesus taught that he would give his disciples the Comforter to “guide [them] into all truth” (John 16:13). But how do we know if we are being guided by the Holy Ghost? And how do we help others who may be confused?
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In his talk entitled “The Holy Ghost,” Elder Robert D. Hales offers counsel on how to discern the guidance of the Holy Ghost from the voices of the world. “Sometimes the adversary tempts us with false ideas that we may confuse with the Holy Ghost. I testify that faithfulness in obeying the commandments and keeping our covenants will protect us from being deceived.” One deceptive, false idea is that we know what God wants for the entire Church. Elder Hales reminds us to not walk ahead of the Lord, explaining that “only the prophet may receive revelation through the Holy Ghost for the entire Church.” When we feel the desire to counsel those who are stewards over us, we can know that the desire is not revelation from God, who offers us guidance that directly applies to only us and our own stewardships.
Although we may subscribe to these principles ourselves, at times our loved ones may question the authority of Church leaders. During these times, we can remember that each of us faces “sorrow that the eye can’t see” (Hymns, no. 220), and we all need time and space to work through our doubts and questions. This time and space are where God can approach his children through the Holy Ghost, as well as through his disciples. Elder Hales counsels, “Let us encourage our children and others to follow the direction of the Holy Ghost. In doing so, let us follow the example of the Holy Ghost ourselves, leading through gentleness, meekness, kindness, long-suffering, and love unfeigned.”
The differences we have with others give us the opportunity to become like Christ through the influence of the Holy Ghost. As we work through our own doubts and make our own decisions, let us offer others the grace and patience that God so lovingly offers us.
Learn more about how the Holy Ghost can guide us in our interactions with others in Elder Robert D. Hales’s full talk “The Holy Ghost.”
Source: General Conference
—Marie Lefler, Latter-day Saint Insights
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Find more insights
Read President Eyring’s speech “Raise the Bar” about seeking the Holy Ghost.