Eyring - His Spirit to Be with You - April 2018

President Eyring speaks on Easter morning about the need for all of us to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

• My hope today is to increase your desire and your ability to receive the Holy Ghost. Remember, He is the third member of the Godhead. The Father and the Son are resurrected beings. The Holy Ghost is a person of spirit. It is your choice whether to receive Him and welcome Him into your heart and mind.
  

President Eyring talks about the empty tomb and Mary's reaction to seeing the Savior after his death.  He also speaks about the disciples on the road to Emmaus having their hearts burn but not recognizing the Savior while He was with them.  He notes that the feelings we have when the Holy Ghost touches our lives can be more powerful than any other spiritual experience we have.

• More precious than a memory of events is the memory of the Holy Ghost touching our hearts and His continuing affirmation of truth. More precious than seeing with our eyes or remembering words spoken and read is recalling the feelings that accompanied the quiet voice of the Spirit. Rarely I have felt it exactly as the travelers on the road to Emmaus did—as a soft but unmistakable burning in the heart. More often it is a feeling of light and quiet assurance.
  

He speaks about receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism.  He notes that it is our choice to have the Spirit with us.

• We have the priceless promise of the Holy Ghost as a companion, and we also have true directions on how to claim that gift. These words are said by the Lord’s authorized servant with his hands on our head: “Receive the Holy Ghost.” At that moment you and I have the assurance He will be sent. But our obligation is to choose to open our hearts to receive the ministration of the Spirit over a lifetime.

President Eyring talks about Joseph Smith being an example of how we can receive continual spiritual direction in our lives.

• The Prophet Joseph set an example for us of how to receive continual spiritual direction and comfort through the Holy Ghost.
  
  • The first choice he made was to be humble before God.
    
  • The second was to pray with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
    
  • The third was to obey exactly. Obedience may mean to move quickly. It may mean to prepare. Or it may mean to wait in patience for further inspiration.
    
  • And the fourth is to pray to know the needs and hearts of others and how to help them for the Lord. Joseph prayed for the Saints in distress when he was in prison. It has been my opportunity to observe the prophets of God as they pray, ask for inspiration, receive direction, and act on it.
    

President Eyring concludes his talk discussing the concept of ministering.  He says that the Spirit will help us as we try to help God's children along the path of life.

• Inspiration will help us minister to others for the Lord.
  
• Great ministers have qualified for the Holy Ghost as a nearly constant companion. And they have qualified for the gift of charity, which is the pure love of Christ.
  

President Eyring concludes with his testimony of the Godhead and how they want to be part of our lives.  But them being invited into our lives is our choice and we have to choose to have them in our lives.

• I bear my personal witness that the Father is at this moment aware of you, your feelings, and the spiritual and temporal needs of everyone around you. I bear testimony that the Father and the Son are sending the Holy Ghost to all who have that gift, ask for that blessing, and seek to be worthy of it. Neither the Father, nor the Son, nor the Holy Ghost force Themselves into our lives. We are free to choose.
  

I appreciated a deeper review of ministering in this talk.  It is interesting that President Nelson will not announce the ministering changes until the next conference session but already, the concept is being discussed in multiple talks before the announcement.  From this talk, I realize I need the companionship of the Holy Ghost to enhance my ministering efforts.  Not only will the Holy Ghost help me minister to those in need, He will also help us understand how I can minister more effectively.  I am grateful that I can be trusted to be part of the Lord's team of ministers.  It is important to make sure we have all the support we can get in our ministering efforts and living our lives so we can have the Holy Ghost help us is vital to being effective ministers.