The Importance of Following the Impressions of the Holy Ghost

In his first General Conference address to the entire church, as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson spoke of the need for personal revelation. From that historic talk, we are now familiar with this quotation:

"But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

In fact, if you click on the link to President Nelson's remarks, you'll see that quote listed in the preface to them on lds.org. It's unquestionably applicable to our time--- probably more than most of us even realize. Yet, when considered in its context, I find it even more powerful:

"I am optimistic about the future. It will be filled with opportunities for each of us to progress, contribute, and take the gospel to every corner of the earth. But I am also not naïve about the days ahead. We live in a world that is complex and increasingly contentious. The constant availability of social media and a 24-hour news cycle bombard us with relentless messages. If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation.

Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.

"My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation."

Amazing! While President Nelson acknowledges the difficult times ahead, he is also trying to help us to understand that a loving Father in Heaven will provide opportunities for all of us to grow, develop, and play our part in the winding up scenes leading to the Second Coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ. And not just that, but some of "His mightiest works" will be manifest. Will we choose to be a part of it?

Is it any wonder that President Nelson then offers a plea "to increase [our] spiritual capacity to receive revelation"? This isn't merely about spiritual survival. It's about doing our part "between now and when He comes again"!

After graduating high school, I learned a tough -- yet valuable -- lesson about the need to recognize and follow impressions that come from the Holy Ghost. I remember it as though it were yesterday.

I had just spent the fall semester at Utah Valley State College in Orem, Utah taking some institute classes in preparation for a mission. I was travelling home with my best friend and his sister. As we approached Billings, Montana, I had the distinct impression that I should ask to stop for a bit to see my Great Uncle, Leonard Olson, who I had not seen in some time. While I had not spent a considerable amount of time with Uncle Leonard growing up, I had always loved him. And I knew that he loved me. He was a true gentleman and always made me feel like a million bucks when he had visited our family over the years.

Not wanting to inconvenience my friend and his sister, I decided to ignore the impression. As we passed through Billings, it came again. The impression was strong. But again, in the name of not being a bother, I resisted it. I arrived safely home, but about two weeks later -- on January 3, 1996 -- our family received word that Uncle Leonard had passed away. I remember later sitting in a chair, at the funeral home in Billings, weeping like a baby. I was devastated.

A few years back, this experience was suddenly the catalyst for one of the most beautiful experiences during my time as bishop. I suppose we're not supposed to have favorite members, but I did. And her name was Shirley Banks.

Sister Banks had been on my home teaching list almost from the inception of our branch being organized in 2012. She was witty, charming, full of love, and had a testimony that she simply wasn't ashamed of. When I think of her, I think of this scripture from Romans 1:16 in the New Testament:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth..."

Sister Banks lived in the nursing home, but regularly attended her church meetings. Everyone loved her. My kids adored her--- and the feeling was mutual. I truly felt it was a privilege to not only be her bishop, but her home teacher. She even convinced me to dance on one occasion--- something not even my wife can get me to do anymore. Had I refused, I'm certain I would have been subjected to her signature shake of the finger at those she would chastise. It was classic.

As often happens to those in the sunset of life, Sister Banks took ill following a surgery. We all prayed for her. But as it turns out, our will was not His will.

It was a Sunday afternoon. I had not been feeling well myself and had missed church--- a rarity. When my family arrived home, I discovered that they had stopped to see Sister Banks. My daughter, Carolyn, entered my room where I was in bed resting. She wouldn't have had to say a thing. By the look on her face, I could tell that things weren't good.

Then the impression came. It was familiar to me. I had experienced it exactly 20 years before. Only this time, I obeyed. I prayed for strength, rose from my bed, dressed in my typical Sunday best, and made my way to the nursing home 22 miles away.

When I entered the room of this sweet woman, I immediately knew her time in mortality was drawing to a close. I approached her bedside, took her by the hand, and sat down. She could no longer verbally communicate with me, but it was obvious she knew I was there. She would look at me and respond by a squeeze of her fingers. We looked at the Christmas lights outside her window together, reminisced about times past, and I read cards to her that she had received. Before I left, I asked if I could get just one more chastising waive of the finger from her--- she obliged.

I returned home and within hours Sister Shirley Banks slipped beyond the veil to a place our finite minds cannot comprehend. What a woman! And how grateful I was -- and am -- that I followed the urging of the Holy Ghost to spend those final moments with her.

In his masterful address, "Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise", in the October 1994 General Conference, President Boyd K. Packer taught the important truth that:

"The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear. It is described as a 'still small voice.' And while we speak of 'listening' to the whisperings of the Spirit, most often one describes a spiritual prompting by saying, 'I had a feeling …'

"Revelation comes as words we feel more than hear. Nephi told his wayward brothers, who were visited by an angel, 'Ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words.'"

Prior to issuing his plea that we increase our spiritual capacity for receiving revelation, President Russell M. Nelson gave this excellent counsel to the members of the church:

"Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will 'grow into the principle of revelation.'"

Despite the challenges that abound in the world, there is refuge in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Indeed, there can be respite in the home and in the Church. I'm convinced that our Heavenly Father sincerely desires to bless us, if only we'll allow him to. Could it be that many of our limitations are self-imposed? President Brigham Young seemed to think so:

"There is no doubt, if a person lives according to the revelations given to God's people, he may have the Spirit of the Lord to signify to him his will, and to guide and to direct him in the discharge of his duties, in his temporal as well as his spiritual exercises. I am satisfied, however, that in this respect, we live far beneath our privileges." (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 32)

There is work for us to do. Now is the time to follow the admonition of prophets and apostles in preparation for what lies ahead. We must learn the importance of following the impressions of the Holy Ghost. Our spiritual survival depends upon it.

Works Cited:

1. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/04/revelation-for-the-church-revelation-for-our-lives?lang=eng

2. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1994/10/personal-revelation-the-gift-the-test-and-the-promise?lang=eng

3. Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 32