"For in those days there shall also arise false
Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch,
that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect
according to the covenant. " (JS
Matthew 1:22)
Elder Kim B. Clark warned in last General Conference:
"Whatever level of spirituality or faith or obedience we now have, it will not be sufficient for the work that lies ahead. We need greater spiritual light and power. We need eyes to see more clearly the Savior working in our lives and ears to hear His voice more deeply in our hearts."
D&C 45: 55-59 gives us the key to arriving at the last day where Satan has no place in our heart; the key to being one of the wise virgins referred to in the parable of the Ten Virgins found in Matthew 25:1-13. The key is . . . . are you ready . . . . .drum roll please . . . . in D&C 45:57 . . . . the wise vigins "have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide"
So taking the Holy Spirit for our guide becomes our most important task. Elder Clark gave some good guidelines for doing that, all the simple stuff that we've heard over and over. Do we have faith enough to act upon these guidelines? Its the same as asking "Are we wise enough to keep oil in our lamps during the time of waiting for the Savior's return?" Cause that's how we do it - so simple that its easy to look beyond the mark.
In all of these guidelines, I would add that it's crucial that our heart is engaged as we do them. Simply checking them off a "TO DO LIST" is not going to work in the long term.
From Elder Clark:
In our HOMES: pray in faith, search the scriptures, keep the Sabbath day holy
In our CHAPElS: partake of the sacrament, make sacred promises to Heavenly Father
In HOLY TEMPLES: participate in sacred ordinances
in our FAMILIES and ASSIGNMENTS: reach out to others, lifting their burdens and inviting them to come to Christ
THEN this is the PROMISE: "the Holy Ghost will come! We will grow spiritually and gain experience with the Holy Ghost, and He will be our companion."
The RESULT for us: we will see the Lord Jesus Christ working in our lives; we will see our brothers and sisters through eyes of love and compassion; we will hear the Savior's voice in the scriptures, in the whisperings of the spirit, in the words of the living prophets; we will see the power of God resting upon HIs prophet; and we will know with a surety that this is God's holy work; we will see the way the Savior does; we will have eyes to see and ears to hear. . . Through the companionship of the Holy Ghost we will be able to cut through confusion, pain and darkness.
I would add my testimony to these promises. I know that it's through these simple things that we use our agency to choose Christ and "receive the Holy Ghost". I know that He keeps His promises. I know that as we choose to receive the Holy Ghost - to invite him into our lives by doing these simple things, we will be led and guided to know "all things what ye should do." (2 N 32:5)
I know that "the Spirit speaketh truth and lieth not." and that the spirit will show us "things as they really are, and of things as they really will be." and that the spirit will show us these things "plainly for the salvation of our souls." (Jacob 4:13) There is absolute truth - things as they really are and the spirit will teach it to us. There is good and evil. It is given unto us to judge. There is a light by which we may judge and we are counseled to "see that ye do not judge wrongfully. (Moroni 7:18-19)
“The ability to receive and act upon personal revelation is
the single most important skill we can acquire in this life. With it we cannot
fail; without it we cannot succeed” (Julie B Beck; “And
upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit,”Ensign, May
2010, 11).
So what can we do to increase our abilities to receive revelation from the Holy Ghost? How can we help our children to acquire this skill? How can we take the Holy Spirit for our guide?
