The Companionship of the Spirit of God

The companionship of the Holy Ghost is something that the LDS church talks about quite frequently. There is a focus on "feeling the Spirit" in order that you may gain a testimony of the truthfulness of gospel principles. As you make good choices you allow that pure Spirit to be a guide in your life and you will know by its witness that the scriptures you are reading or the prayers you are saying or the talk you're listening to in church holds truth and spiritual value.

But what about the less religious aspect of having the Holy Ghost as a companion? 

I've been told through my life that as we live righteously we invite the Spirit to be our constant companion but that was never a concept I understood until a few years ago. I understood the idea of feeling the Spirit while I was at church or praying or reading scriptures, but how could I feel the Spirit when I was playing games with my friends or sitting through a lecture at school? That simply did not make sense to me.

I learned how to have the Spirit's constant companionship while I was a counselor at Especially For Youth. I spent five days a week constantly teaching teenagers about the gospel and other life values or being taught myself whether by an instructor or one of my own kids. 

This structure in my life provided an environment in which is was very easy to feel the Spirit. All I had to do was be aware that it was there. 

During the summer I came to realize that I needed that companionship. I simply could not survive without it. You find very quickly that as an EFY counselor you're constantly exhausted but your job requires you to be full of energy. You run out of patience but it's only the first night and you still have four more days left. Your child is having an emotional break down and you have to know the right words to say. 

I couldn't do all of those things on my own. No matter how much I gave it my all, I just could not do it. 

 That's where the companionship of the Holy Ghost comes in. You see, not only does the Holy Ghost give you spiritual revelation and assurance on religious matters, but He serves as many other things.

When I could not stay awake through a class, I could pray and ask for a blessing to stay awake. And somehow, I made it. Somehow I got up each morning and was able to conquer another day.

When I discovered one of my kids with a handful of mental difficulties wandering down the hall in the middle of the night after lights out I was able to smile and patiently take her back to her room.

When one of my girls hit a personal low in self esteem and was crying in her bedroom, I knew what to do and say.

That's not me. Anyone who knows me well will tell you that when I'm tired, I forego all responsibilities and go to sleep. When my patience is tried, I will walk away because I can't handle the situation. When someone is hurting, I'm a lot more likely to bring you some ice cream than I am to offer words of comfort because I simply don't know what to say.

So to me, that's what it means to have the Holy Ghost as a companion. It is something in my life that when I fall short, I have a divine influence who teaches me all that I need to know.

Some other ways to discern when you have the Spirit is if:

-You feel happy and calm.

-You feel full of light. Your mind is clear.

-You feel warm inside.

-You feel generous.

-Nobody could offend you.

-You feel confident in what you do.

-You wouldn't mind everybody seeing what you're doing.

-You feel outgoing, anxious to be with people.

-You are glad when others succeed.

-You want to make others happy. You bring out the best and say the best of others.

-You gladly and willingly perform church service. You magnify your callings.

-You feel like praying.

-The commandments are a challenge, not a burden.

-You feel in control of your appetites and emotions: food and sleep in moderation, sexual restraint, diversion that is wholesome, calm and controlled speech, no anger..

-You're glad to be alive.

Here are some words associated with the Holy Ghost:

revelator, comforter, reprove, guide, power, gift, testify, teach, sanctify, reveal, fills with hope and love, enlighten, peace, communicate, discern, enable, assist, edify

Lots of the time we don't even realize that we are being filled with all of these wonderful things. I was once told that,

"The Spirit is like air. It is always surrounding us and we're breathing it in but when it is gone it is an uncomfortable gasping for air."

The companionship of the Holy Ghost is not just for church meetings.
It is not just for weeks at EFY.
God has given us the GIFT of the Holy Ghost to be our constant companion in every minute of every day. Let Him teach you. Let Him comfort you. Receive that divine power.

I am grateful for the understanding that I have of the Holy Ghost and His role in my life. I am blessed daily to receive divine love and knowledge and it has changed me for the better in ways I didn't even realize were possible.

Let the Holy Spirit guide.
Let Him teach us what is true.
He will testify of Christ.
Light our minds with heaven's view.

What I Wish I'd Known (and am still learning)

1. Pursue your interests.
If you are attracted to something, act and give it a place in your life. It doesn't need to be sensible or mainstream. Just go for it! When I chose my college degree I selected Chemical Engineering based on my academic strengths and financial goals. Almost a decade later I've finally realized that my passion for traveling IS an option for a career. Whether you're selecting a career or filling in free time, believe that focusing on things you're passionate about is what will bring the most joy. Stop worrying about others' expectations and spend your life devoted to things you love.

2. Use it now.
Whatever "it" may be, use it now! If you've been saving a new item of clothing, your favorite treat, or a good joke, use it now. There is too much goodness in this world to be constantly putting it on hold. Appreciate what you have and then show that appreciation by using it.

3. Be friends with change.
Change happens. As creatures of habit, we often attribute change as something uncomfortable and unwanted when we should be looking forward to new beginnings and opportunities. The past might have been great but the future holds many untold adventures. Allowing change is the best way to discover ourselves.

4. Be Prepared.
From emergency kits to a hidden stash of cash to pre-prepped meals, being a step ahead will save you from a lot of trouble, typically without requiring a lot of work. We live in a world with high demands and instant rewards but two flat tires, invalid credit cards, and indigestion from nothing but fast food for a week seems like a high and unnecessary cost for not doing a simple amount of preparation.

5. Intelligence is not rated on a grade scale. 
Realize that intellect comes in many forms and is displayed several ways. Someone might have a few diplomas hanging on their wall but can they reconstruct the wall they're placed on? Do they conduct themselves well in a variety of social settings? What have they noticed and learned about the people and world around them? We often scrutinize their personal resume yet miss the bigger picture.

6. Be brave. 
The most influential person in our lives is ourselves. Stop listening to your flimsy alter ego and man up to being your true self. Every moment you let yourself believe you're not strong or sexy or ambitious is a moment you're wasting your incredible potential. You choose who you are and if you don't like something, change it. It is entirely up to you. In addition to being brave enough to try new things, also be brave enough to walk away. Know that you can leave. If you don't like someone or a situation: run, don't walk.

7. Condense.
Get rid of your crap and stick to the basics. The best times of my life have been living out of a backpack or suitcase when I spent less time choosing which of my two pairs of shoes to wear and more time being part of the world around me. We like to think that having more stuff will make us happy but the truth is it leaves you with less money, less space, and a lot of cleaning. It is better to have one or two things you love instead of 10 things you put up with. For instance, stop buying those cheap 200-count cotton sheets from Walmart and invest in a nice bamboo set. It will change your life.

8. Work is your best friend.
Work should make you happy. Working means you are making progress, becoming stronger, and learning more. Vacation has its own places in our lives but it is achievement that instills a fulfilling sense of happiness. Learn how to work hard and appreciate the satisfaction that brings.

9. Take advantage of free.
Think back on your happiest memories. Did you buy happiness? There are so many things to do and experience in life that are absolutely free. Take advantage of those options and you'll most likely end up a lot richer, happier, and feeling less like a robot.

10. Smile. Your best, most attractive, and natural look requires you to smile. But don't smile because its required-- smile because you found a thousand reasons to be in love with living today. Smiling is not only an indicator of happiness but a method to bring happiness, both to yourself and others.