Sunday Thoughts

Today in primary Paul taught a lesson about the unmerciful servant and the importance of forgiving others completely and wholly.  I have to admit, I'm the kind of girl that can hold a grudge.  I don't really worry about anything you say or do until we're really close, but once we are, once you have my trust, boy, you'd better not betray that or we will have some issues!  I've been feeling really strongly lately that some of my anger/frustration/depression issues are related to this fact, and I've been working really hard on forgiving a handful of people who have hurt me deeply in the past...starting with the easier ones, of course, and working my way up to the harder ones.

Then, in sharing time, we talked about the Holy Ghost, or the Spirit of God, and what it does for us.  Something I've always loved about the Spirit is that it does pretty much every good thing--it has many, MANY roles.  Sometimes it comforts us, and sometimes it chastens us.  Sometimes it helps us learn something new, and sometimes it helps us remember what we've already learned.  Sometimes it lets us know what the Lord wants, and sometimes it just works us through what we want and helps us discern the options available.  Sometimes it is a warm, fuzzy feeling, and sometimes it is an inspired thought, and sometimes it is excitement.  Sometimes it warns us, and sometimes it cleanses us.  Sometimes it is a whisper, and sometimes it's a 2x4--so clear and powerful it's practically a voice.  All our spiritual gifts come by the Spirit.  Really, everything in this life comes down to the Spirit. 

I remember one time for a BYD our bishop had a bunch of words written on index cards--some said things like candy, money, or entertainment, some had basic needs like food and shelter.  Most had gospel-related words, like prophets, scriptures, testimony, etc....and one had the spirit.  One by one we had to eliminate a card until we had the single most important thing...and, you guessed it, after much difficult deliberation and debate, we finally picked the Spirit.  It turns out we were right--just read 3 Nephi 19:9, or Mosiah 4:2-3.  It's THAT important.  :)

When we were asked to share personal experiences with the Spirit, though, I sort of drew a blank.  It's not that I haven't had them!  I just couldn't remember.  So I need to record those things and think about them often--and especially work towards having more RECENT promptings.  Most of my stories come from 6 or more years ago!