Feeling the Spirit

It’s been almost a week and I meant to make this entry earlier but I couldn’t find the time to just sit down and blog. I really liked Branch Conference this past Sunday and I’ve never felt the Spirit so strongly as I did that day, all day. I might have mentioned it before but every time I go to church, through the lessons and discussions, I always hear something that I know I was meant to hear. Something relevant to current struggles or things that go along with my thoughts lately. New perspective shifts that help me feel like Heavenly Father is talking directly to me through the mouthpieces of His servants and answering my prayers.

This Sunday is one of the first that I actually brought a notepad with me, prompted by the Spirit to make available something on which to take a lot of notes. I got a little too excited, erroneously thinking when they said “Conference” that this was something like General Conference but it ended up being more like Stake Conference, except we had visitors to our branch instead. I was regretful that last General Conference, I can’t remember any of the speakers or things they talked about, while, Ben, my younger brother, sat beside me in church and scrawled notes in his notebook the entire time. This time, I was determined to be prepared and although it did not end up being General Conference like I thought, I’m still very glad I brought a notepad with me.

In the second block, Sunday school and Gospel Principles were combined and we learned about Teaching in the Savior’s way. I’ve heard people talk of these meetings before, since grandma and grandpa both work positions of authority in the church, they often have to attend these sort of councils. I’m very pleased they opened it up to more than just the teachers! That is one of those things that I have such a strong testimony of, the way that our classes are taught with the Spirit and given by regular members. I remember one time while at their house, uncle Dave mentioned that I should get called to teach a class and I laughed like he was joking and said, “I don’t know; I’ve still got a lot to learn!” And he told me, “Well, that’s how you learn.” I finally understand what he meant and suddenly it occurs to me that feels right in my heart as well.

Very rarely are teachers in the church actually trained professionals or teach in positions outside of church. The callings are often opportunities for growth, to challenge members to come out of their shells and become more involved in the building of God’s kingdom. And this was brought up during the lesson this Sunday, that teachers are right up next to the high presidency in importance; that teaching with the Spirit is just as important. This was confirmed for me this week as I read 2 Nephi 25 and he talks about the spirit of prophesy and what exactly that is. We all have the ability to feel this spirit for it is the Holy Ghost, and through feeling it with us we can testify(like testimony) of His truths.

I didn’t go looking for 2 Nephi 25, by the way. That’s where we are right now in the scriptures as we’re going through them from beginning to end. So, right after a Sunday lesson about how important teaching with the Spirit is, my family and I get to hear it from Nephi as well. This is another testimony to me that the gospel is consistent and that this has been a part of the way the gospel works from the beginning. It is also a part of my testimony that Heavenly Father does speak to us and has, almost a conversation with you, if you are able to open your heart and listen.

The lesson we had in the third block was another combination, Relief Society and Priesthood meetings. This was my absolute favorite because Brother Austrich(I don’t know how to spell it but I know it is not “ostrich”) delved into perfection. Citing Matthew 5:48, he defined the Greek word for “perfect” used in that verse as “teleios” which does not mean perfect as we think, with all the connotations of impossible high standards and without sinning. It means “complete”, “matured”, “to reach a distant end”, “fully developed”, and “finished.” So, the connotations of

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Takes on a different complexity of meaning. We talked about how “perfection” is a process, that the important thing is to continuously move forward, how the Atonement makes it possible for us to repent and there’d be no reason for it if we weren’t supposed to use it. I especially liked the part where we talked about how exaltation is not reserved for the elites in the church and how Heavenly Father truly wants us all to be in the Celestial Kingdom with him. It was brought up how we will be surprised by who will end up being there at the table next to Heavenly Father. I have a book to help with setting goals and part of this process is writing them down and visualizing where you want to be. Last month, I drew a couple pictures of myself giving talks and being a leader at Girl’s Camp because they seemed “attainable” goals to me. Now I think I’ll draw pictures of me in the Celestial kingdom as well. It all starts with visualization and thinking that you are capable. Because why not? As Brother Hall said, “I’ve never been perfect but I have finished stuff before.” I think I can finish me too, with the Lord’s help.

As the lesson came to a close, I was sitting next to grandma in the middle of the pews and felt very strongly that I was going to be called to say closing prayer. I remember having a moment of internal dialogue that went something like, “What? No, I don’t get called to say prayer very often.” President Sorenson(grandpa) was sitting in the back row and Brother Austrich asked him to call on someone to say the closing prayer. That feeling intensified inside until I had a surety that I was going to be called, getting ready to stand just as grandpa said my name. I smiled a little bit, like “Ack! I knew it!” and when I stood there and folded my arms, my mind was wiped blank. I had nothing planned to say, and my rationale would not work for me to say anything important.

Then my mouth began to move and words were coming out. Suddenly, I was saying things that pertained to the lesson and my prayer was thoughtful and I knew that it was the Spirit that filled me and gave me the words to say. Never before have I felt so strongly the Spirit take command of me like that, my heart overwhelmed with love for my Savior. I am making an entirely new tag for this blog(“future me”) because I know that my testimony of this event is not just important for those reading but for myself as well. I remember once or twice, when I was younger, things happened to me that I felt were maybe the Spirit but this is the first time I have ever felt it like this. I was not alone in the chapel that day and those words were not my own. This is a note for my future self to always know that this happened and it was real. I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ and God on earth and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.