Lesson Summary: January 27, 2013

An Unspeakable Gift from God
BY ELDER CRAIG C. CHRISTENSEN
Of the Presidency of the Seventy

Elder Christensen tells of his family's trip to the Bountiful, Utah temple open house.
"As we reverently walked through the temple, I found myself admiring the magnificent architecture, the elegant finishes, the light shining through towering windows, and many of the inspiring paintings. Every aspect of this sacred building was truly exquisite.
"Stepping into the celestial room, I suddenly realized that our youngest son, six-year-old Ben, was clinging to my leg. He appeared anxious—perhaps even a little troubled.
“"What’s wrong, Son?' I whispered.
“'Daddy,' he replied, 'what’s happening here? I’ve never felt this way before.'
"Recognizing that this was likely the first time our young son had felt the influence of the Holy Ghost in such a powerful way, I knelt down on the floor next to him. While other visitors stepped around us, Ben and I spent several minutes, side by side, learning about the Holy Ghost together. I was amazed at the ease with which we were able to discuss his sacred feelings"

How important it was for Elder Christensen to take the time to help his son discover the strong feelings he was experiencing.


"The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, and, as such, like God the Father and Jesus Christ, He knows our thoughts and the intents of our hearts.3 The Holy Ghost loves us and wants us to be happy."
"Unlike Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, who have glorified bodies of flesh and bones, the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit who communicates to our spirits through feelings and impressions"


The holy ghost is many things: comforter, guide, teacher, and revelator.
He can bring us inspiration, peace, hope, and understanding.

When President Monson was bishop he went to the hospital to visit a sick sister, when he entered the room the lady in the next bed covered her head. When he had finished and was ready to leave:
“I could not leave her side. It was as though an unseen hand [was] resting on my shoulder, and I felt within my soul that I was hearing these words:‘Go over to the next bed where the little lady covered her face when you came in.’ I did so. …
“I approached the bedside of the other patient, gently tapped her shoulder and carefully pulled back the sheet which had covered her face. Lo and behold! She, too, was a member of my ward. I had not known she was a patient in the hospital. Her name was Kathleen McKee.When her eyes met mine, she exclaimed through her tears, ‘Oh, Bishop,when you entered that door, I felt you had come to see me and bless me in response to my prayers. I was rejoicing inside to think that you would know I was here, but when you stopped at the other bed, my heart sank,and I knew that you had not come to see me.’
“I said to [Sister] McKee: ‘It does not matter that I didn’t know you were here. It is important, however, that our Heavenly Father knew and that you had prayed silently for a priesthood blessing. It was He who prompted me to intrude on your privacy."
President Boyd K. Packer has taught: “The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear. … While we speak of ‘listening’ to the whisperings of the Spirit, most often one describes a spiritual prompting by saying, ‘I had a feeling …’”18 It is through these sacred feelings from the Holy Ghost that we come to know what God would have us do, for this, as stated in scripture, “is the spirit of revelation.”19

At times the influence of the Holy Ghost will come to us as thoughts to help us in our trials, even everyday trials such as raising children.

The Holy Ghost can help bring things to our remembrance, to aid us in school or other endeavors, but we need to study. We can't remember things we don't know.

"Before baptism, all honest and sincere seekers of truth can feel the influence of the Holy Ghost from time to time. However, the opportunity to receive the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and the fulness of all the associated blessings is available only to worthy,baptized members who receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands through those holding the priesthood authority of God."