Lesson 8

Seek and Rely on the Spirit

Preach My Gospel, Chapter 4

“The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest gifts that God has given His children” (Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, [2023], 101). The Spirit testifies of Jesus Christ and of the truthfulness of the gospel. People are converted to Christ through the power of the Holy Ghost. As missionaries seek and rely on the Holy Ghost, they can help bring His influence into the lives of those they teach.

Review and Follow Up

Discussion leader: Invite learners to think about their recent efforts to apply what they are learning in this class. You could invite them to share some of their efforts with a partner or together as a class.

Learning Activity Options

Discussion leader: Prayerfully select the learning option(s) that would be most beneficial for your class. Be sure to leave plenty of time for practice and application.

Option A: What role does the Holy Ghost play in missionary work?

Study

Discussion leader: Consider beginning this learning activity by discussing the following statement by the Prophet Joseph Smith.

All are to preach the Gospel, by the power and influence of the Holy Ghost; and no man can preach the Gospel without the Holy Ghost. (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 332)

Why do you think the Holy Ghost plays such an important role in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Discussion leader: Invite learners to locate chapter 4 of Preach My Gospel. Explain that this chapter describes ways the Holy Ghost can help us, both in missionary work and in our personal lives. Share the following instructions to help class members begin their study of this chapter.

Study the paragraphs under the headings “Seek the Guidance of the Holy Ghost” and “The Power of the Spirit in Conversion” (Preach My Gospel, 101; 103–4).
Study at least two of the passages listed in the “Scripture Study” box under the heading “The Power of the Spirit in Conversion” (Preach My Gospel, 104).
Based on what you learn, prepare to share your answers to the following questions:
- How can the Holy Ghost help me preach the Savior’s gospel?
- What role does the Holy Ghost play in helping people come unto Christ?
- What can I do to invite the Spirit as I share the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Discussion leader: If time permits, you could also show the video “The Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org; watch from time code 0:00 to 4:05). Class members could look for additional answers to the three questions.

Practice

Discussion leader: Give the participants time to teach a partner or small group about what they learned from the previous study activity. Consider displaying the following instructions to guide them in their sharing:

Share your answers to the three questions from the previous study activity:
1. How can the Holy Ghost help me preach the Savior’s gospel?
2. What role does the Holy Ghost play in helping people come unto Christ?
3. What can I do to invite the Spirit as I share the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Share a scripture you found. Explain how that scripture relates to one of the three previously discussed questions.
Share a personal experience or your testimony about how the Holy Ghost can help us.

Set a goal

Discussion leader: Give class members time to reflect on what they have learned and set goals. You could display the following to help them:

Set a goal that relates to what you have studied. Use ideas like the following, or think of your own.

Using study tools like Guide to the Scriptures or the Topical Guide, study more about the different roles of the Holy Ghost. Consider how the Holy Ghost can help you both now and as a missionary.
Determine what adjustments you could make that would invite the Holy Ghost into your life more regularly.

My goal

I will … (action you will take).
I will accomplish my goal by … (a simple plan).

Discussion leader: If learners have a group of peers to share their goals with throughout the course, give them time to share how they will support or remind each other before the next class.

Option B: How can I recognize the promptings of the Spirit?

Study

Discussion leader: Invite the participants to discuss the following scenario with a partner.

Imagine that someone asked you how to tell the difference between promptings from the Holy Ghost and your own thoughts and feelings.

How would you respond?

Discussion leader: Explain that it is common for people to have questions about what the Holy Ghost feels like. You could invite the learners to think about some of their own questions. Encourage them as they study to look for truths that can help them recognize ways the Holy Ghost can communicate with them.

Display the following instructions to guide students in their study. You could assign half the class to study option 1, and the other half to study option 2.

Choose one of the following study options from chapter 4 of Preach My Gospel to deepen your understanding about recognizing the Holy Ghost:

Study “Learn to Recognize the Promptings of the Spirit” (Preach My Gospel, 106–7).
Read the descriptions of the Holy Ghost in the “Personal Study” box (Preach My Gospel, 107–8). Study some of the listed scriptures that seem especially interesting to you.

Discussion leader: After class members have had time to study, invite them to discuss the following questions with a partner. (If learners were assigned to study an option, be sure they are paired with someone who studied the other option.)

What insights did you gain about how God communicates with us through the Holy Ghost?
Which examples do you feel describe your personal experiences with the Holy Ghost?

Discussion leader: If time permits, you could also show the video “Elder and Sister Bednar—Recognizing the Spirit” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org; watch from time code 0:38 to 3:11). Invite participants to discuss additional insights they gained.

Practice

Discussion leader: Explain that there are some things to be cautious about when learning how to be guided by the Holy Ghost. Invite learners to locate the section “Some Words of Caution” (Preach My Gospel, 109–10).

Display the following scenarios or print them out for the members of the class. For each scenario, invite learners to share cautions from Preach My Gospel they feel would be helpful to consider. This activity could be done together as a class or in small groups.

A person is seeking guidance and direction for something that is important to them. They pray and ask Heavenly Father to provide an answer by the end of the week.
You notice that when they are feeling the Spirit, others become more emotional than you do. You wonder if something might be wrong with you.
A person feels like they have received guidance from the Spirit to do something that contradicts the teachings of prophets and apostles.
A young man and young woman have been seriously dating. One day he says to her, “I have received inspiration that you should marry me.”
A person has been accepted to two different universities. Despite fasting and prayer, they don’t feel like the Lord is telling them which school to attend.

Set a goal

Discussion leader: Give class members time to reflect on what they have learned and set goals. You could display the following to help them:

Set a goal that relates to what you have studied. Use ideas like the following, or think of your own.

For the next few days, pay close attention to the different ways you feel the Holy Ghost guiding you or how you experience the fruits of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22–23). Record your experiences.
Study each of the scriptures listed in the “Personal Study” box on page 107 of Preach My Gospel. Record insights you gain about how to feel and recognize the Spirit.

My goal

I will … (action you will take).
I will accomplish my goal by … (a simple plan).

Discussion leader: If learners have a group of peers to share their goals with throughout the course, give them time to share how they will support or remind each other before the next class.

Option C: How can I rely more on the Spirit?

Study

Discussion leader: Discuss the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson and the accompanying question.

My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. … Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly. (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96)

Why do you think it is important to receive frequent guidance and revelation from the Holy Ghost?

Discussion leader: Invite class members to think about how often they feel guided by the Holy Ghost. Encourage them as they study to look for teachings that can help them receive the Lord’s guidance through the Spirit more frequently.

Invite learners to locate chapter 4 of Preach My Gospel. Then share the following instructions:

Read the section titled “Rely on the Spirit” in Preach My Gospel (page 108). Look for reasons it is important to have the companionship of the Spirit as you do the Lord’s work.

What did you learn about why it is important to rely on the Holy Ghost?
What can get in the way of relying fully on the Spirit?
What has helped you feel the Spirit’s influence more in your life?

Practice

Discussion leader: To help learners see examples of how the Lord can guide them through the Spirit as they share His gospel, invite them to locate the “Scripture Study” box at the end of the “Rely on the Spirit” section (Preach My Gospel, 108). Briefly discuss the importance of the four questions in the box. Then invite learners to do the following:

Imagine you are a new missionary and have been asked to give a talk in your next district meeting on the topic “How Can We Rely More on the Holy Ghost?” Using the “Scripture Study” box at the end of the “Rely on the Spirit” section (Preach My Gospel, 108), prepare a two- to three-minute talk that addresses this question. Record principles and insights you want to share in your talk.

Discussion leader: After learners have finished studying, give them time to share their talk with a partner.

Set a goal

Discussion leader: Give class members time to reflect on what they have learned and set goals. You could display the following to help them:

Set a goal that relates to what you have studied. Use ideas like the following, or think of your own.

Memorize a scripture about the Holy Ghost, such as one of these: 1 Nephi 4:6; 2 Nephi 32:5; Moroni 10:5; or Doctrine and Covenants 8:2.
Identify what you can start doing and what you can stop doing to help you have the Holy Ghost with you more frequently.

My goal

I will … (action you will take).
I will accomplish my goal by … (a simple plan).

Discussion leader: If learners have a group of peers to share their goals with throughout the course, give them time to share how they will support or remind each other before the next class.

Next Time

Discussion leader: If you plan on teaching lesson 9 in the next class, consider inviting class members to study chapter 5 of Preach My Gospel in preparation. You may want to send them a reminder.