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Follow the Prophet
We need to know how the Holy Ghost speaks individually, personally, and uniquely to us.
Many of you came today with questions—thoughts and concerns and circumstances that are weighing heavily upon your heart and mind. I too have questions—questions and concerns about my family and friends, those whom I dearly love. Questions and concerns about the future.
It has been prophesied that in the last days the world will be scary, but not for the righteous. Jesus Christ Himself declared, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:30).
You may find yourself asking, however, “What is it exactly that we need to prepare for?” That is a great question! If we want to know what the world is going to be like right before the Savior comes again, we simply need to read about what the world was like right before He came and visited the people in ancient America.
Follow along with me in 3 Nephi chapters 6 and 7 as together we learn what the world is going to be like in the last days:
There were “disputings among the people” (see 3 Nephi 6:10; emphasis added).
They were “lifted up unto pride and boastings because of their exceedingly great riches” (3 Nephi 6:10; emphasis added).
“The people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning” (3 Nephi 6:12; emphasis added).
“Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world” (3 Nephi 6:15; emphasis added).
“And the people were divided one against another; and they did separate one from another into tribes” (3 Nephi 7:2; emphasis added).
“They did yield themselves unto the power of Satan” (3 Nephi 7:5; emphasis added).
“They did cause a great contention in the land” (3 Nephi 7:7; emphasis added).
Does any of this sound familiar? Does this sound like our day? You may be asking yourself, “Where do I find peace and comfort? Now that I know what the last days will look like, how do I successfully navigate these challenging times and prepare for the Savior’s return?”
May I suggest that we review chapters 6 and 7 again and instead of focusing on the calamities and wickedness that took place right before the Savior came, let us focus on what the righteous were doing. What were the righteous doing at the exact same time to prepare for the coming of the Lord?
The righteous were “humble and penitent before God” (3 Nephi 6:13; emphasis added).
“They were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord” (3 Nephi 6:14; emphasis added).
They “testified of the things pertaining to Christ” (3 Nephi 6:23; emphasis added).
“Nephi did minister with power and with great authority” (3 Nephi 7:17; emphasis added).
The people “had been visited by the power and Spirit of God, which was in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed” (3 Nephi 7:21; emphasis added).
“Many ... were healed of their sicknesses and their infirmities, [and] did truly manifest unto the people that they had been wrought upon by the Spirit of God, and had been healed; and they ... did do ... miracles among the people” (3 Nephi 7:22; emphasis added).
“Nephi did … preach unto them repentance and remission of sins” (3 Nephi 7:23; emphasis added).
In summary, the people of ancient America who were successfully navigating the challenges of their day, in preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ, made and kept sacred covenants and heeded the words of a living prophet. This is where they found peace, safety, guidance, and comfort amidst the tumult of their day. They were a people who sought for the good and found it. They found it in the prophetic guidance and counsel of a living prophet.
I invite and admonish you to review often the most recent counsel our living prophet, Russell M. Nelson, has encouraged us to heed. Today, I would like to focus on one of his recent prophetic priorities, which is paramount and foundational in helping us not only heed but understand—that of hearing the voice of the Lord.
President Nelson warned during his first general conference address as President of the Church, “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”1 I believe it is significant that he didn’t say that it would be more difficult or that it would be more challenging; he said that it will not be possible.
One of my favorite things to do is ask children, youth, and young adults, “How do you hear the voice of the Lord? How does the Holy Ghost speak to you?” I asked my niece who, at the time, was the captain of her high school soccer team. She indicated that sometimes the Holy Ghost feels like a rush of adrenaline as if she had just scored a winning goal.
Another young woman who loves to surf off the California coast said that sometimes the Holy Ghost feels like a warm wave had just washed over her entire body.
A young man who is an engineering major and very academic, very analytical, said, “Sister Wright, I don’t feel anything.”
I said, “Interesting, tell me about that. Teach me.”
He said that the Holy Ghost speaks to him in a “very matter of fact, commonsense, orderly kind of way. It just makes sense.”
Can you imagine if he had been taught his entire life that the Holy Ghost manifested only as goosebumps, tears, or a warm feeling? He would have spent his entire life thinking that the heavens were closed and that God did not speak personally to him.
This young man’s personal experience with the Holy Ghost reminds me of the beautiful scripture found in Doctrine and Covenants 8:2: “Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.”
My young friends, if you do not know how the Holy Ghost speaks to you, I invite you to seek out places where you know the Spirit of the Lord is present. Some of these include, but are not limited to, listening to wholesome music; studying the scriptures and words of living prophets, seers, and revelators; serving others; partaking worthily of the sacrament; and worshipping in the house of the Lord. Then, stop, listen, ponder, and ask yourself, “What am I thinking? What am I feeling right now?”
In this final battle for souls, we need to know how the Holy Ghost speaks individually, personally, uniquely to us and then, when those promptings come, have the faith and courage to act. Doing so will not only be a tremendous blessing of peace and safety in our lives but can also have eternal consequences in the lives of those we love.
The plan of happiness is not always happy. But we learn from Paul in Hebrews 12 that this life is like running a race—a long distance race where strength and perseverance is required. A race where the ultimate goal, the final destination, is eternal life and exaltation. As we look to Christ and run as He ran, striving to follow in His footsteps to the very best of our ability, we shall gain the victory as He did.
I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Jesus Christ’s Church and President Russell M. Nelson is Jesus Christ’s prophet. Follow the prophet; he knows the way.