Skip to main content

"How do you know when you feel the spirit?"



We have a lady in Japan studying the gospel.  She asked, "How do you know when you feel the spirit?"

There have been big spiritual moments in my life, but for me I most often feel the spirit in the small things.  A beautiful sunset, a flower, the mountains, a quiet moment reading scriptures, during prayer, spending time with loved ones, listening to music, listening to talks at church are all ways I feel the spirit.  In the New Testament, We learn about the fruits of the spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,     Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.                                                               Galatians 5:22-23

If you have felt any of these feelings, then you have experienced the spirit.

Through my work at the Church History Library, I have read thousands of testimonies of people who have walked through the Oquirrh Mountain Temple during the Open House.  These testimonies range from 3-year-olds to the very old, from the believers to the non-believers.  I have been given a birds-eye view of how many people feel the spirit.  They describe the spirit as a good feeling, of love and belonging, a desire to change and come closer to God, a feeling of peace, and understanding. One of my dear friends describes the temple as "the soothing balm of peace".  I love that description.  The spirit can help us through the trials of our life.

Visible satellite image of Hurricane Ida at 2:50 p.m. EDT August 28, 2021. (Image credit: NOAA/RAMMB/Colorado State University)

I think of the people of Louisiana, whom I love, are right now being hit by a Category 4 hurricane.  We've been through multiple hurricanes over the years that we have lived in the South.  We know how devastating these storms can be.  Our prayers are with you.🙏

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation: that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.  Helaman 5:12



 

Comments

  1. Brittany HaynieAugust 29, 2021 at 8:38 PM

    I feel the Spirit when I read your posts! Love your testimony and you. 🥰 Thanks for sharing your experiences. Keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Shan KelleyAugust 30, 2021 at 10:48 AM

    I always felt the Spirit any time I was in your presence. You were always my “Person of Peace”. I miss you dearly!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10 more days--Our mission is coming to a close

Image
10 more days-- our mission is coming to a close. What an amazing experience this has been!! We have seen God's hand in our life in so many ways. We feel the windows of heaven have been opened to us that there is not even room to receive it. We have grown closer to each other and closer to the Lord. We arrived when the sakura trees were blooming. Now, they are blooming again. Walking under the blossoms gives you a sacred feeling that you are somewhere very special. This is my favorite walking path. There is a lady who cares for these flower boxes every day. I have enjoyed seeing them on my way to the river walk. Today, I saw a miracle with the ward choir. They asked me to lead the choir when we first arrived. I have sang in many choirs, all of my life. I have never led a choir. We started out just singing hymns but eventually added more and more difficult music.  I wanted to sing "Let Us All Press On". This is a difficult piece sung by the Choir at Temple Square. I had hig
Read more

Enjoying our time here...

Image
We decided last P-day to go to Universal City. It was a fun and memorable day. The weather cooperated with a beautiful spring day. The adventure started even before we arrived by riding the train and then subway in Osaka. It was packed body to body, a full contact sport. When we got in the subway, we were jam packed. I was wondering if the door would close. Then we stopped at another station. An additional 5 people got on the train. We were absolutely smashed together. The people at Universal City all wore crazy hats. It seems the more outlandish the hat the more they enjoyed them. I loved seeing these little cuties. Our favorite spot was the Harry Potter castle and village. They have really strived to recreate the book. You walk through a forest before arriving at the village. We saw the flying blue car, Mirror of Erised, the talking pictures on the walls, the Fat Lady guarding the door, the Sorting Hat, Dumbledore's office and many more.  We would have bought some butterbeer but
Read more

Daruma Doll

Image
President and Sister Halvorson gave the missionaries a Daruma doll for New Years.  The Daruma doll is rich in symbolism and is a sign of good luck for the new year. The eyes are blank. Once you determine your goal,  you color in the first eye. At the end of the year, you complete your goal and finish the other eye. The Daruma doll wobbles but won't stay down. If you tip it on it's side, it uprights itself. This is symbolic of perseverance in striving toward your goal. You may falter but just pick yourself up and keep trying. President Russell M. Nelson, the prophet gave us a New Year's Message for 2023... Be Patient... Be Persistent.. Be Prayerful...
Read more