How many of you have ever wanted to develop a new talent? Have you ever taken
piano or soccer lessons? Tonight I want to talk to you about developing a talent—not
just any talent, but one very special talent I bet you have never even thought
about. I would like to talk to you about developing your talent for spirituality.
Did you know that spirituality is a talent? Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once said, "Above all talents . . . ,
chief among all endowments—stands the talent for spirituality" (The
Millennial Messiah [1982], 234). Spirituality is learning how to listen
to the Spirit and then letting it govern our lives.
So how do we learn to listen to the Spirit? Well, first of all, we need to
understand what the Spirit is. Second, we'll look at young women who have learned
how to recognize the Spirit. As members of the Church, we are given two spiritual
gifts: the Light of Christ given to all men at birth and the special gift of
the Holy Ghost given after our baptism. It allows us "to live by the power of
the Holy Ghost, which is the power of revelation, and . . . testimony"
(Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrines of the Restoration: Sermons and Writings of
Bruce R. McConkie, ed. Mark L. McConkie [1989], 93). Once we know what
the Spirit is, how do we recognize it when we feel it? That's the hardest part.
When I was 14, I remember realizing what the Spirit was for the very first
time. I loved going to church, especially sacrament meeting. I always felt so
warm and peaceful. This was the Spirit. I'm not sure I knew how important it
was. I just knew it made me feel good. As an adult, I've learned that it not
only makes us feel good, it teaches and testifies and cleanses us from sin.
It can warn us of danger and help us remember things.
Some young women struggle to identify the Spirit. One girl wrote: "I haven't
really had any experiences with the Holy Ghost, and that's mostly my fault for
not living like I should. But I'm trying harder, and hopefully I will have a
chance soon to feel the [comforting influence of the] Holy Ghost" (letter
on file in the Young Women office).
These feelings are normal. This young woman may not know it, but the Holy Ghost
is giving her a desire to feel His influence. The Spirit doesn't always give
us warm, fuzzy feelings. Most of the time, the voice of inspiration is a quiet
voice, a still, small voice.
I remember what the Savior said to the faithful Nephites when He visited the
New World: "I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words. . . . Go . . . [into]
your homes, . . . ponder upon the things which I have said,
and ask . . . the Father . . . that ye may understand" (3
Ne. 17:2–3).
The Savior's words were written for us. It's OK if we're weak, as long as we
don't stay weak, as long as we do something about it. Katie is a young woman
who did just that. Let me share her story with you.
"All my life I have wanted to be good, but I got to the point where I wondered,
'How can anyone really know if the Church is true?' I took Moroni's challenge
and for five months prayed and read my scriptures every day. One night I sat
on my bed almost in tears, giving up. I decided to pray. I said, 'Heavenly Father,
help me to please just know you are there. I've done what Thou hast asked according
to the Church and I just really need to know.' Immediately I felt like someone
had wrapped their arms around me. I didn't hear a loud voice or see an angel,
but I felt Heavenly Father telling me, 'Sweet Katie, you've known all along.'
It was like a kind and loving father comforting his little girl" (letter).
One of the main functions of the Holy Ghost is to testify of truth. The Spirit
testified to Katie that the gospel is true. Katie had paid the price. As the
Savior said, she went to her home, studied His words, and prayed—for five
whole months. Katie is developing her talent for spirituality. She can use this
gift to govern her life.
Talents are meant to be shared. As you learn to play the piano, you can bless
others with your music. As you develop your talent for spirituality, you can
use this gift to bless your family. Did you know you have some responsibility
for the happiness in your family? It isn't just your mom's or dad's job to keep
the family happy. You can help too. Listen to what Brooke did as she shared
her talent for spirituality.
"My eight-year-old sister was scared of strangers coming into the house. One
night she came into my room and I tried to explain to her that she wasn't hearing
anyone walking around. I remembered my seminary teacher challenged us to always
try to have Heavenly Father's Spirit with us. So I prayed in my heart that I
would get help to not be frustrated. A verse came instantly into my head. I
opened the scriptures and told her to read it to me. Then I was bearing testimony
to her about the Holy Ghost and how if she wanted peace to get down and pray
and the Spirit would come. She gave me a hug and kiss and went off to bed. Then
I remembered my 10-year-old sister on the top bunk. She told me she never knew
that if you wanted something like that you could pray and the Spirit would bring
you peace. I know the Holy Ghost was inspiring me to say that" (letter).
There are lots of ways you can bless your family. Brooke did three important
things: she bore her testimony, she prayed for her sister, and she was an example
to her other sister on the top bunk. This strengthened her own spirituality
as well.
The Savior invites us to bear testimony. He has said, "Go ye into all the world,
preach the gospel to every creature" (D&C
68:8).
Many of you love bearing testimony at camp. Well, you don't have to wait for
camp. You can bear your testimony to your family often in simple ways.
When my grandchildren visited me and we saw a picture of President Hinckley,
I said, "I love President Hinckley. I am so grateful to have a living prophet
on the earth today." It took about 10 seconds, but it taught my grandchildren
and helped us feel the Spirit.
We bear testimony every single day by our example. Just last month when I was
writing this talk, my daughter Jill came home, happily fixed dinner, and washed
the dishes. The sweet spirit she carries in her heart blesses our home. I know
she loves Jesus by the way she shows her love for me. Another way we show our
love for Jesus is through prayer. President Hinckley has said, "Let every family
in this Church have prayer together" (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley
[1997], 216). "Your daily conversations with [H]im will bring peace
into your hearts and a joy into your lives that can come from no other source"
(Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 216).
You can help your family remember to pray. Prayer is like an umbrella in the
storms of life. When I was a busy mom with seven children at home, I was so
grateful when one of my children would say, "We forgot to have family prayer."
Sometimes we would stand by the back door and pray as the children ran off to
school. It always strengthened the spirituality in our home.
And you can pray for your family. If there is contention, pray for a spirit
of peace. No matter what, Heavenly Father will bless you with peace in your
heart. Prayer is a miracle; it can help develop the spirituality in your home.
Recently, our prophet, President Hinckley, prayed for the youth of the Church.
It was a never-to-be-forgotten experience.
Can you even imagine how wonderful it would be to know that Jesus prays for
us? When He was among the Nephites, "he . . . knelt upon the earth; and . . . prayed
unto the Father. . . . No one can conceive of the joy which
filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father" (3
Ne. 17:15,17).
Could it be with you as it was with the Nephite children? As the Savior ministered
to them, "he did loose their tongues, and they did speak . . . great
and marvelous things, even greater than he had revealed unto the people" (3
Ne. 26:14).
With the power of the Spirit, you too can speak great and marvelous things
in your own family.
These children "saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst
of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about . . . ;
and the angels did minister unto them" (3
Ne. 17:24).
You may never see angels descending out of heaven, but I can promise you as
you bear testimony and pray in your families, unseen angels will minister to
you. As you share your talent for spirituality, you will feel the warmth and
power of the Spirit governing your life.
The prophets are right. You young women "are part of the greatest generation
we have ever had" (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 718). You can be
a strong influence on your family. It is a true principle that the Lord operates
through families.
Now that you have learned how the Spirit works and how you as young women can
use it to bless your families, it is our prayer that you will let spirituality
become you. Heavenly Father is eager to unleash this great power. May the Spirit
bless you as you develop your talent for spirituality, I pray in the name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
Previous
