...Receive the Holy Ghost...

Yesterday a beautiful friend was baptized. Granted I've only known her for approximately a month, but her smile and wonderful spirit radiate. She's a good woman. Something throughout the talk given about the Holy Ghost caught my ear, and although I've thought about this phrase before, it stuck with me a little differently.

When a person is baptized in the Lord's true church, they are immersed completely by water; a symbolic representation of death and resurrection - death of a sinful life, and resurrection meaning a rebirth into a new life. After the baptism is complete, they are given the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands as in olden times.

The phrase in this ordinance of confirmation into the church that allows the Holy Ghost to enter into the baptized individual if they allow, is: "Receive the Holy Ghost." We don't say "You now have the Holy Ghost," or "The Holy Ghost is now in thee," because we cannot make that happen. The reborn by water individual now has to be reborn by fire - which we know/believe to be the Holy Ghost. This means, we still believe in free agency, even when it comes to obtaining the Holy Ghost as a constant companion. We are the ones to choose whether or not we allow the Holy Ghost to be with us, in us, and help us at all times.

I've felt nearer to my Heavenly Father lately thanks to the more constant companionship of the Holy Ghost as I have strived to live a more Christ-like life, and have worked on pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ with an eye single to His glory. That's a hard thing to accomplish!! I don't know about you, but I've been pretty selfish most of my life no thanks to a thing we call "human nature" or also known as "the natural man." This of course deviates us from the path which we know we must follow which is moving one step at a time behind Jesus Christ's example.

Scripture study, constant prayers, humility, and maintaining a positive attitude have helped me continue moving in the right direction, in His direction. I know with all my heart that I am doing what the Lord would have me do with my life at this point in time. I'm glad that I've listened to the Spirit as I've made many choices lately, and according to my faithfulness the Lord will deliver those blessings that are in store for me and my future. Everything seems to be going perfectly. I know that adversity is all around me, but with the Lord on my side, Satan cannot be there too.

Wounds from my past that were never fully healed, new pains, scrapes, and bruises that I receive from not always making the best decisions, and trials that make an impression of mistakes to never want to be made again are all being remedied one step at a time, one wound at a time, one mistake at a time. But, it's all in the Lord's time. I'm so grateful for the trials I've had in my life because they've made my character strong and my weaknesses visible to me. They have caused me to be a compassionate leader, but an eager student.

President Uchtdorf (2nd counselor of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) said: "It is often in the trial of adversity that we learn those most critical lessons that form our character and shape our destiny... ...Adversity when confronted with faith, courage, and tenacity, can be overcome." I fully agree.

Free agency is a divine gift given to us by our Heavenly Father. We must not take it for granted, but we must use it wisely. Allow others to make their choices, and don't force your choice of action onto them. Suggestions are always best as advise and simply that: suggestions.

"...And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the commandments which God hath given..."

I know these things to be true, and know that God has granted us the ability to make choices from before the foundation of this world, and will not ever take from us our free agency. And I say these things in the Name of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer. Amen.