It is a great blessing to be with you today. At the beginning of this new semester, President Clark and I want you to know that we love you very much. It is a sweet blessing in our lives to feel that love. It is a gift that comes through the Spirit from the Lord. We know He loves you; and in our stewardship here with you, He needs us to love you too. We feel that love.
During the translation of the Book of Mormon, the Lord taught the Prophet Joseph Smith about communication through the Spirit. The Lord said:
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.[1]
This is one of the greatest blessings we receive in mortality. Our Father in Heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ speak to us personally and individually through the Holy Ghost. In a still small voice the Spirit communicates with us through feelings, promptings, and impressions that come "in [our minds] and in [our hearts]."[2]
As he translated the Book of Mormon, the Prophet Joseph received additional insight about the spirit of revelation in these words written by Nephi:
For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.[3]
Every one of us who is baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and who receives the gift of the Holy Ghost has this wonderful promise: the Holy Ghost will show us all things we should do.[4] This is a promise of protection, guidance, direction, and support in everything we face all through our lives. It is a witness to us that our Heavenly Father loves us and watches over us.
There are some things we have to do to make that promise a reality in our lives. We have to "enter in by the way"[5] and remain true to our covenants so that we will be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. We have to be listening so that we can hear that still small voice, and we have to act on the impressions that come to us so that we will actually do what the Lord wants us to do.
Since the promise of the guidance of the Spirit in our minds and hearts applies to "all things,"[6] we know we will be blessed in everything we face, no matter how big or small. I want to share with you today an experience I had with the Spirit that may seem like a small thing, but for me was a great blessing.
One Saturday last spring, I was with my oldest daughter and her little 18-month-old baby girl. It was the last day of their quick trip to Utah. My daughter had spent all of the previous day looking for a place to live in the Highland-Alpine area of Utah while I took care of the baby. We had just finished a relaxing lunch in Midway, and I needed to drive them to the airport in Salt Lake City so they could catch their flight to Boston. My daughter was anxious to get home to her other four children. She is a single mother and was juggling the demands of working to support her children, moving her family to Utah, and trying to take care of them.
We got in my car, and I headed down the street that would take us to Heber City and the highway and then on to the airport. As I drove, a thought came into my mind: "It would be better to go through Midway on River Road and then on to the highway." That idea felt good to me, so I looked for a place to turn around. I saw a small lane on my left. I turned into it and then turned left into what looked like a small vacant parking lot to turn around. As soon as I turned, I saw a gas pump in front of me. I glanced at my gas gauge and saw that it showed the tank was empty. I looked up and saw that I had pulled into a 7-Eleven, not an empty lot!
I couldn't believe it. I had not looked at the gas gauge until I saw that I was driving toward a gas pump. Had I followed my original course, I am sure that I would have gone onto the highway and run out of gas. My daughter would have missed her flight and would not have made it home to her children that night.
I told my daughter about the impression I received, about the empty tank, and about the timely blessing from the Lord. She said to me: "I know Mom. In the last several months, the Lord has done that to me many times. He is watching over me and my children."
With that sweet prompting from the Lord, I filled the tank and got my daughter and Baby Lottie to the airport in time for their flight. They made it home on time.
My dear brothers and sisters, I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and watches over us. I know it was important to Him that my daughter get home to her children because He spoke to me "in [my] mind and in [my] heart"[7] through the power of the Holy Ghost so she would not be delayed. I know that He will speak to you. He loves you. You are important to Him.
He loves us so much He gave us His Only Begotten Son to suffer and die for us. Because Jesus came, the Holy Ghost can speak to us and bless us. I know that is true. I leave my love and that witness with you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Doctrine and Covenants 8:2
[2] Ibid
[3] 2 Nephi 32:5
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid
[7] Doctrine and Covenants 8:2