Life goes on forever, and each of us is on a different road because of the choices we make. We cannot know anything we haven't yet experienced, and since our decisions are mostly new, we don't know were they will take us. Moreover, the God who gave us life also gave us the freedom to choose. Without freedom there is no life, all becomes the same lifeless lump. Life requires completely independent individuals making unconstrained decisions of their own free will and choice.
Choice
As I make these choices, I find expediency to be the most common motivator. Studies on the spending habits of people indicate that they don't weigh the risks and benefits of a decision, but rather decide on feelings. Con-men rely on this fact, working on the feelings of unsuspecting individuals to separate them from their money. In my profession I have seen so many unnecessary and damaging surgeries, medications, chemotherapy given under the guise of: "if you don't do what I say, you'll die!" It's a purely emotional decision.
We are making decisions every day by the hundreds, or thousands! How we spend our time, what we focus on, what we do from minute to minute determines our life. We cannot blame others for choices we make. Circumstances may push us in certain directions, and there are plenty of events that happen to us over which we have no control, but we always have choices.
The reason we use our feelings to make daily decisions is because we really don't know where they lead. We are limited by the fourth dimension, time, so we can only see the here-and-now, not the end of any road. We may have a vague understanding that a path leads in a certain direction, but we cannot be sure.
Wrong, is right.
The Scriptures are replete with stories of those who did the right thing, though it seems wrong. Lot's daughters got their father drunk and raped him. Joshua wiped-out whole cities, killing every man, woman, and child -- even the animals! Hosea married a prostitute who was chronically unfaithful to him. Nephi cut off Laban's head when he was drunk, and stole his records. Even Jesus was accused of being a drunk, blasphemy, and breaking the Sabbath. Are there any commandments left unbroken? Yet, all of these were the will of God.
Right, is wrong.
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Those things that seem good to us often lead us to hell. Satan, the father of lies, said he would make everyone equal and bring everyone back to Heaven such that none would be lost. He would do this by taking away our ability to choose. This plan seemed so right that a third of our Father's children agreed with him and fought against Jesus to try to implement it. Today we fight the same battle every day. People look around and see inequality and demand "social justice" or equal outcomes. They promise, as Lucifer, equality for all such that none would be lost. Robin Hood seems so right, but is the devil himself!
The Holy Ghost
Since we are extremely limited in our knowledge, and we have to be free to choose, it would seem we need a helper to guide every decision we make. It would have to be a mentor that we choose to follow, not one that imposes in any way, because that would take away our freedom. This mentor would also have to know where our decisions would take us.
The Holy Ghost is an essential feature of being on the path to Eternal Life. Without this gift, we cannot know we are on the right path at any time. We don't know what to do at any fork in the road because we cannot see past the decision itself. On the other hand, God already knows the end of every path and every decision: "My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning." (Abraham 2:8) It would totally change everything to have a guide who knows exactly what will happen with every choice you make.
Gift development
As with any gift we are given in mortality the Gift of the Holy Ghost must be developed over time through patient, constant effort. Training, preparation, and practice, practice, practice are needed to bring out any gift. Even a "natural" in any sport must practice for about ten years before arriving at the top of his game. Tony Schwartz, in his book, The Power of Full Engagement, describes the "ten-year rule:" it takes four hours per day, every day, of focused practice for ten years to be the best at anything. This is true of artists, musicians, businessmen, and athletes. I suspect it would take a similar effort to develop the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Before we can have this Guide we need to prepare ourselves to receive Him. We first put our trust in Jesus Christ and believe that He can change us. Next we have to repent of our sins and be baptized to make a covenant with God so we can have a remission of sins "for he dwelleth not in unholy temples." (Mosiah 2:37) Next, we have hands laid on our heads by those who have the authority and are commanded to "receive the Holy Ghost."
After going through the steps of preparation we still need to seek the Gift, or practice. We can start by leaving where we are comfortable and going to Him. The Holy Spirit speaks in a still, small voice and will not be heard over the din of the world. Seeking His help through prayer and quiet meditation is essential. Also, when we understand that He works by recalling to our remembrance truths we have already learned, we would know that we have to seek truth in order to be inspired. Feasting on the words of Christ, the Teacher of all truth, becomes a foundation because, "the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." (2 Nephi 32:3)
Each week as we take the Sacrament we renew our covenant to "always remember Him." As we remember Jesus Christ in our daily decision-making the Holy Ghost helps us to understand the decisions that He made in mortality that brought Him back to the Father. He is the only One to ever do this, and thus, we are able to "follow Him." In turn, we receive a remission of sins so the Holy Spirit can dwell with us always.
Without the constant guidance of the Holy Ghost there is no way to stay on the path to Eternal Life. However, when we take Him as our guide in every decision we can always be on the road to happiness. We may not see the end of the road, but we trust that He does, and follow His direction.
What an awesome gift! We are not left alone to wallow in fear! We don't have to guess at every decision! This is incredible! "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me! Confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me!..." When Joseph Smith Jr. was asked what the difference between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other churches was he replied, "The gift of the Holy Ghost." I think EVERYONE should have this gift.
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