A Child’s Guiding Gift by Sister Mary R. Durham

<Quotes>

The roll of the Holy Ghost: "How do we follow the example of this father and kick off some of the weight of the world we carry, so we can keep our children's hands and our own worried minds above the water? How can we, as Paul counseled, "lay aside every weight"? How can we prepare our children for the day when they can no longer cling to us and our testimonies - when they are the ones swimming?

An answer comes when we recognize this divine source of strength. it is a source often underestimated, yet it can be used daily to lighten our load and guide our precious children. That source is the guiding gift of the Holy Ghost.

Help Children's Spiritual Capacity to Increase: "First, we can bring to our children's attention when they are hearing and feeling the Spirit... Second, w can prepare our homes and our children to feel the still, small voice...Third, we can help our children understand how the Spirit speaks to them." (read the actual talk with scriptural references.)

Recognize the Spirit by Experience/Reputation: Feeling and recognizing the Spirit will bring spiritual capacity into our children's lives, and the voice they come to know will become clearer and clearer to them. It will be as Elder Richard G. Scott said: " As you gain experience and success in being guided by the Spirit, your confidence in the impressions you feel can become more certain than your dependence on what you see or hear."

<Scriptures>

Preach My Gospel Chapter 4

1 Samuel 3:4 - 10

<Thoughts>

While the speaker was aiming her talk towards current or future parents to raise small children, this talk is very much applicable to adults at any stage in their lives. The things I learned or reminded are the following:

1. The Holy Ghost is our primary source of guidances in our lives
2. In order to recognize the spirit, we have to try and experience the feelings of him
3. The Holy Ghost visit secret places - we should keep our home tidy and clean, so that we can create home to have the Spirit
4. We need to consistently study to understand how the Spirit speaks to us