This post is dedicated to Chad and Ruth Ann W. Not for its content - simply for the fact that they read this blog. And let me know it. I don't think they know how much their encouragement to post again meant to me.
I didn't think anyone cared what I wrote here. I know my family reads it, but I wasn't sure it really mattered.
Because of a few different things, it's hard for me to just relax and be myself when I'm with people. My self-defense reflex is to put up this facade of a tough, goofy girl - when really, the bulk of my personality isn't like that.
If you really want to get to the essence of me, this blog is my gooey center. So thanks for telling me you enjoy reading about it.
Now that I know other branches of my extended family are reading this...I'm going to try to be better at explaining the points of reference I use...and not assume that anyone reading is LDS. That being said...here's what I wanted to share today...
Last Friday I had the opportunity to speak in the baptismal program of my friend Zach. The sister missionaries had invited me to help them teach Zach in their discussions about the Church and being asked to participate in any of the process was an honor for me.
At a baptismal program we usually have an opening song, opening prayer, a talk (speech) about baptism, a talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost, the baptismal ordinance, maybe a musical number, a few words from various Church leaders, a closing song, a closing prayer, and maybe some refreshments.
Now Zach and I have built a rapport in that we were both raised in Hawaii. So it's been fun being able to talk to one another so freely. Our common background makes understanding one another easier. Drawing from that, I prepared my talk with the hope of being able to share with him my personal testimony of the Holy Ghost. I wasn't necessarily wanting to give a formal presentation and therefore didn't write down any notes. That makes this recounting of my speech not 100% accurate but I'm sure it will be very close.
When I got up to speak, I was trembling. My hands never stopped shaking throughout the whole speech. (Luckily there was a podium to hide them behind.) At the very least I made everyone laugh when I got up there turned to look at them and whimpered, "I'm so scared." The rest of the speech went something like this...
'For all those visiting or new, it is customary where I come from...where we (signalling myself and Zach) come from that one first greet the congregation and await their response before one continues on with one's speech. And with your help, I would continue with that custom here...
My brothers and sisters...ALOOOOOOHA!
(Audience responded wholeheartedly)
Thank you so much. Now I just had an interesting conversation with a co-worker earlier about plagiarism so I want you to know that in researching my talk I went to the lds.org website and studied scriptures and found things from Elder...I forgot his name...President Marion G. Romney and (remembering the name) Elder Wirthlin's talks on the Holy Ghost. I can't give you specific citations 'cause I didn't write anything down. I was just trying to cram a bunch of stuff in my head to draw from.
(At this point I'm focused on Zach because he was the one I really wanted to give this message to.)
And now, Zach, I am so happy for you. And I know that Heavenly Father is so thrilled that you have decided to rejoin the family and become a part of His Son's Church.
I know that Heavenly Father loves us so much. He created the Plan of Salvation for us. He did it so we could become more like Him. He sent us here to Earth to be tested so we could learn and grow. Part of the testing would be us not remembering our life before this with Him. But He didn't leave us to walk here alone. He gave us a few gifts to help us on our way. One of those gifts was the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
I loved how in the discussions the sister missionaries compared the Holy Ghost to a voice calling out to you as if from across the room trying to help guide you in your life. But after your baptism, you will receive the ordinance of confirmation where the men of the priesthood will place their hands upon your head and give you the Gift of the Holy Ghost - which is the right to have the Holy Ghost with you as a constant companion. He'll be right there walking beside you. He'll become one of 'your boys'.
(Everyone laughed at the comparison.)
As your boy, the Holy Ghost will be talking to you. He'll be telling you stuff you need to know. The Holy Ghost serves a few specific functions in the Plan of Salvation and as you get to know him better I want you to know some of the things he'll be talking to you about.
The Holy Ghost testifies of the Father and the Son. He confirms the truth of all things. He sanctifies those who repent and are baptized. And he is the Holy Spirit of Promise. That Holy Spirit of Promise assuring you that the ordinances done here are carried out by the Priesthood and that they are recognized in heaven and have real value.
Going back over those...the Holy Ghost testifies of the Father and the Son. The Holy Ghost will confirm to your spirit that God lives. That Jesus is His Son and our Savior. And once the Spirit testifies of that to your spirit - noone can take that away from you. It doesn't matter what other people might say or pressures you may face...you will know without a doubt that they are real.
He will testify the truth of all things to you...if there is anything you ever want to know, just ask God and He will tell you the truth of it. Be it temporal or spiritual - any truth you want to know, just pray to Him and the Holy Ghost will deliver the answer.
He sanctifies those who repent and are baptized...now I don't know if you saw it growing up...(talking specifically to Zach)...but do you remember watching musicians before they play music? You watch all the boys and they'll all pluck the strings on their ukuleles and guitars and make sure they all sound the same? That's kinda like what the Holy Ghost does for us. We call it becoming "in tune" with the Spirit 'cause that's what you're doing. He's helping us tune our spirits so they sound more like his because his is in tune with Heavenly Father and Jesus. And the more we listen to him the more like them we become until we resonate the same as they do.
He is the Holy Spirit of Promise...this is the promise that he shares with us that all of this is worth it. That all the ordinances we perform, all the commitments that we make, all the covenants we keep really will lead us to eternal life. It's the promise that should we prove worthy we can live with our families together again forever. And I know that's what we all want..whether real or hanai (adopted), all of us want to see our 'ohana again. We want us all - family and friends to be in heaven together.
There's a couple other things about the Spirit I want to mention...
I know you've read about Gifts of the Spirit. Those come through the Holy Ghost and are given to you to help you and all those around you who you know and will be serving. It's a pretty personal gift. Not that all the other blessings of the Spirit aren't personal..but you'll find out more about that as you go along.
The second is that, now that the Spirit is your boy and walking with you...like any of your really good friends, he'll be looking out for you. Should you be in danger either spiritually or physically, if you listen to him, he will protect you. You'll probably hear quite a few stories about this from the members (of the Church).
Finally Zach, I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost. It is because of it that I can testify to you that God lives and loves you, loves all of us so very much. I know that Jesus lives and that His Atonement is real and in effect. And if you make mistakes, no matter how bad you may drift away and think that you are beyond saving...you are never beyond God's reach. And I mean that in a good way. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and restored the Church and that President Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today. You're gonna like listening to President Monson he tells cool stories. I'm grateful for the scriptures that we have. I'm so grateful to the prophets of ancient times - back in the day- *wink* who wrote down their counsel and dealings with God as proof that God has ALWAYS loved His children. And I'm grateful we have the Priesthood here on Earth to fulfill these ordinances and that they will stand in heaven. And I'm so glad we have temples that help ensure our families are forever..and that's what I wanted to share with you Zach..with all the aloha in my heart...in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.'
I know what I said was from the heart and I'm grateful I had the chance to say it. I hope it made sense. People hearing said it did. I hope it reads as well.
Malama pono.
p.s. I don't know the answer to the subject question. I just popped awake at 5 a.m. thinking about this talk and my blog.
