“Promptings of the Spirit” Talk Outline

Posted on by Mitch Peterson

Last updated on December 16th, 2023 at 05:10 pm

General Conference Applied

“Promptings of the Spirit” by Elder Gary E. Stevenson; October 2023 General Conference

Corresponding General Conference Applied episode show notes: S2 E11

Talk Outline

Invitations

  1. “Let me offer four guiding principles that may be of assistance to you in inviting and recognizing the promptings of the Spirit.” (Implied Invitation: “Invite and recognize the promptings of the Spirit.”)
  2. “I close with an invitation especially for all youth! Many of you start your day by standing in front of a mirror. Tomorrow, this week, this year, always, pause as you look at yourself in the mirror. Think to yourself, or say aloud if you like, ‘Wow, look at me! I am awesome! I am a child of God! He knows me! He loves me! I am gifted—gifted with the Holy Ghost as my constant companion!'”

Directives (“an official or authoritative instruction”)

  1. “Stand in holy places… If you hope to feel the Spirit, be in a place where the Spirit can easily dwell.”
  2. “Stand with holy people… The Spirit cannot be restrained from attending a gathering of holy people. If you hope to feel the Spirit, be with people with whom the Spirit can easily dwell… For young people, consider your gatherings of holy people: quorums and classes, FSY and seminary, ward and stake activities—even ward choirs. Choose to be with people and go to places where righteousness is found. Find your strength in numbers. Find good friends. Be good friends. Support one another wherever you are.”
  3. “Testify of holy truths as often as you can… As you seek and take opportunities to share your testimony with others, you will create moments to recognize the Spirit for yourself.”
  4. “Listen to the Holy Spirit… I have observed that sometimes His voice is so subtle, or I am so preoccupied, that a loved one captures it for me. Many have been the times when promptings of the Holy Ghost have come to me through my wife, Lesa. Righteous parents or leaders may also receive inspired guidance for you… Find a quiet place, a holy space where you can seek to receive direction from the Spirit.”
  5. “Consider the following words of cautionary guidance. Confirm your spiritual impressions… Be certain that the feelings you receive are consistent with your assignment… Spiritual matters cannot be forced… Be patient and trust that you will receive what you need when the time is right. Use your own best judgment.”
  6. “Latter-day Saints should be gifted, covenant-keeping people. Nonetheless, it remains for each of us to seek to exercise our spiritual gifts and then to invite and learn to recognize promptings of the Spirit.”

Promises

  1. Action: “What are the fruits of exercising spiritual gifts?”
    Promise: “They include promptings from the Spirit that help us face our daily needs and show us what to do and say and blessings of peace and comfort. As we listen and act on spiritual promptings, the Holy Ghost magnifies our abilities and capacities to far exceed what we can do on our own. These precious spiritual gifts will help us in every aspect of our lives.”

Doctrines

  1. Revelation: “Individuals can receive revelation to help them with their specific needs, responsibilities, and questions and to help strengthen their testimonies. Most revelations to leaders and members of the Church come through impressions and thoughts from the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost speaks to the mind and heart in a still, small voice (see D&C 8:2–3). Revelation can also come through visions, dreams, and visitations by angels.”

Principles

  1. The Gift of the Holy Ghost: “The Holy Ghost usually communicates with us quietly. His influence is often referred to as a ‘still small voice’ (see 1 Kings 19:9–12; Helaman 5:30; D&C 85:6). President Boyd K. Packer explained: ‘The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear. … While we speak of ‘listening’ to the whisperings of the Spirit, most often one describes a spiritual prompting by saying, ‘I had a feeling …” He continued: ‘This voice of the Spirit speaks gently, prompting you what to do or what to say, or it may caution or warn you’ (Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise).”

Christlike Attributes

  1. Virtue: “Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It is fidelity to God and others. An essential part of virtue is striving to be clean and pure spiritually and physically.

    “Virtue originates in your thoughts and desires. ‘Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly,’ the Lord said (Doctrine and Covenants 121:45). Focus on righteous, uplifting thoughts. Put unworthy thoughts out of your mind rather than dwell on them…

    “As you endeavor to live virtuously, your ‘confidence [will] wax strong in the presence of God; and … the Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion’ (Doctrine and Covenants 121:45–46).”

Attribute Activity:

Most Important Quote

“President Boyd K. Packer stated: ‘The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand. Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all.’ I have observed that sometimes His voice is so subtle, or I am so preoccupied, that a loved one captures it for me. Many have been the times when promptings of the Holy Ghost have come to me through my wife, Lesa. Righteous parents or leaders may also receive inspired guidance for you.

“The noise, clamor, and contention prevalent in the world may overpower still, quiet impressions of the Holy Spirit. Find a quiet place, a holy space where you can seek to receive direction from the Spirit.”

Powerful Stories

Stand in Holy Places

  • “I recently participated in the Tokyo Japan Temple open house. The response to formal invitations sent to both media and VIP guests far exceeded expectations. Hundreds joined in these guided temple tours. Guests were deeply touched by the beauty of the temple, including patterns and motifs with deep, traditional Japanese connections. More poignant yet was the reverent and respectful reaction elicited from guests as ancestral ordinances were described in rooms where they would occur. But most heartwarming were stirrings of the Spirit.

    “One such moment with a prominent government official remains etched in my mind. Following a moment of meditative silence in the celestial room, emotional and deeply touched he whispered in my ear, ‘Even the air that I breathe in this room feels different.’ I recognized he was trying to describe the presence of the Holy Spirit, which, indeed, dwells in sacred spaces.”

Stand With Holy People

  • “I will never forget participating in a devotional held in a popular sports arena. Usually, this arena was filled with raucous fans cheering their home team and perhaps even jeering their opponent. But on this night, the atmosphere was quite different. The arena was filled with thousands of young people assembled to honor and commemorate the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Their reverent, quiet tone; gratitude; and prayerful hearts filled the arena with the presence of the Holy Spirit. I could literally see it in their faces. It was the gift of the Holy Ghost in action, affirming the testimonies being borne of Joseph Smith and the Restoration of the gospel.”

Testify of Holy Truths

  • “I remember once taking a 45-minute taxi ride in New York City. Having had a warm gospel conversation with the driver for the duration of my ride to the airport, I paid her and prepared to exit the taxi. Then I realized I had not offered a testimony of what I had shared. Pausing, I shared a simple, short testimony, inviting the Spirit and bringing tears to both our eyes.”

“Picture this familiar fast Sunday scene, recently described to me. A young child, standing on a stool, was barely visible over the pulpit. Her father stood next to her, offering encouragement and assisting with soft whispers to her ear as she proudly shared, ‘I am a child of God.’

“The next testimony that followed came from a young adult who began with a nervous quip: ‘I wish I had someone whispering in my ear like that.’ Then she had a flash of inspiration and testified, ‘I do have someone whispering in my ear like that—the Holy Ghost!'”

The Best Footnote

Five of the thirteen footnotes in this General Conference address reference Preach My Gospel.

Footnote 11: “Much of the content in this section is taken from chapter 4 of Preach My Gospel.”

Questions for Reflection Asked by the Speaker

None.

Tags

Gifts of the Spirit | Holy Ghost | Promptings | Testimony

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