For the Baptism of Alicia Cheong on Sunday, 8 March 2009
The Holy Ghost

From the 13 Articles of Faith
1. We believe in God the Eternal Father and in His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, fourth, Laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead and is a personage of Spirit, not possessing a body of flesh and bones.

The Holy Ghost is manifested to men on the earth both as the Power of the Holy Ghost and as the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

The power of the Holy Ghost can be felt by everyone – members of the Church and non-members of the Church. It gives one a testimony of Jesus Christ and of the truthfulness of all things. In Galatians 5:22, it says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” and in verse 23, “Meekness, temperance”. And this is how we may recognize the power of the Holy Ghost; when we have such good feelings in us, we are under the influence or power of the Holy Ghost.

And President Gordon B Hinckley had said, “You recognize the promptings of the Spirit by the fruits of the Spirit – that which enlighteneth, that which buildeth up, that which is positive and affirmative and uplifting and leads us to better thoughts and better words and better deeds is of the Spirit of God.” Basically, President Hinckley was saying that that which invites us to do good is from the Holy Spirit.

The Gift of the Holy Ghost is different. It is not given to everyone. Everyone can have it but they need to do some things first, basically the things mentioned in the 4th Article of Faith. The Gift of the Holy Ghost can only be given after proper and authorized baptism, and is conferred by the laying on of hands, again by proper priesthood authority. The Gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Why do we want to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost? Why do we want this personage with us all the time? It is because the Holy Ghost is very powerful and very wise. He can protect us and guide us and show the truth to us so that we will not be deceived. He can comfort us and bring peace and joy into our hearts. He can tell us how to solve problems and even whisper the answers of test questions into our ears – if we deserve it. He is our best friend.

For Alicia, I think the Holy Ghost should be her best birthday present. For myself, I am very thankful that I too have received such a Gift when I was baptized so many years ago. I have felt its promptings and I testify that my soul finds peace when I heed those promptings. There were times when I did not want to follow the advise of the Holy Ghost. I was proud and angry and unforgiving. And I continued to be miserable and unhappy as long as I did not follow its advise. But when I finally humble myself and look for the fruits of the Spirit, and do the things that would help me get those fruits, my soul found peace again.

I know that we have a Heavenly Father and He loves us very very much. He wants us to be successful in this life and he has sent the Holy Ghost to be with us and to help us along the way. May we all treasure this special gift and live our lives in a manner that will allow this special gift to always be with us.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sister Soh Meow Tin

This is one of the 77 truths…….

We are living in the times of Noah…..

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three R’s: Respect for self, Respect for others, and Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. Many of lives’ failures are people who did not realize how close to success they were, when they gave up !!!

According to legend, a young man while roaming the desert came across a spring of delicious crystal-clear water. The water was so sweet he filled his leather canteen so he could bring some back to a tribal elder who had been his teacher.

After a four-day journey he presented the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student lavishly for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village with a happy heart.

Later, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was awful. It apparently had become stale because of the old leather container.

The student challenged his teacher: “Master, the water was foul. Why did you pretend to like it?”

The teacher replied, “You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for an act of loving-kindness and nothing could be sweeter.”!!!

SPIRITUAL COMMENTARY

We may understand this lesson best when we receive innocent gifts of love from young children. Whether it’s a crushed paper painting or a clay figure, the natural and proper response is appreciation and expressed thankfulness because we love the idea within the gift.

Gratitude doesn’t always come naturally. Unfortunately, most children and many adults value only the thing given rather than the feeling embodied in it. We should remind ourselves and teach our children about the beauty and purity of feelings and expressions of gratitude. After all, gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart!! Also, when we express our gratitude,we must never forget that the highest of appreciation is not to utter mere words, but to live by them.

The essence of all beautiful art, all great art is gratitude! Gratitude is the sign of noble souls and the memory of it is stored in the heart and not the mind!

The next time you receive any gifts from anyone, no matter however small it may be, remember the love behind and don’t judge the gift with its appearance! Have a deep sense of gratitude for whatever you receive in life in whatever form it may be!

My mother used to ask me: “What is the most important part of the body?”

Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct answer. When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, “My ears, Mommy.”

Mother said, “No Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon.”

Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time I told her, “Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes.” Mother looked at me and told me, “You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind.”

Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge. Over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, “No, but you are getting smarter every year, my child.”

Then last year, my grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because it was only the second time I saw him cry. My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to Grandpa.

Mother asked me, “Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?”

I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me. Mother saw the confusion on my face and told me, “This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived in your life. For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you was wrong and I have given you an example why. But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson.”

Mother looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up with tears. Mother said, “My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder.”

I asked, “Is it because it holds up my head?”

Mother replied, “No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it.”

Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is sympathetic to the pain of others. People will forget what you said… People will forget what you did…. But people will NEVER forget how you made them feel.

True or not, the story makes you stop and think. Be blessed. Be a blessing. Get your shoulder ready.
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Above article was taken from funlok.com

There was a farmer who sold a pound of butter to the baker. One day the baker decided to weigh the butter to see if he was getting a pound and he found that he was not. This angered him and he took the farmer to court.

The judge asked the farmer if he was using any measure. The farmer replied, “ur Honor, I am primitive. I don’t have a proper measure, but I do have a scale.” The judge asked, “Then how do you weigh the butter” The farmer replied “Your Honor, long before the baker started buying butter from me, I have been buying a pound loaf of bread from him. Every day when the baker brings the bread, I put it on the scale and give him the same weight in butter. If anyone is to be blamed, it is the baker.”

What is the moral of the story? We get back in life what we give to others.

Whenever you take an action, ask yourself this question – Am I giving fair value for the wages or money I hope to make ?

Honesty and dishonesty become a habit. Some people practice dishonesty and can lie with a straight face. Others lie so much that they don’t even know what the truth is anymore. But who are they deceiving ? Themselves — more than anyone else.

Honesty can be put across gently. Some people take pride in being brutally honest. It seems they are getting a bigger kick out of the brutality than the honesty. Choice of words and tact are important.

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Above article is taken from funlok.com

There was a farmer who grew superior quality and award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won honor and prizes. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learn something interesting about how he grew it.

The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors. “How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked. “Why sir,” said the farmer, “didn’t you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior, sub-standard and poor quality corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.” The farmer gave a superb insight into the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor’s corn also improves.

So it is in other dimensions! Those who choose to be at harmony must help their neighbors and colleagues to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

If we are to grow good quality corn, we must help our neighbors grow good quality corn too….

“And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments…ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.” -2 Nephi 17:13

As a drought continued for what seemed an eternity, a small community of farmers was in a quandary as to what to do. Rain was important to keep their crops healthy and sustain the townspeople’ s way of life.

As the problem became more acute, a local pastor called a prayer meeting to ask for rain.

Many people arrived. The pastor greeted most of them as they filed in. As he walked to the front of the church to officially begin the meeting he noticed most people were chatting across the aisles and socializing with friends. When he reached the front his thoughts were on quieting the attendees and starting the meeting.

His eyes scanned the crowd as he asked for quiet. He noticed an eleven year-old girl sitting quietly in the front row. Her face was beaming with excitement. Next to her, poised and ready for use, was a bright red umbrella. The little girl’s beauty and innocence made the pastor smile as he realized how much faith she possessed. No one else in the congregation had brought an umbrella.

All came to pray for rain, but the little girl had come expecting God to answer.

It is important to believe in our actions to succeed in life.