Following the Spirit

Today in Relief Society we talked about the spirit of revelation and listening to the spirit. In that lesson I was reminded of a precious experience I had a girls camp one year that still has an impact on my life.

We were doing a trust/holy ghost walk in the mountains. The leaders had tied a string trail throughout the forest and blindfolded each of us girls, taking us one by one through the obstacle course. We had one voice that was the holy ghost and many others that were trying to distract us and lead us in the wrong direction. It was very hard at first knowing who to trust and some times it even took me being led the wrong way to know who the true "Holy Ghost" was and what I needed to be listening for. Once I knew the voice it got a little bit easier, but was still difficult. The trail seemed like it lasted forever until I heard my dad's voice "You are at the end now, you can take off your blindfold." I remember asking if it really was the end or if I was being tricked again. Then he said something I will never ever forget and will stay with me all of my life, "Skyler, you know who I am, you know my voice and you know you can trust me, you have reached the end and you can take off your blindfold." As I took off my blindfold I got the biggest hug from my loving daddy who was so happy to see me at the end of the trail. This experience still brings tears to my eyes every time I think about it.

The older I get, the more I see how much this is exactly how my life is and how the spirit works. At first it is hard to recognize the spirit and you are led astray a few times, but the spirit never gives up on you and will try over and over again to get your back on the right path. It will never leave you. Soon, as you recognize what the spirit is and how you know it is the spirit, it gets easier to hear and follow. You still stumble along the way, but you keep enduring the long journey. Then at the end your father in heaven is there with open arms ready to greet you! And although you never heard his voice during the journey, we know his voice and know him as our daddy from the premortal existence. I can only imagine what that reunion will be like, but for now I will live my life in a way that will help me make it back to him again. Listening to the spirit and personal revelation is key to our salvation and growing spiritually, closer to our Savior and Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of God's love for me and the help he gives me each day to return back to him and live in happiness for eternity. I love my Savior and I love my Heavenly Father and am so blessed to be a part of this beautiful gospel!