From YA Weekly
Tapping into the Spirit When You Need It Most
We can always have His Spirit with us—but what about when we don’t?
In the sacrament prayers, the Lord promises that those who are willing to take upon the name of Christ, always remember Him, and keep His commandments can “always have his Spirit to be with them” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77). “Always” is a lofty promise, but it’s true.
Indeed, having the Spirit with us always isn’t just possible, it’s necessary. President Russell M. Nelson (1924–2025) warned: “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”
As covenant keepers, we have “the right to constant companionship”—as long as we don’t offend the Spirit. President Dallin H. Oaks said, “Even though we have a right to His constant companionship, the Spirit of the Lord will dwell with us only when we keep the commandments.”
And here’s the problem: As imperfect mortals, even the most faithful among us sometimes drive the Spirit away. We want to have the Spirit with us always; such constant companionship is possible; but in practice, we all have moments (or longer) when we’re flying solo.
And while “I Need Thee Every Hour” is true, we must admit that we need Him more some hours than others. Maybe you’ve been caught up all day in worldly concerns—nothing sinful, just not focused on the Savior—and now you need to prepare a sacrament meeting talk, give a blessing, or have an important conversation. Or maybe you have offended the Spirit somehow and must get it back.
How do you do it? How do you invite the Spirit to always be with you? Here are some ideas.
Pray—and Read—for Help
Your first thought might be: Is there anything I need to address before inviting the Holy Ghost to help me? There might be nothing. You might just need to refocus your attention on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
But if there are things you need to repent of, remember that God can still work with you and inspire you while you are repenting. His influence may be diminished, but He doesn’t completely cut off anyone who’s sincerely trying. He is merciful and loving and will send the Holy Ghost to you as you continue to repent and exercise faith in the Savior. So, no matter what: pray.
President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, said: “If you find yourself having difficulty in feeling the Holy Ghost, you might ponder whether there is anything for which you might repent and receive forgiveness. You can pray with faith to know what to do to be cleansed and thus more nearly qualify for that constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.”
And it might go without saying, but reading the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, is an excellent way to invite the Spirit back into your life. Don’t forget that.
Meditate
President David O. McKay (1873–1970) taught:
“We pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion. … Meditation is a form of prayer. …
“Meditation is one of the … most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord.”
Meditation doesn’t need to be as formal as prayer, though. I like to meditate while I take a quiet walk around my neighborhood, appreciating the beauty of God’s creations while I ponder whatever it is I’m pondering. I don’t know if it technically counts as “meditation” if you’re not sitting still, but it works for me. You can find something that works for you. Music can be helpful here.
Trust
Trust that God meant it when He said He would forgive you when you sincerely repent. Trust that He is perfectly capable of working with imperfect people who sometimes forget Him in all the hustle and bustle of life. Trust that He will continue to bless you for the things you do right even while you’re sorting out the things you’ve done wrong.
Trust Elder Richard G. Scott (1928–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “When you are living righteously and are acting with trust, God will not let you proceed too far without a warning impression if you have made the wrong decision.”
Trust that as a covenant-keeping member of the Church of Jesus Christ, having the Spirit is your default position. If you’ve done nothing serious to drive the Spirit away, you can safely assume that Heavenly Father won’t let you go astray.
We are spiritual beings created by heavenly parents. We’re hardwired to connect with the Spirit—it’s in our DNA. Heavenly Father will always meet you where you are in your efforts to communicate with Him.