The Gift of the Holy Ghost

I am so thankful for the gift of the Holy Ghost! I have relied on it heavily since we were called as Family History Missionaries a year ago but never more than last week. Since they called me in January to teach the PAF classes there at the center and I found out it would be both the beginning and advanced PAF classes, I have worried about the one I taught yesterday. It was on Notes & Sources. This is the part that teaches how to document the data on your PAF program. Anyone involved with Family History or Genealogy will tell you that documentation is very important. Without it one would never know the correct dates and places of the events we place in our programs whether it is on paper or computer. I had attended two different classes on it taught by two different teachers. I had an inkling what it was about but as far as teaching it to someone else so they could understand it, I was very fuzzy. The first ADV PAF (as I call it) was a week ago yesterday. It was showing and understanding the Tools menu on the program, especially the preferences part where one can customize how his own program looks. I spent a few hours on it off and on during the week but was able to fairly quickly figure things out. I could feel the Spirit guiding me on some of the things that I had never been shown on.

Well, last Monday, I spent 1 ½ hours on the Notes & Sources. Tuesday morning as I got up I tho’t I would go to my 9:00 water aerobics class and then the 10:30 Silver Sneakers class and then come home and spend time trying to figure out Notes & Sources. Well, I got up about 7:30 and came in and started trying to figure things out. I had been praying for days for guidance and understanding of the program so I could teach it. Once I started except for occasional trips to the bathroom and getting a drink of water or something to eat I spent 7 hours trying to figure things out. When I first started, my mind and brain felt so muddled and foggy. I could feel the Spirit teaching me and guiding me as I tried the different ways to add things to the program and figure out just how to do it. I also wrote up the things that I would say and figured out a step by step handout to give to those who attended the class. When I finished, felt sooo enlightened and at peace! It was a wonderful experience. The rest of the week I just reviewed my materials that I had written and added some sources into my PAF. I figure I spent at least ten hours on preparation for that one class!! I thank my Heavenly Father for the Gift of the Holy Ghost for I know without it I never would have been able to do what I did.

Yesterday when it came time to teach the class I was very humble and prayerful. The class went very well. As I was going thro’ the materials, I’d hear someone say, “I didn’t know that!” or ”that’s how you do it!” They asked pertinent and important questions that if I didn’t have the answer, I replied, “Let’s see what works.” I learned things even as I taught. It was such a satisfying feeling as I finished the class. There were eight people there, two patrons and the others missionaries.

Today, we had our second historical Regional Stake conference by Satellite. There were 67 Stakes present from Pocatello to St. Anthony here in Southeast Idaho. President Uchtdorf was presiding, Elder Tingy of the Presidency of the Seventy, Sister Elaine S Dalton and Elder Russell M Nelson also talked. It was sooo inspiring. President Uchtodorf told us of three things we can do to insure our place in the Kingdom of God.
!. Have a current temple recommend. He said that CTR could also stand for that.
2. Read the scriptures daily.
3. have daily prayer.
I need to improve on my scripture reading. I have really fallen away from doing that regularly, which is too bad.

It is wonderful what we can experience now with the modern technology that we have now. I’m so thankful to be alive now with all of this technology and especially with the Priesthood restored and all of the blessings of both. It is a wonderful time indeed.