Acting Under the Direction of the Holy Ghost, Elder Scott

I recently had the special opportunity to participate in an intimate question and answer session with Elder Scott of the 12 Apostles. He fielded questions from managers at my work on the topic of how to make decisions under the direction of the Spirit. The following are my notes and reflections from that experience.

Notes:

• Bit on the topic of the Atonement (paraphrased)—Elder Scott said, “I think Heavenly Father’s feelings were hurt a little bit when Christ prayed, ‘why hast thou forsaken me?’  God did not forsake His Son."  (What was Elder Scott trying to say by this?  What was the Spirit teaching me?  Do we understand what how the Savior intended the use of the word, "forsake?" See the bottom of the post.) 
• When people are trusted, they are liberated to obey and accomplish beyond imagination.  Trust is paramount to an effective work environment--both directions, for managers and those being managed.
• There are two things that we can develop as a Church:
• Knowledge, that we might be guided step by step, moment by moment.
• Worthiness; the Spirit isn’t going to direct an unworthy person.
• Elder Scott's definition of Humility – Teachability.  The condition of being accessible by the Spirit to be taught. Both the employer and the employee need it.
• In counsels, make concessions in approach, not principle.
• How do I discern my own thoughts from the direction of the Holy Ghost?
• Tuning into the Spirit is not the same as tuning into an old-time radio.  You don’t need to adjust the dials in order to get a clear reception—you’ll know. The Spirit will clearly speak to you.  No waffling.  His promptings are often times more like a mandate.
• Personal thoughts often begin with, “maybe I should do this…”
• Promptings from the Spirit, although personalized, will be clear to you in the form of an immediate directive.
• Good leaders are loyal.  Always give your best, even in a less-than-perfect work environment.
• One of the greatest traits a businessperson can have is integrity, or full honesty.
• When we are humble and receptive to spiritual revelation, the source will not always be from God—it can be from a loved one on the other side of the veil, or it could be from a co-worker in the next cubicle over.  Truth is truth, and it is the Spirit’s job to guide us to it. (John 16:13)
• Steps to acting under the direction of the Spirit:

1. Be worthy to have the Spirit with you.
2. Ask for the gift of his presence.
3. Trust that once you have done steps one and two, that you will, indeed, receive his constant companionship.
4. Don’t force decisions. Let the Spirit work over time.  If you feel unsettled, table the issue.  “Time is important, but making the right decision is more important.” 

Questions:

Sometimes, my desires conflict with what the Spirit would have me do.  If I’m trying to live a “proactive life,” (meaning, if I am acting upon my own creative desires) what are some practical applications of the principles above?

• Repent daily and ask for the Spirit to be with you, beginning in the morning.
• Study the scriptures to further invite the Spirit into your heart.  Be prepared to share what you have learned.  Maybe the things you have learned will answer someone else’s prayer.
• Pray regularly throughout the day.
• Be grateful and express your gratitude to God and those around you.
• Wait when making decisions.  If you feel unsettled, table the idea until the next opportunity arises to address it.
• Trust that the Spirit will constrain you if it is a bad decision.
• If something bad does happen, learn from it.  The experience will bless you and others in the future.

Follow-up Thoughts:

• Elder Scott likes jokes.  He told a couple during the minutes proceeding our start time. "We don't use humor enough in the Church."
• Elder Scott really loves his wife.  He doesn’t seem to miss her though because he claims she is always, literally with him in Spirit. That makes think.
• The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is truly a tremendous gift.  It's like being Tevye, from Fiddler on the Roof--but instead of contentedly carrying on a one-sided conversation, you actually get live answers and direction from God via His Spirit.
• I want to live worthily, like Elder Scott, so that I too can live close to the line that separates the telestial from the celestial.

• How many people feel like they are alone and go through life, making decisions "blindly?"  What a great example Elder Scott is of how we can actually live worthy and trust in God's promise that if we will ask, we will receive!
• I can't make sensed of what Elder Scott said earlier about the Father not "forsaking" His Son.  Was Elder Scott's purpose to teach us about the relationship between the Father and the Son during the act of the Atonement?  Did the Father really "leave him alone?" Based on what Elder Scott said about the Savior's statement hurting Heavenly Father's feelings, I wonder if Christ incorrectly stated that he was left alone...or was the statement true and Heavenly Father's feelings were hurt because he wasn't capable of blessing His Son with the essential guidance and comfort that he enjoyed all His mortal life due to the nature of completing the Atonement.