The blessings of listening to the Holy Ghost are great, but how can we recognize those promptings? It takes obedience to God's commandments and a some practice. Learning to recognize and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost is part of our purpose here on earth.
President Boyd K. Packer taught: “The voice of the Spirit is described in the scripture as being neither ‘loud’ nor ‘harsh.’ It is ‘not a voice of thunder, neither . . . voice of a great tumultuous noise.’ But rather, ‘a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper,’ and it can ‘pierce even to the very soul’ and ‘cause [the heart] to burn.’ (3 Ne. 11:3; Hel. 5:30; D&C 85:6–7.) Remember, Elijah found the voice of the Lord was not in the wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but was a ‘still small voice.’ (1 Kgs. 19:12.) “The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand. Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all." (“The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, Jan. 1983, 53).
As we prayerfully seek the Lords help in recognizing the promptings of the Holy Ghost, we can show faith by choosing to keep the commandments and staying close to the Lord. We must remove from our lives those things that do not draw us closer to our Heavenly Father. I testify that the Lord loves us and will give us personal direction or revelation through the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I testify that reading the scriptures ( The Book of Mormon , and the Bible) and praying daily are simple but powerful ways to stay close to the Lord.
