Pres. Henry B. Eyring on obeying spiritual direction

President Henry B. Eyring (born May 31, 1933) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007.

"When the Spirit is invited into a meeting by those in it, truth is communicated beyond what is said aloud. Write down impressions or thoughts that you feel came from God. And, remembering what we have said about building a foundation, think carefully about whether the truth you received requires action. It is by obedience to commandments that we qualify for further revelation of truth and light.

"In this hour you may have committed to act on something you felt was true. Then more truth came to you. That process may slow or stop, if as you go out into daily life you fail to keep the silent commitments you made with God. God not only loves the obedient, He enlightens them. I fear that more people make promises to God than keep them, so you will please Him when you are the exception and you keep your promise to obey. You should test those impressions of what you should do against a simple standard: Is it what the Master has commanded in the accepted revelations? Is it clearly within my calling in His kingdom?

"Keeping some commandments gives you greater power to build your foundation on truth and light. You could think of those as enabling commandments, because they build your power to keep other commandments. Whatever invites the Holy Ghost as your companion will bring you the greater wisdom and the greater ability to obey God."

- Henry B. Eyring, "A Life Founded in Light and Truth," BYU Education Week devotional, 15 August 2000; see also Ensign, July 2001, 13
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Speaking to a gathering at BYU for an Education Week devotional, President Eyring addressed ways to increase the spiritual influences in our lives. One of the key ways is learning to invite and recognize spiritual promptings as we are instructed; then responding to the promptings that come, enabling us to receive further promptings.

Some key steps:

• Invite inspiration by prayer and a willing heart as we are in settings where we might be taught
• Record thoughts and impressions that come to us in those settings
• Ponder whether the impression just received "requires action"
• Commit to follow through, and then act promptly on the impression

By following that process, we invite more frequent inspiration from God:

I love the concept of "enabling commandments"—those things we do that open the door to further opportunity and blessing. Each time we choose to obey and act, we are opening the door to greater inspiration and help from God. "Whatever invites the Holy Ghost as your companion will bring you the greater wisdom and the greater ability to obey God."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)