Elder Gary E. Stevenson on keeping the gift of the Holy Ghost in our lives

Elder Gary E. Stevenson (b. August 5, 1955) was called as a Seventy in 2008, then as Presiding Bishop in 2012. He was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2015.

"It is vital to our physical and spiritual safety that we keep the gift of the Holy Ghost. We begin to do so by striving to keep the commandments, having individual and family prayer, reading the scriptures, and seeking loving and forgiving relationships with family and loved ones. We should keep our thoughts, actions, and language virtuous. We should worship our Heavenly Father in our homes, at church, and, whenever possible, in the holy temple. Stay close to the Spirit, and the Spirit will stay close to you."

- Gary E. Stevenson, "How Does the Holy Ghost Help You?", General Conference April 2017
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

The Holy Ghost is a unique gift in our lives. We can choose to keep the gift and profit from it, or we can choose to give the gift up and not receive the benefits it offers to us. Elder Stevenson strongly encourages us to keep this gift as something "vital to our physical and spiritual safety" in the world.

To retain the girt of the Holy Ghost is to have that Spirit close to us. As we do the things Elder Stevenson described, we stay close to the Spirit and will receive great help and blessings. Such simple requirements, really:

• strive to keep the commandments
• have individual and family prayer
• read the scriptures
• seek loving and forgiving relationships with family and loved ones
• keep our thoughts, actions, and language virtuous
• worship our Heavenly Father in our homes, at church, and, whenever possible, in the holy temple

A good list to review—where can I personally try harder or be more careful?

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)