What the Holy Ghost does:
Comforts
Abides with us forever
Teaches all things
Bring things to remembrance
Gives peace
Testifies of Christ
Reproves the world of sin
Brings righteousness
Guides truth
Shows things to come
Glorifies Christ
What we must do to receive it:
Keep the commandments
See and know it
Be strong and unafraid
Bear witness of it
*References from John 14-16
One thing I love in these chapters is how much Christ cared for His disciples and apostles. He knew He would have to leave them, and although it pained Him - and them, I'm sure - He continually reassured them that He would not leave them comfortless. Christ definitely wanted to make sure that they still felt safe and secure even without Him right beside them. Christ cares about us just as much and wants us to have the Holy Ghost with us to comfort, teach and protect us.
I think the biggest thing that sticks out to me right now concerning the roles of the Holy Ghost is how it teaches all things. Not just spiritual, but temporal as well. This has been my most difficult semester by far, I think. When I was completing my Associate's, I mostly had Medical Assisting classes, which I loved. I understood those! And while I came to understand statistics, chemistry and world history well enough to keep my grades up (not ideal, but up), these subjects are definitely not my forte and have taken me a lot of work. This definitely didn't happen without help, though. Sometimes the kids were actually quiet while I studied (not this week, though ;), Levi helped out with the kids and house when he could, and I was constantly enlightened and expanded to understand these mostly-foreign concepts this semester (it's been about 8 years since I took a chemistry, algebra or history class and it showed!). I anticipate it will only get harder, and I definitely need the companionship of the Holy Ghost through all of it. My family needs the Holy Ghost because I'm usually not sufficient comfort for my husband or children while I'm spending so much time with school. But Heavenly Father and Christ know this. They know me. They know how stressed and emotional (thanks, baby #3 ;) I've been this week. And they care. I have felt them caring enough to send comfort even when I don't deserve it. I have felt them caring enough to comfort my poor kids while mom sits on the couch figuring out how many moles are in 0.436g of Magnesium. I'm constantly reminded by the Holy Ghost that this will all be worth it in the end. I'm doing this for my family, and it will all work out. I honestly don't know if I could live through the hard times without the comfort of the Holy Ghost.
