influence.

The Spirit is a tricky topic to discuss when it comes to how to recognize it in its infinite forms as it tugs at our unique, completely-diverse heart strings. My Institute teacher this morning said, "The greatest false doctrine we are teaching our Primary children is that the Spirit is felt through a burning in the bosom." It was a harsh statement, but he backed it up with good evidence. To Oliver Cowdery, the Lord said, "...if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you." I'm not going against scripture here, and neither is my Institute teacher, but he went on to say that a burning in the bosom was how Oliver personally felt the Spirit. I've felt the Spirit's influence in that form before, and I know my investigators on the mission did. However, it is not the same for everyone, and we should not rely on finding that one singular feeling to know that the Spirit is present.

II'll be nerdy for a moment and turn to Zelda. There is a legend within the game that three goddesses came from the heavens and formed the earth, the air and the life that dwells therein. These goddesses left their power on the land in the form of the Triforce.

Remember what the names of the three pieces of the Triforce are? Power, Wisdom and Courage. This, to me, summarizes how I have felt the Spirit in my life. I have felt the Spirit as a burning in the bosom; a power that overwhelms the soul to the point of exhaustion. Such was the case in many Priesthood blessings I've been privileged to give. I have also received pure intelligence and wisdom, adding to my understanding of the Atonement and my own purpose in life, through the Spirit. I would like to focus on a particular way I have felt the Spirit's influence in my life that I find very interesting, yet strengthening.

It is a feeling that I have only recently discovered in the last few months, but I know that it is really ONE way I can feel the Spirit. The Spirit gives me courage to make decisions. I wanted to share this because it still astounds me how great the Spirit's influence is in our lives, and how God guides our hearts. Courage was definitely not one of the blessings I would have pointed out at first. Usually, we hear the Holy Ghost gives us comfort and strength, or helps us learn. Those are pretty basic emotions to comprehend. Whenever the Savior said to his saints, "Take courage", I always figured that we had to provide that ourselves, I suppose. It seemed like a more intense usage of the word "hope". However, I know now for myself that God has given me courage through the Spirit, and it is now a spiritual language I can focus on and learn. Let me give a brief example.

I was texting a friend of mine the night before, and I said some things that I was worried might have offended them. I said a short prayer in my room, asking God if I should call my friend and apologize for anything I might have said wrong. The Spirit came on me, and it did feel a bit like a burning in the bosom (to give the physical aspect of the feeling), but what impressed me more was a strong desire to make the call. I immediately received a buck-up-and-do-it attitude. I called my friend, and they were very nice and understanding after I apologized. Honestly, what I had said probably wasn't even a big deal for them, but the call comforted me so much.

I had similar experiences on the mission, looking back on it. I sometimes had the courage to knock on a door on my own volition, or approach someone about the restored gospel. I could say that the Spirit was there to let me know everything was going to be ok, but it was more than that. The Spirit gave me a driving passion to accomplish what I needed to do, regardless of consequence or obstacle. Is that not courage?

This is such a miracle and blessing to me, especially since I'm very shy and don't know how to make small talk very well. I'm not a social philanthropist in any way. I'm pretty reserved in environments and discussions that are foreign to me. But the Spirit helps me overcome that.

Never limit the Spirit to what it SHOULD feel like or what it SHOULD do. In fact, we ought to learn the language of the Spirit for ourselves. Get to know the Spirit. Learn how to recognize the language it speaks to you. God calls each of us using a voice we'll recognize, and he recognizes our voices right back. Do we all pray the same to God? Heavens, no. So also God speaks in ways that we will understand and apply best.