Receiving and Recognizing the Holy Ghost | BYU Speeches
Receiving and Recognizing the Holy Ghost
JAMES P. PORTER
Associate Dean of the College of Life Sciences at BYU – March 22, 2011
This is a talk given to the student body at BYU. As I started reading the talk, I realized how brilliant some of the analogies were. So, I thought I would share them.
GROWTH HORMONES
Brother Porter starts by illustrating how the human body uses growth hormones created by endocrine glands to tell the body what to grow. Only certain cells can receive these messages and need interceptors to in a sense receive the messages or hormones created by the endocrine glands. The human body truly is miraculous. Our bodies and spirits are much like these cells. We need to develop spiritual receptors to receive the messages of the Holy Ghost.
I love this illustration. It would not surprise me if God created parallel patterns that were both physical and spiritual. I would imagine like growth hormones needing to be received by certain cells, certain parts of our bodies receive spiritual influence.
SAMUEL THE BOY PROPHET
This is a wonderful example of the Lord speaking and not understanding. Samuel was spoken to 3 times before he was told to ask the Lord to speak. Then Samuel came to know the Lord. For me, I know I have not heard repeated voices, but I have had repeated circumstances take place that have made me think, OK, the Lord is trying to tell me something.
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
1 Samuel 3 (churchofjesuschrist.org)
HIGH AFFINITY
This hormone subject continues to be fascinating. Brother Porter then goes on to talk about High Affinity receptors. As I read this section of the talk I couldn’t help but think of some of the electronic devices that are out there that like these receptors are have a high degree of sensitivity, things like recording microphones, microprocessors, the James Webb Telescope. Mankind has been able to create highly sensitive electronics that like hormone receptors are sensitive to specific things. Consider the James Webb Telescope; it is said to be so sensitive that it would be able to detect even the slight heat of a bumblebee at the distance of the moon. That is mind-boggling and in comparison to biology may be equal to a receptor detecting a hormone.
Consider the level of sensitivity to feel and recognize the Holy Ghost.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
1 Kings 19 (churchofjesuschrist.org)
HORMONE RECEPTOR INSENSITIVITY DISEASE
Brother Porter explains that this is because receptors don’t work properly. This can lead to disease. An example he uses comparing this condition to receiving the Holy Ghost is when Laman and Lemuel were “Past Feeling.”
45 Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.
1 Nephi 17 (churchofjesuschrist.org)
There were a few reasons Laman and Lemuel were past feeling.
- Prideful – 1 Nephi 2:11
- Unbelieving – 1 Nephi 2:13
- Unwilling to follow – 1 Nephi 3:5
- Physically and Verbally abusive – 1 Nephi 3:28
- Rebelious – 1 Nephi 7:6
- Murmured – 1 Nephi 2:12
THERE IS HOPE
There is always hope. We can repent.
I invite you to ponder individually in a humble and prayerful manner and ask yourself: “Do I have the Spirit in my life? Am I happy? Am I doing anything in my life that is offensive to the Spirit and preventing the Holy Ghost from being my constant companion?” Have the courage to repent, if needed, and again enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
The Unspeakable Gift (churchofjesuschrist.org)
This was an amazing and inspiring talk. Thank you, Brother Porter.