How can I feel the Spirit? How do I lose it?

How can I feel the Spirit?

This is the question I would like to answer that I believe investigators would eventually want to know. 

For starters, Nephi wanted to know how he could know like his father.  A key word is the answer to how: "seek him" (1 Nephi 10:17).

How do I seek him?

In Moses 6:51-68 Adam asks a similar question.  Here is a bullet list of the answer:

• Turn unto the Lord.  How?
• Hearken to his voice (Where is His voice? The scriptures, prophets & apostles and then to ponder the words.)
• Believe
• Repent
• And be baptized
• Teach children these things

For certain, you must want it, “turn unto the Lord”. 

Acts 12:8-25 & Moroni 2:1-3.  Holy Ghost must be desired by recipient (pray), laying on of hands (priesthood ordinance).

How does one lose the Spirit of the Holy Ghost?

This question goes hand-in-hand with the first. 

In 2 Nephi 33:2 it says “. . . many harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit. . . cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.” 

Mosiah 2:36  After you have known, if you transgress and go contract to the things you’ve been taught, you have withdrawn yourself from the Spirit and it will have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved.

This is too real to what I’m witnessing in my daughter.  She did know at one time.  She was so happy when the gospel was a part of her life.  When we withdraw from the spirit, we lose wisdom!  This explains so many of the foolish things she does.  No wonder she doesn’t feel blessed and isn’t prospered currently.  So why would some who “withdraw” from the Spirit not seem to lose wisdom and appear to be blessed looking in from the outside?  My explanation would be: “Did they know before?”  Maybe “How much did they know?”  For certain, you are calling down the wrath of God if you raise your hand to the square and make covenants you later choose to break. 

So if an investigator asks me how they can feel the Spirit, I have my laundry list.  Where would I turn in the scriptures?  Nephi 10 would be my first choice.  He wanted to know like his father.  Moses 6 would be helpful as well.  The bottom line to both questions is this:  DESIRE!