As
I read the article by Elder James J. Hamula in the December 2016 Ensign, I
nearly jumped up and shouted when I read Parley P. Pratt’s quote: In this regard, Elder Parley P. Pratt
(1807–57) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following: “The gift
of the Holy Ghost … quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases,
enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and
adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops,
cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred
feelings, and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness,
tenderness, gentleness, and charity. It develops beauty of person, form, and
features. It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling. It
invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It
strengthens and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow
to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life
to the whole being.”
This
was my personal experience in every way he mentions. When I really received the gift of the Holy Ghost it was then that I started writing music and
music notation was never part of my formal education. My passions toward my fellow men (and women)
increased. My philosophy was that nobody
on my watch would ever feel alone or abandoned (think VT here). It was then that I dedicated myself to
serious stewardship over those I visit taught.
Life became enjoyable. I desired
to be virtuous and be seen as a daughter of God in every way. I was constantly asked by those who knew me
if I had changed my hair color or style, or lost weight. I became a healthier person with a desire to
maintain that health. It was and still
is as if marrow to my bones, joy to my heart and light to my eyes. Definitely it was music to my ears and it has
done nothing but increase these 40+ years!
How grateful I am for the Holy Ghost.
