2 Nephi 31 and 32. Heroes hear and heed this invitation from the Savior: “follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.” Nephi reminds us that Jesus Christ  “set the example” for us by “[witnessing] unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments” through the ordinance of baptism. We become heroes when we follow Christ and do the things He has done. This means that we humble ourselves, repent of [our] sins, and become “willing to take upon [us] the name of Christ” insomuch that we are “willing to serve God with all [our] hearts” and “stand as witnesses of God at all times” (Mosiah 21: 35, Mosiah 18:9). We show our willingness to do these things and “that [we] are willing to keep [God’s] commandments, by the baptism of water.”

As a gift to help us keep these baptismal covenants of obedience and service, Heavenly Father invites us to “receive the Holy Ghost.” The Holy Ghost “will show unto you all things what ye should do.” President Boyd K. Packer said, “The gift of the Holy Ghost, if you consent, will guide and protect you and even correct your actions. It is a spiritual voice that comes into the mind as a thought or a feeling put into your heart” (“Counsel to Youth,” Nov. 2011). The Holy Ghost gives us power to “speak with a new tongue, yea, even the tongue of angels.” This means that the Holy Ghost will help us to speak and act in a new way, a Christlike way (see 2 Nephi 31:16-17, John 3:1-21, Colossians 3, Moses 6:52-66).

The Holy Ghost will be our constant companion, much more influential than a hero’s sidekick. The Holy Ghost will empower us more than superhero powers ever could. “The Holy Ghost extends our vision and allows that eternal perspective to influence the decisions we make in our daily lives” (“Quench Not the Spirit,” Keith K. Hilbig, Nov. 2007). Elder Parley P. Pratt elaborated on the function of the Holy Ghost to empower us and improve us. He said, “The gift of the Holy Spirit…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 develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, invigorates, 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” (Key to the Science of Theology, 101-2, quoted by Linda S. Burton in “Tuning Our Hearts to the Voice of the Spirit“, CES Devotional, Jan. 2014).

“The Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son,” helps us develop “unshaken faith” and “understand great knowledge” as we “feast upon the words of Christ” and “pray always.” The First Presidency promised that as we do these things and “follow His example, the Holy Ghost will help you to know what to do. Your own testimony will grow, your conversion will be deepened, and you will be strengthened to meet the challenges of life.” With the Holy Ghost as our companion and guide, we are able to “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men” and “endure to the end.” The Holy Ghost “can empower and motivate us to do the things that the Savior and our modern-day prophets and apostles teach” (“Having the Vision to Do,” O. Vincent Haleck, Apr. 2012). They teach us that Jesus Christ “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38) and encourage us to do likewise (see “Love–The Essence of the Gospel“). We become heroes as we press forward with faith and press forward with love doing the good things and the hard things that we are inspired and invited to do.

*How have you been blessed by following Christ?
*How have you been blessed by receiving the Holy Ghost?

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