alma 19: 12 - 21
lamoni, the queen, and ammon were overpowered by the spirit and overpowered with joy. when have you felt the influence of the spirit in a powerful way? when have you felt great joy?
--> bible dictionary: earnest - "the Lord gives us his Holy Spirit in this life as a foretaste of the joy of eternal life." so, the times when i feel the greatest joy are the times when i'm overcome with the spirit. there are many times i could speak to, but one that i was just thinking about this morning happened a few years ago when i was up at utah state going to school. i had the opportunity to sing in a ces fireside and was attending one of the practices. i was sitting in the institute gym, surrounded by hundreds of other students and we were singing a song, i don't even remember what song it was now... but i do remember feeling so light and happy and almost like i was being carried away in the music. there was such a light in the room and i looked around and just felt so overwhelmed with peace and the joy of the gospel.
the first night in the mtc as a full-time missionary, i was sitting at the dinner table in the noisy cafeteria, missionaries all around... and felt that same joy as i looked around in awe at all the amazing young men and women i was surrounded by. all these people have chosen to give up the world and serve the Lord for 18 months to 2 years. i was astounded and felt so humbled to be part of that beautiful group.
when i sat in the sealing room of the draper temple watching my dear cousin aliska get sealed to her husband nelson, i again felt that same overwhelming, carry-me-away type of joy. the spirit is amazing.
i could go on for paragraphs about the times when i have felt the spirit strongest and have felt the joy that can only come through living the gospel of Jesus Christ. of all the things in the world to be grateful for, i am so grateful for the companionship of the Spirit and for that foretaste of eternal joy that we can feel! life is oh so good.
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