Feeling the Spirit

Many times we think of "feeling the Spirit" as something that causes our "bosom to burn" because of a verse in D.C.9 that is repeated often. I am not a huge fan of this verse b/c if that's the only time we have the Spirit, then most of us don't feel it very often. In Oliver's case he needed some immediate feedback on what he was doing (translating), so it was important to have a "yes" or a "no" right in the moment. Few of us are in similar situations.

D.C. 50:22 explains that one moment when we feel the Spirit often is when we're learning. And in those moments, both the teacher and the learner can experience certain things that indicate the Spirit is present. D.C. 50: 21-22:

21Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the ^aSpirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth?

22Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are ^aedified and ^brejoicetogether.

If you receive the word or preach the word by the Spirit there will be a few results: 1) you will likely understand something you didn't understand before, be edified (in Spanish edificio means a building; edified means something akin to that - having an increase in knowledge), and/or feel happy.

This week I was teaching in Gospel Doctrine and a man made a comment about Mark 10:18, which we were reading. I have read this verse many times and never understood why Jesus said what he says here. The setting is the rich young man is coming to Jesus asking what he lacks. Here's the first two verses in the encounter. Mark 10:17-18:

17¶And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there isnone ^agood but one, that is, God.

The question I have always had is, "why in the world would Jesus say he isn't "good"? He's really good." This man in Sunday School said, "Jesus said what he did to show the rich young man the need for humility. Jesus modeled humility just before asking the rich young man to show humility by giving up what he had and following the Savior. Unfortunately the young man didn't make the connection or follow the example."

Oh dang. He was exactly right. No question that's a great explanation of what was happening. Jesus gave up all he had in Heaven to come down (which he didn't have to do - he was perfect), and he did so because he is humble. The rich young man was being asked to do the same, so Jesus was trying to teach him humility before hand.

I understood something I didn't understand before in that moment, learned that this story was about faith but also largely about humility, and I felt happy. I think that means I felt the Spirit. When we recognize that the Spirit can be felt in this way, not just a burning in the bosom, it becomes more clear that we feel the Spirit often.

Have a good day.

LaDon