Receive the Holy Ghost - David A. Bednar

  A convert probably has no more nor less understanding of this gift than the eight year old receiving it from the hands of his or her father.  It is only by following the admonitions of the sacrament prayers and then sincerely desiring this gift that we become ready to "receive" it as the confirmation prayer is said.  Then it is not just there, we have to appropriately invite the Spirit into our life.  The Spirit however, only comes in response to the request when we faithfully obey the commandments.
  The distractions of the world in our lives keep us from this simple path.  We are surrounded each day by a myriad of thoughts introduced by our environment, so remembering this path must become part of us every day and making new approaches to being ready to hear the Spirit.
  One day, knocking on doors (we usually clapped at the gate) Elder Stewart and I were tired and it was almost lunch time.  "Let's go down to the end of this short street before we quit." I said, feeling the influence as a result of fasting and a specific prayer that morning.  
  "Oh, please come in;" exclaimed a smiling, welcoming Zulmira and her daughter.  "We have been expecting you." We entered and taught the lessons to her and her daughter.  They were prepared.  They already seemed to know the things we were teaching.  About ten days later, after their baptism and visiting in their home she said; "I want to show you something."  She went into the next room and came back with a copy of the Book of Mormon.  "Two women missionaries left this with us years ago and we read it.  They never came back."
  I have begun reading To the Rescue about the life of Thomas S. Monson.  Rob recommend it to us.  It is all about following the guidance of the Spirit.  Some learn this early, some of us later, but we all must learn it to know in this life the truth of our brother Jesus Christ and then when and how we should act as a result of that witness.