The Holy Spirit’s Influence on Leadership Decisions | An Interview with Robert Millet

This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in November 2019.
Robert Millet, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and professor of
Ancient Scripture and emeritus dean of Religious Education at
Brigham Young University. Author of more than 75 published works,
he has been involved in BYU Education Week for many years and is
well-known as a commentator on the BYUTV Scripture Discussions
program. He is also manager of Outreach and Interfaith Relations
for the Church’s Public Affairs department. Brother Millet chose to
write his book The Holy Spirit: His Identity, Mission, and Ministry
because the Spirit is so frequently referred to and discussed, but
we might not appreciate all that it is. Highlights 03:00 Strategy
for covering topics: he makes a list and works on it daily,
narrowing it down over a period of weeks/months to develop the
book. Work on prophetic statements that relate and continue
narrowing the information. Also asking “what experiences have I had
with this”. He wanted to cover the topics of sons of perdition, the
light of Christ, and God's power. 13:00 How, as leaders, can we
have a better understanding of the Holy Spirit: having it, losing
it, etc. 13:47 What does it mean to “lose the Holy Ghost”? We lose
feeling, we withdraw ourselves. You can’t take a vacation from the
Spirit – you can’t sit still; you either fall back or move forward
19:45 The Holy Ghost “strives with us”. It “battles with us”. There
will always be an element of the Spirit to help you; you can’t
“lose it”. All people can have the Spirit. They may not have the
gift of the Holy Ghost that comes from baptism, but they certainly
can have the Spirit and inspiration. 25:40 How do you know when a
sin is forgiven? Study Mosiah 4:1-3 (joy, peace of conscience,
larger measure of the Spirit). “Just don’t do things that are
offending to the Spirit.” 28:40 Where is “grace” in the doctrine?
The Holy Ghost is an act of God's grace to us. We can put ourselves
in a position to receive that gift by our actions. “The sun doesn’t
stop shining just because I put a bag over my head, it continues to
shine”. It is the same with God; He loves us through everything.
32:30 Justification and Sanctification 44:10 Be cautious about “I
feel impressed that…” It is good to teach what you feel, but if you
announce that it came from the Spirit, it can come across as
boastful. 45:35 How about church callings and the Spirit? If you
pray to start a meeting and pray for the Spirit to guide decisions,
you don’t need to kneel individually about all decisions. As we
strive to live our lives to keep the Spirit with us, we will see
that the Holy Ghost has been guiding us in all decisions and shaped
our lives. Those decisions were inspired, and hopefully good
judgement. We don’t need to pray over every decision. “The Spirit
prepares us today for decisions we have to make in the future.”
53:00 Joseph McConkie story about calling Stake Presidents: The
Lord fits us to our assignments. “God honors the servant”.
Difference of being called “by God” or “of God”. 55:00 Final story
related again to his friend Joseph McConkie, prior to him leaving
to Scotland as a Mission President. Asked him if he had read
everything and felt prepared. “What do you think?” He said, “What
could cause us not to worry about 63 rules? I will teach my
missionaries this: never do anything that would cost you the
influence of the Holy Spirit.” That is a great standard to live by.
Callings in the Church are not to be superheroes but to live in the
way to be directed by the Holy Spirit. It is a solemn
responsibility. Mosiah 26: Alma “feared that he would not do
right”. As leaders we need to strive to do that. Links The Holy
Spirit: His Identity, Mission, and Ministry Grace in the Bishop’s
Office | An Interview with Robert Millet Photo of Robert Millet by
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