A message in our March 2021 Park City Stake conference that left an impression on me was the invitation to act on our first thoughts. I learned from stake conference that those first thoughts were impressions from the Spirit and that the thoughts after it were usually ourselves or Satan trying to talk us out of the first thought. I have felt that as I put this charge (to act on my first thoughts) into practice, a spiritual confirmation that what I was doing was pleasing to the Lord and indeed communication from the Holy Ghost.
The first example of putting this idea into practice was when I was personally studying in Come, Follow Me one morning. I had the first thought to text my neighbor to invite her to participate in a zoom missionary lesson series with us. The following thoughts were, as you can imagine, thoughts of doubt and discouragement about the idea. However, having just recently had stake conference, I chose to act on the first thought. And guess what? My neighbor said yes; she was interested to learn educationally about our religion and she was glad I had asked her!
The next example I would like to share with you was when I was on an airplane. I was seated next to a lady that had extreme anxiety of flying. As I listened to her worries and fears, the thought to say a prayer with her came into my mind. You can imagine the chorus of thoughts that followed that first one! Again, I chose to act on the first one. The lady was touched by the gesture of comfort from Heaven and she made it through the flight.
These are just two examples of acting on our first impressions. I challenge you to listen and act on those first thoughts as well. This charge will not only help you be a missionary, but it will also develop your relationship with God as you learn to listen to the Holy Ghost and be an instrument in His Hands.
Sister Kathy Pratchett