Life lessons in emails...

Today I received an email from my grandmothers’ brother and it was titled 7%. I'm not sure why it was titled that, but I’ll go with it. In this email there were 45 suggestions or 'words of wisdom' given by a 90 year old man. There were things like "don’t let a drive in a Hurst be your first trip to church", "whatever doesn't kill you does make you stronger", and "your children get only one childhood." I receive several emails with wonderful suggestions such as “be kind to others”, “live your life as if you were to die tomorrow”, and “don’t take loved ones for granted.”. People are desperately searching for good things to cling to and live by. I believe that people do want to do good, live good, and live by truth. There are many good and wise people in the world tossing bits of advice and inspiration out to the world and those who are 'biting' are those who want to live by truth. There are countless quotes, inspirational sayings, and 'thoughts for the day' that provide us with countless words of wisdom. If you are a pinterest’r you see quotes being pinned all the time with different words of advice; Most of them having been repined a few thousand times or so. I made an observation today as I was reading that email. People hunger for truth; collecting famous words of wisdom and adding them to their knowledge bank providing them a checklist of things to do that would promise them a good and happy life. Most of these quotes come from average people who were touched by the spirit and were inspired with something. They felt so good about what they felt and felt the truthfulness of it and wanted to share it with others. Then it becomes viral. With all the means of communication we so readily enjoy today, it spreads very quickly. Bottom line, people want to live by truth. They crave it because it makes them feel good. It gives them something to do in their life that they feel is worthwhile and good.
In the lesson on baptism, the missionaries teach the difference between being touched by the spirit and having the gift of the Holy Ghost given unto you. People are touched by the spirit when the Spirit wants to teach us something or warn us of something. This inspiration is proof of God’s love for us and that He is concerned for us. He has promised us that as we take upon us the covenant of baptism, we can have that same Spirit be given to us always, as long as we live worthy enough to have it dwell with us. This is called the gift of the Holy Ghost because having truth given to us always is such a huge blessing! We enter into the Gospel of Jesus Christ where words of wisdom are found in everything we do, hear, and see. We aren’t just inspired with these things every now and then; we can have those inspirations guide us every day! We don’t need to turn to Google search for 'thoughts of the day' or 'words of inspiration' to help us through a difficult time in life, we can turn to the scriptures and words of modern day prophets. Where better could we find such divine guidance and inspiration than through our modern day prophet, Thomas S. Monson? What better line of communication than the one we have with our Father in Heaven? Whenever I receive emails from family members like this I feel happy and proud that they too are searching for pieces of light and truth to live by. I also feel overwhelming joy for the truth and knowledge I have been given. I have a responsibility to them to try and share my knowledge with them, just as they are with me. All in all, I am grateful that there are people in the world who desire for the knowledge and truth of the gospel and they cling to things that bring them closer to it. The hymn titled The Spirit of God has always been one of my favorites and I am reminded of stanza two which reads:
The Lord is extending the saints' understanding—
Restoring their judges and all as at first;
The knowledge and power of God are expanding
The veil o'er the earth is beginning to burst.

I know this is true because it is evident everywhere. The line which separates good and evil, I believe, is becoming more defined. We know that as we approach the return of our Savior, prophesies are being fulfilled and the time to share the gospel is now. People are searching for it, and we can help them find it.
D&C 123:12 12 “For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men,… and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.”