I recall several times when the Holy Ghost has spoken to my mind in a quotable sentence.  The first time was in answer to my desperate, first-ever prayer.  It said, “Everything is going to be all right.”  That proved to be an understatement.

Another time was following the garbled, nonsensical priesthood blessing that I gave upon the head of a comatose, apostate, extremely negative woman.  As I drove away berating myself and wondering why I had failed so miserably in my assignment the Spirit said, “I have no blessing for that woman.”  That was one of the most instructive things that's ever happened to me.  I learned from that experience that I'm not the one giving the blessings.

Another time, 74-year-old me was standing at the top of a ladder making repairs to the eaves of my house.  The Holy Ghost said, “You shouldn't be up here.”  I climbed down.

When I was serving in the stake presidency I was conducting an interview with a man who was renewing his temple recommend.  In the middle of the interview the Spirit very clearly said, “This is Debbie's husband.”  Hearing that message coming from out of nowhere flustered me so badly that I had trouble finishing the interview.  Debbie was Marjorie's niece, a single mother of two.  We introduced them, and they have been very happily married now for 28 years.

These were real, quotable voices, probably inaudible to anyone else.

Contrariwise there have been hundreds of times, as I've been writing, when the Holy Ghost has planted a new and novel thought in my mind that had never before occurred to me.  That is what makes writing one of my favorite activities.

Once in answer to a prayer to know how to help a person in distress, the Holy Ghost put a two-part painting into my mind which I can see clearly to this day.  I can show you exactly where I was when the paintings were shown to me.  I can also show you exactly where I was on the occasions when I heard the voice of the Holy Ghost.

Most of the times when the Holy Ghost has moved me, it has been through feelings.  Sometimes I knew the Holy Ghost was moving me, and sometimes I didn't.  On the half-dozen occasions when I've picked up a hitchhiker I knew the Holy Ghost urged me to do so.  Each time turned out to be in answer to the person's prayer for help.

Once the Holy Ghost stirred me up and got me so agitated that I had to get out of bed, get dressed, and go looking for a person who I wasn't sure was even around.  I found him in time to prevent his suicide.

Another time as bishop I felt compelled to leave sacrament meeting and find why a widow woman wasn't in attendance.  I found her unconscious on her bathroom floor, and called the ambulance.

As patriarch, with my hands on the person's head, a thought comes into my mind.  As I look for the words to express it, another thought presents itself.  It's a seamless process, and leaves me awe-stricken every time.  That's why I have to fast before each blessing.  I know that I'll be having a personal encounter with the Holy Ghost.