By Nicole Hilton, April 23rd, 2018 to present
Today my heart is full. I started getting my spiritual gifts back today—mainly the gift of being able to ask any question (as inspired of the Lord) and having it be answered in the most miraculous ways. Sometimes it was the whispering of the spirit, sometimes the answer came in the form of a song over the intercom at my sorting work at Deseret Industries (“A Thousand Years” was Heavenly Mother’s gift to me), and sometimes it was what someone said or an object lesson. I laughed, I cried, I prayed in gratitude to Heavenly Father for all the knowledge he gave again and again over the hours. All he required was all I had, and then He gave everything and more back to me.
Last night, I prayed for the chance to minister to someone who has anxiety face to face. During a break, I overheard a man talking about his daughter, who is in high school, having to stay home today because of anxiety. He was at his wits end about what to do and it sounded like the situation was serious.
I immediately got up and went to him. “Hi, I’m Nicole. I’m actually trained in how to deal with anxiety. Can I come over to your place and talk with your daughter?” He said yes—I could come over right after work!
Then, I saw a beautiful shirt displayed proudly up front at Deseret Industries that had just come through. I thought, Wow, I want that shirt!
After my shift, I had to decide: do I go straight to this man’s house and talk with his daughter, or go try to find the shirt first? I decided to go to the man’s house. Thus began an hour-long discussion with this beautiful young girl, her parents, and her amazing younger sister about opposition in all things and how we need to recognize Satan’s lies and replace them, through the power of Jesus Christ, with the truth. I was led of the Spirit to testify to her how amazing she and her sister are, and I was led to know exactly what to say. I had goosebumps again and again as we spoke and I felt the Spirit direct my words. I told her to take my number and call me anytime, day or night, and that I would help her face her dragons and overcome them through Jesus Christ.
When I left, I was almost overcome with an overwhelming sense of purpose, which had been growing since the moment I tried to bravely walk up to that house and rang the doorbell. I knew, without a doubt, that I had found my calling.
Later, I found out from the man that the girl went back to school completely anxiety-free for the rest of high school.
Afterwards, on the way to see my mom at work, I felt I should stop by the DI and find that shirt. So, I did. It wasn’t there where it had been displayed—of course it wasn’t! It was a superb shirt. Those types of shirts are snatched up really quick. Well, when I was leaving the DI, feeling a bit sad, I saw the shirt. It looked like it had been taken down and hidden away, just for me.
I grabbed it in surprise and went and tried it on. It fit perfectly! I smiled and thanked Heavenly Father, and went and bought it.
I saw Lynn at his home and was greatly edified by his words. I almost can’t believe God would love me enough to give me a friend with such a great a heart as his. I asked Lynn how I could overcome my feelings of pride after I confessed to him that Satan was trying to tempt me to believe I was better than everyone else. He said to put off the natural man and be centered in Christ, and many more things—which were all true and edifying.
But, later at home I was outside in the backyard for my meditation. I was gazing upwards from the grass at the sky, the trees, and the moon. I looked over at a bumblebee buzzing around and thought, “what is the lesson I need to learn from this bumblebee?” the Spirit immediately answered, “your lesson is that each worker bee is needed, and that you are a worker bee like everyone else. No bee’s worth is greater than another. If you listen to Satan’s lies, you are saying that you have greater worth than someone else. This is not true.”
I thanked God for the answer. It was so personal because I needed the image of the bee, or two bees side by side, to help me overcome my weakness. And God knew that.
Then, the constant stream of whisperings and teachings from the Holy Ghost I had been experiencing since Friday (for four days) went suddenly still. I waited for more questions to be given of the spirit, so I could get more answers. There was nothing. This went on for what seemed like forever. Everything was quiet. I decided to enjoy the stillness, taking it as a sign that God needed me to process things, but then got worried. Did the Holy Ghost leave me?
I asked, “do I still have the Holy Ghost with me?”
Nothing.
Then, a dove flew down and lit upon the swing set right above me, turned it’s head and stared right at me with it’s little black eye.
I was speechless.
The dove looked at me. It was so close that I knew under regular circumstances it would never have gotten this close to a human being. I knew, overwhelmed by the Spirit, that the dove was my sign from the Holy Ghost that He was still with me.
Then the dove flew away, and I just cried.
And then we—Mom, Dad, and I—did family history work! It was an amazing day. I think every day can be like this when I’m spiritually focused. If so…I’m not sure if the spirit wants me to write it down all the time. Wouldn’t that be too time consuming? Wouldn’t it detract from where my focus is meant to be?
Update:
Later one night, I was downstairs when mom called me.
“I want to show you something!”
She was quiet as I walked up the stairs, and then she led me to the front door and opened it. I felt a feeling of almost sacredness come over me.
She pointed, saying “Look!”
I looked. At first, I couldn’t see what the big deal was—there was just the arbor there over our front door archway. But then I saw it—a nest.
Turns out, the same dove—I swear!—built a nest within a foot of where our heads pass in and out of the doorway each day.
I stared in unbelief at her eye. She seemed curious and wise.
For the next few weeks, she was always there. I named her Peace. I would talk to her. She was comforting to me—a sign that the Holy Ghost was still with me, and still wanted me to be in this house.
Later, two scruffy looking baby doves were born, and they learned how to fly. They visited their nest, coming back for a few days, and then they all left.
2022:
Three years later, D—– would move in with her two girls, who were also learning how to fly in this home.
Later, after D and her girls moved out, I was at A’s house. His mom showed me something extremely curious—that if you break open a sand dollar, five little baby doves will fall out.
Try it.
Healing with Christ 