Resisting the Holy Ghost can lead to rejecting the Savior and His prophets.

Stephen was one of the seven men called to help the Twelve Apostles. His ministry is instructive for many reasons. He was righteous enough to behold the face of God (Acts 7:55-56) but was not selected as an apostle. He was very spiritual and yet he was assigned the menial task of “serving tables.” We can be sure that he did not think himself greater than the task laid before him. He was not a seeker of callings but a seeker of the Spirit.  But when the time came for him to speak he spoke with power  for ‘they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.’ (Acts 6:10)

Notice that during Stephen’s recitation of Israelite history, he used the term our fathers nine times.  “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness…  Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers.” (Acts 7: v. 44-45, italics added)

Having given the history, Stephen shifts focus.  His tone is accusatory.  His change in pronouns is entirely intentional.  No longer does he speak of our fathers.  He says, “as your fathers did, so do ye.  Which of the prophets have not your fatherspersecuted? And they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers. (italics added)” He accuses them of murder and of being the children of prophet-killers. His history lesson concludes with the most shocking of conclusions—that the Sanhedrin was guilty of murdering the Messiah! (v. 52)

“Stephen was stoned, not for his preaching, nor even for his scolding of the people, but for saying he had had a vision of the Father and the Son. He was stoned for proclaiming that he had received revelation. Stephen foreshadowed the work of Paul and is the earliest person mentioned in the New Testament to imply that the law of Moses was fulfilled and that its rites and customs should come to an end.” (Robert J. Matthews, Studies in Scripture, Vol. 6: Acts to Revelation, ed. by Robert L. Millet [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1987], 30.)

Our hearts need to be “right in the sight of God.”

One of the Samaritan converts was a sorcerer named Simon. To whom did Simon give credit for the acts he performed through sorcery? (See Acts 8:9–11.)

To whom did the Apostles give credit for the miracles they performed? (See Acts 4:7–10.)

Why is this difference significant? (Many people who compete for our attention and loyalty do so to glorify themselves. By contrast, God’s servants give him the glory. Understanding this difference may help us evaluate the many influences in our lives.)

Read 2 Nephi 26:29

What did Simon do when he saw the Apostles bestowing the gift of the Holy Ghost? (See Acts 8:18–19.)

How did Peter respond to Simon’s request? (See Acts 8:20–23.)

The Holy Ghost will help us guide others to Jesus Christ.

“We are, in fact, all somewhat like the man of Ethiopia to whom Philip was sent. Like him, we may know enough to reach out for religion. We may invest ourselves in the scriptures. We may even give up our earthly treasures, but without sufficient instruction we may miss the meaning of all this and the requirements that still lie before us. So we cry with this man of great authority, “How can [we understand,] except some [teacher] should guide [us]?: (Jeffrey R Holland, General Conference, April 1998)

See https://latterdaybloke.home.blog/2019/07/01/study-helps-how-can-i-understand-elder-ulisses-soares/

When we submit to the Lord’s will, we can become instruments in His hands.

Bruce R. McConkie

 “Paul was a small man physically, a giant spiritually. In outward appearance he had little to recommend him; his features and physique probably repelled rather than attracted others. But because of his inward grace and goodness, and as a result of his overpowering zeal for Christ, he radiated an influence that led thousands to forsake all in the Master’s Cause. From the Prophet Joseph Smith we have received the following revealed knowledge about him: ‘He is about five feet high; very dark hair; dark complexion; dark skin; large Roman nose; sharp face; small black eyes, penetrating as eternity; round shoulders; a whining voice, except when elevated, and then it almost resembled the roaring of a lion. He was a good orator, active and diligent, always employing himself in doing good to his fellow man.’ (Teachings, p. 180.)” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 2: 93.)

What caused Saul to change from a persecutor of the Saints to a great servant of the Lord? (See Acts 9:1–9, 17.)

Acts 9:7 the men…stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man

In this account, we are told that Paul’s associates heard the voice of Jesus. However, a later account of Paul’s conversion conflicts with this version. Paul stated that they ‘saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me’ (Acts 22:9). “Evidently here is a misstatement of fact. As corrected by the Prophet, the passage in Acts 9:7 is altered to agree with that in Chapter 22. This would seem to be the reasonable conclusion for surely the voice and message of the Lord was for Paul alone, although his companions in travel might be permitted to see the light and thereby be assured of the unusual event that was taking place.” (Robert J. Matthews, Joseph Smith Memorial Sermons, p. 10)

Saul became converted when he heard the voice of the Lord. How can we hear the voice of the Lord? (See D&C 1:38; 6:23; 8:2; 18:34–36.)

Conversion is often a quiet, gradual experience, not a sudden, miraculous experience like Saul’s.

Elder Robert D. Hales said, “On occasion individuals can have [experiences like Saul’s], but for the most part, conversion happens over a period of time as study, prayer, experience, and faith help us to grow in our testimony and conversion” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1997, 111; or Ensign, May 1997, 80).

Elder Ezra Taft Benson said that Saul’s question, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” is the most important question we can ask in this life (in Conference Report, Oct. 1972, 53; or Ensign, Jan. 1973, 57). Why is it so important that we ask this question?

Acts 9:10-14 Why was Ananias hesitant to go meet Saul?

Verses 15-16 Why did Ananias go despite his reservations?

 What can we learn from Ananias’s actions? (Answers may include that God can give us courage to do whatever he asks of us and that we should never give up on a person, even if he or she appears to be beyond spiritual help.)

What did Ananias do for Saul? (See Acts 9:17–18.)

What did Saul do after he was baptized? (See Acts 9:19–22, 26–29.)

What are our responsibilities once we have been converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ? (See Luke 22:32; John 8:31; Mosiah 18:8–10; D&C 88:81.)