“And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.” (3 Nephi 12:6). There's an old saying that inside each of us are two wolves fighting for dominance, and the one that grows bigger and stronger and has a better chance of defeating the other is the one that we feed. Philosophers have debated for centuries whether humans are inherently good or inherently evil and the truth is that we are both. The reason that regret can be so painful is that whether we made a choice to do good or to do evil, half of our soul is deeply upset that we went against either the better angel or the better devil of our nature. When we sin, we feel awful that we have become cut off from the presence and influence of our Heavenly Father. But also, when we choose the right, a real part of us is resentful that we never get to do anything fun or have any freedom. When we choose to follow our Savior and deny ourselves of ungodliness, we are starving the natural and carnal part of ourselves. In essence, we are hungering and thirsting after righteousness. If we choose to feed that which is good within us, then that which is evil will go hungry. But are we destined to always have one happily fed wolf and one starving wolf? God forbid! Jesus promises us that when we hunger and thirst after righteousness, we will be filled with the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost will nurture and feed our righteous desires, but more than that, He will also convert everything that is carnal, sensual, and devilish in our heart into righteous desires as well. Whatever part of our character and makeup is naturally opposed to our Heavenly Father and His plan will change and transform through the constant presence and influence of the Holy Ghost. They say that the only thing separating a dog from a wolf of three meals, and the converse is just as true. As we are constantly filled by the Holy Ghost, we will no longer have two hungry wolves fighting for scraps but two healthy and well-fed and extremely loyal dogs, united in their desires and commitment to doing whatever is required to keep the Holy Ghost by their side.
