[Justice]

Now this is my kind of topic. I have been trying to do the same thing.

I have been studying this topic extensively the last two years or so. I'll briefly share some things that I have learned. Keep in mind, however, that there are many Gospel truths that are "caught and not taught," so many may seem not very significant.

There is a distinct difference between having the Holy Ghost with us and having Christ's Spirit with us always. Part of baptism is to receive a gift that we can always have the Holy Ghost with us. The Spirit promised us in the sacrament prayers is not the Holy Ghost, but "His Spirit," meaning Christ's. Christ can be our constant companion. For the sake of this discussion I'm going to talk just a little about how one can have Christ's Spirit with him/her because I feel this is the greater of the two.

The sacrament prayers are the best words we have in order to know how to do this.

1) Willing to take upon the name of Christ.
2) Always remember Christ.
3) Keep Christ's commandments.

The prayer is a covenant we make to do these three things, and His [The Father's] promise in return is that we will always have His (Christ's) Spirit with us. As I said, many suppose it is the Holy Ghost that is promised. But, a close reading will make it clear that it is not.

His name
remember Him
His commandments
results in...
His Spirit

I would make it a habit to read the sacrament prayers as often as you can. Read the bread and water prayers. Look for differences, and what those differences might mean.

Then, study the scriptures for what the above 3 things really mean. We cannot consciously make an effort to do them if we don't really understand what it is to do them. There are lots of examples in the scriptures of men who always had His Spirit with them. Some of the best examples I have found are:

1) Nephi, son of Lehi.
2) King Benjamin
3) The 12 Apostles conversion when Christ appeared to the Nephites.

Most of what we learn from Nephi is to read 1st and 2nd Nephi looking for Nephi's personality traits. Look for what he "loves, glories in, and finds joy in."

The story of King Benjamin appears in 3 books, Omni, Words of Mormon, and Mosiah. Read his story from all 3 books and get a feel for who he was. Study his words to the people as he gathered them around the temple.

The story of the 12 Apostles, or disciples, is an amazing example of conversion, being born again, and seeking the Spirit. As you read Christ's words to the people, pay particular attention to what He says to the 12 verses what He says to the multitude. It's easy to track and follow. Compare the difference intently. Then compare the differences in events, surroundings, their position, and the wording difference and promises made and blessings received during the 2 different times Christ gives them the sacrament.

This material is worthy of a lifetime study.

One more thing I'd like to point out is you said that prayer and scripture study are basic things. It is true, they are. But, most people don't say prayers or study scriptures the way it was intended. Those things are the beginning of faith when we are new in Christ, but they also become the end of our faith, and sustain us, as we seek to always have His Spirit with us. So, don't think because you are doing them that it is enough. Do all you can to improve in those areas.

You are familiar with Alma 32, where Alma and Amulek teach the poor and rejected among the Zoramites about faith and how it compares to a seed. I'd like to share a few things about this story.

Alam 31:
1 Now it came to pass that after the end of Korihor, Alma having received tidings that the Zoramites were perverting the ways of the Lord, and that Zoram, who was their leader, was leading the hearts of the people to bow down to dumb idols, his heart again began to sicken because of the iniquity of the people.

This is what led him to gather a group of powerful missionaries and travel to Antionum and preach among them. Look at the names of the companions he chose, or that the Lord had him take with him.

Ammon
Aaron
Omner
Amulek
Zeezrom
Shiblon
Corianton

If you study the conversion and missionary efforts of these men, you will see it was perhaps the greatest missionary group ever assembled.

When they arrived they found the Zoramites worshiping on the rameumptom. They preached in the synagogs, in people's homes, and on the streets, but didn't have a lot of success, until...

A group of people classified as poor approached them (32: 1-6):

6 And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.

This is when he gives the great sermon on faith and how it is planted in the heart as a seed.

After this sermon, something interesting happens. The people did not have a mighty change of heart like King Benjamin's people did. They sent a representative among them to ask Alma what his sermon meant. They had not been taught that a Christ would come their whole lives, like the people of King Benjamin had. They didn't understand about this "Christ," so they sent one to ask.

Alma 33:
1 Now after Alma had spoken these words, they sent forth unto him desiring to know whether they should believe in one God, that they might obtain this fruit of which he had spoken, or how they should plant the seed, or the word of which he had spoken, which he said must be planted in their hearts; or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith.

Remember Alma's answer?

He used the words of Zenos, the prophet:

3 Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or worship?
4 For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me.
5 Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me when I did cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer, and thou didst hear me.
6 And again, O God, when I did turn to my house thou didst hear me in my prayer.
7 And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me.
8 Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them.
9 Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations.
10 Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been cast out and have been despised by mine enemies; yea, thou didst hear my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit them in thine anger with speedy destruction.
11 And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son.

Pray always. Read or watch Elder Bednar's last 2 talks given in General Conference. Read them back to back as if they were one talk.

To always remember Him is a very hard thing to do in this world. There are so many things that distract us and take or divide our attention. I have a friend who literally stopped watching movies produced by anyone but the Church because of an experience he had. After one good wholesome family movie, he realized that he did not think of the Savior or His Gospel one time during that 2 hour movie. It scared him, and he thought it was one way Satan was keeping him from "always remembering Him."

We have to have expriences to help us along the way. So, my advice is to study the above 3 topics for a start, and desire what the 12 Nephite Apostles desired:

3 Nephi 19:
9 And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.

As they quickly matured, they realized that it being what they "desired most" wasn't good enough, but:

24 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire.

They were filled with desire, or filled with fire.

May God sincerely bless you in your search for these truths. I have been seeking for this myself, and I find it elusive. For some reason I seem to want to remain in captivity, or subject to the flesh. It has a strong influence on me. I desire to be born again, or led out of captivity. I have come to understand that being in captivity is the opposite of being born again, and that the choice is mine as to which I want to be.

2 Nephi 2:
27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

I have found Nephi to be a powerful example of having the Spirit always. I love these words of Lehi, and believe it no accident that Nephi chose to put them in his book.

I would love to e-mail you, or talk some other way, as you progress and study these stories. I do not consider myself an expert, or spiritual advisor. But, I LOVE to discuss the words of eternal life, and what we can do to be born again. I would love to hear your thoughts and get deeper into this topic with you. My prayers are with you.