"We may after baptism and confirmation become companions of the Holy Ghost who will teach us the ways of the Lord, quicken our minds and help us to understand the truth." -Joseph Fielding Smith
- We must be baptized and confirmed to have the Holy Ghost as our companion.
- The Holy Ghost will teach us the ways of the Lord, quicken our minds, and help us understand the truth.
- We have the right to receive revelations that are necessary for our guidance.
We also know that the Holy Ghost is:
1. Called by many names: The Spirit, Revelator, Comforter, Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, Spirit of the Lord. Bruce R McConkie said, "The Holy Ghost is the Comforter, Testator, Revelator, Sanctifier, Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit of Promise, Spirit of Truth, and Messenger of the Father and the son.
2. He is a Spirit in the form of a man. He has a spirit body only.
3. His mission is to bear witness of the Father and the Son and of all truth. Is to perform all the functions that pertain to his various name-titles.
4. The Holy Ghost knows all things (D&C 35:19) and can lead one to know of future events (2 Peter 1:21).
5. The Holy Ghost has been manifest in every dispensation of the gospel beginning with Adam (Moses 6:51,52,64,65).
6. The Holy Ghost is manifested to men on earth both as the POWER of the Holy Ghost and as the GIFT of the Holy Ghost
- By the power of the Holy Ghost he can bear witness of the truth to honest people throughout the earth that Jesus is the Christ. He manifests to those who ask for truth.
- Gift of the Holy Ghost comes after proper authorized baptism and is conferred by the laying on of hands. It is the right to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost when worthy and acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify him from all sin.
In the manual we read, "You cannot get the gift of the Holy Ghost by praying for it, by paying your tithing, by keeping the Word of Wisdom—not even by being baptized in water for the remission of sins. You must complete that baptism with the baptism of the Spirit. The Prophet said on one occasion that you might as well baptize a bag of sand as not confirm a man and give him the gift of the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of hands. You cannot get it any other way."
What is the purpose of the Holy Ghost? To teach us, to direct us, to bear witness to us of the saving principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We have been taught that the Holy Ghost will warn us, comfort us, inspire us, be a constant companion, sanctify us, cleanse us, helps us make decisions that will allow us to find and fulfill our mission.
We heard several sisters bear testimony of times when the Spirit has prompted and communicated with them. Including a time when a sister first heard the missionaries teach that we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father. She was 10 years old at that time and felt the Spirit so strongly bear the truth of that to her. Another sister shared about an experience when she was going through a trial in her life and felt the Spirit bring peace to her. She knew because of comfort given that things would be alright. These moments are so precious. We discussed how when we share our testimonies of the things we believe, and sing songs testifying of Christ the Spirit is so strong and often times we are moved to tears.
We were left with a challenge. Think of experiences big and small when you've received the Holy Ghost. What do you need to do to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost?
"It is my judgment that there are many members of this Church who have been baptized for the remission of their sins, and who have had hands laid upon their heads for the gift of the Holy Ghost, but who have never received that gift—that is, the manifestations of it. Why? Because they have never put themselves in order to receive these manifestations. They have never humbled themselves. They have never taken the steps that would prepare them for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. ... Be diligent in our activites, study the fundamental truths of the gospel - study, be obedient, be diligent in seeking to know and understand truth. Study the revelations that have been given, be clean.
It is the privilege of every member of the Church to know the truth, to speak by the truth, to have the inspiration of the Holy Ghost; it is our privilege, individually, … to receive the light and to walk in the light; and if we continue in God, that is, keep all of His commandments, we shall receive more light until eventually there shall come to us the perfect day of knowledge.
We come back into the presence of God our Father, at last, through the guidance of the Holy Ghost."
- Joseph Fielding Smith
See the entire lesson HERE.
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