In Elder David A. Bednar's General Conference talk, "Receive the Holy Ghost" (Ensign, November 2010, 94-97), Elder Bednar said, "The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words ['receive the Holy Ghost'] are spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to live that we indeed 'receive the Holy Ghost' and its attendant spiritual gifts. 'For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?' (D&C 88:33)" We must keep the Spirit of the Lord with us so that we can be led in the right direction. Because "everything the Savior's gospel teaches us to do and become is intended to bless us with the companionship of the Holy Ghost."
- The Holy Ghost witnesses of the Father and the Son, giving those who have the gift a stronger testimony of the gospel (2 Nephi 31:18).
- The gift of the Holy Ghost is given only to those who follow Christ and keep the covenants they made at baptism. It is only given to those who follow "the way" of Christ (2 Nephi 31:21).
- The Holy Ghost is one with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, so those with the gift of the Holy Ghost can know what God's will is for them personally (2 Nephi 31:21).
- The Holy Ghost is given to those whom Christ chooses; He chooses those who believe in Him (3 Nephi 19:20).
- The gift of the Holy Ghost sanctifies and cleanses the soul (3 Nephi 27:20).
- When baptized into the Church, a person is baptized by immersion in water, and then baptized by fire through the Holy Ghost (D&C 19:31; D&C 33:15).
- The gift of the Holy Ghost provides other spiritual gifts, such as the gift of tongues, the gift of prophecy, the gift to heal, the gift of faith, etc.
- The Holy Ghost knows all things, so with the gift of the Holy Ghost I can be guided in all things if I just ask (2 Nephi 32:1-5).
Elder Orson Pratt said, "Water Baptism is only a preparatory cleansing of the believing penitent . . . ; whereas, the Baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost cleanses more thoroughly, by renewing the inner man, and by purifying the affections, desires, and thoughts which have long been habituated in the impure ways of sin. Without the aid of the Holy Ghost, a person . . . would have but very little power to change his mind . . . and to walk in newness of life. Though his sins may have been cleansed away, yet so great is the force of habit, that he would, without being renewed by the Holy Ghost, be easily overcome, and contaminated again by sin. Hence, it is infinitely important that the affections and desires should be, in a measure, changed and renewed, so as to cause him to hate that which he before loved, and to love that which he before hated: to thus renew the mind of man is the work of the Holy Ghost" (Orson Pratt, “The Holy Spirit,” in A Series of Pamphlets [1852], Orson Pratt: Writings of an Apostle [Salt Lake City: Mormon Heritage Publishers, 1976], 57.)
In this busy world, I, and so many others, tend to worry about things. It is so easy to get caught up in the demands of life and worry about tomorrow. We too easily lose a positive perspective on life.
The Lord provides the Holy Ghost as a "comforter," so if I have the gift of the Holy Ghost, why worry? The Holy Ghost "filleth with hope and perfect love" (Moroni 8:25-26). Interacting with people, accomplishing goals, and living life are exciting things, and there is no reason to fear. The Lord will always provide comfort.
No comments:
Post a Comment