The Gift of the Holy Ghost

On the last evening of His mortal ministry, in a final act of compassion, the Savior looked upon His longing and fearful companions and spoke these familiar words: “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another comforter, that He may abide with you forever; Even the spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: But ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you…Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 16-17, 27).

Key to our baptismal covenant is the promise of the constant companionship of this great comforting presence in our lives. When the gift of the Holy Ghost is conferred, it is bestowed, “Receive the Holy Ghost”. It is not a future gift to be obtained somewhere down the road but an endowment to help us along our path here, and now. Its mission is to be constantly available. Constantly accessible. A constant companion. Constant is not sometimes. You were not given the 'occasional' companionship of the Holy Ghost. He does not come or go depending on our changing needs or only in response to our demands. He is there…always.

Yet at times we may seem unable to feel His influence, or worthy of His companionship. Do we call Him forth, or is He sent independently? Must we somehow qualify first? Do we earn His companionship? These are fair questions and are at the root of much of our struggle. There is a marked difference between those blessings we obtain through obedience and the gifts that God gives us freely. His love is one of those gifts. The gift of the Holy Ghost is another. In regards to qualification, the Apostle Paul clearly understood the Spirit's power over the letter of the law, when he proclaimed in (Philippians 3: 9 NCV), "I am right with God, not because I followed the law, but because I believed in Jesus."

Our challenge is to remove the barriers in our lives to be able to receive the Holy Ghost…to hear His voice and feel His promptings. To rise above the distractions and clutter in our lives and bring Him into our days and nights, our successes and failures, our sorrows, and our joys. To let Him comfort us as He has been bound to us to do.

At the dedication of the temple in Kirtland Ohio in 1836, many people recorded seeing angels walking along the roof, and of hearing the sound of a great rushing wind filling the building. And yet there were others there who saw and heard nothing. What made the difference in these people's experiences?

Here are five practical suggestions to help us recognize and benefit from this great gift of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost:

Perhaps the most valuable thing we can do is cultivate a correct understanding of our relationship to Him. Perhaps you have felt at times that receiving the Holy Ghost is a difficult, tenuous thing. One that requires qualifications on our part which may feel beyond our reach. A tightrope of obedience which, although we try, seems to never be quite enough. As our comforter, the Holy Ghost is charged to be available to us through all of life's vicissitudes, including and perhaps most importantly, those that block our way and lead us into temptation, error, and despair. We need to believe that God is loving and powerful enough to reach us in our struggles, no matter how unseemly they may be. That's what love does. A true companion stays with you through thick and thin. A correct understanding of God's love expressed through the comforter is wonderfully refreshing, liberating, and faith-promoting…and leaves us more certain of the Holy Ghost's accessibility to us in all stages of our mortal experience.

As our comforter, the Holy Ghost is charged to be available to us through all of life's vicissitudes

My second suggestion is to reduce the noise in our lives. The clutter that keeps us from being able to be still and know that God is near. When our minds and hearts are overrun with competing priorities it can be hard to hear the quiet, whisperings of the Spirit. If we can't hear them does it mean they are not there? Regular, daily prayer is one way to quiet our minds. It truly can be an hour of peace and rest unmarred by earthly care. Time in nature is another. Do you think it's coincidental that many inspired ideas come to us while in the out-of-doors? The older you get, you'll find as I have, that simpler is better. As we de-clutter and free up space in our lives, our minds, and our futures, we are more able to discern the influence of the Holy Ghost. Looking back, you'll be surprised to find how unimportant so many of the things you gave your time and energies to really were. And of course, in the end, there are only a few things that ever really mattered at all.

Another common barrier to the Spirit's reception is being too determined in our own mind when the Lord may have something else in store. If we really trust Him, then we are open to whatever direction the spirit may lead. Remember, we see through a glass darkly…His vision is crystal clear.

In her book, “The Christ Who Heals,” Fiona Givens tells this insightful story: “Our niece was recently serving an LDS mission in a rural area of ​​Peru. With her companion, she visited a church member and upon departing asked if she knew of anyone who might benefit from a message about the Savior. "Yes", the member replied. “I have a dear friend who has suffered a terrible tragedy. Her young daughter was struck by a motorized cart a few weeks ago. Yesterday, the girl passed away. I think her grieving mother needs your message."

The two sister missionaries left with the member's sketch for finding the house, some distance away. As they made their way up the road, they came to a path that was not indicated on their map, yet both felt a prompting to take it. They walked farther. The path led to a group of scattered dwellings on a hillside. They were strongly impressed to approach one door in particular, even though it was not the one indicated in their directions. A woman came to the door in response to their insistent knocking. "We've come to you with a message about the Savior," they said, "Would you like to hear it?" The woman immediately burst into tears, said she would, and brought three chairs outside. Before they could continue, the woman explained, weeping: “A short time ago, my husband left me. I am alone with three children and an infant, struggling to provide for the five of us. A few weeks ago, I had a terrible accident. Driving my motor cart, I hit a young girl. I have just learned that she has died.” The spirit knew where these sweet sisters were most needed. "The servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth" the Savior counseled his disciples.

Elder Henry B. Eyring has said that "answers to my prayers were most clear when what I thought was silenced by an overpowering need to know what God thought." Be open to, and trust in the mind and will of God. If we will set aside our own agenda, He will reveal His.

In His retelling of the beatitudes, the Savior gave this counsel: "Blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost." Although the Gift of the Holy Ghost is ours without reserve, those who make living the gospel a priority, and who strive after righteousness are much more apt to discern His companionship. Though sin may weaken our confidence, the Lord does not withdraw. He is patient, and His Spirit steady and waiting…waiting to fill us to the measure we allow Him to. One of the great miracles of repentance is that it restores our confidence in both God, and ourselves.

Finally, It is easier to hear the still small voice when our hearts are filled with love. Love increases our sensitivity to the Spirit. Love is the language of heaven. When we harbor ill feelings toward others or allow enmity or discord to fill our minds, the Spirit's quiet promptings often go unnoticed…they simply can't get through. You will always find those who love close to the Spirit, regardless of the other circumstances of their lives.

In conclusion, receiving the guidance of the Holy Ghost in our lives should not be difficult or stressful. It should never feel unattainable to us. The Lord knows that we may make bad decisions, struggle, and even at times separate ourselves from Him. And He has given us the Comforter…the Holy Ghost, not as a reward for figuring it out on our own, but to help us figure it out, with all the ups, downs, misdirects, and dead-ends learning by our own experience entails. He is there…always…quietly guiding, prompting, and maybe even once in a while shouting if needs be, to help us stay in the narrow way. God our Father loves us, and wants us to return to live with Him. He will not forsake us, and will never put a stone in our path or do anything to hedge up our way. He believes in us to the point that to Him, it is not a matter of if we succeed, but when. He is patient, and gives the Holy Ghost great latitude in fulfilling His mission to comfort, guide, inspire, uphold, and respond to our needs.

TestifyofChrist

March-2018

Author's Note:
As surprising as it may seem to some, the phrase, and more importantly, the principle that "the Holy Ghost won't dwell in an unclean person" is not in the Bible. The Holy Ghost will not forsake a child of God when that believer stumbles and falls; that is when we need the Spirit's help the most.

We are all unclean, have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). If we used the logic that the Holy Ghost avoids us when we are unclean, then we will never receive Him in this life. We need, we suffer, we yearn, we ask. These are what call the Spirit forth, not a clean life. If we were clean, there would be little need.

The Gift of the Holy Ghost is just that…a gift. Gifts are not earned but are given freely at the behest of the giver. Our wise response would be to do all that we can to draw close enough to always hear Him.