Tag: Holy Ghost

Virtue Values #2

The Guidance and Influence of the Holy Ghost

In September 1981, I was attending Brigham Young University and was starting my senior year. During spring term I discontinued a serious relationship and was questioning many things about life and myself. I went to the Lord in fasting, prayer, and supplication to learn from Him how to proceed. I poured my heart out expressing my desires and asked, if He approved, for certain blessings.

I was desirous to meet a young woman, virtuous, lovely, and with a good report card to befriend, experience emotional intimacy with, and pursue a lasting relationship that would ultimately lead to a Ketubah (marriage contract) in the Temple of God of my choosing.

Can the Holy Ghost be in more than One Place?

Knowing as we do that the Holy Ghost is the Minister of the Father and the Son—appointed by them, because he is a spirit, he performs a special service to mankind. He delivers truth and light through the Light of Christ and his influence can dwell in each of us simultaneously. In other words, the influence of the Holy Ghost can be everywhere at the same time.

However, no member of the Godhead dwells in us in the literal sense, but all of them dwell in us figuratively to the extent that we are like them. If we have “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16), which we receive by the power of the Holy Ghost, then Christ dwells in us. (McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, pg. 271-2.)

Who Has Seen the Personage of the Holy Ghost?

Prophets and saints of all ages have seen the Lord, Jesus Christ. He is manifested in dreams in the night, visions during day, and face-to-face as with Moses and Joseph Smith. There are a few who have been honored to see the Father, however, seeing the personage of the Holy Ghost in another matter.

His presence is manifested, his influence is felt, his voice is heard, but his person is kept hidden from view except in rare instances[1].  Man’s attention is not intended for any being except the Father whom we worship, and the Son, through whom we worship.

Missionary Blind Spots

I’m fascinated by the quick learning abilities of children when they play video games. Most recently my children received a Wii unit for Christmas. Before the day had expired Samuel, my 8-year-old son challenged me to a boxing match.

Finally, I thought, something electronic at which I can beat my children. I have formal training in the martial arts and can certainly move my hands quicker than my 8-year-old boy. The results? I didn’t make it past the first round. Sam KO’d me.

The Gift of the Holy Ghost

While in the pre-mortal life, our Father in Heaven informed us that we had to conduct 5 saving ordinances during our mortal probation.

  1. Baptism
  2. Gift of the Holy Ghost
  3. Priesthood
  4. Endowment
  5. Sealing

In chiasmatic fashion, the priesthood is the catalyst to all of them. Baptism is symbolic of the Savior’s death and resurrection and in modern-day parlance, it is a signed contract of agency to the Savior. We agree to the terms of membership.

Reason and Logic

I was studying this morning and came across an article written by Dallin H. Oaks in 1993.  Within the article is found the following paragraph.

“God invites us to reason with Him, but I find it significant that the reasoning to which God invites us is tied to spiritual realities and maturity rather than to scholarly findings or credentials.  Three times in modern revelation the Lord has spoken of reasoning with his people.

1.    D&C 45:10, 15
2.    D&C 50:10-12
3.    D&C 61:13;
**    See also Isaiah 1:18