The Holy Ghost
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My beloved brothers and sisters, I
speak today as a servant of the Lord
and also as a great-grandfather.
To you and to my beloved posterity,
I teach and bear testimony of the remarkable gift
of the Holy Ghost.
I begin by acknowledging the Light of Christ,
which is given to "every man [and woman] that cometh
into the world."
All of us benefit from this holy light.
It is "in all [things] and through all things,"
and it allows us to distinguish right from wrong.
But the Holy Ghost is different than the Light of Christ.
He is the third member of the Godhead,
a distinct personage of spirit with sacred responsibilities,
and one in purpose with the Father and the Son.
As members of the Church, we may experience the companionship
of the Holy Ghost continually.
Through the restored priesthood of God,
we are baptized by immersion for the remission of our sins,
then confirmed members of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In this ordinance, we are given the gift of the Holy Ghost
by the laying on of hands of the priesthood.
Thereafter, we can receive and retain the companionship
of the Holy Ghost by always remembering the Savior,
keeping His commandments, repenting of our sins,
and worthily partaking of the sacrament on the Sabbath day.
The Holy Ghost provides personal revelation
to help us make major life decisions about such things
as education, missions, careers, marriage, children,
where we will live with our families, and so on.
In these matters, Heavenly Father
expects us to use our agency, study the situation out
in our minds according to gospel principles,
and bring a decision to Him in prayer.
Personal revelation is essential,
but it is only one part of the work of the Holy Ghost.
As the scriptures attest, the Holy Ghost
also testifies of the Savior and God the Father.
He teaches us "the peaceable things of the kingdom"
and causes us to "abound in hope."
He "leadeth [us] to do good ... [and] to judge righteously."
He gives "to every man [and woman] ...
a [spiritual] gift ... that all may be profited thereby."
He "giveth [us] knowledge" and "bring"bring[s] all things to [our]
remembrance."
Through the Holy Ghost, we "may be sanctified" and receive
a "remission of [our] sins."
He is the "Comforter," the same who was "promised
unto [the Savior's] disciples."
I might remind all of us that the Holy Ghost is not
given to control us.
Some of us unwisely seek the Holy Ghost's direction
on every minor decision in our life.
This trivializes His sacred role.
The Holy Ghost honors the principle of agency.
He speaks out to our minds and our hearts
gently about many matters of consequence.
Each of us may feel the influence of the Holy Ghost
differently.
His promptings will be felt in different degrees of intensity
according to our individual needs and circumstances.
In these latter days, we affirm that only the prophet
may receive revelation through the Holy Ghost
for the entire Church.
Some forget this, as when Aaron and Miriam tried to convince
Moses to agree with them.
But the Lord taught them and us.
He said:
"If there be a prophet among you,
I the Lord will make myself known unto him ...
"With him will I speak mouth to mouth."
Sometimes the adversary tempts us with false ideas
that we may confuse with the Holy Ghost.
I testify that faithfulness in obeying the commandments
and keeping our covenants will protect us from being deceived.
Through the Holy Ghost, we will be
able to discern those false prophets who
teach for the doctrine and the commandments of men.
As we receive the Holy Ghost for ourselves,
it is wise to remember that we cannot receive revelation
for ourselves ...
or for others, I mean.
I know of a young man who told a young woman,
"I've had a dream that you are to be my wife."
You got it.
The young woman pondered that statement and then replied
and responded, "When I have the same dream,
I'll come and talk to you."
All of us may be tempted to let our personal desires overcome
the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
The Prophet Joseph Smith pled with Heavenly Father
for permission to lend the first 116 pages of the Book of Mormon
to Martin Harris.
Joseph thought it was a good idea.
But the Holy Ghost did not give him confirming feelings.
Eventually, Joseph lent the papers anyway,
and Martin Harris lost them.
For a season, the Lord withdrew the Prophet's gift
to translate, and he learned a painful but valuable lesson
that shaped the remainder of his service.
The Holy Ghost is central to the Restoration.
Regarding his boyhood reading of James 1:5,
the Prophet Joseph recounted: "Never
did any passage of [the] scripture
come with more power to the heart of man
than this did at this time to mine."
The power described by Joseph Smith
was the influence of the Holy Ghost.
As a result, Joseph went into a grove of trees near his home,
knelt down to ask of God.
The First Vision then followed, was truly momentous
and magnificent.
But the path to the in-person visitation
with the Father and the Son began with the promptings
from the Holy Ghost to pray.
The revealed truths of the restored gospel
came through the pattern of seeking in prayer,
then receiving and following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
Consider these examples: translating the Book of Mormon;
the restoration of the priesthood and its ordinances,
beginning with baptism; and the organization of the Church,
to name a few.
I testify that today, revelation from the Lord to the First
Presidency and the Twelve comes according
to these same sacred patterns.
These are the same sacred patterns
that allow personal revelation.
We pay tribute to all who have followed the Holy Ghost
to receive the restored gospel, beginning with Joseph Smith's
own family members.
When young Joseph told his father about Moroni's visit,
his father received a confirming witness for himself.
Immediately, Joseph was released from his farm responsibilities
and encouraged to follow the angel's direction.
As parents and leaders, let us do likewise.
Let us encourage our children and others
to follow the direction of the Holy Ghost.
In doing so, let us follow the example of the Holy Ghost
ourselves, leading through gentleness, meekness, kindness,
long-suffering, and love unfeigned.
The Holy Ghost is a medium for God's work in families
and throughout the Church.
With that understanding, may I share a few personal examples
of the Holy Ghost in my own life and Church service?
I offer them as a personal witness
that the Holy Ghost blesses us all.
Many years ago, Sister Hales and I planned to host some
of my work associates at a special dinner at my home--at
my home, at our home.
On my way home from the office, I
had an impression to stop at the house of a widow whom I home
taught.
When I knocked on the sister's door, she said,
"I have been praying for you to come."
Where did that impression come from?
The Holy Ghost.
Once, following a serious illness,
I presided at a stake conference.
To conserve my energy, I planned to leave the chapel immediately
after the priesthood leadership session.
However, following the benediction,
I was inspired to shake hands--in fact,
the Holy Ghost said to me, "Where are you going?"
I was inspired to shake hands with everyone
as they left the room.
As one young elder stepped forward,
I was prompted to give him this special message.
He was looking down, and I waited for his eyes
to come up and meet mine.
And I was able to say, "Pray to the Heavenly Father,
listen to the Holy Ghost, follow the promptings you are given,
and all will be well in your life."
Later the stake president told me
how the young man had just returned early
from his mission.
Based on a clear impression, the stake president
had promised the young man's father
that if he brought his son to the priesthood meeting,
Elder Hales would speak to him.
Why did I stop and shake everybody's hand?
Why did I pause to talk to this special young man?
What was the source of my counsel?
It's simple.
The Holy Ghost.
In early 2005, I was guided to prepare a conference message
about senior missionary couples.
Following the conference, a brother recounted:
"As we listened to the conference, ...
immediately the Spirit of the Lord touched my very soul.
...
There was no mistake.
The message was for me and my sweetheart.
We were to serve a mission, and the time was now.
When I ... looked at my wife, I realized that she had received
the very same impression from the Spirit."
What had brought this strong simultaneous response?
The Holy Ghost.
To my own posterity and all within the sound of my voice,
I offer my testimony of the personal revelation
and constant flow of daily guidance and caution,
encouragement, strength, spiritual cleansing, comfort,
and peace that have come to our family through the Holy Ghost.
Through the Holy Ghost we experience
"the multitude of his tender mercies"
and miracles that do not cease.
I bear my special witness that the Savior lives.
I express my love and gratitude to Heavenly Father
for the gift of the Holy Ghost, through which He
reveals His will and sustains us in our life.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
