Clarity About the Holy Ghost
September 14, 2026 - The Holy Ghost
Information Unrelated to Discussion: Some Elders at the MTC are having a hard time understanding that the Sister missionaries have priesthood power and authority. For further information, study:
President Ballard: 2015 BYU Women’s Conference: “Like faithful sisters in the past, you need to learn how to use the priesthood authority with which you have been endowed to obtain every eternal blessing that will be yours.” https://womensconference.byu.edu/sites/womensconference.ce2.byu.edu/files/elder_m_russell_ballard_0.pdf
President Dallin H. Oak: Keys and Authority of the Priesthood
A House Full of Females: Plural Marriage and Women's Rights in Early Mormonism, 1835-1870 by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is the fall/winter book the Literary Review Circle is studying for the next four months. Sign up on Substack to receive information.
Discussion Materials:
Elder David R. Bednar - Personal Revelation and the Holy Ghost - CES
Elder David R. Bednar - Receive the Holy Ghost
Elder Dallin H. Oaks - “Always Have His Spirit”
Sister Chelsea Chipman - Follow Him podcast - February, 2025 - Timestamp at 34:39.
Robert Millet: How the Constant Companionship of the Spirit Works
Discussion:
In every General Conference talk, Elder Bednar (44 talks) invites the Holy Ghost to help us learn—“I pray for the assistance of the Holy Ghost” or something similar. His consistency in doing so has power. This should get our attention as to the importance of learning through the Spirit.
Invite the Spirit or receive the Spirit? Inviting ourselves to receive all that the Holy Ghost can teach us
Does the Holy Ghost withdraw from us? No, we are the ones who withdraw ourselves from the Holy Ghost.
Elder Oaks: “In highlighting the gift of the Holy Ghost as a distinguishing characteristic of our faith, we need to understand the important differences between (1) the Light of Christ, (2) a manifestation of the Holy Ghost, and (3) the gift of the Holy Ghost.” . . . The Light of Christ, which is sometimes called the Spirit of Christ or the Spirit of God, “giveth light to every man that cometh into the world” (D&C 84:46). . . . In contrast, a manifestation of the Holy Ghost is more focused. This manifestation is given to acquaint sincere seekers with the truth about the Lord and His gospel. . . The gift of the Holy Ghost includes the right to constant companionship, that we may “always have his Spirit to be with [us]” (D&C 20:77).
President Oaks - links the Holy Ghost to the Sacrament - taking on HIs name so that I am cleansed and can have His Spirit
We have the right to the Holy Ghost as our companion - He cleanses us - baptized with water and cleansed by the fire of the Holy Ghost
We cannot command or coerce the Holy Ghost
He teaches us individually - we can sit in the same lesson or listen to the same talk, and we all feel different degrees of intensity, and sometimes nothing at all
What does it mean to do all the things (temple, scripture study, pray, tithing, etc.) but not feel the communication from the Holy Ghost? Sometimes we have to act; God wants us to choose and move along. And sometimes we just flat out don’t know why.
President Monson practiced hearing the Holy Ghost and got really good at immediately acting upon the message
A recurring thought can be recognized as coming from the Holy Ghost
Praying for someone can bind us to that person
We don’t understand the power our prayers have for other people. Through the gift we receive at confirmation after baptism, prayer can be an even more powerful communal effort on behalf of someone.
What happens when we receive a revelation, and it doesn’t turn out the way we thought was revealed to us? How can we help a child who has experienced this and whose faith is battered?
What is the language to use in prayer? A few thoughts: Ask the Spirit to enlighten my mind; ask to help me recognize the Spirit in my life; ask to help me acknowledge and be thankful for the Holy Ghost.
D&C 11:13 - enlighten your mind
When we change our language to be more accurate about the Holy Ghost, we make an effort to recognize the Holy Ghost and his work—it changes us for the better and helps us turn more toward our Savior.
This is the church of joy - Do we hold this church dear? Does our family know that the Church of Jesus Christ is meaningful to us? Or are our complaints and grumbling distorting the picture they have of the church?
The primary reason for attending Sacrament meeting is to receive the blessings and instructions from the Holy Ghost. We want to recognize and receive the Holy Ghost.
The Light of Christ is given to everyone to help us know good from evil. It is inherent within us. The companionship of the Holy Ghost, a member of the Godhead, will withdraw when we are disobedient or rebellious.
Additional Material: