The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, a personage of the Spirit, not possessing a body of flesh and bones. In the bible dictionary, we learn that “the Holy Ghost is manifested to men on the earth both as the power of the Holy Ghost and as the gift of the Holy Ghost. The power can come upon one before baptism, and is the convincing witness that the gospel is true. It gives one a testimony of Jesus Christ and of his work and the work of his servants upon the earth. The gift can come only after proper and authorized baptism, and is conferred by the laying on of hands. The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost.”
From the following verses of scripture, we can begin learn of the many ways that the Holy Ghost may bring blessings to our life. The Savior taught us that the Holy Ghost does the following
o John 14:15–17
• Abide with you forever
• Dwelleth with you
o John 14:26–27
• Comforts
• Teach you all things
• Bring all things to remembrance
• Brings peace
• Keep troubles and fear away
o John 15:26–27
• Spirit of Truth
• Testify of the Savior
• Bear witness
o John 16:7–8
• Reprove the world of sin, righteousness and of judgment
o John 16:13–14
• Guide you into all truth
• Show you things to come
• Glorify the Savior
In John 14: 15-17, we are told that in order to receive these blessings, we must “keep my commandments”.
We learn more of the gifts that are bestowed upon us through the Holy Ghost as we read the words of Parley P. Pratt “The gift of the Holy Ghost adapts itself to all these organs or attributes. It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections; and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.” (The Holy Ghost Brings Man to His Fullest Potential, 168)
Through this paragraph, we can add to our list many more things that the Holy Ghost does:
• Quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections; and adapts them, but the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use.
• Inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature.
• Inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, charity.
• Develops the beauty of a person, form and features.
• Tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling.
• Invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man.
• Strengthens, and gives tone to the nerves.
• Gives marrow to the bones, brings joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.
We learn even more in the New Testament Institute Manual as we continue to read about the Holy Ghost. “The Holy Ghost is a Personage of Spirit, in the likeness of God the Father, in other words a likeness of the Father and the Son. His mission is to instruct and enlighten the minds of those who, through their faithfulness have obeyed the commandments of the Father and the Son. He bears witness of the truth, quickens the minds of those who have made covenant and reveals to them the mysteries of the kingdom of God. He is a special messenger from the Father and the Son and carries out their will. . . .” (Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 5:134.)
We can the following to our list:
• Instruct and enlighten minds
• Bears witness of the truth
• Quickens minds
• Reveals the mysteries of the kingdom of God
• Messenger
To receive the blessings that the Gift of the Holy Ghost brings, we are only required to obey the commandments of the Father and the Son with faithfulness.
The Holy Ghost helped the Apostles fulfill their missions after the Savior’s death and resurrection by guiding them into all truth and bringing peace. In John 16: 13-14, it says “the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will she you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” The Apostles must have been very afraid knowing that they wouldn’t have the Lord with them here on the earth to be a guide for them, but He would not leave them comfortless. He blessed them with the gift of the Holy Ghost so that they would know what they needed to do. We have also not been left comfortless, we have each been blessed with the opportunity to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and as we follow the commandment, we will indeed receive the constant comfort and guidance that the Holy Ghost brings.
There has been many times in my life when I have been blessed by the Holy Ghost. I can think of numberless times that I have received peace and comfort in a time when I had felt alone, and scared. One of my most significant memories of the Holy Ghost happened when I was 16 years old, it was something that was very simple, but it was a very distinct, clear image of the power of the Holy Ghost. I was running late one morning as I was getting ready for school and trying to get all of my things together, one thing which included my softball jersey because I had a game later that day. I was running all over the place trying to find my softball jersey, I ran upstairs and downstairs, and then back downstairs to my room to try and find my jersey. As I was heading back upstairs from my room, I had a voice that I heard in my head that said “look under your blue backpack”. I quickly ran back to my room and looked under my blue backpack and there was my jersey, I had overlooked it and I think that I would’ve searched a lot more before I was able to find it without the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
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