Following the ordinance of Baptism, comes the ordinance of receiving the constant and living companionship of the Holy Ghost in our lives, which President Wilford Woodruff had described as “the greatest gift that can be bestowed upon man.”1 The Holy Ghost is referred to as the Comforter, a Teacher, and a Revelator in the scriptures. His mission is to testify of the Father and the Son, and we can receive personal revelation from God and Christ through the Holy Ghost when we seek it.
Although the influence of the Holy Ghost can be felt before someone is baptized, its presence may be temporary. In order to receive this sacred gift in its fullness, we have to have faith in our Savior, repent of our sins, and commit ourselves to a path of being obedient to our Heavenly Father. After a person is baptized, the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost can be confirmed upon him by the authority of the holy Melchizedek priesthood.
However, our natural state of existence is subject to sorrows, sins, diseases and all the ills of mortality that had been brought about as a consequence of the Fall.
A few months back, my niece had delivered her child. Soon after her delivery, both she and the newborn’s lives were in absolute danger. She had lost consciousness, and we were very worried about them. After many fervent prayers and pleadings with my Heavenly Father, I felt the peace and assurance from the Holy Ghost.
Twenty-four hours of anxious waiting finally led to some good news. We learned that her condition had started improving, and within a week, the baby’s condition improved too. I felt so grateful to my Heavenly Father for His tender mercies.
Over time, I have witnessed so many such miracles, and they have helped me to strengthen my faith in Christ.
We are often distracted by the temporal responsibilities and priorities, and often, we truly forget what is more important in our lives. Consequently, returning back to the presence of our Heavenly Father can seem difficult at times.
Nonetheless, Heavenly Father loves us and knows what is needed for us to return back to him. And this is why He has provided us with the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Through the voice of the Holy Ghost and the impressions and convictions it leaves within us, we can be taught and guided how to elevate ourselves from our natural state to our spiritual state. However, it is our duty to discover ways in which we can receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost more effectively in our lives. And we can do so by doing the simplest things more consistently.
As we continue to strive to receive the Holy Ghost more into our lives, the more we are able to perceive things through an eternal perspective. And the more we see things through the eyes of our Heavenly Father, the more love we will feel for Him and will desire to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost even more. Rather than needing significant changes in our efforts, we need to be more consistent. It is through this process that we would be able to experience a “mighty change in our hearts (where) we have no more dispositions to do evil, but to do good continually.”2
Notes
1 Wilford Woodruff, Deseret Weekly, April 6, 1885, 451.
2 Mosiah 5:2.
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