The LDS Daily WOOL Home Page
(6/16/98)
"Baptism by immersion symbolizes the death and burial of the man of sin;
and the coming forth out of the water, the resurrection to a newness of
spiritual life. After baptism, hands are laid upon the head of the
baptized believer, and he is blessed to receive the Holy Ghost. Thus
does the one baptized receive the promise or gift of the Holy Ghost or
the privilege of being brought back into the presence of one of the
Godhead, by obedience to whom and through his faithfulness one so
blessed might receive the guidance and direction of the Holy Ghost in
his daily walks and talks, even as Adam walked and talked in the Garden
of Eden with God, his Heavenly Father. To receive such guidance and such
direction from the Holy Ghost is to be spiritually reborn."— Harold B.
Lee, General Conference, October 1947
(6/17/98)
"My plea with you would be to put your life in order; repent of all your
sins, because the Holy Ghost is a holy being, as his title indicates,
and He cannot dwell with an unclean or unworthy person. The Lord said,
'Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then . . the Holy Ghost
shall be thy constant companion .' (D&C
121:45-46 .) Be like the king of the Lamanites who said,
when he was converted, 'I will give away all my sins to know thee.'
(Alma 22:18.) That is exactly what we have to do if we are going to have
the companionship of the Holy Ghost—give away all our sins." — Daniel H.
Ludlow, "How Many is One?" "BYU Speeches of the Year," November 12, 1963
(6/18/98)
"Repentance takes care of the past, faith the future, and the Holy Ghost
helps us with today."— Neal A. Maxwell, "Of One Heart," p. 30
(6/19/98)
"Elder LeGrand Richards, describing the gift of the Holy Ghost, said:
'To me, the gift of the Holy Ghost is as important to man as sunshine
and water are to the plants. You take them away, and the plants would
die. You take the Holy Ghost out of this Church, and this Church would
not be any different than any other church. And it is manifest in so
many ways in the lives and the devotion of the members of the Church' ("The
Gift of the Holy Ghost," Ensign, Nov. 1979, p. 76)."— L.
Tom Perry, "That
Spirit Which Leadeth to Do Good," General Conference,
April 1997
(6/20/98)
"The most important knowledge to be gained in this life is that which
comes by revelation through the Holy Spirit."— L. Aldin Porter, "The
Spirit of Prophecy," October 1996 Conference (November
Ensign), pg. 11
(12/11/98)
"We ought also to counsel with conscience, and listen to the promptings
of the Spirit. Our Father has not left us alone, and when we go against
the counsel of the still, small voice of conscience, we have reason to
regret." — Richard L. Evans, "General Conference Reports," p. 87, 1
April 1968
(12/12/98)
"The reception of the Spirit of God is, as we understand it, a new
birth. We are born to things eternal when we receive it. It purifies our
hearts, it enlightens our minds in regard to the things of God, and
gives us that knowledge, that testimony, which comes to all those who
listen to and follow its dictates. Herein is the great difference
between us, the people of God, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, and the people and the churches of the world. We have this
testimony, this knowledge given us of God, through the gift and power of
the Holy Ghost, that none others possess." — George Reynolds, "Journal
of Discourses," 26:163
(12/13/98)
"Worthy men and women who have the gift of the Holy Ghost can be edified
and guided by inspiration and revelation. The Lord has declared that
'the mysteries of his kingdom . . . are only to be seen and understood
by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love
him, and purify themselves before him.' (D&C
76:114,
116)" — Dallin H. Oaks, "Always
Have His Spirit," General Conference, October 1996
(12/14/98)
"The witness of the Holy Ghost is central to our entire religious
structure: we measure our doctrine, perform our ordinances, judge our
worthiness, make our decisions and our covenants, and exercise spiritual
gifts, all by the power of the Holy Ghost. The quality of our
worship-the very quality of our lives!-depends on our ability to receive
and respond to the promptings and whisperings of the Holy Ghost. Indeed,
faith itself is a gift which comes from and is nourished by the Holy
Ghost (1
Cor. 12:9); similarly, repentance is a gift of the Holy
Ghost, no baptism is acceptable to God unless sealed and accepted by the
Holy Ghost, and the divine command, in effect, is to live by the power
of the Holy Ghost, which is the power of revelation, and of testimony,
and is the ability to live not 'by bread alone, but by every word that
proceedeth out of the mouth of God' (Matt.
4:4). To walk 'in holiness before the Lord' (D&C
20:69) is to live by the spirit of inspiration; it is to
receive revelation." — Bruce R. McConkie, "Sermons and Writings of Bruce
R. McConkie," Part II
(12/15/98)
"What a great and powerful friend is this gift of the Holy Ghost!
Certainly all who will turn to the Savior and abide by his laws will be
healed by this Spirit (see 3
Ne. 9:13). They will have the mind of Christ (see 1
Cor. 2:16), they will be 'partakers of the divine nature'
(2
Pet. 1:4), they will begin to have the image of Christ in
their countenances (see Alma
5:14). Truly the gospel comes, as Paul said, not only in
word, 'but also in power,' the sanctifying, cleansing, soul-enlarging
power of the Holy Spirit (1
Thess. 1:5)." — Loren C. Dunn, "The
Spirit Giveth Life," General Conference, April 1979
(1/10/04)
"Gifts have only limited value unless they are used. The Holy Ghost will
be our constant companion if we submit ourselves to the will of our
Father in Heaven, always remembering Him and keeping His commandments."
- L. Tom Perry, "That
Spirit Which Leadeth to Do Good," General Conference,
April 1997
(3/9/04)
"The Holy Spirit does not teach the proud, the unteachable, the
indolent, or the doubter. A deep desire for truth and faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ will prepare one's heart to be taught spiritual things." -
L. Aldin Porter, "The
Spirit of Prophecy," Ensign, Nov. 1996, p. 9
(4/3/04)
"How do you obtain the Spirit? 'By the prayer of faith,' says the Lord.
Therefore, you must pray with sincerity and real intent. Pray for
increased faith. Pray for the Spirit to accompany your teaching. Ask the
Lord for forgiveness. Your prayers must be offered in the same spirit
and with the same fervor as were the prayers of Enos in the Book of
Mormon. Surely you are familiar with that inspiring story, so I need not
repeat the background. I only want to draw your attention to these
verses. Enos testified: 'I will tell you of the wrestle which I had
before God before I received a remission of my sins.'" - Ezra Taft
Benson, "Keys
to
Successful Member-Missionary Work," Ensign, Sept. 1990, p. 4-5
(4/23/04)
"How does a person know when he or she truly has received the witness of
the Holy Ghost? The person will know it by how he or she feels (see Mosiah
5). The Spirit will touch a person who may have been passive in
the drama of life and make of him or her a witness to the restoration of
the gospel of Jesus Christ and all it stands for. As Elder Marion G.
Romney said, 'No person whose soul is illuminated by the burning Spirit
of God can . remain passive. He is driven by an irresistible urge to fit
himself to be an active agent of God in furthering righteousness and in
freeing the lives and minds of men from the bondage of sin.' (Conference
Report, 4 October 1941, p. 89.)" - Loren C. Dunn, "Fire
and
the Holy Ghost," Ensign, June 1995, p. 26
(5/19/04)
"With the proper serum, the physical body is protected against disease.
We can also protect our children from moral and spiritual diseases. The
word inoculate has two parts: in -'to be within'-and oculate
means 'eye to see.' When children are baptized and confirmed (see D&C
20:41, 43; 33:15),
we place an eye within them -the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost (see
D&C 121:26).
With the Restoration of the gospel came authority to confer this gift."
- Boyd K. Packer, "Do
Not
Fear," General Conference, April 2004
(8/29/04)
"I have asked a number of people the question, 'Would you rather feel
safe or unsafe?' The answer has been, without exception, 'I would rather
feel safe, of course.' Why is it then, that so many of us behave as
though we believed otherwise? If we do, or even think, something unclean
or unworthy, we are not safe, for the Holy Ghost will withdraw. 'The
Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples.' (Hel.
4:24.)" - Derek A. Cuthbert, “The
Business
of Being,” Ensign, October 1981, p. 70–71
(8/31/04)
"As we sincerely pray to the Lord and rely upon his divine whisperings,
that still, small voice will come to us. (See Hel. 5:30.) We will
receive a peace, knowing that God has answered our prayers. Remember the
peace that Oliver received. These spiritual embers can grow into a flame
of testimony. (See Hel. 5:45.)" - Robert K. Dellenbach, “Hour of
Conversion,” Ensign, November 1990, p. 23
(9/4/04)
"We
could come away from our study of Elijah with no more important
lesson than to recognize how the Lord communicates with his children
here upon the earth: through the still, small voice that is so
difficult to describe to one who has never experienced it and is
almost unnecessary to describe to one who has. That sweet, quiet
voice of inspiration that comes more as a feeling than it does as a
sound. That process through which pure intelligence can be spoken
into the mind and we can know and understand and have witness of
spiritual things. The process is not reserved for the prophets
alone, but every righteous seeking soul who will qualify and make
himself worthy can have that manner of communication, even as a
gift." - Boyd K. Packer, "The Holy Temple" [Salt Lake City:
Bookcraft, 1980], p. 107
(10/16/04)
"The greatest gift in mortality is the gift of the Holy Ghost, which
is 'the right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of
the Holy Ghost' (LDS
Bible Dictionary, 'Holy Ghost'). The Holy Ghost is the
custodian of all the gifts of the Spirit, chief among which is the
gift of the knowledge of God (see D&C
46:13-14; John
17:3). The gift of the Holy Ghost is the key to obtaining the
gift of eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God." - David
A. Burton, "I
Have a Question," Ensign, February 1999, p. 52
(1/21/05)
"There is a power of communication as real and tangible as
electricity. Man has devised the means to send images and sound
through the air to be caught on an antenna and reproduced and heard
and seen. This other communication may be likened to that, save it
be a million times more powerful, and the witness it brings is
always the truth.
"There is a process by which pure intelligence can flow, by which we
can come to know of a surety, nothing doubting." - Boyd K. Packer, "The
Spirit
Beareth Record," Ensign, June 1971, p. 88
(6/4/05)
"This statement is
taken from the testimony of the Twelve, given on the occasion of the
formal adoption of the revelations: 'We, therefore, feel willing to
bear testimony to all the world of mankind, to every creature upon the
face of all the earth, that the Lord has borne record to our souls,
through the Holy Ghost shed forth upon us, that these commandments
were given by inspiration of God, and are profitable for all men and
are verily true' (Introduction
to
the Doctrine and Covenants).
"Now, there isn't any way in heaven or on earth for anyone to know of
the truth and validity of a revelation except to have the same Spirit
rest upon him that rested upon the revelator who received it. We are
dealing with the things of the Spirit. We cannot weigh and evaluate
and judge and handle them in a laboratory, unless we are speaking of a
spiritual laboratory. There is no private interpretation to scripture.
The scripture 'came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men
of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost' (2
Pet. 1:21). And so when the Twelve bear record, as here we read,
that the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants are true, that
means that the Holy Spirit of God had spoken to the spirit within each
individual, and to all of them collectively, and certified that the
revelations received by Joseph Smith were true. There is no other way
to know of the truth and divinity of a spiritual thing than by
receiving a spiritual revelation." - Bruce R. McConkie, “This
Generation
Shall Have My Word through You,” Ensign, June 1980, 58
(6/8/05)
"The Holy Ghost can bring you power to perform beyond your natural
abilities. He can provide you with the help of unseen powers in all
that you do—the power to speak with convincing authority, to receive
promptings that enable you to say things you had not planned, and to
receive impressions, which if heeded, bring blessings to you and
others. Mortals may have great abilities and potential, but however
great these mortal powers may be, they are only a shadow of the powers
that can be claimed through a linkage with the Holy Spirit." - Carlos
E. Asay, "Courting
the
Spirit," New Era, Aug. 1990, p. 35
(10/5/05)
"It was said here this morning that no person ever apostatized,
without actual transgression. Omission of duty leads to commission. We
want to live so as to have the Spirit every day, every hour of the
day, every minute of the day, and every Latter-day Saint is entitled
to the Spirit of God, to the power of the Holy Ghost, to lead him in
his individual duties." - Brigham Young, "Discourses of Brigham
Young," selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.8
(10/13/05)
"Will this time ever be? While surrounded by so many imperfections,
clothed in mortality, and subject to the weakness and failings of the
flesh, will the time ever be when we as a people, with such glorious
promises, privileges and rights, and with such inestimable blessings,
shall enjoy the Spirit of God to the exclusion of every other
influence that exists? Will we ever be able to enjoy the Spirit of the
Lord, while in mortality, to such a degree that we can govern
ourselves and not give way one moment to an evil thought or passion. I
do not know; but this I do know, that we now have all that is
necessary to enable us to attain to this perfection in the truth and
the knowledge of God. If we have it not now, I do not believe we ever
will. 'Why,' inquires one, 'what have we now?' We have the promise of
Almighty God that he will give his Spirit to guide, strengthen and
assist every individual to accomplish all the good in his heart, if he
will only come up to the standard he has established." - Joseph F.
Smith, "Journal of Discourses," 26 vols., 11:308
1/17/06
"The Spirit of
the Holy Ghost is the teacher in the temple. He teaches principles of
eternal significance. It is during these instructions that we see the
relationship between the earthly and the eternal. We must remember that
the Spirit teaches only those who are teachable. If we enter the temple
seeking added light and knowledge, we can learn and understand something
new during the temple experience. The Savior promised: 'That which is of
God is light; and he that... continueth in God, receiveth more light;
and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day' (D&C
50:24)." - L. Lionel Kendrick, "Enhancing
Our
Temple Experience," Ensign (CR), May 2001, p.78
5/1/06
"'Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my
Spirit, and you shall have peace in me' (D&C
19:23).
"'He who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even
peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come' (D&C
59:23).
"Just as Helaman discovered in the midst of battle that 'he did speak
peace to our souls' (Alma
58:11) and Oliver Cowdery had peace spoken to his mind when he
cried unto the Lord in his heart that he might know concerning the truth
of the Book of Mormon (see D&C
6:22-23), all sincere seekers can have that same peace spoken to
them. That peace comes from the assurances spoken by a still, small
voice. The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit who generally
communicates not through physical senses but by touching the heart and
mind—in other words, He speaks through thoughts, impressions, and
feelings and does so softly." - Dennis E. Simmons, "His
Peace," Ensign (CR), May 1997, p.31
5/4/06
"Some years ago I remember asking my
father-in-law, a seasoned bishop, about a three-by-five-inch card he
always carried in his shirt pocket. His reply was that at times he felt
impressions or promptings. He then liked to pull out that card and write
down those feelings, whenever they came. And then he tried to act upon
them as quickly as possible. It is humbling to consider that the still,
small voice is always there for us, teaching us what to do and where to
go. The Lord tells us that when the promptings are heeded, often more
are given. If we do not follow them, the promptings eventually diminish.
"As a result of being teachable, we gain an even greater testimony of
our Heavenly Father's care for us. We gain the security and certainty
that our course in life is according to His will. (See Joseph Smith,
comp., 'Lectures on Faith'
(1985), 38.) We even have reasons to be good, reasons to be moral, and
reasons to change our behavior. By being teachable, we activate the full
force and blessings of the Atonement in our lives. We become sensitive
to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit so that the righteous principles
taught by the prophets and the truths from the earth can place Christ
deeply into our lives. (See Moses
7:62.) We become His true disciples." - Robert R. Steuer, "Being
Teachable," Ensign (CR), May 2002, p.31
5/29/06
"The gift of the Holy Ghost comes after one repents and becomes worthy.
It is received after baptism by the laying on of hands by those who have
the authority. On the day of Pentecost, Peter instructed those who had
previously been touched spiritually by the Holy Ghost, 'Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.' (Acts
2:38.) Those possessing the gift of the Holy Ghost can come to a
greater light and testimony. The Holy Ghost bears witness of the truth
and impresses upon the soul the reality of God the Father and the son
Jesus Christ so deeply that no earthly power or authority can separate
him from that knowledge. (See 2
Ne. 31:18.)" - James E. Faust, "The
Gift
of the Holy Ghost—A Sure Compass," Ensign (CR), May 1989, p.31
9/19/06
"In a 'wheat and tares' world, how unusually blessed faithful members
are to have the precious and constant gift of the Holy Ghost with
reminders of what is right and of the covenants we have made. 'For
behold, ... the Holy Ghost ... will show unto you all things what ye
should do.' (2 Ne. 32:5.)
Whatever the decibels of decadence, these need not overwhelm the still,
small voice! Some of the best sermons we will ever hear will be thus
prompted from the pulpit of memory—to an audience of one!" - Neal A.
Maxwell, "Behold,
the
Enemy Is Combined," Ensign (CR), May 1993, p.76
12/6/06
"Live to be worthy of the
companionship of the Holy Ghost. If you have its spiritual influence, it
will bring conviction into your hearts. It will build testimony and
create in you a desire to love the Lord. You will manifest that love by
keeping his laws and commandments and serving him. The Holy Spirit will
testify to the truth of these teachings and you will know, as the
apostle Paul knew, that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God
unto salvation. (See Rom.
1:16.)" - Delbert L. Stapley, "The
Path
to Eternal Glory," Ensign (CR), July 1973, p.99
12/18/06
"I think one of the most positive and
powerful demonstrations of what this Holy Spirit, the Comforter, can do
for a man, as we find recorded in Holy Writ, is the experience of the
great apostle Peter. You remember just prior to the Savior's crucifixion
Peter said, 'Though all the world forsake thee, I will not forsake
thee.' (See Matt.
26: 33.) And you recall the Savior
said that before the cock would crow that he would deny him thrice.
But after he had tarried at Jerusalem, according to the command of the
Savior, and he had received the Holy Ghost, we have a different Peter.
when he was commanded that he should no more preach Christ and him
crucified in the streets of Jerusalem, his answer was, 'We ought to
obey God rather than men.' (Acts
5:29.)
"If the Lord had not placed in his Church of today his Holy Spirit, we
would not be the Church that we are; we could not have accomplished
what we have accomplished; the Saints could not have endured all the
privations, hardships, and persecutions through which they have
passed; neither could we carry on the great missionary program of the
Church as we are doing, because the Lord has breathed into his work
the breath of life, and our people are willing to make every sacrifice
at the call of the Church in order to prove their love of the Lord and
their desire to build his kingdom and to share the truth with their
fellowmen." - LeGrand Richards, "Conference Report," April 1966, Third
Day, Morning Meeting, p.112
2/20/07
"The gift of the Holy Ghost is the
foundation of the bridge of faith. Salvation comes only by Jesus Christ
and by our divine exercise of faith in Him, allowing us to repent of our
sins and to receive the ordinances of salvation, the railings of the
bridge. The inner feelings and promptings to overcome the obstacles of
life and to make righteous choices will come by listening to the voice
of the Holy Ghost. Crossing the bridge of faith may not be as easy as we
may think. A bridge will only resist the storms because of the strength
of the pillars of its foundation. Storms in life, crises of faith—such
as death, serious illness, loss of a job or financial security—are part
of our mortal existence. Sometimes these crises may be exacerbated
to the point where one may even question the very existence of a God and
of a Savior. A cry for increased faith at such a time will always be
answered by the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, 'a constant
companion, ... an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth' (D&C
121:46)." - Charles Didier, "Building
a
Bridge of Faith," Ensign (CR), November 2001, p.10
3/22/07
"Do you remember the song which begins, 'I think when I read that sweet
story of old, when Jesus was here among men, how he called little
children like lambs to his fold; I should like to have been with him
then'? ('I
Think
When I Read That Sweet Story,' Children's Songbook, 56). Try to
imagine what it would have been like to have Jesus place His hands on
your head and bless you as the scriptures say He did when He was on
earth.
"Think of being able to actually be near the Savior. Imagine being loved
and healed and blessed and guided by Him as they were then. When He was
on the earth the members of His Church loved Him, they depended on Him,
and they followed Him. You can imagine how saddened they were at the
prospect of Him leaving them, but He promised: 'I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for
ever. ...The Comforter... is the Holy Ghost' (John
14:16, 26). He then gave them the priceless gift of the Comforter
to be their companion after He was gone.
"You too are loved by the Lord, just as were the disciples of old. You
are loved more than you will ever know. He wants you to be successful in
your life's mission! You don't have to face the experiences of this life
alone, nor have you been sent here to fail.
"For this reason a holy gift was given to you at the time of your
baptism and confirmation, when hands were placed on your head and you
were told, 'Receive the Holy Ghost.' It is almost as if your Father in
Heaven gave you a gift to celebrate your official entrance into His
kingdom on earth. The Holy Spirit can be with you always and guide you
back to Him, but in order to enjoy the benefits of this holy gift, you
must truly receive it, and then you must use it in your life. How sad it
would be to be given such a precious gift and then set it aside and
never use it. I would like to talk to you about just three of the things
the Holy Ghost can do. He can comfort, guide, and testify." - Margaret
D. Nadauld, "A
Comforter, a Guide, a Testifier," Ensign (CR), May 2001, p.90
8/18/07
"For faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ, the companionship
of the Holy Spirit should be so familiar that we must use care not to
take it for granted. For example, that good feeling you have felt
during the messages and music of this conference is a confirming
witness of the Spirit, available to faithful members on a continuing
basis. A member once asked me why he felt so good about the talks and
music in a sacrament meeting, while a guest he had invited that day
apparently experienced no such feeling. This is but one illustration
of the contrast between one who has the gift of the Holy Ghost and is
in tune with his promptings and one who has not, or is not." - Dallin
H. Oaks, "Always
Have His Spirit," Ensign (CR), November
1996, p.59
9/18/07
"I appreciate the fact that we are living in important times, and that
it is proper for us so to live and act that we may be guided by the
influence and power of the Holy Spirit. The Lord has promised to all of
us who have taken upon us his name, who have been baptized in water and
by the power of the Holy Spirit, that if we will live in accordance with
his commandments we shall enjoy the light of his Spirit to guide us.
Surely there has never been a time in the history of the Church when
that guidance was so necessary for every individual." - Sylvester Q.
Cannon, "Conference Report," April 1932, Afternoon Meeting, p.45
10/21/07
"When we invite the Holy Ghost to fill our minds
with light and knowledge, He 'quickens' us, that is to say, enlightens
and enlivens the inner man or woman. As a result we notice a
measurable difference in our soul. We feel strengthened, filled with
peace and joy. We possess spiritual energy and enthusiasm, both of
which enhance our natural abilities. We can accomplish more than we
otherwise could do on our own. We yearn to become a holier person.
"Do you wish to know the price to be paid for the privileges that are offered after we have received the Holy Ghost? The price is not a predetermined or fixed amount; rather, it is determined by each of us individually.
"If you set your payment, which is your personal effort, very low, you may not be able to avail yourself of all the Spirit has to offer. You may even quench the Spirit! However, if you set your personal contribution high, you will reap an abundant harvest from the Spirit. The payment I reference is, of course, not money; rather, it is a greater commitment to and involvement in personal spiritual endeavors and behaviors." - Keith K. Hilbig, "Quench Not the Spirit Which Quickens the Inner Man," General Conference, 6 October 2007
12/6/07
"Choose to put yourself in a position to have experiences with the
Spirit of God through prayer, in scripture study, at Church meetings,
in your home, and through wholesome interactions with others. When you
feel the influence of the Spirit, you are beginning to be cleansed and
strengthened. The light is being turned on, and where that light
shines, the darkness of evil cannot remain." - Robert D. Hales, "To
Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency,"
CR, April 2006
1/8/08
"Each one of us can make a
difference in someone's life, even his or her eternal life, but we must
act; we must do; we must labor diligently. Perhaps you have received an
impression to invite someone to return to church or to hear the message
of the restored gospel for the first time. Go ahead, follow that
impression. Why don't we all invite someone to come tomorrow and listen
to a prophet's voice? Would you do that? Will you make that invitation
today? With faith and a willing heart (even desire), we must trust that
the Spirit will give us 'in the
very hour, yea, in the very moment, what [we] shall say' (D&C
100:6). I know that to be so."
- Paul K. Sybrowsky, "If
Christ Had My Opportunities...", CR October 2005
7/11/08
"Most often, hope,
encouragement, and direction come from a soft, piercing voice.
"Small voices are heard only by those who are willing to listen. Soft and small voice communications with our associates make priceless friendships possible. I am appreciative of people who find no need to raise their voices as they try to impress or convince. It seems most people who argue and shout have ceased listening to what the small voice could powerfully contribute.
"We love the small voice of a child saying, 'Mommy, Daddy, I love you.'
"How powerful is a small voice that knows how and when to say, 'Thank you.'
"Think of the heavenly voice saying, 'Joseph, this is my beloved son. Hear him' (see JS—H 1:17).
"It
is heartwarming and reassuring to hear the small voice declare, 'Be
still and know' (D&C
101:16).
"Remember that one of our
greatest gifts is the small voice of the Holy Ghost whispering
directions in our lives and making mighty testimonies possible."
- Marvin J. Ashton, “There Are Many Gifts”, Ensign (CR), November
1987, p.20
8/25/08
"It
requires no special equipment or experience, no social status or money
for the Holy Ghost to guide you. The next time you renew your baptismal
covenant by taking the sacrament, listen to the promise: when you always
remember your Savior and keep His commandments, you will always have His
Spirit to be with you (see D&C 20:77, 79). Think of that! With a
gift so magnificent, why would we ever resist such guidance?"
- Sharon G. Larsen, "Your Celestial Guide," Ensign (CR), May 2001,
p.86
11/12/08
"Great events are not a
guarantee that our testimony will be strong. Laman and Lemuel are good
examples of this. They were visited by angels and even then, almost in
the very next minute, they were questioning the will of the Lord. Some
great leaders of these latter days can also teach us about this
principle. They were taught from on high during the early days of the
Restoration and still were not strong enough to endure to the end. These
experiences show us that to receive the witness of the 'still
small voice' sometimes can have
a stronger impact on our testimonies than the visit of an angel." - Carlos
A. Godoy, "Testimony as a Process," General Conference, October 2008
12/28/08
"Can we pray when there is really hardly the heart for it? Lorenzo Snow
leaves us the glimpse that after he was, as he felt, stillborn into the
Church, nothing really significant happened in and after his baptism and
confirmation. He kept praying for the witness of the Spirit. It didn't
come. Not only not feeling as he was wont, but feeling that the heavens
were as brass over him, he nevertheless went to an accustomed place to
pray. He had no sooner opened his lips than the Spirit descended upon
him in a marvelous way. He described it as like the sound of rustling
silken robes—they did not have
the word electricity then. This experience was more tangible in its
effect upon every part of his body than being surrounded by water in
baptism. He was filled, though praying when he didn't want to pray. (See
Juvenile Instructor 22:22.)" - Truman G. Madsen, The Radiant
Life, p.6
1/13/09
"I believe the Spirit of the
Holy Ghost is the greatest guarantor of inward peace in our unstable
world. It can be more mind-expanding and can make us have a better sense
of well-being than any chemical or other earthly substance. It will calm
nerves; it will breathe peace to our souls. This Comforter can be with
us as we seek to improve. It can function as a source of revelation to
warn us of impending danger and also help keep us from making mistakes.
It can enhance our natural senses so that we can see more clearly, hear
more keenly, and remember what we should remember. It is a way of
maximizing our happiness." - James
E. Faust, "The Gift of
the Holy Ghost—A Sure Compass,"
Ensign (CR), May 1989, p.31
2/15/09
"Keep the Word of Wisdom. Seek worthy companions. Attend church
faithfully. Never fail daily to seek for help through prayer. And I
promise you that the way will be easier and you shall have a composure
of mind and a confident attitude toward life and the future. You shall
be warned of dangers and shall be guided through the whisperings of the
Holy Spirit." - Boyd K. Packer, "The
Word of Wisdom: The Principle
and the Promises," Ensign
(CR), May 1996, p.17
3/11/09
"President Penrose referred to
the commandments of God as standing out before us in black and white,
which, fortunately for us, is true. This statement brought to my mind,
however, a wish that all of life's problems might stand out as black and
white before our eyes, that we might be able to differentiate clearly
between the right and the wrong, the true and the false, as we
differentiate and recognize the lines of demarcation between black and
white. But, alas, too often life's problems present themselves as a
mingling of the two as shades of gray, and it is sometimes quite
impossible to determine, with our natural minds, where the black leaves
off and the white begins.
"One has
said that it is given to every man to know so much as whether or not
he knows. To know a thing, it must be made comprehensible and
convincing to our understanding. In the solution of such problems as I
refer to, we need human intelligence plus something else, namely: the
light of the Holy Ghost. To him who has been baptized by authority,
following his sincere faith and repentance, is given the companionship
of
the Holy Ghost as a light to his path, illumination to his mind, and
warmth to his soul. It is true that fires will not burn except they
have fuel, whether they be fires of love, fires of industry, fires of
achievement, or fires of holy zeal. These fires must be fed that they
might burn. Those who receive the Holy Ghost should cultivate and
encourage the Spirit, that light might be thrown upon their path, that
their way may be made clear, that their minds may be illuminated, and
that they may clearly differentiate between right and wrong. Keep the
fires burning within your souls; do not let them out; for remember,
you cannot rekindle ashes."
- Heber Q. Hale, "Conference
Report," October 1923, First Day—Morning Session, p.41
7/8/09
“Taking ‘the Holy Spirit for [our] guide’ (D&C 45:57) is possible
and is essential for our spiritual growth and survival in an
increasingly wicked world. Sometimes as Latter-day Saints we talk and
act as though recognizing the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives
is the rare or exceptional event. We should remember, however, that
the covenant promise is that we may always have His Spirit to be with
us. This supernal blessing applies to every single member of the
Church who has been baptized, confirmed, and instructed to ‘receive
the Holy Ghost.’” - David A. Bednar, “That
We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us,” CR April 2006
12/8/09
“I
am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would
immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice
of the Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that
divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ.
Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would
become weak and ever more dependent on Them. They know that essential
personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by
the Spirit.” – Richard G. Scott, “To Acquire
Spiritual Guidance,” Ensign, November 2009
12/9/09
"Because
the Spirit is often described as a still, small voice, it is also
important to have a time of quiet in our lives as well. The Lord has
counseled us to ‘be still, and know that I am God.” If we provide a
still and quiet time each day when we are not bombarded by television,
computer, video games, or personal electronic devices, we allow that
still, small voice an opportunity to provide personal revelation and
to whisper sweet guidance, reassurance, and comfort to us.” – Vicki
F. Matsumori, “Helping Others Recognize the Whisperings of the
Spirit,” Ensign, November 2009
12/14/09
“Brothers
and
sisters, you may already know, deep in your soul, that God lives. You
may not know all about Him yet and do not understand all His ways, but
the light of belief is within you, waiting to be awakened and
intensified by the Spirit of God and the Light of Christ, which you
are born with.
“So come. Believe the testimonies of the prophets. Learn of God and Christ. The pattern to do so is clearly taught by prophets of old and prophets today.
“Cultivate a diligent desire to know that God lives.
“This desire leads us to ponder on the things of heaven—to let the evidence of God all around us touch our hearts.
“With softened hearts we are prepared to heed the Savior’s call to ‘search the scriptures’ and to humbly learn from them.
“We are then ready to ask our Heavenly Father sincerely, in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, if the things we have learned are true. Most of us will not see God, as the prophets have, but the still, small promptings of the Spirit—the thoughts and feelings that the Holy Ghost brings into our minds and hearts—will give us an undeniable knowledge that He lives and that He loves us.” – Robert D. Hales, “Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ,” Ensign, November 2009
4/9/10
"Brethren and sisters, let us go to our homes rejoicing when this
wonderful conference is finished. No doubt when it is concluded we
will say, 'It is the best one that we have ever had.' Why? Because
while we are basking in the sunshine of the Spirit of God we forget
our sorrows and our distresses. While our lives are illumined by his
power, our souls are enriched, and we know that we are blessed of the
Lord. The gospel teaches us that if we take advantage of our
opportunities, all the time we may enjoy those blessings, and all the
time the love that we now have in our hearts for our fellowmen will
abide with us." - George Albert Smith, "Conference Report,"
October 1929, First Day—Morning Meeting, p. 25
7/10/10
"Now let in the
sunshine of God's Holy Spirit. How can the garden grow in darkness? How
can the trees blossom and produce their luscious fruit? Or how can the
fields grow and ripen into golden harvests, unless the sun shall shine
upon them? How can we know or understand the things of God without the
light of his Holy Spirit? And yet, 'This is life eternal, that they
might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent.' Hence, there is need to obtain the gift of the Holy Ghost which
in the gospel of our Lord is bestowed upon repentant and baptized
believers by the laying on of hands." - Rulon
S. Wells, "Conference Report," October 1927, Second Day-Morning
Meeting, p. 57
8/8/10
"When we strive to keep the commandments of God, repenting of our sins
and promising our best efforts to follow the Savior, we begin to grow
in confidence that through the Atonement everything will be all right.
Those feelings are confirmed by the Holy Ghost, who drives from us
what our pioneer mothers and fathers called 'our useless cares.' In
spite of our trials, we are filled with a sense of well-being and feel
to sing with them that indeed 'all is well.'" - Wilford
W. Andersen, "The Rock of Our Redeemer," Ensign (CR) May 2010
9/24/10
"And so my message for us tonight is this: let us do whatever is
required to qualify for the Holy Ghost as our companion, and then let us
go forward fearlessly so that we will be given the powers to do whatever
the Lord calls us to do. That growth in power to serve may come slowly,
it may come in small steps that are difficult for you to see, but it
will come.” - Henry B. Eyring, "Serve
with the Spirit,” Ensign (CR) October 2010
6/30/11
"In
holy places we are protected from the almost overwhelming commotion of
the world. Angels can be our companions and support (see D&C
84:88). The great prophet
Moroni was surrounded by wickedness and the Lamanites waiting to kill
anything in their path. He was alone in hiding for almost 20 years.
Imagine that kind of loneliness! Yet his exquisite testimony and
counsel in the last few chapters of the Book of Mormon tell us he was
in the company of angels and the Holy Ghost. He was not alone. The
Holy Ghost can take away the gnawing, aching feeling of loneliness or
isolation or rejection and fill us with peace. He is called the
Comforter-and He is that!" - Sharon
G. Larsen, "Standing
in Holy Places," Ensign (CR), May 2002, p.91
10/12/11
I say again that youth today are
being raised in enemy territory with a declining standard of morality.
But as a servant of the Lord, I promise that you will be protected and
shielded from the attacks of the adversary if you will heed the
promptings that come from the Holy Spirit. -
1/4/13
The Spirit of our
Heavenly Father is to the human soul what sunshine is to vine and
flower, it brings the human soul to a full fruition, and that is one
of the greatest miracles in all the world, the redemption and
glorification of the human soul under the power and influence of the
Spirit of God. - Heber Meeks, Conference Report, April 1951, First
Day-Morning Meeting
9/18/13
If we are practicing our faith
and seeking the companionship of the Holy Spirit, His presence can
be felt in our hearts and in our homes. A family having daily family
prayers and seeking to keep the commandments of God and honor his
name and speak lovingly to one another will have a spiritual feeling
in their home that will be discernible to all who enter it. I know
this, because I have felt the presence or absence of that feeling in
many LDS homes. - Dallin H. Oaks,
"Always
Have His Spirit," Ensign (CR) November 1996
4/5/14
In the world in which we live,
your ability to lead will require the guidance and constant
companionship of the Holy Ghost, who will tell you “all things what
ye should do” as you recognize and rely on His guidance and
promptings. And since the Holy Ghost does not dwell in unclean
temples, each of us will need to take inventory of our habits and
our hearts. All of us will need to change something—to repent. As
King Lamoni’s father stated in the Book of Mormon, “I will give away
all my sins to know thee.” Are we, you and I, willing to do the
same? - Elaine S. Dalton, “Now
Is the Time to Arise and Shine!” Ensign (CR) May 2012
7/6/14
If we have faith in Jesus Christ,
the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing.
In all conditions, we can choose the right with the guidance of the
Spirit. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ to shape and guide our
lives if we choose it. And with prophets revealing to us our place
in the plan of salvation, we can live with perfect hope and a
feeling of peace. We never need to feel that we are alone or unloved
in the Lord’s service because we never are. We can feel the love of
God. The Savior has promised angels on our left and our right to
bear us up. And He always keeps His word. - Henry
B. Eyring, “Mountains
to Climb,” Ensign (CR) May 2012
10/28/14
Heavenly Father has blessed us
with the supernal gift of the Holy Ghost to guide our choices. He
has promised us inspiration and revelation as we live worthy to
receive such. I invite you to take advantage of this divine gift and
examine your choices by asking yourself the question, “Are my
decisions firmly planted in the rich soil of the gospel of Jesus
Christ?” I invite you to make whatever adjustments are needed,
whether small or large, to ensure the eternal blessings of Heavenly
Father’s plan for you and those you love. - Larry
S. Kacher, “Trifle
Not with Sacred Things,” Ensign (CR) November 2014
12/27/14
Live
so that the Holy Ghost will guide and direct you.
Seek to grow in knowledge, wisdom, and understanding by continuous
study and contemplation of the words of Christ and those whom God
has appointed to teach and instruct us. - Franklin
D. Richards, “Thy
Will Be Done, O Lord,” Ensign (CR) October 1972
2/2/15
It is no wonder that over and over in the scriptures we are
instructed, counseled, and commanded “O remember, remember.” This
repeated invitation emphasizes the important connection between our
recollection of spiritual feelings in our past and our faithfulness
in the present. Through John the Apostle, the Lord gave this
message: “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard” (Rev.
3:3). - Susan L. Warner, “Remember
How Thou Hast Received and Heard,” Ensign (CR) April 1996
2/6/15
We
can help others become more familiar with the promptings of the
Spirit when we share our testimony of the influence of the Holy
Ghost in our lives. Remember that some experiences are too sacred to
relate. However, by sharing testimony of the Spirit in our lives,
those who are unfamiliar with these promptings are more likely to
recognize when they have similar feelings. - Vicki
F. Matsumori, "Helping
Others Recognize the Whisperings of the Spirit,” Ensign (CR)
October 2009
5/27/15
We need the Holy Ghost as our constant companion to help us make
better choices in the decisions that confront us daily. Our young
men and women are bombarded with ugly things of the world.
Companionship with the Spirit will give them the strength to resist
evil and, when necessary, repent and return to the strait and narrow
path. None of us are immune from the temptations of the adversary.
We all need the fortification available through the Holy Ghost.
Mothers and fathers should prayerfully invite the Holy Spirit to
dwell in their dedicated homes. Having the gift of the Holy Ghost
helps family members make wise choices-choices that will help them
return with their families to their Father in Heaven and His Son,
Jesus Christ, to live with Them eternally. - Robert
D. Hales, "The
Covenant of Baptism: To Be in the Kingdom and of the Kingdom,"
Ensign (CR), November 2000, p. 6
8/5/15
There
are but very few men in the world who can realize the blessings
which we enjoy unless their minds are enlightened by the Spirit of
the living God. There are, in fact, comparatively few among the
Saints who realize their true position, and who can comprehend
correctly the blessings and privileges that they are in possession
of; for men can only grasp these things as they are enlightened by
the spirit of truth, by the spirit of revelation-by the Holy
Ghost-which has been imparted to the Saints by the laying on of
hands, and through their obedience to the principles of the
everlasting Gospel. - John
Taylor, "Journal of Discourses," 26 vols., 11:217
11/6/15
So,
for many reasons, we need the constant companionship of the Holy
Ghost. We desire it, yet we know from experience that it is not easy
to maintain. We each think, say, and do things in our daily lives
that can offend the Spirit. The Lord taught us that the Holy Ghost
will be our constant companion when our hearts are full of charity
and when virtue garnishes our thoughts unceasingly (see D&C
121:45). - Henry B. Eyring,
“The
Holy Ghost as Your Companion,” Ensign (CR) November 2015
2/6/16
The promptings that come to us to flee evil reflect our Heavenly
Father's understanding of our particular strengths and weaknesses
and His awareness of the unforeseen circumstances of our lives. When
these promptings come, they will not generally stop us in our
tracks, for the Spirit of God does not speak with a voice of
thunder. The voice will be as soft as a whisper, coming as a thought
to our minds or a feeling in our hearts. By heeding its gentle
promptings, we will be protected from the destructive consequences
of sin. - Robert D. Hales,
"To
Act for Ourselves: The Gift and Blessings of Agency,” Ensign
(CR) April 2006
2/8/16
If you'll learn to follow your impressions, you'll be amazed to see
how you'll walk daily by the spirit of revelation. Now, every one of
you is blessed to receive that. Draw heavily upon it, keep
yourselves in tune by living the gospel, keep free from criticism,
from bitterness, and from frictions that otherwise would make you
unfit for this service, and the Lord will bless you and you will be
amply rewarded. - Harold B. Lee,
"The Teachings of Harold B. Lee," edited by Clyde J. Williams,
p.424
4/30/16
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, 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 a 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 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
that the young man had just returned early from his mission. The
stake president, acting on a clear impression, had promised the
young man’s father that if he brought his son to the priesthood
meeting, Elder Hales would speak with him. Why did I stop to shake
everyone’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. - Robert
D. Hales, “The
Holy Ghost,” Ensign (CR) May 2016
6/9/16
Try to live, brethren, so that you can have the Spirit with you in
all your activities. Pray for the spirit of discernment that you may
hear the promptings of the Spirit and understand them and then pray
for courage to do them, to follow the guidance of the Spirit. This
is a great era of the world's history in which to live. We are
living in the dispensation of the fulness of times. - Marion
G. Romney, “Seek
the Spirit,” Ensign (CR), May 1980, p.50
9/19/16
If we will just live the way we should and do our part, we can
experience what a great strength and blessing the Holy Ghost can be
in our lives. It can broaden and extend our horizons and can turn
the lights on for us so that we can see more clearly in the shaded
areas of life and, in fact, in all areas of our living. – William
H. Bennett, “Help
Needed in the Shaded Areas,” Ensign (CR) May 1971
9/23/16
The companionship of the Holy Ghost makes what is good more
attractive and temptation less compelling. That alone should be
enough to make us determined to qualify for the Spirit to be with us
always. – Henry B. Eyring, “The
Holy Ghost as Your Companion,” Ensign (CR) November 2015