Using the Gift of The Holy Ghost

After we are baptized it is extremely important that we don't think all is done. We have only begun our journey back to Heavenly Father. Gratefully we are given a most fantastic gift and guide on our journey.. The Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead. He knows all things. He is all powerful. He is wonderful.

Here are a few ways He can help you:

1. He can help you understand what is true

2. He can reveal knowledge from God to you

3. He can warn you of danger

4. He can help you overcome temptation

5. He can sanctify you. (meaning He literally can make you Holy)

After we have been cleansed of our sins through the atonement, we gain the companionship of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.

When a priesthood holder lays his hands on your head he will use the words: "Receive the Holy Ghost" in the process of giving you this gift. This means that it's up to us to receive this gift by obeying Him. If we will do this He will lead us on a path back to our Heavenly Father. He will actually aid us in our quest to change not only our desire for sin, but also our ability to truly become Holy and sanctified.

Simply put, eventually we will become like God. This brings more meaning to the word "atonement'. No longer is it just designed to bring us back to God, but also to become "at one" with Him. Meaning we have become like Him.

This sanctification process can only happen as fast as we are willing to obey the promptings of the Holy Ghost. The Temple can help us to keep our focus on obeying the voice of the Holy Ghost.

The Book of Mormon Prophet/King Benjamin said:

19 For the ^anatural ^bman is an ^cenemy to God, and has been from the ^dfall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he ^eyields to the enticings of the Holy ^fSpirit, and ^gputteth off the^hnatural man and becometh a ⁱsaint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a ^jchild, ^ksubmissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

We can see from this scripture that if we yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and exercise the atonement of Jesus Christ, we will actually change our very natures. We become holy and sanctified.

The Apostle Paul said we should:

1 Thes. 5: 19

19 Quench not the Spirit.

And

Gal. 5: 16

16 This I say then, ^aWalk in the ^bSpirit, and ye shall not fulfil the ^clust of the flesh.

The Book of Mormon Prophet Alma said:

Alma 34: 38

38 That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

When the spirit directs us we need to make sure to obey it. If we don't we will lose the influence of the Spirit until we repent.

So it stands to reason that the more we walk in the Spirit (meaning we obey the Holy Ghost) the closer we will come to God. The more like God we will be.

In Galatians Chapter 5 we read:

22 But the ^afruit of the ^bSpirit is ^clove, ^djoy, ^epeace, ^flongsuffering, ^ggentleness, goodness, ^hfaith,

23 ^aMeekness, ^btemperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the ^aaffections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The end goal is to actually become one with God by becoming like Him.

1 Jn. 3: 2

2 Beloved, now are we the ^asons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall ^bappear, we shall be ^clike him; for we shall ^dsee him as he is.

I invite you to come unto Christ, and be perfected through the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost. He can heal your heart. He can change your base desires. He can bring you a fullness of joy.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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