Last week I spoke of lighting the world. Today I would like to get into a little more of the details of how we are influenced by both the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost. This time of year this is especially important because so many people are able to feel joy through the Christmas season, and they may wonder why they feel joy.
All men can be influenced by what is called the Light of Christ, but sometimes spiritual experiences take place under the power of the Holy Ghost. This can be confusing for some people to differentiate. I first learned how to tell the difference between the light of Christ and the Spirit while serving my mission.
The wonderful missionary handbook Preach My Gospel says,
"The light of Christ is just what the words imply: enlightenment, knowledge, and an uplifting, ennobling, persevering influence that comes upon mankind because of Jesus Christ…. The light of Christ fills the “immensity of space” and is the means by which Christ is able to be “in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things.” It “giveth life to all things” and is “the law by which all things are governed.” It is also “the light that quickeneth” man’s understanding (see D&C 88:6–13, 41). In this manner, the light of Christ is related to man’s conscience and tells him right from wrong (Moro. 7:12–19).
The light of Christ should not be confused with the personage of the Holy Ghost, for the light of Christ is not a personage at all. Its influence is preliminary to and preparatory to one’s receiving the Holy Ghost. The light of Christ will lead the honest soul who “hearkeneth to the voice” to find the true gospel and the true Church and thereby receive the Holy Ghost (see D&C 84:46–48). Additional references are Alma 19:6; 26:3; D&C 20:27....
The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He is a personage of spirit and does not have a body of flesh and bones (see D&C 130:22). He is the Comforter, who the Savior promised would teach His followers all things and bring to their remembrance all things that He had taught them (see John 14:26)."
(PMG ch. 4, pg 90)
(see also Bible Dictionary, Holy Ghost)
In other words, the light of Christ is a force for good that influences everyone, but the Holy Ghost is an actual personage. He is the Testator, and will always testify of truth wherever it is found. Those who have taken upon them the covenant of baptism have the right of having the Spirit always with them.
The Bible Dictionary says of the Holy Ghost,
"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. By the power of the Holy Ghost a person receives 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, as in Acts 8:12–25 and Moro. 2. The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. For those who receive this gift, the Holy Ghost acts as a cleansing agent to purify them and sanctify them from all sin. Thus it is often spoken of as “fire” (Matt. 3:11; 2 Ne. 31:17; D&C 19:31)."
I wish I could explain these doctrines as eloquently as these sources have, but sadly my own verbal skills would not do it justice. Instead I will quote an Apostle, Elder Robert D. Hales:
"The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, a personage of spirit. He is the Comforter, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit of Promise. He testifies of Jesus Christ, His work, and the work of His servants upon the earth. He acts as a cleansing agent to purify and sanctify us from sin. He comforts us and brings peace to our soul. The right to His constant companionship is among the greatest gifts we can receive in mortality, for by the light of His promptings and His cleansing power, we can be led back into the presence of God."
(2002, April, Robert D. Hales, ‘Out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light,’ Ensign, May 2002, ¶ 14)
Elder Hales refers to another aspect of the mission of the Holy Ghost, namely as the "Holy Spirit of Promise." It is the job of the Spirit to ratify all ordinances entered into in the gospel. Thus, he is not only a Testator in the sense of testifying of truth to us, but also of testifying to the Father that we have been true to our covenants.
Preach My Gospel says,
"The Holy Ghost is also referred to as the Holy Spirit of Promise (see D&C 88:3). To be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise means that the Holy Ghost confirms that righteous acts, ordinances, and covenants are acceptable to God. The Holy Spirit of Promise testifies to the Father that the saving ordinances have been performed properly and that the covenants associated with them have been kept. Those who are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise receive all that the Father has (see D&C 76:51–60; Eph. 1:13–14). All covenants and performances must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise if they are to be valid after this life (see D&C 132:7, 18–19, 26). Breaking covenants may remove the sealing."
(PMG ch. 4 pg 91)
I believe another reason it is called the Holy Spirit of Promise is because if we can feel the Spirit as we participate in ordinances, it is a promise to us that God has accepted our covenant and will give us the blessings that He has promised.
Elder Oaks spoke in General Conference about the Holy Ghost, and referenced a time when Joseph Smith went to speak to the President of the United States:
"In his meeting with the president, Joseph was asked how this Church differed from the other religions of the day. The Prophet replied that “we differed in mode of baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands” (History of the Church, 4:42). He later explained that this answer was given because “all other considerations were contained in the gift of the Holy Ghost” (History of the Church, 4:42)."
Those of use who have received the gift of the Holy Ghost would do well to remember what a great blessing it is, even "a foretaste of eternal joy" (PMG 65). Elder Oaks continues:
"The Light of Christ is given to all men and women that they may know good from evil; manifestations of the Holy Ghost are given to lead sincere seekers to gospel truths that will persuade them to repentance and baptism.
The gift of the Holy Ghost is more comprehensive. The Prophet Joseph Smith explained: “There is a difference between the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Cornelius received the Holy Ghost before he was baptized, which was the convincing power of God unto him of the truth of the Gospel, but he could not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost until after he was baptized. Had he not taken this sign or ordinance upon him, the Holy Ghost which convinced him of the truth of God, would have left him” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 199)."
The wonderful missionary handbook Preach My Gospel says,
"The light of Christ is just what the words imply: enlightenment, knowledge, and an uplifting, ennobling, persevering influence that comes upon mankind because of Jesus Christ…. The light of Christ fills the “immensity of space” and is the means by which Christ is able to be “in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things.” It “giveth life to all things” and is “the law by which all things are governed.” It is also “the light that quickeneth” man’s understanding (see D&C 88:6–13, 41). In this manner, the light of Christ is related to man’s conscience and tells him right from wrong (Moro. 7:12–19).
The light of Christ should not be confused with the personage of the Holy Ghost, for the light of Christ is not a personage at all. Its influence is preliminary to and preparatory to one’s receiving the Holy Ghost. The light of Christ will lead the honest soul who “hearkeneth to the voice” to find the true gospel and the true Church and thereby receive the Holy Ghost (see D&C 84:46–48). Additional references are Alma 19:6; 26:3; D&C 20:27....
The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He is a personage of spirit and does not have a body of flesh and bones (see D&C 130:22). He is the Comforter, who the Savior promised would teach His followers all things and bring to their remembrance all things that He had taught them (see John 14:26)."
(PMG ch. 4, pg 90)
(see also Bible Dictionary, Holy Ghost)
In other words, the light of Christ is a force for good that influences everyone, but the Holy Ghost is an actual personage. He is the Testator, and will always testify of truth wherever it is found. Those who have taken upon them the covenant of baptism have the right of having the Spirit always with them.
The Bible Dictionary says of the Holy Ghost,
"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. By the power of the Holy Ghost a person receives 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, as in Acts 8:12–25 and Moro. 2. The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. For those who receive this gift, the Holy Ghost acts as a cleansing agent to purify them and sanctify them from all sin. Thus it is often spoken of as “fire” (Matt. 3:11; 2 Ne. 31:17; D&C 19:31)."
I wish I could explain these doctrines as eloquently as these sources have, but sadly my own verbal skills would not do it justice. Instead I will quote an Apostle, Elder Robert D. Hales:
"The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, a personage of spirit. He is the Comforter, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit of Promise. He testifies of Jesus Christ, His work, and the work of His servants upon the earth. He acts as a cleansing agent to purify and sanctify us from sin. He comforts us and brings peace to our soul. The right to His constant companionship is among the greatest gifts we can receive in mortality, for by the light of His promptings and His cleansing power, we can be led back into the presence of God."
(2002, April, Robert D. Hales, ‘Out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light,’ Ensign, May 2002, ¶ 14)
Elder Hales refers to another aspect of the mission of the Holy Ghost, namely as the "Holy Spirit of Promise." It is the job of the Spirit to ratify all ordinances entered into in the gospel. Thus, he is not only a Testator in the sense of testifying of truth to us, but also of testifying to the Father that we have been true to our covenants.
Preach My Gospel says,
"The Holy Ghost is also referred to as the Holy Spirit of Promise (see D&C 88:3). To be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise means that the Holy Ghost confirms that righteous acts, ordinances, and covenants are acceptable to God. The Holy Spirit of Promise testifies to the Father that the saving ordinances have been performed properly and that the covenants associated with them have been kept. Those who are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise receive all that the Father has (see D&C 76:51–60; Eph. 1:13–14). All covenants and performances must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise if they are to be valid after this life (see D&C 132:7, 18–19, 26). Breaking covenants may remove the sealing."
(PMG ch. 4 pg 91)
I believe another reason it is called the Holy Spirit of Promise is because if we can feel the Spirit as we participate in ordinances, it is a promise to us that God has accepted our covenant and will give us the blessings that He has promised.
Elder Oaks spoke in General Conference about the Holy Ghost, and referenced a time when Joseph Smith went to speak to the President of the United States:
"In his meeting with the president, Joseph was asked how this Church differed from the other religions of the day. The Prophet replied that “we differed in mode of baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands” (History of the Church, 4:42). He later explained that this answer was given because “all other considerations were contained in the gift of the Holy Ghost” (History of the Church, 4:42)."
Those of use who have received the gift of the Holy Ghost would do well to remember what a great blessing it is, even "a foretaste of eternal joy" (PMG 65). Elder Oaks continues:
"The Light of Christ is given to all men and women that they may know good from evil; manifestations of the Holy Ghost are given to lead sincere seekers to gospel truths that will persuade them to repentance and baptism.
The gift of the Holy Ghost is more comprehensive. The Prophet Joseph Smith explained: “There is a difference between the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Cornelius received the Holy Ghost before he was baptized, which was the convincing power of God unto him of the truth of the Gospel, but he could not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost until after he was baptized. Had he not taken this sign or ordinance upon him, the Holy Ghost which convinced him of the truth of God, would have left him” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 199)."
(General Conference Oct 1996)
I hope that all of us may be able to feel an abundance of the Holy Ghost this season as we contemplate the true meaning of Christmas. I also pray that we will be able to help those who feel only the Light of Christ at this time to come to a more full knowledge of the truth and experience of the power of the Holy Ghost.
I hope that all of us may be able to feel an abundance of the Holy Ghost this season as we contemplate the true meaning of Christmas. I also pray that we will be able to help those who feel only the Light of Christ at this time to come to a more full knowledge of the truth and experience of the power of the Holy Ghost.
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