Receiving the Holy Ghost
“He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” - Acts 19:2
As with all gifts, we must “receive” it, or it is useless to us. Because it is so imperative that we accept or receive the Holy Ghost, we are told by way of command, “receive the Holy Ghost!” Notice the wording of the Confirmation Ordinance:
"In the name of Jesus Christ, and by the authority of the holy Melchizedek Priesthood, I confirm you a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and say unto you, "receive the Holy Ghost!"
Although we may have had the ordinance, we may not have received the Holy Ghost. This is much like a gift placed on the shelf unused. While it sits unused, it remains to us as if we had never been given the gift in the first place. Most commonly we tend to live as children who pull out their toy every so often for a short while before placing it back to rest. If we treat the Holy Ghost like such a toy, then we will not experience the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost which is available to us.
Very few have fully received this great gift. How do we know if we have fully received the gift of the Holy Ghost? We can know to what extent we have received/accepted the Holy Ghost by looking for its influence, power and gifts in our lives.
If we do not have the influence, blessings, benefits and gifts of the spirit which are received by having the Holy Ghost, then we must assume that the gift is dormant, unaccepted or not fully realized.
Using this same method, we can also determine how often we allow the Holy Ghost to influence us and how often we place it to rest on the shelf.
The presence of the Holy Ghost in our life is always accompanied with one or more of the gifts of the spirit! By understanding and recognizing these gifts we can better recognize when and how the Holy Ghost works in our lives. To this end, Joseph Smith taught,
"No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator." – Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 328
This literally means that if we have the Holy Ghost within us, then we have the spirit of revelation within us and we are revelators.
When we sustain the Prophet and Apostles as “Revelators” we are simply saying that we accept that they have the spirit with them and receive revelation through it.
In the same way, we should seek to have the spirit with us so that we in like mannor can receive revelation through it.
Becoming a Revelator
The main mission of the Holy Ghost is to “teach us all things”, (John 14:26). “Revelation” is the result of learning from the Holy Ghost. When the Holy Ghost teaches us, a new insight we call it a “Revelation”.
When we are prompted by the same spirit to share that insight with others we become “Revelators”.
As Joseph explained, “No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations.” So, no man, (and we will add here women or child), can receive the Holy Ghost and share with others their testimonies regarding what they received without being a Revelator.
By this same means, John the Revelator and all the other ancient and modern “Revelators” have been given, understood and revealed the mysteries of God. This too is your gift if you will but accept it.
What Can Be Revealed Through You?
More correctly, what can’t be revealed through you?
It is fairly commonly taught that we can receive revelations regarding our stewardships such as family, work and callings. But we can receive far more.
Not only can we receive insights and into the scriptures, doctrines and our stewardships, but we can receive revelation regarding science, math, history, politics, politicians and other business, personal and religious leaders, friends even insights into the person next to us on the bus or plane. In short, God does not qualify what he is willing to tell us, only we do. The Spirit teaches,
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." - James 1:5
"Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen." - D&C 4:7
Specifically speaking about making your calling and election sure, the Prophet Joseph Smith tells us the following about what we can learn by the spirit.
“This principle ought (in its proper place) to be taught, for God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them, for the day must come when no man need say to his neighbor, Know ye the Lord; for all shall know Him (who remain) from the least to the greatest. How is this to be done? It is to be done by this sealing power, and the other Comforter spoken of, which will be manifest by revelation.” - History of the Church, 3:379-381
If information can improve our lives or the lives of others, then it can be received by revelation. But we can also know things which are not essential to our salvation or exaltation and have no real bearing on us at all. An example of this is given by Mormon who wanted to know more about the physical change that happened to the bodies of the 3 Nephites who would not die but remain to minister unto men until the final judgment.
“36. And now behold, as I spake concerning those whom the Lord hath chosen, yea, even three who were caught up into the heavens, that I knew not whether they were cleansed from mortality to immortality—
37. But behold, since I wrote, I have inquired of the Lord, and he hath made it manifest unto me that there must needs be a change wrought upon their bodies, or else it needs be that they must taste of death;
38. Therefore, that they might not taste of death there was a change wrought upon their bodies, that they might not suffer pain nor sorrow save it were for the sins of the world.
39. Now this change was not equal to that which shall take place at the last day; but there was a change wrought upon them, insomuch that Satan could have no power over them, that he could not tempt them; and they were sanctified in the flesh, that they were holy, and that the powers of the earth could not hold them.
40. And in this state they were to remain until the judgment day of Christ; and at that day they were to receive a greater change, and to be received into the kingdom of the Father to go no more out, but to dwell with God eternally in the heavens.” – 3Nephi 28:36-40
In this example, Mormon is given a significant amount of information that has no bearing on him, his salvation, his stewardship or even his sphere of influence. He can’t do anything about the information he received. But we learn from this that nothing is beyond our questioning and searching. And God is gracious to give to us simply because we desire to know.
Many people through away the option to learn these things by accepting doctrines like, “We can’t learn that in this life”, or “it is not part of my stewardship”, or “we can’t learn anything that hasn’t been taught by our leaders.”
All of these statements are wrong. Consider the Prophet Jonah. He received a revelation about a city that didn’t know him. It became part of his stewardship because God called him to it by revelation.
You will find this pattern is the most common principle on which God has called prophet throughout the scriptures. The principle is clearly taught by Nephi who states where he gained his authority.
“And the Holy Ghost giveth authority that I should speak these things, and deny them not.” - 1 Nephi 10:22
Turning aside from the interesting but ultimately useless information we can receive through revelation, we also must realize that our ability to receive revelation is essential to our salvation and exaltation. Bruce R. McConkie explains that not only can every person receive revelation equal to any prophet or apostle, but that doing so is a requirement for our own salvation. McConkie explains,
“I desire to point attention, however, to the fact that revelation is not restricted to the prophet of God on earth. The visions of eternity are not reserved for Apostles- they are not reserved for the General Authorities. Revelation is something that should come to every individual. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), and every soul, in the ultimate sense, is just as precious in his sight as the souls of those that are called to positions of leadership. Because he operates on principles of eternal, universal and never-deviating law, any individual that abides the law which entitles him to get revelation can know exactly and precisely what any prophet knows, can entertain angels just as well as Joseph Smith entertained them, and can be in tune in full measure with all of the things of the Spirit. (Alma 26:21-22.)” (BYU Devotional, 11 October 1966; published as "How to Get Personal Revelation," Ensign, June 1980, pp. 46-50.)
McConkie also said,
“Here is a statement from Joseph Smith:
"Salvation cannot come without revelation [and I am not now speaking about the revelation that gave the dispensation in which we live--I am speaking of personal revelation to individuals]; it is vain for anyone to minister without it. No man is a minister of Jesus Christ without being a Prophet. No man can be a minister of Jesus Christ except he has a testimony of Jesus; and this is the spirit of prophecy. Whenever salvation has been administered, it has been by testimony. Men of the present time testify of heaven and hell, and have never seen either; and I will say that no man knows these things without this." (Teachings, p. 160.)
We are entitled to revelation. Personal revelation is essential to our salvation.” - Doctrines of the Restoration, Chapter 8
This personal revelation is the very oil that lights our lamps which despite any attempts to share with others we cannot, (Matt. 25:1-12). Let us be clear here, we are not saying that the revelations you receive cannot be shared, we are saying that we cannot experience receiving and recognizing revelation for another person.
All must learn to receive and recognize revelation for themselves. We all must experience it for ourselves. All the prophets have expressed this point to some degree, however, in our opinion none has been more clear than Brigham Young who said,
"There are those among this people who are influenced, controlled, and biased in their thoughts, actions, and feelings by some other individual or family, on whom they place their dependence for spiritual and temporal instruction, and for salvation in the end. These persons do not depend upon themselves for salvation, but upon another of their poor, weak, fellow mortals. I do not depend upon any inherent goodness of my own, say they, to introduce me into the kingdom of glory, but I depend upon you, brother Joseph, upon you, brother Brigham, upon you, brother Heber, or upon you, brother James; I believe your judgment is superior to mine, and consequently I let you judge for me; your spirit is better than mine, therefore you can do good for me; I will submit myself wholly to you, and place in you all my confidence for life and salvation; where you go I will go, and where you tarry there I will stay; expecting that you will introduce me through the gates into the heavenly Jerusalem....Now those men, or those women, who know no more about the power of God, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, than to be led entirely by another person, suspending their own understanding, and pinning their faith upon another's sleeve, will never be capable of entering into the celestial glory, to be crowned as they anticipate; they will never be capable of becoming Gods. They cannot rule themselves, to say nothing of ruling others, but they must be dictated to in every trifle, like a child. They cannot control themselves in the least, but James, Peter, or somebody else must control them, They never can become Gods, nor be crowned as rulers with glory, immortality, and eternal lives. They never can hold scepters of glory, majesty, and power in the celestial kingdom. Who will? Those who are valiant and inspired with the true independence of heaven, who will go forth boldly in the service of their God, leaving others to do as they please, determined to do right, though all mankind besides should take the opposite course." (Brigham Young, presented in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on February 20, 1853, found in Journal of Discourses, 1:312)
Again, through the Gift of the Holy Ghost, we receive revelation. When we share those revelations, we become Revelators. That is the first aspect of the gift of the Holy Ghost. And this personal revelation and is essential to our own salvation. But there is much more to this heavenly gift.