The Holy Ghost

Image above is a card I made to display in our home.
Below is a talk about the Holy Ghost I gave at our first grandson's baptism.

This message was directed to Brayden, but applies to all.
(A note: the church meetings that day were wonderful and the Spirit was very strong through each of the meetings. Then the prelude for the baptism (played by Brayden's great grandmother) was so beautiful.  It invited and welcomed the Spirit so strongly.  I loved it.)
 

While living as spirit children in heaven, before we came to earth, our Heavenly Father presented to us a plan.  He knew this plan would make us happy, because it would allow us to be born into a family, make good choices, and then someday live with Him again. 

There was a spirit there that did not like Heavenly Father’s plan and he rebelled against it.  That spirit was Satan, and Satan tried to tempt us to rebel and not follow God’s plan. 

 

We know that you were strong and made a good choice there in heaven - you made the choice to follow God’s plan, to follow Christ and come to earth – each of us on earth did. 

Because Satan chose to NOT follow God’s plan he did not get to come to earth to gain a body.  We do not see him, but Satan and those who followed him are still trying to tempt us and make us choose evil, bad and wrong things. 

We know that you are choosing to follow God’s plan, to follow Christ here on earth, because you have chosen to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

Heavenly Father knows that Satan is trying to tempt us and take us away from the good things that Heavenly Father wants for us, so He has given us a gift that will help us know and recognize good from evil.  This gift is the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

In a few minutes worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holders will lay their hands upon your head, and they will confirm you a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In that confirmation, your dad (one of those worthy priesthood holders) will say to you “receive the Holy Ghost”.

That means that the Holy Ghost is going to be given to you – to be your constant companion.  If you let Him, the Holy Ghost will be with you every second of your life.  He will teach you truth, He will help you feel Heavenly Father’s love for you, He will testify of Jesus Christ, He will comfort you, lead you, warn you, and invite you to follow Christ and make good choices.  

As you receive this ordinance, you accept a sacred responsibility – you must do something to fully receive the Holy Ghost as your constant companion. 

I will mention 3 of those things that you must do:

1 – You must sincerely desire to receive the Holy Ghost.  You must want Him to teach you, to lead and prompt you, to comfort you, to be with you.  Pray that He will be with you.  

2 - You must keep the commandments -  faithfully obey, study the scriptures, be a kind and helpful son and brother, friend and neighbor.  Do what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ would want you to do.  The Holy Ghost will be with you when you choose the right and do good.
3 – You must listen for His help. He speaks in quiet and simple ways.  We must each try to recognize those ways that He speaks to us personally.  Then we must follow those promptings He gives us.  You will come to recognize the feelings you have when He is helping you. 

Sometimes it might be a feeling or a voice in your mind.  Maybe it will be a warmth in your heart and your whole body, or a calmness because you are doing right.  Maybe it will be a feeling of comfort. 
It might even be a funny or strange feeling making you wonder if something is wrong. 
Try to understand and try to feel and try to follow what the Holy Ghost is teaching you.  He will always lead you toward Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. 

The Holy Ghost is an important part of the plan of happiness that Heavenly Father presented to us in heaven.  He will help us live so that we can be a forever family.  He will help us choose good and He will lead us and guide us.

I want to tell you a story.  I am going to tell this story the way I saw it, though the person it happened to might tell this same story a different way because he was the one feeling the help from the Holy Ghost.  But here is how I saw it take place –

Several years ago I was out in our yard washing the inside of our car.  Anthony was out in the yard playing with a bat and ball.  One of the times I looked over toward him I saw him with his arms folded and his head bowed.  I kept watching him to see what he was doing.  With his head still bowed and his arms still folded I saw him turn a bit and start walking across the driveway and into the hay field a few steps.  Then he stopped, bent down and picked up the ball with a big smile on his face.

This was a special ball that belonged to one of his brothers and he didn’t want to lose it forever – he wanted to return it.  He couldn’t find it on his own, but he knew that Heavenly Father could help him find it, so he said a prayer, and was guided to the ball.

I am so thankful that our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He even helps us find a lost baseball.  I am thankful that Heavenly Father loves us so much that He has given us the gift of the Holy Ghost to help us whenever we need help. 

He helps us with important decisions we have to make.    Just like he taught Anthony where to go to find the baseball he will teach us where to go and what to do – in all things.

Think about what might have happened if this story went a different way - 
What if Anthony just got angry and upset when he lost the ball?  He wouldn’t have prayed, he wouldn’t have been taught by the Holy Ghost where to go and what to do.  The Holy Ghost cannot be with us when we are angry and mad.   The ball would have been lost forever and Anthony might still be angry and mad just like Satan would want him to be. 

So be careful and pray always that you will be able to withstand the temptations of Satan.  Pray always that you will feel the spirit of the Holy Ghost, so that He may lead you, and teach you where to go and what to do in all things in life.

 It is wonderful to be baptized a member of this true church, and it is wonderful to have the gift of the Holy Ghost given to us after we are baptized. 

23 years ago our first child was baptized. That was your daddy and we love him.    
We have watched him make good choices in life.  We know that he has listened to and followed the Holy Ghost and we are so grateful that he is following the Savior.

Today our first grandchild is baptized.  We are so pleased and excited for you. We love you.
We want our family to be together forever and this is one of the steps toward that blessing.

The Holy Ghost will help us to resist the temptations of Satan and He will lead us and guide us back to our Father in Heaven.  With the Holy Ghost as our constant companion it will never be too hard to live the gospel and choose the right. 

He will help us be happy and choose happiness if we pray for His help and follow Him.  And one day we will be able to return to our Father in Heaven as an eternal family.

 We love you and pray for you.  We know you will continue to make good choices as you follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I know that we will be blessed as we follow Him.  He will help us live so that we can return to our Father in Heaven someday.