CHAPTER 2

RECEIVING THE
GUIDANCE OF THE SPIRIT
WHAT DO WE KNOW OF THE HOLY GHOST?

• NATURE
• ROLES
• WHO CAN RECEIVE IT
• HOW MAINTAIN ITS COMPANIONSHIP
NATURE OF THE HOLY GHOST

•1 John 5:7
•Doctrine and Covenants 130:22
ROLES OF THE HOLY GHOST

•John 14:26
•John 16:13
•Romans 5:5
•2 Nephi 31:17
•2 Nephi 31:18
•Doctrine and Covenants 6:15
•“The Holy Ghost … will
show unto you all things
what ye should do”.
2 Nephi 32:5
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT
DECISIONS YOU FACE IN
YOUR LIFE?
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO
RECEIVE HELP FROM THE
SPIRIT OF THE LORD?
SEARCH DILIGENTLY, PRAY ALWAYS,
AND BE BELIEVING, AND ALL
THINGS SHALL WORK TOGETHER
FOR YOUR GOOD, IF YE WALK
UPRIGHTLY AND REMEMBER THE
COVENANT WHEREWITH YE HAVE
COVENANTED ONE WITH ANOTHER.
DOCTRINE & COVENANTS 90:24
“[THE HOLY GHOST] IS A REVELATOR AND
TEACHER WHO CONVEYS INFORMATION TO
OUR SPIRITS WITH FAR MORE CERTAINTY
THAN IS POSSIBLE BY OUR NATURAL SENSES.
HE CAN GUIDE US IN EVERY CHOICE AND
DECISION AND NEVER WILL DECEIVE OR
MISLEAD US. HE IS A COMFORTER WHO
BRINGS PEACE TO OUR SOULS IN TIMES OF
NEED”.
( J O S E P H B. W I RTH L I N , “ D EE P RO O T S, ” E N S I G N , N O V. 19 9 4 , 7 6 )
RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST

•“The power of the Holy Ghost can come upon a

person before baptism and witness that the gospel is
true. But the right to have the constant companionship
of the Holy Ghost, whenever one is worthy, is a gift
that can be received only by the laying on of hands by
a Melchizedek Priesthood holder after authorized
baptism into the true Church of Jesus Christ”.
 WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE
WORTHY OF THE
INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY
GHOST?
“TO HAVE THE HOLY GHOST AS YOUR
COMPANION YOU MUST BE WORTHY,
CLEANSED BY THE ATONEMENT OF
JESUS CHRIST. SO, YOUR OBEDIENCE TO
THE COMMANDMENTS, YOUR DESIRE TO
DO HIS WILL, AND YOUR ASKING IN
FAITH WILL DETERMINE HOW CLEARLY
THE MASTER CAN GUIDE YOU.”
PRESIDENT HENRY B. EYRING
THE PROMPTINGS OF THE HOLY GHOST
MAY COME TO YOU IN A STILL, SMALL
VOICE. YOU CANNOT GROW INTO THE
[PERSON] YOU MUST BECOME UNLESS
YOU FIRST RISE ABOVE THE THINGS OF
THE WORLD THAT CLAMOR FOR YOUR
ATTENTION.
FOR EXAMPLE, SOME OF THE WORLD’S
MUSIC IS DEGRADING, VULGAR, AND
INAPPROPRIATE AND WILL DROWN OUT
THE PROMPTINGS OF THE HOLY GHOST.
BRINGING INTO YOUR BODY
SUBSTANCES FORBIDDEN BY THE LORD
IN THE WORD OF WISDOM WILL
PREVENT YOU FROM FEELING AND
RECOGNIZING THE PROMPTINGS OF THE
HOLY GHOST.
“THE FAILURE TO LIVE A CLEAN AND
CHASTE LIFE DEADENS THE
PROMPTINGS OF THE SPIRIT. TAKE YOUR
THOUGHTS TO HIGHER LEVELS THAN
THE VULGAR AND IMMORAL. AVOID
OBJECTIONABLE TELEVISION SHOWS
AND MOVIES, EVIL INTERNET SITES,
AND ALL FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT
THAT PORTRAY OR ENCOURAGE
IMMORALITY AND VIOLENCE.
SHUN PORNOGRAPHY LIKE A DEADLY,
CONTAGIOUS SIN AND DISEASE. YOU
CANNOT AFFORD TO BECOME ADDICTED
TO ITS BONDAGE AND SLAVERY. IT WILL
DRIVE THE HOLY GHOST AND HIS
INFLUENCE FROM YOUR LIFE”.

ELDER JOSEPH B. WIRTHLIN

WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND
THAT YOU MUST DO
REGULARLY TO INVITE
THE SPIRIT?
“SOME GUIDELINES AND RULES ARE
NECESSARY IF ONE IS TO BE THE RECIPIENT
OF REVELATION AND INSPIRATION. THEY
INCLUDE (1) TO TRY HONESTLY AND
SINCERELY TO KEEP GOD’S
COMMANDMENTS, (2) TO BE SPIRITUALLY
ATTUNED AS A RECEIVER OF A DIVINE
MESSAGE, (3) TO ASK GOD IN HUMBLE,
FERVENT PRAYER, AND (4) TO SEEK
ANSWERS WITH UNWAVERING FAITH”.

PRESIDENT JAMES E. FAUST

“THE MINUTE A MAN STOPS
SUPPLICATING GOD FOR HIS SPIRIT AND
DIRECTIONS JUST SO SOON HE STARTS
OUT TO BECOME A STRANGER TO HIM
AND HIS WORKS. WHEN MEN STOP
PRAYING FOR GOD’S SPIRIT, THEY
PLACE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR OWN
UNAIDED REASON, AND THEY
GRADUALLY LOSE THE SPIRIT OF GOD,
JUST THE SAME AS NEAR AND DEAR
FRIENDS,…
…BY NEVER WRITING TO OR VISITING
WITH EACH OTHER, WILL BECOME
STRANGERS. WE SHOULD ALL PRAY
THAT GOD MAY NEVER LEAVE US ALONE
FOR A MOMENT WITHOUT HIS SPIRIT TO
AID AND ASSIST US IN WITHSTANDING
SIN AND TEMPTATION”

PRESIDENT HEBER J. GRANT

ASSIGNMENT:

•How can you invite the Spirit

into your lives?