Exaltation through the Holy Ghost

It is interesting to grow up in the church and hear about the Holy Ghost. Most of the time, we are told that it is given to newly baptized members. We are also told the Holy Ghost's role is to give peace, comfort, and guidance. And while the common stories of people praying to find a lost item are very real, there is so much more that the Holy Ghost has to offer.

There are many names given for the Holy Ghost including Comforter, Holy Spirit of Promise, Promise of Eternal Life, Spirit of Truth, Light of Truth, Light of Christ, and many more. Let me emphasize two of these names: Spirit of Truth and Promise of Eternal Life.

When I was younger, I would see on television religions where the preacher would claim and praise the fact that they had the Holy Ghost to guide them. They had Him in them. While it was somewhat comical, it caused reflection. How can they claim to have the Power of the Holy Ghost? Was it not only given to baptized members of the LDS Church? After some thought I realized that what they were feeling was His presence, or rather the Spirit of Truth. It is possible for them to feel the Holy Ghost because we are all born with the Light of Christ, sometimes referred to as our conscience. Perhaps those people I saw on television were receiving that feeling because they had some of the truths. But they do not have all the gospel doctrines. The Holy Ghost--called the Spirit of Truth--was manifesting to them that particular doctrine was true. Thus, the Holy Ghost helps all people to know the difference between God's truths and Satan's neverending lies.

The Holy Ghost is there as a constant companion to us if we are living good lives and are worthy for his presence. Through him, we can feel the presence of Christ and our Heavenly Father. Steps to becoming perfect like our Father in Heaven can be summarized in seven steps (which are to be understood to include faith, repentance, baptism, and Laying on of Hands). We must first (1) have the Light of Christ. This is given to every person who is born on the earth, and is known as our conscience. When you begin to see how Christ can help you in your life--like the the feelings church investigators often have--you are using (2) the Power of the Holy Ghost. It is a testimony of the truth of Christ's Everlasting Gospel, but is only temporary. When a person is baptized they are afterwards given (3) the Gift of the Holy Ghost. When living righteously, He is a constant Comforter who gives you guidance and peace that is aligned with God's will. Throughout our lives we must constantly be aware of our actions and repent of wrong doings. However, this is not a "repent now" attitude, or repenting just to get that sin out of our life. We must (4) become sanctified with Baptism by Fire through the sacrament's power. This is described as a "mighty change of heart", or to be "born again". The sacrament plays an important role by acting as a weekly recleansing of sins we have repented of. The sacrament is an act, whereas sanctification is a process that takes time. Sanctification comes when we begin to love the things we hated, and hate the things we once loved. You must actively make an effort to become better, not just act better. Similar to making a candle, you must constantly be strong--meaning dip and re-dip your candle into the wax, ultimately created a useful candle. For our spiritual cleansing, it takes smalls steps to become better--line upon line, precept upon precept.

In Omni 1:26, we are counseled to (5) "endure to the end". But what does that really mean? Nephi, in his vision of the Tree of Life, taught that the way to eternal life is by the straight and narrow path. That is how we endure to the end. Enduring to the end is a continuous loop coinciding with the previous step of getting Baptized by Fire. We must continue to have that mighty change of heart and desire to align our will with God's will through actions, thoughts, and desires.

Although not often talked about (because church members as a whole are not ready), you can (6) receive the confirmation that your exaltation in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom is guaranteed. This is called our Calling and Election. Once we have endured to the end for a sufficient length of time, and have a mighty change of heart, you have the chance to get a Second Comforter: Jesus Christ. The scriptures are filled with accounts of individuals who have beheld the face of God. This privilege is in no way reserved only for prophets. The Lord has promised, "It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am." (D&C 93:1; John 14:21.) This privilege is something for which the Lord tells us to strive: "Seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life." (D&C 101:38.)

How do we get our Calling and Election? On May 17th, 1843, it was revealed to Joseph Smith that "the more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood." (D&C 131:5) So you must have it manifested to you by the Spirit of Prophecy (the Holy Ghost), and you must use the power that comes from the Holy Priesthood. But this eternal guarantee will come to us when God knows we are ready. "And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will." (D&C 88:67-68)

In conclusion, the Holy Ghost is a gift from God given to us to aid us in receiving the greatest gift of all--eternal life and exaltation. Having the knowledge you now learned, read John 17 and you will gain new insights. The fourth article of faith states, "We believe in the first principles of the gospel..." Those are the first principles, not only principles. That means we have must to learn. Until we obtain our Calling and Election, there is only so much doctrine we can learn on our own. "Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do." (2 Nephi 32:6) What will Christ teach you? He will teach you about your eternity. In time, you will (7) be exalted, and become perfect even as our Father in Heaven is perfect--of Him, in Him, and through Him we can have the fullness of His power and love. How merciful is our God who loveth his children on a small earth far away that I testify He created.