Workings of the Holy Ghost

There are many who do not truly understand the workings of the Holy Ghost as they should. There are many (both in the Church and out of it), that have trouble discerning if they have been touched by the Holy Ghost or Spirit of God. There are many who by frustration in failing to know the ways of the Holy Ghost, resign to denying the Holy Ghost exists or rejecting any possibility of his work. With this, there are many outside the Church who do not have the correct counsel and teachings about the Holy Ghost and with incorrect beliefs and doctrines, make incorrect claims and tote foolish doctrines of what the Holy Ghost is and how he works. Why is this? Why is it that so many people have no real understanding of the Holy Ghost?

Let us learn a bit about what is required to perceive and understand the workings and manner of the Holy Ghost.

Lack of Experience

This is one of the single most important answers to the lack of understanding of the Holy Ghost, the "lack of experience". This pertains to those who have no knowledge, will have no experience, and those who have some knowledge by study, but no understanding and application of that knowledge gained by first hand experience.

To speak in scriptural terms, many have tried to explain the Holy Ghost by way of the scriptures, by the letter of the word, but sorely fell short because they have no experience with the Holy Ghost. They tote beliefs handed down from generation to generation claiming it is God's word, yet by that same belief have not truly experienced the Holy Ghost. Such claims that the "Holy Ghost is always within me" is one of the fallacies people adhere to with the idea that the Bible supports it, when it does not.

It is like someone who has no medical experience but has studied medical books. For that person to truly know and understand surgery, requires experience, which requires the "application of knowledge". This principle is the same regarding the Holy Ghost. With this lack of experience, what do many fall back into, when they "judge" the testimonies of others? They fall back into their own "personal interpretation" because there is nothing else for them to use, and that is affected by personal bias and limitations of the mortal mind. Yet, these people call it "reasoning", but fail to see that in the absence of true spiritual experiences with the Holy Ghost, and the lack of proper doctrine from God, all they can rely on are "personal interpretations" (2 Peter 1:20) of the letter of the word.

When a person has knowledge and sufficient experience with the Spirit, he or she will be able to judge or discern the words of another as to whether they are of God or not, and if they are properly edified. Experience is very important in order to learn the word of God properly and in all experiences with the Holy Ghost, there are definite "feelings". Generally speaking, no one can have any experience in life of anything without involving feelings. IT is what gives us the feeling of what is right, what is wrong, what is missing or lacking or fulfilling. If a person denies or rejects "feelings" as part of knowing and understanding the Holy Ghost, they have effectively locked the Holy Ghost out of their life. The Holy Ghost does not make a regular "physical" appearance before us, neither does he write letters, sends e-mails or gives physical signs to communicate truth. He "impresses" and "enlightens" our hearts and minds, and in these experiences are definite feelings. If a person is untrained and inexperienced in how he/she feels with the touch of the Holy Ghost or the "communion" with the Holy Ghost, will likely miss the experience when it comes, or end up misleading themselves that they have the Holy Ghost because of false or self-generated feelings.

Misinterpretations are more likely in a person with little or no experience with the Holy Ghost. This experience I speak of, that is needed, is not from a single event of the burning bosom, but from repeated events over time where the person learns and refines his/her ability to discern when they are inspired, touched or lead by the Holy Ghost.

In turn, let me briefly speak about the Holy Ghost himself. Due to false doctrines created by the creeds in the first centuries after the death of the last apostle, the Holy Ghost was made to be some obscure essence or thing within the workings of God. Something that has no real substance other than a "presence" induced by some effigy. There is nothing obscure about the Holy Ghost. He is distinct and a real personage of the Spirit, having his own intelligence and thought.¹ In saying this, the Holy Ghost is a very intelligence being and Spirit of God. He has the power to discern the faith of each person and has the knowledge and ability to impart inspiration and guidance in accordance to the individual abilities and limitations of people. This means that the Holy Ghost addresses a person in accordance to their faith, not in accordance to a belief or action. In this case, I am making a distinction between faith and belief.

In all cases, in the works by the Holy Ghost, he always adheres to the laws and principles of God for all inspirations or personal revelations. This means the Holy Ghost will not give revelation or inspire about God's doctrine or of things to a person who, even unknowingly, are in violation of God's laws and principles. In that case, the Holy Ghost may reprove that person to warn him/her of their behaviour, but generally will tend to withdraw until that person has corrected him/herself. Else, it would be the same as the Holy Ghost supporting and condoning apostate beliefs and/or actions. This is an important distinction, because it shows the affect of God's law of faith and works.

What of the faithful that are inexperienced? If a person is inexperienced regarding the workings of the Holy Ghost, and they sincerely seek to gain these experiences should not fret or fall to discouraging tripe about the Holy Ghost. This Spirit of God is perfectly capable of teaching a faithful truth seeker, imparting experiences to teach, lead and train. After all, he has the entire knowledge, wisdom and experience of God at his disposal. For a faithful person to gain these experiences, must embark on a practice of proper study, prayer, diligence in seeking the Spirit of God, learning line by line, and suffering mistakes and repenting them. A person who is sincere and humble, knowing to be continually repentive, will gain the grace of God if they err in the process of learning and gaining experience with the Holy Ghost. In short, "have faith" the Holy Ghost can teach and guide you.

Distinction in his Communication

When the Holy Ghost affects a person, he touches their heart and mind to cause a "feeling" within that person, usually known as an "impression". That person will experience these feelings or impressions as something unique and different from their own feelings and thoughts. The feeling or impression was not following any particular line of induced "logic", or contemplation, but suddenly appears as distinct and separate from what a person was doing or thinking at the time. The purpose to this pattern is to give a "distinction" between our own created feelings and thoughts to that from the Holy Ghost. To learn about this distinction is important, and this advice should not be taken lightly.

Impressions or feelings hold information and understanding. Thoughts, impressions or feelings can be something that gives a particular focus to pursue, or provides understanding to something which we had asked about, or a confirmation to something we were unsure to accept or take. Either way, it is a person who receives a message that he/she has not yet heard. Just as a person suddenly hears a transmission on short-wave radio.

What does experience have to do with it?

The relationship between experience and the Holy Ghost, versus just the letter of the word, is important. Imagine having no previous experience in tasting an apple versus an orange, but you have read about it extensively. One day someone gives you "apple sauce" and you say "what is this? A person who has book knowledge of something is unable to clearly relate to it, but may "suppose" what it is, but certainly does not truly know. This lack of recognition is because of the lack of a "life experience" (John 6:63) on the matter. It is not until they experience an "apple" and "orange" can they then say, "I know this is an apple", as opposed to an orange. When Jesus said that his words are spirit and they are life, he meant it in a literal way. To understand the "life of the word", a person must experience it. How can I say this? Well, it is not only printed in the King James Bible, but I have experienced it many times, and with that experience I relate that knowledge and understanding to you. In fact, I will go as far as saying that "personal revelation" does include the spirit and life of God's word. We would not "experience" revelation without it, and Amen to that.

Take close note to the words of Jesus Christ in John 6:63. The Lord has given us a condition of the words that he spoke. This is the same as a "principle and a law". If the words of God are not spiritual and not life, they are not of God. Remember I said that the Holy Ghost abides in all laws and principles of God? This is one of them and be assured that the Holy Ghost will follow these principles and laws, else it is not the Holy Ghost.

In the Bible and Book of Mormon, we can read life experiences of good vs evil, of the Spirit, of revelation, of visions, of discernment, of falsehoods etc. Not once can a person truly understand what those scriptures mean until they have had a life experience in that same thing. By reading about them within the gospel, only by the "letter of the word", they cannot know the Spirit of God, neither his works. (2 Corinthians 3:6). Can a person truly understand the suffering of Jesus Christ until they have experienced a similar suffering as he? Can anyone truly know what it was for Jesus to bear the sins of the world upon him, unless they have experienced, to some degree, the same heaviness? Yet, we see so many people proclaim their book knowledge is true, with no experience at all.

Some may say "how ridiculous, how can anyone know?", to my example of the suffering by Jesus Christ. Is it ridiculous? – Nay! A person, even myself, can say with conviction, that the Lord Jesus Christ will teach a faithful person what it was like, to give to him or her a small degree of that experience so they can say, as a true witness and testimony, that Jesus Christ suffered our sins as payment to the Father's justice. Such an experience confirms the truth found in the gospel, and strengthens faith of the believer.

Experience as these, is one of the traits of how the Holy Ghost works, and is one of the "distinctions" to his inspirations, visions, or personal revelations. These experiences are profound, deep, encompassing and revealing, yet still subtle and quiet. It is things as these that goes beyond mere belief and deepens faith.

It is these distinctions that the Holy Ghost gives to the faithful seekers. These distinct experiences denote the Holy Ghost. Such experiences as finally understanding the word of God in a manner that neither you or I can ever conjure up. These distinctions are coupled with clarity and an increased scope of understanding and perception. The feeling of "rightness" or "righteousness", that is filled with peace, stability and direction. There is no confusion in these experiences, and yet they are quite distinct from our own thoughts. So much so, that they cannot be taken as "normal" each time. This distinction never ends, no matter the level of experience a person has with the Holy Ghost. If a person thinks they have lost that "distinctiveness" in experiencing inspiration, then they have not received the Holy Ghost, but are likely experiencing their own thoughts on the matter.

Are these distinct feelings and experiences always like the exhilarating "Eureka"? The answer is no, more often than not they are quiet and subtle, but distinct none the less and a person needs to learn how to discern the subtlety of the Holy Ghost. Something that can never be learned from or through the black and white letters of text.

Faith and Works and the Holy Ghost

The infamous debate in Christendom is about "faith versus works". It has been one of the most widely used criticisms against this Church of Jesus Christ (LDS Church). Many attempts were made by other Christians to denounce the Book of Mormon and Church doctrine that faith not works is what the Bible says, where the Church stands that works and faith are important and cannot be separated. Yet the Christian communities prevail in their beliefs, albeit blindly, and in this case with a very sore blindness.

When I realized the connection between faith, works and the Holy Ghost, I was astounded, especially at the sense it made. When applying this "revelation", I saw how connected this was with how the Holy Ghost works. How simple it is, staring us straight in the face in the pages of the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

Faith is dead without works, ( James 2:26 / Alma 37:41 ) meaning that faith is idle, unused, etc. To be idle in our faith, would it not be reasonable to see that the Holy Ghost does not inspire idle men and women? Consider, when you sincerely read the scriptures, study and contemplate, seeking answers and/or direction, have you experienced inspiration, the "quiet eureka"? Is this not showing that study, contemplation, research etc, when done sincerely to seek truth and understanding is "good works" that invites the Holy Ghost because it feeds and brightens the Light of Christ within us?. Is it not true that the Lord has said that if we feed on his word, that we would be filled? (Matthew 5:6) The "filling" not only refers to feeling the power of God's word, but also refers to the actions of the Holy Ghost to sustain, confirm and support us, by "filling us" as well? ( Acts 4:31 / 3 Nephi 12:6 )

Do you see the connection between the manner of work of Holy Ghost and faith and works?

All good things of the spirit, yields this "filling" to the degree of good that is done. The act of faith, in a righteous manner, obedience to the will of God, his Church and prophet, are all part of "faith and works". Now those ex-Mormon's who have said that they have never had the Holy Ghost experience, can now (hopefully) see that something was amiss with their "faith and works". Some "ex-Mormon's" have stated they did all kinds of works when members of this Church, but that has not gained the Holy Ghost. Have they forgotten the part of faith? How much have they wavered in their beliefs and faith? How they may have contended against the Church, it's leaders and/or doctrines, if not in act, surely in heart and mind? Maybe their private life is not consistent with their "works" in the Church? I hope some see the connections I am showing between faith, works and the Holy Ghost.

Personal righteousness is paramount in the responsibility to be ready as a pure vessel for the works of the Holy Ghost to enter or to impart knowledge and understanding. This is where faith and works is also paramount. Waiver in any degree looses that much more of the opportunity to experience and learn about the Holy Ghost. What of ungratefulness, is that not part of "faith and works" also?

As I have said, the Holy Ghost abides in all the principles and laws of God. This includes "righteousness, obedience, goodness, patience, longsuffering, enduring, faithful actions," and so on. If you have problems with your personal righteousness, then it is time to take a serious review of your life, choices, issues and all things that affect your faith and exercise of personal righteousness. For example, the word of wisdom, how many members have argued and justified some "exceptions", without really knowing the affect of those exceptions to personal righteousness. With the personal desire to find exception to the rules, doctrines, laws and principles of God, then the Holy Ghost is likely not to involve himself with your exceptions. This does not deny that some exceptions to some things exist. What I speak about here is the desire to find these exceptions to excuse oneself from the self-responsibility to personal righteousness. This is a subtle game, and we are always the losers in it when we seek to compromise righteousness, for that closes the door to the Holy Ghost. Is it any wonder that the "other Christians" have not the "fill" from the Holy Ghost, because they disbelieve in the eternal connection between faith and works? When compromising scripture, to satisfy personal belief, they have altered and diminished their faith so much that they have closed the door to the Holy Ghost. This gives credence to the scripture of what we do here, so shall we do there? (Luke 16:10) Which says, in terms of personal righteousness, compromise one part of God's word to satisfy personal issue or belief, and you will compromise your personal righteousness, affecting your faith and works and thereby push away the Holy Ghost.

When any Christian compromises his/her personal righteousness, they undermine their faith and their actions (works). In doing so, do they not loose the right to question others who have kept personal righteousness?

Letter of the Word

We see so many "believers" of Jesus Christ, having only knowledge of the letter of the word from the Bible and trying to teach others about the Holy Ghost, as they judge against those who give a true spiritual testimony and witness by the Holy Ghost. It is like those who have no life in them, but only the letter trying to see the life of the word in others, or is like the blind trying to judge a another who has sight.

People who have had experience with the Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost or the Spirit of God, or the Spirit (all names to refer to the teaching and witnessing Holy Ghost), will be ones who rely more on faith and the spirit of the word, having no interest in just the letter of the word. These people seek the "spirit of the word" as much as they seek the knowledge.

Read 2 Corinthians 3:6. There is a reason why the Apostle Paul gave the epistle found in verse 6. During the time of the early Christian Church, there were many interpretations flying around regarding the doctrines taught by Jesus Christ, that the apostles had to address. In this epistle Paul spoke of the source of God's word and how a person can become able and sufficient ministers of God's word, which the sufficiency comes from God spiritually speaking, not from or by the letter of the word.

Paul is telling us that those who follow only the letter of the word, are following their own private interpretation. This shows us, by Paul's epistle, that reading and studying the scriptures on our own (key note, "on our own") is wholly insufficient for anyone to become able ministers of God's word.

To have the "sufficiency" to preach the word of God and even to understand it, requires God, which is his Spirit. This is seen in how Paul spoke of "turning our hearts to the Lord" in,

To acquire the spirit of the word, which is the sufficiency Paul spoke of, requires that we turn our hearts to the Lord and seek his Spirit to teach us.

Teachings from the Holy Ghost is "distinctly" different from the methods we use to teach ourselves. The words, "man's wisdom teacheth" refer to the limitations of man's logic to conceive and perceive spiritual things. The Holy Ghost does not teach by the "letter of the word", therefore, do not expect to learn beyond the letter in the absence of the Holy Ghost. To learn by the "letter of the word" is therefore insufficient to know God's word properly and by that insufficient to know the workings of the Holy Ghost.

Will the Holy Ghost claim other Churches are false?

As much as we have claimed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, by the testimony and witness of the Holy Ghost, there have been other Christian's who have venomously denied our testimonies by claims the Holy Ghost testified to them this Church is false. Such counters can fool many unprepared people, and unfortunately, cause them to questioned their own spiritual experiences, leaving them a bit doubtful or confused as to whether or not the Holy Ghost actually gave such a counter testimony. In rescue, the answer to this dilemma is that these counter claims in the name of the Holy Ghost are attempts to "cast doubt" and such is not the way of God.

Look at such claims again. The claim by others outside this Church has been to cast doubt. They give such a claim they have such a testimony and witness by the Holy Ghost to deny this Church, but with that claim or "false testimony and witness", what have they given? They have given only doubt, contradiction, contention, and confusion, because from what they say, comes no direction and sureness. Statements that we are wrong, we are false, we are this and that, holds no spiritual direction and no spiritual stability. Imagine trying to sustain your life with so many vague negatives, where all the claims say to the affect that "everything is a falsehood", yet give no teaching or direction of what is true and confirmed as true by the Holy Ghost.

Have you ever thought to ask as to what "spirit" are they speaking from?

Up to now, I have spoken much that God speaks words that are spirit and life. Paul clearly says that sufficiency to preach (minister) the word of God comes from God, not from ourselves. This speaks of the "spirit of" something. It is either the 'Spirit of Truth" or "spirit of falsehood", the "spirit of right" or the "spirit of wrong". These others have spoken with the spirit of denial, contradiction and contention. Their claims are geared to give a testimony of rejection, not direction. To create confusion, not clarity. How can anyone know the truth if all that is given are denials? Such a pattern of denials and rejection are not of God, for he is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33) For what purpose are these denials, but only to caste doubt and that is the work of wicked men and the devil. (James 3:13-17) God works to give truth, understanding and clarity. For him to cast doubt, even just to persuade others not to join or believe in a church, would be a god that promotes doubt and confusion, and we know God the Father is no such person.

Ok, who now thinks that I just spoke against the First Vision by Joseph Smith? On first impression it may seem that I have, but you would need to seriously note the differences between the First Vision and those who claim the Holy Ghost has rejected this Church. These differences are:

1. The First Vision is a direct appearance of God the Father and his son, the Lord Jesus Christ - versus - a testimony by those who reject the Church, having no such confirmation that what they say comes from God.
2. There is no doubt cast or existing in the experience Joseph Smith had in the First Vision. God clearly gave Joseph Smith a revelation, in accordance to Joseph's initial goal of seeking God to ask as to what church should he (Joseph) join. For anyone to have such a direct experience as that, would have no doubt at all within that experience. - versus - doubt cast by another mortal and his/her words where there is nothing confirming the truth of what they say, not even a spiritual feeling of confirmation.
3. The First Vision, God gave a commandment to Joseph Smith, and that commandment was powered and strengthened by the experience of seeing God. This then is not a persuasion (look up the meaning of persuasion in the dictionary). - versus - the persuasive attempts by others to disbelieve in this Church.

By those differences, real and true, the First Vision of God denouncing the other "creeds" was a direct revelation given to Joseph Smith.

Putting aside the First Vision for the moment and let us take the position that we do not know which is God's Church, in order to show you more of what the Holy Ghost does or does not do.

We know that the Holy Ghost speaks truth and only truth. We know that the Holy Ghost does not enter into the spirit of denial, doubt, contention or confusion. The job of the Holy Ghost is to give witness of the Father, Jesus Christ and to teach and confirm truth. The Holy Ghost encourages all that is good and will not do anything that is against truth, because the Lord's Church, which ever one it is (assuming we do not yet know), is built on divine and eternal truth as found in the gospel, and would not be a true Church of God without it. Therefore the Holy Ghost does not speak against, or testify against any truth that belongs to God, no matter where that truth is found. Else that is the same as speaking against God, or God speaking against his own word.

This says that if a person happens to speak truth, is honest, does good, the Holy Ghost will support that man or woman even if they are not of God's Church. Why? - because God supports all good things (Matt 12:35 / Rom 10:15).

It is therefore true, that all Christian churches carry the Bible. We also carry the Bible and we confirm that the Bible is the word of God, so long as it is properly interpreted. Since the Bible is the word of God, then other Christian churches therefore, have "some truth". Since it is reasonable, then ask this question, "Will the Holy Ghost speak against God's truth?". The answer is "No". The Holy Ghost will not enter into any matter that would lead him or cause him to speak against any of God's truth, else he is not the Holy Spirit of God. Be careful not to take this precept beyond its scope. Just because the Holy Ghost confirms truth and other churches carry some truth, does not make them all the Church of God. Much more is required for any one Church to be truly of God, much more.

Therefore, still assuming that we do not know which is God's true Church, that a person hears truth within the walls of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will the Holy Ghost testify against this Church when such things are preached, whether or not the person recognizes it as God's truth?

The answer is no, because whether or not a church is God's church, God will not undermine his truth or compromise it or sacrifice it. When God gave Joseph Smith the First Vision and denounced other creeds, he did not specify which church he addressed, he addressed the false doctrines of other churches and God has nothing to do with such falsehoods.

What of the alternate? Will the Holy Ghost testify that the words spoken is God's truth? - Answer "Yes", but remember that a testimony by the Holy Ghost will only occur if it is God's will. This means that an absence of confirmation from the Holy Ghost is not necessarily a denial or a confirmation.

There is another important aspect a person needs to understand about how or when God gives such denouncements as in the First Vision. The aspect I speak of is the status of "prophet". The Lord God has not given any such vision or direction as found in the First Vision to anyone outside the calling of prophet, seer and revelator. Even on general principle, God will not give any person, in or out of this Church, any revelation through the Holy Ghost that denounces a church because he or she will not have the calling as prophet, other than the prophet of God himself. Such things are reserved for the Prophet of God, and not something any average person, even Bible advocates will get. - and Amen to that. This shows God is one of order, not confusion.

Holy Ghost does not Override Free Will

This is another aspect of the workings of the Holy Ghost that many need to learn. The Holy Ghost does not tell us what to think. He does not tell us what to decide. He does not tell us what to choose. He will not do anything that undermines, overrules, controls, manipulates or misleads "free will and choice". The grand gift of free will and choice was given to us by the Father, and salvation cannot be salvation if our choices between right and wrong, good and evil are controlled or manipulated. The task to choose is a serious responsibility, one that God will not supersede.

Any witness, testimony or anything revealed from the Holy Ghost will always, at all times, in every situation, respects and supports free will and choice. This means, for the Holy Ghost to deny any church, as a means to decide for that person, is simply wrong and not of God. This method of telling us what to decide or do, is Satan's method and the method of men who follow their own counsels. Therefore if some "spirit" tells you others are "wrong" and do not believe them, is not God's Spirit or the Holy Spirit, it is an ill or wrong spirit that has infiltrated your mind. It is our choice to believe or disbelieve. This manner of choice is imperative to our spiritual growth and Salvation. How can we learn God's word if we are told what to think? What value is the "seed parable" spoken by Jesus Christ ? (see Matt. 13:3-9, 18-23 / Mark 4:3-9, 14-20 / Luke 8:4-8, 11-15 )

So how does the Holy Ghost work in respect to our free will and choice?

The Holy Ghost reveals truth to a faithful person and that is all in accordance to their level and strength of faith. This is an important thing to remember. It is not by belief, it is by faith. When a person has true faith, he/she has belief, but a person who has belief, does not necessarily have faith.

Faith and free will and choice are interlocked with each other. A person of weak or lesser faith, will be easier to influence as to what they choose. A person of stronger faith will be harder to influence contrary to his/her faith. The Holy Ghost also knows this truth. If the Holy Ghost uses the weakness of a person's faith to "influence" him/her into a particular direction can amount to control. This is why the Holy Ghost will enlighten or inspire a person in accordance to their faith and in respect to their free will. Such a fine discernment is not found in those claims by others that the Holy Ghost testified to them that a church is false.

The freedom to choose between right and wrong, good and evil, yea or nay, among other "yes versus no" choices is ours to have and use at all times and the Holy Ghost, God himself or any of God's angels will not override or step over that Free will boundry. It is simply not God's way.

What does the Holy Ghost do?

The movement of the Holy Ghost is one of support, direction, truth, enlightenment and teaching. Not one of his communications to people, called impressions, inspiration or personal revelation, diverges from this pattern. Keeping in mind that he honours and respects free will and choice, that says that all that the Holy Ghost gives, will be to allow us to learn, understand and chose for ourselves. The Holy Ghost will confirm truth, he will enlighten us to see truth, he will inspire to what is good and right, and with all of that, we then can choose what is right over what is wrong.

How does this apply to testimony of a true Church?

By the way of truth, enlightenment, inspiration or personal revelation, a person will come to learn God's truth and learn to recognize what truth is. By this way, the Holy Ghost has taught us how to spiritually discern (1 Corinthians 2:14).

By this spiritual discernment, we can come to know what is the gospel of Jesus Christ and what is not. To discern what is the doctrine of God and what is not. In other words, to discern between false doctrines, the doctrines of men, and those doctrines that are of God. This then leads a person to perceive and choose the true Church of God. Not by way of rejection of other churches, but by way of the light of truth. Yet in that way, a person will come to know which is a false church versus a true Church of God.

This method of teaching and guidance to lead a person to see and understand truth so they can make the choices for themselves, can take time. In my case it took 5 years before I was ready to properly "discern" the truth Church of God. With others it may be less. What ever the time, be patient with this process and have faith that you will eventually come to know the truth. When you do, the Holy Ghost will confirm to you that you have found it. Your exercise of faith, properly, will guarantee success and the realization of the truth. Amen

Contradiction in their Beliefs

One of the contradictions that exist, but "not readily perceived", is that these others who claim this Church is false, also say that all revelation has stopped at the end of Bible times. Despite that, they continue to claim that they received a testimony, inspiration or revelation from the Holy Ghost that this Church is false.

Do you see the contradiction?

On one hand they deny that revelation from God continues beyond the times of the Bible, then they claim by the same method of God, to have a spiritual witness from the Holy Ghost (revelation) against this Church.

How can these people even support personal revelation and inspiration from God when they deny God sends any more revelation in the first place? When these people hold to contradicting beliefs, they will not receive any witness in so much as to pertaining to which church is true. This because they hold to falsehoods, and such falsehoods need removal before any revelation is received on the matter.

If these people stand by their claim they have received a witness or testimony from the Holy Ghost against this Church, then actually claim revelation from God continues beyond the Bible times, and since it continues, it then rightfully gives credence to the truth of Joseph Smith and his First Vision. But they do not want to admit that, would they?

Faith of Contention versus Faith in God

For the Holy Ghost to get into denials of churches, is to breed contention and "faith in contention", not the faith of God. This contending spirit is of the devil, encouraged by the devil, not encouraged by God.

This spirit of denial works against the development of faith. Is that not what happens to members who think they have a testimony of the Church, then hear these claims made in the name of the Holy Ghost, suddenly find their faith, even belief wavering? So how can a person know what is true and what is false? - answer, by learning truth from the Holy Ghost. Then line by line the Holy Ghost teacheth, and that person will develop their faith to the point where they can discern what is true or false in those things which they have been prepared.

Consider, a person whose only focus is to preach contention and denial of others. They focus most of their efforts to work against (any) church, claiming to interpret the Bible (with that same spirit of contention in them), now suddenly have the "spirit of truth" in their interpretations as they deny a church?

What this says is that without the "spirit of prophecy", "spirit of truth", there is no such thing as a proper spiritual discernment by merely reading the letter of the word. Why is this?

For at least two reasons. Good spiritual discernment requires the meat of the word, meaning the depth of understanding and experience of God's word. The written word, is "milk". The "meat" comes only by the Spirit. Second, the "letter alone" is death, read the Bible. Two, the spirit of prophecy or the spirit of truth comes only by personal humbleness, sincerity, obedience and faith, because it is only then a person is like a "child" who is teachable. Contentious seekers and doer's are not teachable and the Holy Ghost will have nothing to do with contention. Therefore those who open "ministries" specifically focused to attack, deny, or alter this Church are workers of the devil and aspirations of foolish men and women.

The Bible Interprets Itself

Where is the Holy Ghost in this one?

Consider, when a person who is truly seeking truth for the first time, reads the Bible and comes to an awareness or subtle enlightenment of truth, is that person interpreting by the letter or by faith?

Answer is "by faith".

Enlightenment did not come from the letter or the Bible itself, it came directly from the Holy Spirit. No temporal thing on this earth has the power to enlighten anyone. All temporal things, in and of themselves are dead. (1 John 2:15) This says that the belief that the Bible interprets itself, is a false statement. But there are those who disbelieve the presence of the Holy Spirit so they make the outward manifestation as some mystical tool.

The Bible, even the Book of Mormon are inanimate objects, having insufficient light in and of themselves. Since reading the scriptures is insufficient by themselves. President George Cannon said (and quoted by the current Apostle James E. Faust),

What or where do people get foolish ideas that the Bible interprets itself? From the lack of personal responsibility and lack of the Holy Ghost.

Holy Ghost and Personal Responsibility

The Holy Ghost will teach us how to discern between his impressions and those self-generated or those which are not of him. You or I are initially unable to discern these things by ourselves, and require a "separate source" (separate from us) to help us. As a teacher helps you learn to overcome your blocks, so does the Holy Ghost do the same. It is not you that teaches yourself of something you do not have in yourself.

Said another way, it is not from your personal feelings you understand the Holy Ghost, it is the Holy Ghost touching you that you learn by way of your "ability" to feel. As a teacher teaches you skills, to improve your dexterity, so does the Holy Ghost teach you skills to improve your dexterity of feeling and spiritual discernment.

These people who deny or question the "feelings" experienced from the Holy Ghost in terms of personal dimension are showing a serious lack of experience, knowledge and personal responsibility, by creating confusion by making the Holy Ghost the same as personally generated feelings, when that is not true.

When a person gets into a quandary about personal feelings versus the feelings given by Holy Ghost, that person is still in confusion. This is normal until a person decides to use that confusion as "truth" instead of seeing it only as confusion "for themselves". That person promotes the spirit of fear when they choose to use it as a claim of truth to deny or speak against revelation or against the Holy Ghost. Anyone who works from the perspective of denial, fails to see that they were guided by those same "personal feelings and shortcomings" in which they used as a claim to deny the works of the Holy Ghost and of others. This shows their claims as merely an opinion about the Holy Ghost. The only truth in what they say is that "they remain confused".

We do not use our feelings to get the Holy Ghost, we use the works of faith, along with sincerity, humbleness, obedience and personal righteousness. We are to trust God and his Holy Spirit to teach us and inspire us with his truth. We are to trust that God is capable of communicating his truth despite our shortcomings and personal feelings. We are to accept that the Holy Ghost is that "other person" who comes into our life and gives us a different perspective. Is that not a clear statement of faith?

That is our responsibility, to exercise our works of faith.

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ
Amen
MWarbinek

1. Bible Dictionary, "Holy Ghost"
2. Bergin, Allen E., Article -"Visions", Light Planet.com - About Mormons
3. Otten, Leaun G., Merrill, Bryon R., "Heavens are Open: The 1992 Sperry Symposium on Doctrine and Covenants and Church History", Chapter 16, "Protection Against Deception".
4. Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon, 2 vols., selected by Jerreld L. Newquist, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1974, 1:323 / (quoted by: James E. Faust, "Continuing Revelation," Liahona, Aug. 1996, 3)

• M. Russell Ballard, "Pure Testimony," Ensign, Nov. 2004, p40
• Bible Dictionary, "Holy Ghost"
• Bergin, Allen E. - Article "Visions", Light Planet.com - About Mormons, ( Allen Bergin is a professor emeritus of psychology at Brigham Young University)
• Otten, Leaun G., Merrill, Bryon R., "Heavens are Open: The 1992 Sperry Symposium on Doctrine and Covenants and Church History", Chapter 16, "Protection Against Deception".
• Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon, 2 vols., selected by Jerreld L. Newquist, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1974, 1:323 / (As quoted by: James E. Faust, "Continuing Revelation," Liahona, Aug. 1996, 3)