Lesson 9; March 1st

The Lord described the church established by Joseph Smith on April 6th, 1830 "the only true and living church" on the earth (D&C 1:30). Very often I hear members use the former adjective, but rarely if ever do I hear anyone use the latter.

So what makes the church a "living" church?

• A living prophet
• Communication with a living God
• An open canon of scripture
• Revelation through the Holy Ghost, not only to the prophet, but to all baptized and confirmed members

When asked by the President of the United States what the difference was between his religion and all other religions, Joseph Smith answered that Mormonism differed in the mode and manner of baptism and of the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and that all other differences and distinctions were contained in the gift of the Holy Ghost (History of the Church, 4:42).

How is it that all the distinctions of the Lords one true and living church can be summed up and brought back to the gift of the Holy Ghost?

How might we, as members of the church, take for granted this marvelous gift?

What does the gift of the Holy Ghost allow for us to do?

• The Holy Ghost gives us revelation and teaches us the truth of all things (Moroni 10:5).
• The Holy Ghost comforts us (John 14:26).
• The Holy Ghost enables us to discern between good and evil (Moroni 7:16-17).
• The Holy Ghost is the means whereby we are baptized with fire (3 Nephi 11:35), and is therefore the means whereby we are sanctified and purified. Purged from all stain and made holy.
• The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead (A of F 1). When we are in His presence we are literally in the presence of God. No unclean thing can dwell with God. If we learn to live so that we can have this gift with us often, and strive for it always, we will be walking with God. Small wonder, then, that the one promise given in both Sacrament prayers is simply this, "that they may always have his spirit to be with them" (D&C 20:77, 79).

The gift of the Holy Ghost is the manifestation of God's grace, because of the matchless gift of the Atonement of Christ, that enables us to see, to discern, to know, to grow, and to become like our Father in Heaven.