Have I Received the Holy Ghost?
Each baptized person who joins the LDS Church has hands laid upon their heads afterwards. They then receive the injunction to “receive the Holy Ghost.” So, the real question that they should be asking themselves is: Have I really received the Holy Ghost?
Receiving the Holy Ghost as Intended
Nephi explained this at the end of his 71 years of mortal probation:
2 Wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me, save it be a few words which I must speak concerning the doctrine of Christ; wherefore, I shall speak unto you plainly, according to the plainness of my prophesying.
…
8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.
9 And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.
…
13 …I know that if ye shall follow the son, with full purpose of heart… that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water… then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost…
…
17 Wherefore do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that they might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path that leads to eternal life…”
Three Baptisms Inseparably Connected
Joseph Smith taught:
“We will leave this subject here and make a few remarks upon baptism the baptism of water with the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost attending it. All three are necessary and inseparably connected. A man must be born of water and the spirit in order to get into the kingdom of god… There is one God, one Father, one Jesus, one hope of our calling, one baptism that is all three baptisms make one.” (Joseph Smith, April 7, 1844, Nauvoo, IL; DHC, volume 6, pp.316-7)
We can see that all three baptisms are important in order to consider ourselves baptized. This means that these three baptisms must be obtained to consider ourselves as having received the Holy Ghost. Joseph Smith said this teaching is “the same as the revelations which I have given and taught for fourteen years about baptism.“
How Do I Receive the Holy Ghost?
After His resurrection when the Savior appeared to the Nephites He declared,
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite, spirit him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost
The Lord states that “a broken heart and a contrite spirit” is the requirement of Him. This is how we receive the added glory to our spirits called “The Gift of the Holy Ghost”. The broken heart is an act of full submission to the Lord. The opposite would be a “hard heart”.
The Lord requires us to lay all we have upon the altar in full repentance. The contrite spirit is the act of fully seeking the Lord’s will in all things. The baptism of fire is light or glory that comes down upon a person to make them clean. This is a “remission of sins” that prepares one to stand in the presence of God. This may occur many times during one’s mortal life, but someone receives the Gift of the Holy Ghost only once. Jesus described the rebirth in John 3:1-8 and Alma outlined it in Mosiah 27:23-29.
What Happens When the Holy Ghost is Received
The Gift of the Holy Ghost advances a person to a Son or Daughter of God. This is what occurred to King Benjamin’s people that he spoke to in Mosiah 5:7-15. Because of the covenant these people made, they became “born of Him and have become His Sons and His Daughters.” As they continue steadfast, they would have everlasting salvation and eternal life. Nephi emphasized that entering the gate doesn’t happen until after the complete baptism (2 Nephi 31:17-21).
It makes perfect sense when we understand that Jesus Christ is the Gatekeeper, because He is the one that baptizes with fire and bestows the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The LDS temple endowment allegory illustrates an important point. When someone receives the baptism of fire and gift of the Holy Ghost, that person enters into Terrestrial glory in a saved condition.
Knowing If You Have Received the Holy Ghost
Now we return to the main question: Have I received the Gift of the Holy Ghost? There are two ways to determine if you have received this total Baptism (Water, Fire and Holy Ghost). One way is if you can speak with the tongue of Angels (2 Nephi 31:13, Helaman 5:45). The other way is to go to the Lord and ask Him. He is the one that baptizes you with Fire and the Holy Ghost. He would know.
Some may mistakenly think that giving all diligence to service in the church will pass the test of a broken heart and contrite spirit. These things (done in the right spirit) may help. However, unless one is truly repentant (turning one’s heart totally to God) and follows every word from God through revelation, that person is still a “foolish virgin.”
After serving three missions, serving as a Bishop, working in the temple for 16 years, being on three Stake High Councils, teaching both youth and adult classes, serving as a scoutmaster in three different wards, I went to the Lord and asked if I had received the baptism of fire and baptism of the Holy Ghost. I received an immediate answer of no. After further prayer, I learned that I would receive in the near future, if I faithfully followed the steps to prepare for the Holy Ghost.
I continue to ask the Lord “What lack I yet?” And I seek to have a broken heart and contrite spirit. It is my hope that the things I have shared with you, that I know is true, will be helpful to you.
Drew Laudie
