Seeking confirmation from the Holy Spirit

[Gwen]

i agree mindset of the question is important. i think it's very important to ponder how we want to phrase our questions we bring to god, and keep that in mind when trying to understand the answer we get.

if i ask if the book of mormon is an inspired book that is not the same as asking if the church is the church i should join. there are lots of inspired books, written by ppl of many faiths. learning that yes a book is inspired doesn't mean join that church. i think there are many paths back to god. all those paths will have certian things in common but no two ppl walk the same path. we each need the holy ghost individually to lead us down our path. sometimes that requires asking specific questions looking for specific answers.

[rameumptom]

I believe the Holy Ghost works on many levels, not just one. The HG works upon all mankind through the Light of Christ/conscience (Moroni 7, D&C 88, 93). When a person seeks spiritual insight, particularly about Christ and the restored gospel, the HG will personally step in and witness to the person. Once baptized by water, the person can then be baptized with "permanent" fire of the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which can then become the constant companion of the person.

There is a difference between receiving a testimony and being converted. Both are events of the HG. Many people receive a testimony of Christ and the gospel through the HG, but few of them are converted.

We see this with Peter, who had a testimony when Jesus asked him who he was, and Peter responded, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Yet, Peter later denied Jesus three times. The resurrected Savior told Peter, "when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." And on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit gave many people a testimony, but converted Peter so that he stood solid and unafraid of his testimony of Christ.

The missionaries are good at helping people receive a testimony of the restored gospel, but it often doesn't stick. As the parable of the Sower shows that the seeds sometime grow, but do not take root or are strangled by the cares of the world, so are testimonies that do not lead to full conversion.

I'm sure PC has experienced much the same in his ministry, as well.

[rameumptom]

Gwen, years ago as a ward mission leader, I went with the full time missionaries (FTM) to visit an investigator named Alex. Alex had read some in the BoM and had been praying, but did not get an answer.

I asked him what he had been praying for. He said, that he might be shown the right way. I told him that his prayer had been answered, because the missionaries were already here showing it to him. Then I told him he needed to be specific in regards to the BoM and the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith.

The four of us knelt down and took turns asking God if the Book of Mormon was true and if Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. We asked God to give us the burning feeling in our breast if it were true, and to give us a stupor of thought if it wasn't. In this way, it was all spelled out specifically what we were asking for, and the response we were requesting as stated in Moroni's promise.

He received his testimony that evening, and was baptized soon afterward. I've seen this same thing occur dozens of times. It has not always led to baptism, because a testimony does not always lead to conversion, as I mentioned above. But each time, when the person was sincerely searching for the truth, the Spirit testified to him/her.

[marts1]

You reminded me of something our present prophet would say with that post ram.

[Traveler]

Are you sure? What is your response, then, to 3 Nephi 9:20?

Perhaps your use of the word "knows" leaves a lot of wiggle room, but I remember being electrified when I had an influential member pause in the middle of what he was doing and declare, "That feeling you feel right now: THAT'S the Holy Ghost."

And, though I'd felt that 'sensation' before, I hadn't clearly identified it as being the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. But when that declaration by this beloved brother was made to me, I caught fire as the Spirit affirmed a resounding, "Yes, he's right. This is me you feel."

Any truth that is known to man comes by influence of the Holy Ghost. If anyone has knowledge of any truth then they have experienced the influence of the Holy Ghost. They may not know at the time that it was the Holy Ghost but they have experienced what it is to know the truth of something. They also know if that knowledge and reassurance is current. If such knowledge was so long ago that they have forgotten they will "awake" and "remember" when influenced again by the Holy Ghost. The only reason there is doubt or forgetfulness is because the influence of the Holy Ghost is not present.

Also there is a difference between having been influenced by the Holy Ghost had having "recieved" the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Traveler

[prisonchaplain]

IMHO God is looking for a sincerity of heart. Hunger and thirst after righteousness. Be poor in spirit. Be meek. Seek me. Open the door (of your heart). Where it gets challenging is that we are also told to guard our hearts (against sin and heresy). Sometimes those two seem to be at odds. We want to be open to new truth we've not known, but careful not to grab ahold of "every wind of doctrine." In the end, sincere trust in God will help us navigate these spiritual waters.