Looking over some of these I can’t help but feel sorry for those who absorb this into their spirit. There’s mass confusion from one leader to the next with no solid foundational truth upon which to stand. It’s no wonder the #1 issue for many new ex-Mormons is a lack of confidence about God’s Holy Spirit, and how He operates.
I just cannot imagine living life without God’s Holy Spirit as a constant staple in my life. When I’m lonely, or unsure about life, without fail, He is always there to guide me along and clarify doubts for me in His word and His presence.
For the sake of space, I’ve not listed all of the references, and streamlined the ones I’ve used. To read the page in its entirety, click on the link below, additionally, I’ve included the links for speeches in the references provided on the original page.
As one of our regular visitors on our blog would say, ‘It’s all right there in the Bible!’ All one has to do is read three chapters from John’s gospel (14-17) to discover everything these men have professed as truth, is nothing but a lie.
As you look over these ask the Lord which scripture to use in rebutting these claims!
How To Cultivate and Keep the Gift of the Holy Ghost (Spirituality)
We Must Strive To Keep the Constant Companionship of the Holy Ghost
Conference Report, October 1944, p. 88; “We are not only to receive the Holy Ghost, being born again, the way the Lord has designed that it should be and has been in the days of the primitive Church, but we are to live and labor so as to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, and he will not dwell in unholy tabernacles.” – George F. Richards
Ensign, ‘Seek the Spirit of the Lord,’ April 1988, p. 5; “Spirituality–being in tune with the Spirit of the Lord–is the greatest need we all have. We should strive for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost all the days of our lives. When we have the Spirit, we will love to serve, we will love the Lord, and we will love those with whom we serve, and those whom we serve. (“Seek the Spirit of the Lord,” – Ezra Taft Benson
Ensign, “That We May Always Have His Spirit To Be With Us,” May, 2006, p. 30; “I recognize we are fallen men and women living in a mortal world and that we might not have the presence of the Holy Ghost with us every second of every minute of every hour of every day. However, the Holy Ghost can tarry with us much, if not most, of the time–and certainly the Spirit can be with us more than it is not with us. As we become ever more immersed in the Spirit of the Lord, we should strive to recognize impressions when they come and the influences or events that cause us to withdraw ourselves from the Holy Ghost.” – David A. Bednar
Spirituality is Maintaining the Constant Companionship of the Holy Ghost
Ensign, “Maintaining Spirituality,” Nov. 1979, pp. 15-16; “Spirituality comes by faith, repentance, baptism, and reception of the Holy Ghost. One who has the companionship of the Holy Ghost is in harmony with God. He is, therefore, spiritual. Spirituality is sustained by so living as to keep that companionship. Searching the scriptures is another powerful assist in maintaining spirituality. Alma bears witness to this in his account of the miraculous missionary accomplishments of the sons of Mosiah.
“They had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth,” he said, “for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
“The purpose of the sacrament is to promote the maintenance of spirituality. Both the revealed prayers over the bread and over the water contain the phrase, “that they [who partake] may … have his Spirit to be with them” (see D&C 20:77, 79).” – Marion G. Romney
Worthiness Necessary to Retain the Gift of the Holy Ghost
Ensign, “Always Have His Spirit,”, Nov. 1996, p. 61; “The blessings available through the gift of the Holy Ghost are conditioned upon worthiness. “The Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples” (Hel. 4:24; see also Mosiah 2:36-37; 1 Cor. 3:16-17). Even though we have a right to his constant companionship, the Spirit of the Lord will dwell only with us when we keep the commandments. He will withdraw when we offend him by profanity, uncleanliness, disobedience, rebellion, or other serious sins.” – Dallin H. Oaks
The Fundamentals of Maintaining Constant Companionship of the Holy Ghost?
Ensign, “Spirituality,” November 1985, p. 63; “How do we achieve spirituality? How do we attain that degree of holiness where we can have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost? How do we come to view and evaluate the things of this world with the perspective of eternity?
We seek spirituality through faith, repentance, and baptism; through forgiveness of one another; through fasting and prayer; through righteous desires and pure thoughts and actions. We seek spirituality through service to our fellowmen; through worship; through feasting on the word of God, in the scriptures and the teachings of the living prophets. We attain spirituality through making and keeping covenants, through conscientiously trying to keep all the commandments of God. Spirituality is not acquired suddenly. It is the consequence of a succession of right choices. It is the harvest of a righteous life.” – Dallin H. Oaks
Ten Ways to Increase Spirituality
Ensign, “Ten Ideas to Increase Your Spirituality,” Mar. 1999, 61; “In summary, in order to increase in spirituality, we must: 1. Read scriptures daily. 2. Really pray and not just say prayers. 3. Fast meaningfully. 4. Go to bed early and get up early. 5. Be of good cheer. 6. Work hard. 7. Be more concerned about how than where we serve. 8. Love everyone, but keep romantic feelings in their proper place. 9. Become more nearly one between our ideal and actual selves. 10. Open our mouths and bear testimony of truth.” – Joe J. Christensen (Seventy)
Must Keep Our Baptismal Covenant
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled, p. 233; “In order to have that Spirit guide us we must prepare ourselves for it. To do that, to be worthy of constant inspiration, we must keep the covenants we made at the time of baptism.” – Boyd K. Packer
Sacrament – Key to Gift of the Holy Ghost
Ensign, “The Aaronic Priesthood and the Sacrament, November 1998, p. 38; “The close relationship between partaking of the sacrament and the companionship of the Holy Ghost is explained in the revealed prayer on the sacrament. …
…Not one of you young men and not one of your leaders has lived without sin since his baptism. Without some provision for further cleansing after our baptism, each of us is lost to things spiritual. We cannot have the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and at the final judgment we would be bound to be “cast off forever” (1 Ne. 10:21). How grateful we are that the Lord has provided a process for each baptized member of His Church to be periodically cleansed from the soil of sin. The sacrament is an essential part of that process. …
…We are commanded to repent of our sins and to come to the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and partake of the sacrament in compliance with its covenants. When we renew our baptismal covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism. In this way we are made clean and can always have His Spirit to be with us. The importance of this is evident in the Lord’s commandment that we partake of the sacrament each week (see D&C 59:8-9).” – Dallin H. Oaks
Must Submit Our Will To God
Ensign, “That Spirit Which Leadeth to Do Good,” May 1997, p. 69; “The Holy Ghost will be our constant companion if we submit ourselves to the will of our Father in Heaven, always remembering Him and keeping His commandments.” – L. Tom Perry
Focus On Building the Kingdom
Gospel Standards, p.182; “If any man lacks the Spirit of God, let him go to work and labor for the advancement of the kingdom of God, and he will have the Spirit of God.” – Heber J. Grant
Must Keep the Commandments to Have Holy Ghost
Ensign, “If Thou Wilt Enter into Life, Keep the Commandments,” May 1996, p. 36; “Living the commandments brings us into harmony with Deity; we become one in purpose with the Father and the Son. When we are one with God, we walk with spiritual light. Our diligence in keeping the commandments allows the Holy Ghost to dwell within us. We are given the gift of personal revelation. This is a spiritual light that protects us and serves as a beacon, guiding us in righteous ways. It dispels the darkness of the adversary. So powerful is this light that it can reach us even when we are drawn into a black hole of sin so deep and so dark that we believe no spiritual light could ever penetrate.” – Robert D. Hales
The Importance of Prayer
Ensign, “Happiness Now and Forever,” November 1979, p. 71; “When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we must strive to become increasingly sensitive to its singular influence in our lives. Prayer is our communication link with God. He answers earnest prayer through the Holy Ghost, which brings inspiration, direction, and power into our lives.” – Richard G. Scott
Must Maintain a Spirit of Reverence, Inspiration Comes Easier In Peaceful Settings
Ensign, “Reverence Invites Revelation,” November 1991, pp. 21, 23; “Inspiration comes more easily in peaceful settings. Such words as quiet, still, peaceable, Comforter abound in the scriptures: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10; italics added.) And the promise, “You shall receive my Spirit, the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which shall teach you the peaceable things of the kingdom.” (D&C 36:2; italics added.). And in the spirit of reverence, I bear testimony that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that the Holy Ghost–our comforter, our teacher–will come to us if we will maintain a spirit of reverence.” – Boyd K. Packer
Must Rise Above the Degrading Things of the World
Ensign, November 1999, pp. 40-41; “The promptings of the Holy Ghost may come to you in a still, small voice. You cannot grow into the man you must become unless you first rise above the things of the world that clamor for your attention. For example, some of the world’s music is degrading, vulgar, and inappropriate and will drown out the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Bringing into your body substances forbidden by the Lord in the Word of Wisdom will prevent you from feeling and recognizing the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
The failure to live a clean and chaste life deadens the promptings of the Spirit. Take your thoughts to higher levels than the vulgar and immoral. Avoid objectionable television shows and movies, evil Internet sites, and all forms of entertainment that portray or encourage immorality and violence. Shun pornography like a deadly, contagious sin and disease. You cannot afford to become addicted to its bondage and slavery. It will drive the Holy Ghost and His influence from your life. “Growing into the Priesthood.” – Joseph B. Wirthlin
Must Make Every Sacrifice to Get the Gift of the Holy Ghost
Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p.110; “We should sacrifice to obtain the Spirit. As Saints of God, elders of Israel, we should be willing to devote time and labor, making every necessary sacrifice in order to obtain the proper spiritual qualifications to be highly useful in our several callings. And may the Lord inspire every heart with the importance of these matters that we may seek diligently and energetically for the gifts and powers promised in the gospel we have obeyed.” – Lorenzo Snow