Recognizing the Spirit

Last week I taught lesson 21 from the Gospel Principles manual in the Gospel Essentials class. I strongly felt that the most important part of the lesson to dwell on was Recognizing the Influence of the Holy Ghost. We started with a brief recap of exactly who the Holy Ghost is. I think sometimes the name or title we give him makes him seem so mysterious and supernatural that we forget that essentially he is a man - albeit without a physical body - and as such he has a personality and character. He is "one" with God the Father and Jesus Christ in such a way that - as their representative - he says and does what they would say and do.

A quote from David A Bednar:

The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit who bears witness to the truth. The Holy Ghost also is referred to in the scriptures as the Comforter (John 14:16-27, Moroni 8:26), a Teacher (John 14:26; D&C 50:14), and a Revelator (2 Nephi 32:5). It is through the Holy Ghost that the revelations of the Father and the Son are given. The Holy Ghost is the witness of, the messenger for, and the testifier of the Father and the Son.

(David A Bednar, Ricks College Devotional 31 Aug 99)

So, knowing that the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit) has a mission to reveal truth, it is important to understand how he reveals truth. Conversely, it is important to learn to distinguish what is not revelation from the Spirit.

My experience tells me that there is a fundamental misunderstanding of what revelation from the Spirit consists of, even among long-standing church members. Perhaps because we often talk of "feeling the Spirit" we forget the most crucial part of what the Spirit does. Focusing solely on feelings makes it easy to mistake our emotions for revelation. Hence it's unsurprising when class members believe the spirit to be "good, warm feelings" and get confused when they think they're feeling the spirit during a soppy film, listening to a pop song, or praying about something they really want even though it may be at variance with the teachings of the gospel.

Joseph Smith clarifies matters:

When you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass...

(Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 151)

This is key. The Holy Ghost is a revelator and therefore true spiritual experiences are always accompanied by revelation. Feelings by themselves are not enough. When we "feel" the Spirit, it is in response to "pure intelligence" or "sudden strokes of ideas" - we are having a positive reaction to revelation from God.

The Lord tells us this in Doctrine and Covenants 8:2-3.

Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation...

Again, it's emphasised that revelation occurs in both the mind and the heart - in other words, knowledge or thoughts/impressions accompanied by the feelings of peace, joy etc that Paul speaks of in Galatians 5.

Continuing Joseph Smith's above quote:

...thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.

It may still prove difficult at times to distinguish between our own thoughts and feelings and those of the Spirit, but Joseph makes clear that this is something we learn, just like any other talent or ability, so we shouldn't be discouraged if our personal revelation seems to be a trickle rather than a flood. By recognising and acting upon the small things, we can in time "grow into the principle of revelation".