The Second Best Gift

Christmas is over. Now as we are back at work and school, you might be asked, "What did you get for Christmas?" Or, "what was your favorite gift?" Since we all want and need different things,what you think is a great gift may not be what someone else would want. If you asked a young child to rank his or her gifts, he might say, "The lego set I got was awesome, but I didn't want socks."

During the month of December, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, launched an initiative called, "He is the Gift."  The video and website taught that Jesus Christ is the ultimate gift given to us by a loving Heavenly Father. Because Jesus was born and atoned for our sins, we can all be resurrected. Jesus Christ it he first best gift that cannot be bought. In ranking the gifts we receive from our Heavenly Father, I would say that the Holy Ghost is the second best gift. Not a lesser gift like socks, but another important gift that will help us return to our Heavenly Father.

In our church lessons the last couple of weeks we've discussed prayer, guilt, and loving those who share different beliefs than us. During each of those lessons, members of the church expressed differing opinions, sometimes almost contradictory ideas. In a religion that might be viewed as restrictive, there is actually a lot of ambiguity. Joseph Smith, the prophet through which The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was restored said, "I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 2011, 281–91). How can we govern ourselves? How can we know if we are making good choices? How do we know if our prayers are sincere enough, if we've been accepting and loving but open with our friends, if the guilt we feel means we need to repent or that we need to learn to say no? The answer is to use the gift of the Holy Ghost.

As Mormons we believe that the Godhead consists of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. They are distinct personages. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have bodies. The Holy Ghost is a spirit. All people can feel the Holy Ghost. He testifies of truth, bears witness of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and guides us in receiving personal revelation. When you hear truth, the Holy Ghost helps you feel warm and happy, sometimes tingly. That is how people who are not members of our church can learn and pray and discover for themselves if the gospel is true. You can feel the Holy Ghost in any circumstance where truth is taught. After baptism, members receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Men with priesthood authority confer the gift by laying their hands on the head of the recipient and saying the ordinance to receive the Holy Ghost. Then as a member, if you are trying to keep the commandments, you can have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. When I want to know if the guilt I feel about saying no to someone means I need to repent or that I just need to say no, I can pray and receive thoughts or feelings from the Holy Ghost. If I read The Book of Mormon and want to know if it is true, I can pray and the Holy Ghost will give me a peaceful, reassuring feeling that the words are scripture. If I want to tell my friend about an experience I had at church, but I'm afraid she might be offended, I can say a prayer that I'll speak with love and the Holy Ghost will guide me.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate gift all year long. The Holy Ghost is the second best gift which can guide us in making individual choices so we can be happy and return to our Heavenly Father.