In his Sunday morning remarks, Elder Jay E. Jensen of the Presidency of the Seventy spoke of the spiritually essential subject of the Holy Ghost and revelation.
While a young missionary serving in Texas, Elder Jensen learned for himself that the Father and His Son were real through the quiet promptings by "the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost."
"From that experience, I witnessed Alma's counsel to 'awake and arouse [my] faculties to conduct an experiment upon [His] words,'" he said. "These words or seeds have grown into trees, indeed giant trees of testimony. The process continues with more experiments upon the word resulting in additional trees of testimony, now a veritable forest based on revelation through and by the Holy Ghost."
Elder Jensen spoke of Christ's visit to the Americas as recorded in 3rd Nephi. He taught His disciples about the Holy Ghost, who then taught groups of people what they had learned. The people knelt and prayed. Their desire was to be given the Holy Ghost. The Savior appeared to them and reinforced the importance of the Holy Ghost.
"Based on this Book of Mormon event, I understand better why President Wilford Woodruff said 'that the gift of the Holy Ghost is the greatest gift that can be bestowed upon man....It is not restricted to men, nor to apostles or prophets; it belongs to every faithful man and woman and to every child who is old enough to receive the gospel of Christ.'"
The Holy Ghost, he added, is the third member of the Godhead. He knows all things and has several important roles, foremost among them is to teach and testify of the Father and the Son. He also reveals the truth of all things and He leads to do good. President Thomas S. Monson exemplifies this important role of being led to do good.
"He has taught the importance of not ignoring a spiritual prompting from the Holy Ghost, to visit someone and minister to them and rescue the one."
In the absence of such a minister in troubled times, the Holy Ghost can offer comfort and direction in times of sadness and uncertainty.
Elder Jensen said the gift of revelation has influenced his testimony of the Book of Mormon. The gospel's anchors of faith, he added, can be confirmed by revelation through the Holy Ghost,
"The Holy Ghost is real and He is the testator, revelator, comforter, guide and supernal teacher." — Jason Swensen
