Light of Christ vs. Gift of the Holy Ghost

   

                

Every person has something good in them, it's called the light of Christ. The light of Christ is in all of us because every single person on this Earth had already chosen to follow Jesus Christ in the pre-mortal life (read my blog on the Human Experience to learn more about pre-mortal life). We are now here living life on Earth and all searching for something more. We are all searching for our purpose and how to fulfill our purpose, consciously or not.

When we hear truth, the light of Christ is ignited, things begin to sound familiar! “The Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. . . . And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged” (Moroni 7:16, 18).

Now the other way we can recognize truth is by the Holy Spirit, also known as the Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead. The Holy Ghost is a spirit personage without a body of flesh and bones. The Holy Ghost's job is to testify of the truth and of the Father and the Son. Before baptism we feel the power of the Holy Ghost working on us and testifying to us so that we can make decisions to align our will with the Fathers. After Baptism by the authority of Jesus Christ, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

1 Nephi 10:19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.

The power or influence of the Holy Ghost is different than the gift of the Holy Ghost. When we have faith and are baptized we are also confirmed by the laying on of hands to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 8:17- Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

 Before baptism the Holy Ghost comes to testify, but leaves afterwards. The gift of the Holy Ghost is to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost when we are worthy. "To be worthy to have the help of the Holy Ghost, we must seek earnestly to obey the commandments of God. We must keep our thoughts and actions pure." Gospel Principles, (2011), 120–24.
During our mortal journey, God has made a way for us to recognize and know his truths. There is no GPS or other technology that can ever come close to the guidance we receive from the Holy Spirit!! I know that we need to follow the promptings that we receive from the Holy Ghost and that when we do, we will be led to happiness. I'm grateful for the light of Christ, especially as a missionary because it's amazing to watch the light be ignited when people here truth, the Spirit does that. And I'm grateful to have been baptized by one holding authority and to have been given the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. I'm grateful for God's plan and this gift to guide me back to Him.
3Nephi 12:6- And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.