Gospel Principles
Unit 6: The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Chapter 21: The Gift of the Holy Ghost
Concept 3: How Do We Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
"People who have been baptized and confirmed are given the gift of the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands by the elders of the Church. The Lord said, "whoso having faith you shall confirm in my church, by the laying on of the hands, and I will bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost upon them" (D&C 33:15).
Every worthy elder of the Church, when authorized, may give the gift of the Holy Ghost to another person. However there is no guarantee that the person will receive inspiration and guidance from the Holy Ghost just because the elders have laid their hands on his or her head. Each person must "receive the Holy Ghost. "This means that the Holy Ghost will come to us only when we are faithful and desire help from this heavenly messenger (see Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 313).
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. President David O. McKay said: "One chief purpose of life is to overcome evil tendencies, to govern our appetites, to control our passions- anger, hatred, jealousy, immorality. We have to overcome them; we have to subject them, conquer them because God has said: "...the Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples" (Helaman 4:24), nor will it "...always strive with man" (2 Nephi 26:11)" ("Emotional Maturity," Instructor, Sept. 1959, p. 281)
Discussion
What must we do to receive the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost?"