The Holy Ghost

Before Jesus Christ ascended into heaven he promised his disciples that they would have one that would teach and guide them as long as they had faith and would believe in him.
     When we are baptized we need to also receive the Holy Ghost, this usually takes place at the next sacrament meeting by the laying on of hands by worthy priesthood holders. Although after baptism we have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost we also have him before in a more limited capacity. We can still receive whisperings of the Spirit usually to receive witness to Gods love or truth of the gospel.
   The Holy Ghost has many purposes. He not only gives gifts of the spirit at his will and as he seems fit, but also will teach us and He is our guide and will council us and lead us, He will reveal Gods truth to us. The Holy Ghost will also comfort us in our trials, it is important that when we are troubled to seek his comfort or we risk the spirit of contention into our hearts. Satan looks for weakness in all of us and can easily destroy a fragile mind and chase from us our constant companion.
   Recognizing the guidance of the Spirit can be different for us, he does not speak directly to us but rather through us, that voice inside of us known also as our conscience. He will also guide us in other ways that will be subtle. For me I feel deep emotion when I feel that I am being prompted, I get that lump in my throat and my eyes water a bit when Gods truth and Christ's love is revealed to me
    Reading the scriptures and being familiar with Gods word is paramount to understanding how to recognize The Holy Ghosts guidance. I have found that at certain times the Spirit leads me to very specific scripture and it is almost always to answer a question I may have. Last year on the very day I was to baptize my daughter I was having a bit of a hard time, like who was I that I could baptize anyone, it was really distressing and I felt that I was not the right person to perform such a sacred ordinance. I prayed to seek answers to how I could be considered worthy, I was led to a scripture in Matthew when Jesus was baptized by John. I felt that this was personal witness from the Spirit to assure me that I indeed was worthy.
   The Spirit will never lead us to do anything that is not Gods will. If a prompting is contrary to the scriptures then it is not of The Holy Ghost and we should ignore such promptings.
   Prayer is another very important way to recognizing the presence of The Holy Ghost. This helps us to keep our minds and our hearts open to his guidance. He will help us and speak through us if we are open to him, as in prayer when we don't know what to pray for the Spirit will intercede and lead us to the right words.
    The Holy Ghost will never lead us into sin but if we form a habit of sinning then we risk missing his promptings and his guidance. In order to best follow and recognize the Holy Ghost we must turn away from sin, pray often to Heavenly Father, and study the scriptures, this will help tune us into his whisperings and promptings.
   I believe that we all can channel the Spirit in our own ways as long as it is in harmony with God. We all are a part of Gods eternal plan and in order to return to him we need to use the gifts that the Spirit gives us.
   I have a personal witness of The Holy Ghost as it was he who told me to trust the missionaries that I did not want to meet, that I would see the true love and the light of Jesus Christ through them and that I would know in a short time that what these young women say was truth, and that it is Heavenly Fathers will. I say this in the name of our saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.