Holy Ghost “Priceless” for His Sacred and Central Role in Conversion
Contributed By Jason Swensen, Church News staff writer
Elder Mervyn B. Arnold teaches MTC mission presidents, visitors' center and historic sites directors, and their companions about the Holy Ghost's role in conversion.
Article Highlights
- The Holy Ghost is essential to the conversion process.
- Strive to be worthy of the Spirit throughout your life.
“We just have to teach with the Spirit. There is absolutely no other way. We have to have the Holy Ghost when we teach.” —Elder Mervyn B. Arnold of the Seventy
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The Holy Ghost plays a sacred and central role in missionary work and conversion, taught Elder Mervyn B. Arnold of the Seventy as he spoke at the 2016 seminar for new missionary training center presidents and directors of visitors’ centers and historic sites on January 13.
When missionaries teach, true conversion is realized only through the confirmation and spirit of affirmation that defines the Holy Ghost.
“We just have to teach with the Spirit,” declared Elder Arnold. “There is absolutely no other way. We have to have the Holy Ghost when we teach.”
To begin his instruction, Elder Arnold displayed a variety of scriptures and teachings from Church leaders about the Holy Ghost. He then asked the new MTC presidents, visitors’ center and historic sites directors, and their companions to share their feelings about these teachings.
He received a variety of comments, including:
“I feel grateful for the Holy Ghost.”
“I have felt how much the Holy Ghost must love me.”
“It is a blessing in my life to teach others through the Holy Ghost.”
“The Holy Ghost is the purest form of communication between our Heavenly Father and us.”
And finally, “The Holy Ghost is a wonderful gift of love that Heavenly Father gave to us.”
Elder Arnold then asked the leaders and their wives to identify the roles of the Holy Ghost in the conversion process.
“We feel sanctified when the Holy Ghost is with us—we feel different,” said one sister.
“The Holy Ghost is the bridge between our spirit and those we are trying to teach,” said another.
Elder Arnold then shared these missionary-themed words about the Holy Ghost from the Old Testament: “And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone” (Numbers 11:17).
A panel of missionaries and instructors from the MTC then spoke about the blessing of the Holy Ghost in their lives.
One sister missionary spoke of how she was able to overcome personal and family challenges because of the comforting role of the Holy Ghost. Thanks to the Holy Ghost, she was able to know that the Church was true while finding peace during her trials.
Having the Holy Ghost as a loving companion, she said, “is a great feeling.”
One of the instructors said his relationship with the Holy Ghost helped him decide to be baptized. As he grew in the Church, built his testimony, and decided to serve a mission, the influence of the Holy Ghost grew stronger in his life.
Elder Arnold then spoke of the priceless role of the Holy Ghost in his own life.
“As I get into my sunset years, I realize that one of the goals most important to me is to have the Holy Ghost at all times.”
He challenged others to have that same goal in their new callings and throughout their lives.
