There
is a difference between a manifestation of the Holy Ghost and gift of the Holy Ghost.
Manifestations of the Holy Ghost are not uncommon among those who have not received
the gift by the laying on of hands, but who are seeking to know the truth. The Spirit
will testify to such a one that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that the
gospel is true, and that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God, but unless that
person receives the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands that
testimony will not continue with him.
Cornelius
was one who received the testimony of the Holy Ghost before he was baptized.
Peter hesitated to allow Cornelius to be baptized because he was a Gentile and it
was felt at that time that the gospel of Christ was reserved from the seed of
Abraham. An angel commanded Peter to go to the home of Cornelius and there
teach him the gospel. While Peter was talking to him, Cornelius and the members
of his family received a manifestation of the Spirit. Peter “ . . . hard them
speak with tongues, and magnify God.” (Acts 10:46) He was astonished that a
Gentile should receive such a manifestation and it opened his mind to the fact
that “ . . . all are alike unto God” and he said, “Can any man forbid water,
that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well
as we.” (Acts 10:47)
Referring
to this incident, the Prophet Joseph Smith said, “Cornelius received the Holy Ghost
before he was baptized, which was the convincing power of God unto the truth of
the gospel, but he could not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost until after he
was baptized. Had he not taken the sign or ordinance upon him, the Holy Ghost,
which convinced him of the truth of God, would have left him.” (Teachings of
the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 199)
A
manifestation of the Holy Ghost, such as received by Cornelius proper to his
baptism, was undoubtedly referred to by Moroni in the promise given concerning
the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon which reads, “And when ye shall receive
these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in
the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a
sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth
of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy
Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (Moroni 10:4-5)
In
this passage of Scripture, Moroni was speaking to generations of Lamanites yet
unborn with the hope that they would one day read his words and believe the
Book of Mormon. Since these words were directed to those who had not as yet
received the gift of the Holy Ghost, they indicate that all, members and
non-members alike, are entitled to receive a testimony of the Book of Mormon by
the power of the Holy Ghost. However, that testimony will not be lasting unless
the person accepts the gospel and receives the gift of the Holy Ghost by the
laying on of hands. (Mary Pratt Parrish, This is the Truth: A Discussion of
the First Principles of the Gospel [Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press,
n.d.], 82-83)
