Farewell Talk

Traditionally before a missionary reports to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) he speaks in Sacrament meeting. Here is a copy of Dallin's farewell talk... you can tell by reading it that he didn't read it word for word, he told some stories but this is how he had it written and all I have access to :)

The Gift of the Holy Ghost

This doesn’t seem so bad after speaking in stake conference a few weeks ago, at least not for me. Sorry if some of you are tired of hearing from me.

-intro

-godhead

1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

Necessity of confirmation

john 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Holy Ghost throughout all time

moses 6:64 And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken with Adam, our father, that Adam cried unto the Lord, and he was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the water, and was brought forth out of the water.

65 And thus he was baptized, and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man.

66 And he heard a voice out of heaven, saying: Thou art baptized with fire, and with the Holy Ghost. This is the record of the Father, and the Son, from henceforth and forever;

John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

3 nephi 18;36 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of these sayings, he touched with his ^ahand the ^bDisciples whom he had chosen, one by one, even until he had touched them all, and spake unto them as he touched them.

37 And the multitude heard not the words which he spake, therefore they did not bear record; but the Disciples bare record that he gave them power to give the Holy Ghost.

-how to receive the Holy Ghost

when one is confirmed, told to receive the holy ghost…

nephites; first thing they did after Christ left them…3 nephi 19:9 And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.

D&c18:18 Ask the Father in my name, in faith believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men.

The Holy Ghost has 4 main duties: to bear witness of the Father and the Son, to reveal or teach things to us, to comfort us in times of trial, and to sanctify our spirits.

-bear witness/recognizing the spirit

1 kings19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Still small voice…?

8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong;

D&c42:17 For, behold, the Comforter knoweth all things, and beareth record of the Father and of the Son.

-revelation/learning/remembering

1nephi 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.

D&c39:6 then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom.

John14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

-comfort personal experience

-sanctification

He sanctifies those who have repented and become baptized

3 nephi 27:20 Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.

Mosiah 5:1 And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had thus spoken to his people, he sent among them, desiring to know of his people if they believed the words which he had spoken unto them.

2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

Moroni 10:3-5