My fourth child was recently baptized and he asked me to give a talk on the Holy Ghost. This has actually been my role four times and works well for me because I’m not always certain what I believe, but I love teaching my children about seeking good, finding light, and being kind. I’m often frustrated by the war/antagonist bent to some popular hymns and the portrayal of Christian soldiers. While that type of motivation has a place, I love to think of the Holy Ghost as a ambassador for Christ who leads us all to represent Him. For my blog post this week, I offer my baptismal Holy Ghost talk to my children:

You were born with a light in you. We were all born with this light, often called a conscience, which guides us to make good choices. Our conscience is also called the Light of Christ and this means each one of us has a divine energy for good within us.

In St. John Chapter 1, versus 6-9, it says:
6 ¶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Every person you meet has this light and the capacity for good. This light helps us know what is good and true and loving. After we’re baptized, we can receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which is like a super rechargeable battery for this light. The Holy Ghost helps strengthen that light within us and helps us better see what is good and true and loving. As we make choices that help us follow Christ, we keep recharging that battery so we can continue to see the world through the bright light of Jesus Christ.

There are many songs about “Christian soldiers” and we sometimes speak of warriors in the scriptures. The Holy Ghost, though, is someone unique. I like to think of the Holy Ghost as an Ambassador for Jesus Christ. An ambassador officially represents someone or something. Their job is diplomacy and they often leave their home country to build friendships with other countries. This means they leave the comfort of their home and familiar things to get to know new people, places, and cultures. An ambassador’s job is to find things they have in common and ways countries can work together for good. The job of the Holy Ghost is to show us the world as Jesus sees it.

When you have the Holy Ghost working within you to brighten your light, you can be an Ambassador for Jesus Christ too. You can go out into the world to seek light and to share light. Sometimes this can mean being a missionary or sharing something about your faith, but Ambassadors most often share light through their actions and choices. The most important thing the Holy Ghost helps you do is show others the light of Christ within them. This most often happens when we serve others, when we choose kind words, when we forgive faults and mistakes and when we include all kinds of different people.

As we grow older, choices are not always easy. Sometimes there is more than one good choice. Sometimes all of our choices have problems. This is where the Holy Ghost can help us shine Christ’s light on our choices. This light will help us have compassion and clarity. You’ve probably heard the popular phrase “What would Jesus Do?” That is exactly the question the Holy Ghost reminds us to ask in our hearts and minds when we need to make a choice.

The Holy Ghost will ask us:
Is it loving?
Is it helpful?
Is it honest?
Is it kind?
Does this choice bring more light?

In John 12: 36, Jesus tells us, “While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.” As I’ve watched you grow, I’ve seen that light within you. Now, you can have the Holy Ghost as your companion and friend, helping you see that light and guiding you toward it. As you continue to be kind to others, to seek ways to serve, to find ways to spread good, that light will fill you. And, if you feel the light fading or struggle with hard times or sin or challenges, like we all do, the Holy Ghost can help lead you back toward that light and bring you comfort and peace.

As we ask these questions and try to be like Jesus Christ daily, we become more like him. Sister Cheiko Okazaki said, “Strength comes from faith in the Savior’s love and in the power of his atonement. If we trustingly put our hand in the Savior’s, we can claim the promise of the sacramental prayer to always have his Spirit with us.” This means that we don’t have to make perfect choices. We just have to keep trying and promising to try and be like Jesus. When our choices don’t bring us closer to Jesus, we can try again by trustingly putting our hand in the Savior’s. The Holy Ghost will be there to help us recharge our light by reading the words of Jesus Christ, serving others, and seeking the good around us.

Today, you are choosing to continue to follow that light within you as an Ambassador of Jesus Christ. You are loved more than you know by your mom, your dad, and your Heavenly Mother and Heavenly Father. We are all here to help and support you as you continue to shine your light and follow Jesus Christ.