In a fast-paced world with information coming at us from every direction, how can we discern what is true? At the 2025 BYU Women’s Conference, former Brigham Young University President Kevin J Worthen and his wife, Peggy S. Worthen, gave several insights into how we can distinguish truth from error with the Holy Ghost.
1. Recognize How You Hear the Voice of the Spirit
“Given God’s deep desire to speak with us, it’s no surprise that there are many ways in which He communicates with us through the Holy Ghost,” Sister Worthen explained.
In some instances, the Holy Ghost’s influence might look like a clear thought coming into your mind. In others, it might feel like a small nudge pushing you to do something. In each situation, God speaks to individuals in their own way, so don’t be surprised if the way you feel the Holy Ghost is different from how someone else does.
President Worthen pointed out four words that President Russell M. Nelson used to describe the way the Holy Ghost speaks to us. This list might help you recognize how the Spirit manifests in your life:
- Guiding. When we are seeking guidance about a certain question, we might receive guidance pertaining to that scenario, leading us to a specific answer.
- Directing. Sometimes, we receive revelation without requesting it. This “directing” influence of the Holy Ghost often prompts a person to take unexpected action.
- Comforting. The Spirit can come to us in times of need, bringing peace into our hearts and helping us know that God is there.
- Constant. The quiet, ongoing companionship of the Holy Ghost is a promise we receive at baptism and confirmation. “If we are weekly renewing our covenants through the sacrament,” President Worthen said, “we can assume the Holy Ghost will be with us most of the time.”
2. Reflect on Past Spiritual Experiences
When the Holy Ghost feels distant, Sister Worthen recommended recalling specific moments when you knew the Holy Ghost was there. “Reflecting on our past personal experiences with the Holy Ghost is more than a nice suggestion,” she said. “It is crucial.”
Doing this can help you know that Heavenly Father is with you right now, because He was with you then. Consider your past experiences feeling the Spirit and how you knew the Holy Ghost was present. What steps did you take to prepare yourself for that moment? How can you replicate that preparation now?
President Worthen suggested implementing a practice that President Henry B. Eyring does: Regularly ask yourself, “Did I see God’s hand in my life or the life of my family today?” Write down what you remember.
“[This] can be a powerful tool in helping us recognize how much the Holy Ghost is with us on a regular basis, and it is more often than we might think,” President Worthen said.
3. Invite the Holy Ghost to Influence You
To fully utilize the influence of the Holy Ghost, we must invite the Spirit into our lives. President Worthen explained that remembering Jesus Christ helps us do this:
“God’s covenantal promise that we can always have His Spirit to be with us is matched by our covenantal promise that we will always remember His Son. Thus, one of the best ways to ensure that the influence of the Holy Ghost is constantly with us is to constantly remember Jesus—to ‘look unto [Him] in every thought,’ as the scripture puts it.”
Sister Worthen echoed what President Nelson shared in a 2018 general conference talk about how we can invite the Spirit: study the Book of Mormon prayerfully, attend the temple regularly, and do family history work.
The Worthens also reminded listeners that if the thought you are getting is moving you toward the Savior, it’s okay if you can’t tell if it is from the Holy Ghost or your own mind. As Moroni 7:16 teaches: “For every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.”
So, as you go out and try to discern truth, remember the ways God speaks to you and hold on to the Holy Ghost.
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