What Should We Believe?

When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.

Most popular Bible passages, #7 (#8 on our list):

Acts 1:8, the New Testament

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Jesus spoke these words to his apostles after his crucifixion and resurrection from the dead. He taught them and prepared them before sending them into the world to preach his gospel (remember Matthew 28:19?).

Many people believed what the apostles taught, others did not.

How can we know the truth? There are so many different ideas and opinions in the world today. What should we believe? God knows everything and He will tell us the truth about anything (if we want to know) through the Holy Ghost. Truth that we learn from the Holy Ghost is powerful and convincing.

Elder Todd Christofferson, an apostle of Jesus Christ living today, wrote in 2010, "Faith comes by the witness of the Holy Spirit to our souls, Spirit to spirit, as we hear or read the word of God."

When the Holy Ghost speaks to us, it is very quiet and very personal. His communication comes most often in the form of feelings or thoughts rather than an audible voice. But these feelings can be sometimes very strong and very clear because they come from God.

Those who believed the apostles of Jesus' time received a powerful witness from the Holy Ghost that what they taught was true. 

You can know the truth about anything you hear or read if you will pray and ask God for a witness from the Holy Ghost.

Holy Scriptures

Most popular Bible passages, #8:

2 Timothy 3:16, the New Testament

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Though this counsel was originally intended for Timothy, a bishop in Ephesus, we can all benefit from it. Paul explains how reading the Bible (scripture) can help us live the way God expects us to live.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God"

When you and I are inspired, we are mentally stimulated to do something or to feel something. If the source of this inspiration is our Father in Heaven through His Holy Spirit, we are also stimulated spiritually. The Bible and other scriptures constitute inspiration from God to His servants, the prophets, which they recorded for the benefit of you and me.

"profitable for doctrine"

Doctrines are God's truths and the foundation of a person's faith in God. By reading the Bible and other scriptures, we will know the truth.

 "for reproof, for correction"

God's disapproval of sin is obvious in the scriptures. Sometimes when we are not making the best choices, reading the scriptures will remind us to straighten up and fly right. Often, this is not something we want to hear, but our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and He will forgive us as we recognize our mistakes and try again to do what is right.

"for instruction in righteousness"

Studying the scriptures will help us do good things. We will be kinder to our spouses and children, more sympathetic to people experiencing hard times, and more eager to help someone when they need help.

Todd Christofferson said, "The scriptures enlarge our memory by helping us always to remember the Lord and our relationship to Him and the Father. They remind us of what we knew in our premortal life... And as these things penetrate our minds and hearts, our faith in God and His Beloved Son takes root."