“The light from the sun breaks through space, bathing our planet as it encircles the sun with life-giving warmth and light. Without the sun, there could be no life on this planet; it would be forever barren, cold, and dark.
“As the sun gives life and light to the earth, a spiritual light gives nourishment to our spirits. We call this the Light of Christ. The scriptures teach us that it “lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” Thus, all mankind can enjoy its blessings. The Light of Christ is the divine influence that allows every man, woman, and child to distinguish between good and evil. It encourages all to choose the right, to seek eternal truth, and to learn again the truths that we knew in our premortal existence but have forgotten in mortality.” Henry B. Eyring, “The Unspeakable Gift”, Ensign, May 2003
While the light of Christ is something given to every person on the face of earth, the Gift of the Holy Ghost is granted only unto those who have been baptized and confirmed within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is a personage of spirit as well as a distinct and separate member of the Godhead. He is the witness or testifier of the power of God, the divinity of Jesus Christ, and the truth of the restored gospel. He is the Comforter promised to the apostles by the Savior before He was crucified.
The Prohet, Joseph Smith said:
“There is a difference between the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Cornelius received the Holy Ghost before he was baptized, which was the convincing power of God unto him of 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 this … ordinance upon him, the Holy Ghost which convinced him of the truth of God, would have left him.” History of the Church 4:555
So how do we recognize the gentle whisperings of the Spirit? While Satan and his minions explode into your mind with the mighty roar of a lion, the Spirit will touch your soul with soft, quiet whispers. As the Lord described, as is described in D&C 9:8-9,
“. . . and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. 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; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.”
When the Holy Ghost confirms truth, it is a recognition in your mind of something you once knew. The “burning in your bosom” described in D&C can come with a warming that envelopes your entire body. For me, goosebumps often accompany that feeling along with that recognition in my mind. This is when I know the Holy Ghost is whispering to me. His constant companionship is what we seek so that we may trod that straight and narrow path back to our Father in Heaven and Savior, Jesus Christ.