During the Last Supper, Jesus reassured His disciples that they would not be alone after His death. “I will pray the Father,” He promised, “and he shall give you another Comforter” (John 14:16). Then, He explained what this Comforter would do for them:
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
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.
John 14:26, italics added
“All things” sounds like a lot of information!
In the Book of Mormon, Nephi uses the same words to describe the role of the Holy Ghost. “If ye will enter in by the way,” he wrote, “and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do” (2 Nephi 32:5, italics added).
And Moroni reiterated this promise at the end of the Book of Mormon:
By the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
Moroni 10:5, italics added
I’ve been thinking today about the significance of the phrase “all things” in these passages. Here are my thoughts:
- As a member of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost is omniscient. He knows everything there is to know. (See Alma 7:13.)
- He can’t possibly teach us everything in this life; we wouldn’t be able to learn and remember it all. But He can lead us to the next bit of knowledge that we are capable of assimilating and help us in our process of learning “line upon line” and “precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30, Isaiah 28:10).
- I don’t think He’ll micromanage us, telling us what to do every moment of every day. That wouldn’t be conducive to our growth and development. But He will provide guidance where we need it in all aspects of our lives. As Zenos taught and as Amulek reiterated, we can pray for help with work, with home and family, with our personal lives, with our church service, and even with our difficult relationships. God can enlighten us and help us understand how to navigate challenges in all of those areas. (See Alma 33:4-11, Alma 34:17-27.)
Today, I will be grateful for the guidance available to me through the gift of the Holy Ghost. I will listen more carefully and follow the quiet promptings I receive. I will ask for insight and for guidance in all aspects of my life, knowing that there is no limit to His expertise, and that He is willing to share that expertise with me.