The first bit of supplemental content which Moroni included in his book was an expansion of something his father had written. At the end of the first day of the Savior’s ministry in the Americas, He spoke quietly to his twelve disciples in front of the multitude. Mormon describes this exchange from the perspective of the multitude, who saw but did not hear what was going on:
When Jesus had made an end of these sayings, he touched with his hand the disciples whom he had chosen, one by one, even until he had touched them all, and spake unto them as he touched them.
And the multitude heard not the words which he spake, therefore they did not bear record; but the disciples bare record that he gave them power to give the Holy Ghost. And I will show unto you hereafter that this record is true.
3 Nephi 18:36-37
Mormon later confirms that when these disciples baptized people, those people received the Holy Ghost. (See 3 Nephi 19:13, 3 Nephi 26:17, 3 Nephi 28:18, 4 Nephi 1:1.) But he doesn’t elaborate on how this happened. Moroni thought it was important to share the actual words which Jesus spoke to the disciples, which also indicated how the Holy Ghost was to be given:
Ye shall call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this ye shall have power that to him upon whom ye shall lay your hands, ye shall give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shall ye give it, for thus do mine apostles.
Moroni 2:2
In the book of Acts, we read that Philip preached the gospel in Samaria after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many people believed his testimony and were baptized. The apostles in Jerusalem sent Peter and John to Samaria, who prayed for these new converts, “that they might receive the Holy Ghost. (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:15-17). Paul received the Holy Ghost when Ananias laid hands on him and blessed him (see Acts 9:17), and he in turn laid his hands on people after they were baptized, and “the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied” (Acts 19:6). So as Jesus said, this was the practice of His apostles on the other side of the world.
Moroni reports that the disciples in the Americas followed the same practice, “and on as many as they laid their hands, fell the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 2:3).
I had the privilege a few weeks ago of confirming a new member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With my hands on his head, I said the prescribed words, “Receive the Holy Ghost.” I recognize that the recipient must choose to accept this gift by taking intentional action. Still, it is extraordinary to me that God gives His mortal children the power to share this divine gift with other people.
Today, I will be grateful for the process by which we receive the Holy Ghost. I will remember the importance of having actual hands placed on our head, and will recognize the incredible trust God has placed in those who perform this ordinance on His behalf.
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