Jesus promised His apostles that the "Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost," would come after He left. That power came on the day of Pentecost, said President Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve.

" 'Suddenly there came a sound. . . of a rushing mighty wind. . . . And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.' (Acts 2:2-4.)

"And with that the Twelve were fully empowered, President Packer said in his Saturday morning conference address.

"The pattern was set, as it had been from the beginning. Entrance into the Church of Jesus Christ is through "baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. Then in a separate ordinance, the priceless gift of the Holy Ghost is conferred by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances."

"Despite opposition, the Twelve established the Church of Jesus Christ; and despite persecution, it flourished.

"But as the centuries passed, the flame flickered and dimmed. . . . The line was broken and the authority to confer the Holy Ghost as a gift was gone.

"Joseph Smith became the instrument of the Restoration. John the Baptist restored 'the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins (Doctrine and Covenants 134).'

"Peter, James and John restored the office of apostle with the higher priesthood. With it came authority to confer the supernally precious gift of the Holy Ghost.

"The gift is to all who repent and are baptized — boys and girls alike, women and men the same.

"We live in troubled times — very troubled times," said President Packer. "We hope, we pray, for better days. But that is not to be. . . . No one will be spared the trials to come. No one will be spared the trials common to home, family, work, disappointment, grief, health, aging, ultimately death.

"What then shall we do? Nephi said, 'Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. . . . Behold the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.' (2 Nephi 32:2-5.)

"We need not live in fear of the future," continued President Packer. "We have every reason to rejoice and little reason to fear. If we follow the promptings of the Spirit, we will be safe, whatever the future holds. We will be shown what to do."

However, "It is not unusual for one to have received that gift and not really know it. . . I feel this supernal gift is being obscured by programs and activities and schedules and so many meetings. There are so many. . . things to do in this noisy world. We can be too busy to pay attention to the promptings of the Spirit.

"The voice of the Spirit is a still, small voice — a voice that is felt rather than heard. It is a spiritual voice that comes into the mind as a thought put into your heart. All over the world, ordinary men, women and children are not completely aware that they have this gift to bless their families, teach, preach and minister by the Spirit within them.

"Soon we learn that the tempter — the adversary — uses those same channels of the mind and heart to inspire us to evil, to laziness, to contention, even to acts of darkness. He can take over our thoughts and lead us to mischief. But each of us has agency; ever and always light presides over darkness. . . . We can learn to sort out the promptings from the temptations and follow the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.

"It is a glorious time to live! No matter what trials await us, we. . . and those we love will be guided and corrected and protected and we will be comforted.

"As surely as I know that I am here and you are there, I know that Jesus is the Christ. He lives!" concluded President Packer. "I know that the gift of the Holy Ghost, a sacred spiritual power, can be a constant companion to every soul who will receive it. I pray that the witness of the Holy Ghost will confirm this testimony to you."