I prayed this morning that the Lord, through His Spirit, would teach me.  Here is what I learned.  I had three chapters of Moroni left to read before finishing the Book of Mormon for the 46^th time.  I began reading Moroni chapter 8.

The phrase “the power of the Holy Ghost” arrested my attention in the 7^th verse.  I remembered that phrase having been used previously.  In all, Moroni uses that phrase about 10 times in his 10 chapters.  I recorded the list at the top of page 519 in my Book of Mormon.  I added to Moroni’s list two other scriptures:  2 Ne. 32:3 and Jacob 7:12.

The power of the Holy Ghost is all-encompassing.  It works in conjunction with the authority of the Priesthood.  Moroni 3:4 speaks of ordaining men to the Priesthood.  It doesn’t say they were ordained by the power of the Priesthood, but “by the power of the Holy Ghost.”  That’s interesting.

Moroni 6:4 says that a baptized person is “cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Moroni 6:9 says that meetings are conducted by, and led by, “the power of the Holy Ghost…whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing…”

Faith and testimony come through the power of the Holy Ghost, according to Moroni 7:32.

Revelation comes through the power of the Holy Ghost, according to Moroni 8:7-9.  (Also Jacob 7:12).

The truth of all things may be known by the power of the Holy Ghost.  (Moroni 10:4-5).

All gifts from God come through the power of the Holy Ghost, according to Moroni 10:7-17.

Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost.  (2 Ne. 32:3).

The Priesthood gives the authority, and the Holy Ghost gives the power.  The Priesthood carries the authority, and the Holy Ghost carries the power.

People seek for power, but there is none except through the Holy Ghost.  There is power.  “By the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”  (Moroni 10:5).  By the power of the Holy Ghost you can do all things, know all things, speak things, write things (D&C 124:4), and accomplish anything.

The Holy Ghost confirms the scriptures, teaches truth, gives one a testimony, provides faith, leads into all good, gives gifts, bears one up through trials, leads through the darkness, provides light, corrects, admonishes, witnesses, and assures us of the Father’s love.  If one wants power, one must have the Holy Ghost.  That is true power.  That is the only power that will endure forever.

Yes, there is an opposing power, but it is fleeting, vastly inferior, and must always yield to the power of the Holy Ghost.  We, too, have power, and would do well to unite our powers to that of the Holy Ghost.

If we yield to any lesser power, we will, in the end, have no power at all, but will forever be subject to the power to which we yielded.

If we learn to use the power of the Holy Ghost, we will forever be able to speak, think, and serve by that power.

Right now all of the Catholic Church’s cardinals are meeting in Rome to select a new pope.  They’re debating, and the eyes of the world are watching.  They have power over their dominion, but that dominion will shortly crumble into nothingness and oblivion because theirs is a worldly and temporary power.

Most worldly power is to tear down, not to build up.

The New Testament tells us to give a reason for our hope.  The Holy Ghost and the Savior’s Atonement is our reason.

The power of the Holy Ghost is eternal, supernal, and ultimate.  All other powers are inferior to, and must bow before, the power of the Holy Ghost.