Latter-day Saints confirm new members by laying hands on their heads. Here’s why, straight from Acts, the Book of Mormon and modern revelation.
The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to the Holy Ghost’s constant companionship, given after baptism by the laying on of hands. Latter-day Saints believe the Holy Ghost is “a personage of Spirit” (D&C 130:22), the third member of the Godhead. In the New Testament, baptized believers received the gift when apostles “laid … their hands on them” (Acts 8:17; 19:6). The risen Christ gave the Nephite twelve the same power (Moroni 2:2), and it was restored by revelation in 1830 (D&C 33:15).
The short answerA constant companion, given by authority
Latter-day Saints believe the Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, a personage of Spirit. The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to His constant companionship, given to a person after baptism by the laying on of hands by those with priesthood authority. That ordinance is called confirmation. The fourth Article of Faith lists it among the first principles and ordinances of the gospel: “Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:4).
Anyone can feel the Holy Ghost testify of truth; that is how people come to faith. The gift is more: a promise that “the Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion” (D&C 121:46), as long as we live worthy of Him.
Who the Holy Ghost isA personage of Spirit
Joseph Smith taught the Godhead plainly: “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us” (D&C 130:22). In the Sermon in the Grove he declared that he had “always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit.” See Do Latter-day Saints Believe in the Trinity?.
Jesus called Him “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” (John 14:26), and “the Spirit of truth” who “will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).
The New Testament patternBaptism, then hands
In Samaria, Philip had baptized many, but the Holy Ghost “was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized.” So the apostles sent Peter and John, who “laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:14–17). In Ephesus, Paul found disciples who had “not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” He had them baptized, “and when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them” (Acts 19:2–6).
Notice two things. The gift came after baptism, and it came through the hands of authorized apostles, not by private prayer alone. That’s why Latter-day Saints confirm new members the same way.
The Book of Mormon and the Restoration“For thus do mine apostles”
When the risen Christ called twelve disciples in the Americas, He told them, “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). Those disciples “desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them” more than anything else (3 Nephi 19:9).
In October 1830 the Lord restored the same ordinance: “whoso having faith you shall confirm in my church, by the laying on of the hands, and I will bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost upon them” (D&C 33:15). Nephi promised what the gift does: “receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do” (2 Nephi 32:5).
What the gift does in a lifeRevelation, comfort, change
The Holy Ghost is how God speaks to individuals: “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart” (D&C 8:2). It is how anyone can know the Book of Mormon is true: “by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:5). And it changes character, producing “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22–23).
The Spirit is also the power that sanctifies us, step by step, toward becoming like our Father. Joseph Smith described that path in the King Follett sermon as “going from one small degree to another … from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation.” The gift of the Holy Ghost is the daily companion on that road. See Why Do Latter-day Saints Baptize at 8?.
Check the premiseThe presuppositions baked into the question
Before this question can be answered fairly, the person asking has to justify a few assumptions packed inside it:
- That the Holy Ghost is an impersonal force. D&C 130:22: He “is a personage of Spirit,” and Jesus spoke of Him as “he” (John 16:13).
- That everyone automatically receives the gift at conversion. In Acts 8 and 19, baptized believers received it only after apostles laid hands on them.
- That feeling the Spirit and having the gift are the same. Anyone can feel the Spirit testify (Moroni 10:5); the gift promises His constant companionship (D&C 121:46).
- That laying on of hands is a Latter-day Saint invention. Acts 8:17, Acts 19:6 and Moroni 2:2 show the same ordinance.
FAQQuick answers
What is the gift of the Holy Ghost?
The right to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, given after baptism by the laying on of hands by priesthood authority.
How do Latter-day Saints receive the gift of the Holy Ghost?
Through confirmation: priesthood holders lay hands on the person’s head and say, “Receive the Holy Ghost.”
Is the Holy Ghost a person in LDS belief?
Yes. He is “a personage of Spirit,” without a body of flesh and bones (D&C 130:22).
Where in the Bible is the laying on of hands for the Holy Ghost?
Acts 8:14–17 and Acts 19:2–6.
Can people feel the Holy Ghost before baptism?
Yes. Moroni 10:5 promises anyone can know truth “by the power of the Holy Ghost”; the gift adds His constant companionship.
What did Peter promise on the day of Pentecost?
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).
What are the fruits of the Spirit?
“Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22–23).
How does the Holy Ghost communicate?
The Lord told Oliver Cowdery, “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost” (D&C 8:2).
SummaryKey takeaways
- The Holy Ghost is a personage of Spirit (D&C 130:22).
- The gift is given after baptism by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:17).
- Anyone can feel the Spirit; the gift promises constant companionship.
- The same ordinance appears in Acts, Moroni 2 and D&C 33.
Ask the Holy Ghost about the Book of Mormon yourself (Moroni 10:4–5). For quick, sourced answers, open Galatians18, and follow me on X at @TraviXai.
Sources
- King James Bible (churchofjesuschrist.org): John 14:26 · John 16:13 · Acts 8:14–17 · Acts 19:2–6 · Galatians 5:22–23
- Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 32:5 · 3 Nephi 19:9 · Moroni 2:2 · Moroni 10:5
- Doctrine and Covenants: D&C 8:2 · D&C 33:15 · D&C 121:46 · D&C 130:22
- Pearl of Great Price: Articles of Faith 1:4
- Joseph Smith, King Follett sermon (HC 6:305–306) and Sermon in the Grove (HC 6:474), BYU Studies online edition
- Featured image and in-article graphic: original graphics by thebookofmormon.ai (painterly backgrounds; no photographs or likenesses of real people).
