42. Confirmation
- L Rshaw
- Oct 10, 2019
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 13, 2022
"In simple terms, the gift of the Holy Ghost is an enhanced spiritual power permitting those entitled thereto to receive it, to receive a greater knowledge and enjoyment of the influence of Deity"
--- James E. Faust (Past Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; 1920 - 2007)
I've talked about the Holy Ghost amply throughout this blog now (See "A Still, Small Voice"); this post will continue to explain the ordinance called the "Confirmation", by which we receive what's called "The Gift of the Holy Ghost" soon after baptism (See "Baptism by Immersion"). You may also wish to review what the "Priesthood" is and why it's important. (See "Priesthood")
**NOTE: If you wish to get in contact with missionaries of the Church to learn more, you can do so at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/missionary-visit
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As a reminder, an "ordinance" is an act by which we make sacred covenants, or promises, with God.
A person is "confirmed" a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and receives the Gift of the Holy Ghost after being baptized (see D&C 20:41). A person becomes a member of the Church only after the ordinances of baptism and confirmation are both completed and properly recorded (see John 3:5; D&C 33:11).
THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST
Everybody may feel the power of the Holy Ghost which inspires us to do "all things good". But the GIFT of the Holy Ghost is having the Holy Ghost as a CONSTANT companion.
I like to think of it this way: Like striking A MATCH, when the missionaries teach someone learning about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the power of the Holy Ghost can help them feel "warmth" in their hearts and "enlighten" their understanding; it is this POWER of the Holy Ghost that LEADS to repentance and baptism. But when the person stops learning about and living the gospel, the match burns out and the warmth and light go away. But when a person is baptized and confirmed and receives the GIFT of the Holy Ghost, it is like A LIGHT BULB that is constant and brighter than a match. So long as we are faithful to our covenants, we will always be "plugged in" to the Holy Ghost.
After the ordinance of baptism comes the ordinance called the "Confirmation". In John 3:5 Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." One without the other would be incomplete and useless. It is a package deal.
Furthermore; the confirmation is literally a blessing and who doesn't want more blessings? Baptized individuals taught by the missionaries are usually confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints the Sunday during Sacrament Meeting following their baptism (See "Sabbath Day Observance"). This is ideal.
As mentioned before, we renew our Baptismal Covenant every Sunday when we partake of the sacrament worthily. We should remember the promised blessings that come with the Sacrament as it says in the Sacrament Prayers (D&C 20:77,79). Inasmuch as we take upon ourselves the name of Christ, and always remember Him, and keep His commandments, we are promised that we will always have His spirit to be with us. That is the promise of the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE CONFIRMATION ORDINANCE
The mission president holds the keys for confirming converts (See "Mission Administration"). However, the bishop oversees the performance of all confirmations. He ensures that converts are confirmed in a sacrament meeting of the ward in which they reside (See "Set Apart and Setting Out"), preferably the Sunday following their baptism. Converts are not confirmed at the baptismal service.
One or more worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holders may participate as invited in this ordinance (which may include the missionaries, the Bishop or Branch President, and others).
The person who was recently baptized sits in a chair, normally towards the front of the congregation, and these brethren who have been invited to participate in the ordinance gently place their hands on the individual's head (this is called, "The Laying on of Hands"; see "Administering to the Sick and Afflicted"). Everyone closes their eyes while one person acts as "voice" for the ordinance, meaning that he is the only one who speaks while everyone else just listens. The man acting as "voice" calls the individual by their full name, states that he's acting by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, and says "We confirm you a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and say unto you, Receive the Holy Ghost", and then he continues to pronounce blessings upon the person as the promptings the still, small voice makes him feel. And as always, the ordinance ends when he says "In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen". And then everyone else says "Amen".
The confirmation is not a "prayer"; it is not a plea to Heavenly Father because the words are actually directed to the individual, not Heavenly Father. It is a pronouncement of spiritual blessings as the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost directs him to speak. Worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holders are conduits through which individuals can receive spiritual blessings from Heavenly Father because the priesthood is, by definition, God's authority. I again invite you to refresh your understanding of what the priesthood is here.
MY FIRST TIME CONFIRMING SOMEONE
Around the same time as the "C. Family", we were teaching another beautiful family of three, the Chiu Family. The mother, Jazmin, was baptized first but we took extra time to teach her children, Katerine Diaz Chiu and Yuan Ming, who were still young and had a short attention span. With the help of Heavenly Father and their amazing single mother, her two children were baptized on the same day, one of which I got to baptize, Kati, on Saturday, October 18, 2014. For some reason, Elder Adams baptized Yuan Ming (I think he interviewed him). There is something incredibly special about baptizing somebody.
To be honest, being still such a new missionary and having only one other person before, I was pretty nervous still performing the baptism. But Kati was even more nervous. She almost wouldn't even get in the water! She shook so much and I couldn't calm her down as I stood in the baptismal font and did my best to hold her hand as she was careful not to slip. But eventually, she did it. Nevertheless, I felt so bad when I tried baptizing her, already as scared as she was, and she didn't go all the way under the water and we had to redo it. But regardless, she seemed okay afterward when she realized it was quick.
So, as planned, the two children whom we'd baptized showed up to church the next day, Sunday, October 19, 2014, with their mother. The process of the confirmation ordinance had already been explained to them. However; about 5 minutes before the sacrament meeting started, Elder Lopez told me I would be confirming Kati! Now, this usually wouldn't be a scary prospect except for the fact that I'd only been in Mexico about three or four weeks by this point and could barely speak Spanish! I'd never even participated in a confirmation before in English, let alone be the "voice" in Spanish! It's one thing to string together simple Spanish in a familiar missionary discussion that I've practiced a lot. or repeat a word-for-word "set in stone" script for Baptisms but I was so scared to have to perform this sacred ordinance and to say whatever the spirit wanted me to say in Spanish!
So I said a fervent prayer in my heart, looked up the words in my white missionary manual (which is why missionaries should always carry it with them), and I did my best. I took my sweet time saying what the Spirit prompted me to say in intelligible Spanish which ended up being very choppy. I felt like I was there forever. But no one made fun of me. No one corrected my Spanish. No one made me feel inadequate...ever. And that's the point! I've said it before and I'll say it again, the spirit is the teacher, not the missionary. Words are not that important compared to the spirit. That was my first confirmation and it was certainly far from the last.
I don’t remember what I said but what is said isn’t the most important thing. The most important part is when, by the authority of the Melchizedek priesthood, what is meant by the words, “Receive the Holy Ghost”. It’s as much part of the ordinance as it is a plead to the individual, to receive the Holy Ghost, to welcome it by living worthy of it. Every time I hear those words, "Receive the Holy Ghost", I feel such an exuberant joy because I know what the Gift of the Holy Ghost is going to do for that person; it is life-changing. Although I was told on very short notice, I am glad I was given the opportunity to participate in that sacred ordinance.
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's kingdom on the Earth. I know this because the Holy Ghost has confirmed it to me many times. It is also my testimony that the Holy Ghost has the power to confirm these things in your heart if you ask Him in prayer with a contrite spirit and real intent.
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