Joy and peace are the words most common to scriptural texts describing the presence of the Holy Spirit. People frequently ask, “How can I tell when I have received a remission of sins?”
Our text suggests three ways by which one may know that his sins have been remitted:
- He is “filled with joy.” That is, he delights in fellowship with those of the household of faith; his confidence once again begins to wax strong in the presence of the Lord; the word of the Lord becomes sweet to the taste; and the strength of the Lord enables him to bear life’s burdens with perspective.
- He is filled with peace. The spirit of the adversary brings with it such feelings as confusion, uncertainty, disorder, misery, stupor, darkness, and unhappiness. In contrast, the Spirit of the Lord produces certitude, order, comfort, clarity of thought, light, and happiness.
- The favors and blessings of the Holy Ghost-the gifts of the Spirit-are manifest in his life. Inasmuch as no unclean thing can dwell in the divine presence, companionship with the Holy Ghost is a sure sign that one’s sins have been remitted (see Alma 7:21; Alma 11:37; Alma 40:26; 3 Nephi 27:19-20).
