Moro. 9:4-5; 2 Cor. 3:17; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.328; Journal of Discourses 21:317-318; refer in this text to 2 Ne. 26:11; Morm. 1:14-17
The Prophet Joseph Smith appeared to Brigham Young following Joseph’s death and instructed his successor as follows: “Tell the people to be humble and faithful, and be sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right… . They can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other spirits; it will whisper peace and joy to their souls; it will take malice, hatred, strife and all evil from their hearts; and their whole desire will be to do good… .” (Brigham Young, Journal History, 23 Feb. 1847)
“Joseph Smith visited me a great deal after his death, and taught me many important principles… . Among other things, he told me to get the Spirit of God; that all of us needed it… . He said, ‘I want you to teach the people to get the Spirit of God. You cannot build up the Kingdom of God without that.’ … But how is it with the Holy Ghost? The Holy Ghost does not leave me if I do my duty. It does not leave any man who does his duty.” (Wilford Woodruff, Deseret News [Weekly], 7 Nov. 1896)
“The gift of the Holy Ghost is as important to man as sunshine and water are to the plants. You take them away, and the plants would die. You take the Holy Ghost out of this Church, and this Church would not be any different than any other church.” (LeGrand Richards, Ensign, 1979, p. 76)