I have pondered this statement over the years. I joined the church in the mission field, then moved to Salt Lake City as a young bride two years later. As a young mother, certainly there was a culture in the church of what I should do/be at that time, and honestly, I don’t know that I was always very good at separating culture from doctrine. I didn’t always individualize my faith at the level I think I could have. I did some things because of cultural expectations.

I grew up with strong Episcopal and Baptist influences. Both faiths provided a firm foundation of a testimony of the Savior that later impacted my decision to join the LDS faith. Both faiths also promoted a strong attenuation to communication with God through prayer and looking for His will in our lives on an individual basis. I especially found this true in the Episcopal faith (which is the church I was mostly raised in). I would say in some ways, because I found the culture of the Episcopal church to be very ‘open’ in terms of membership expectations, that the culture encouraged one to look to God for personal revelation on a more individual level. But, it was that same ‘openness’ and ambiguity about doctrine that led to a very painful, humbling time in my life and questioning along the lines of, “Is what I believe enough or is there more?”

As I have grown in the LDS faith, it is only recently that I have been able to distinguish between cultural expectations and the doctrine of the gospel on a more individual, consistent level. This is probably a factor of experience and age as much as the influence a culture can have on a person. I am trying to make the doctrine of the gospel personal to my life on a more daily basis. I believe this is what Heavenly Father wants with us — this kind of intimate communication. I like to term it ‘informed obedience’ vs. ‘blind obedience.’ (Which being clinical faculty at a state university, I hear Mormons accused of the latter quite a bit.)

In some ways, it is a ‘returning’ to what I knew as I was raised, but on a much deeper level. Cultural influences are present in ANY community. I think Heavenly Father knew that and we can learn from those cultural experiences, even the difficult ones. Isn’t that what we do in the culture of family everyday?

Though I don’t remember specific teachings from other faiths about the role of and experiences with the Holy Ghost, I do remember being taught God would hear and answer prayers. It was our job to look for those answers. We were to look for what God was telling us in our hearts. So, though the vocabulary might be different, I do believe the spiritual experience was very similar. However, because I now have the gift of the Holy Ghost, I feel that gift brings with it a certain accountability I did not have before. But that is for another discussion. This reply is already long enough. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share. Warmly, Claudia

-Wally

When I hear the expressions of joy made by those who don’t yet have the priesthood-bestowed gift of the Holy Ghost, I wonder if many of them are not using their rights far better than those of us under covenant.

-Wally

-Wally

Even though one may not recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost as such, He can be present at those times. I was a member of two different faiths growing up, and I often felt joy. Perhaps then to experience joy is, in this sense, a gift of the Spirit, re a spiritual gift, whether we call it specifically that or not.