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Re: Identity of the Holy Ghost [message #2556 is a reply to message #2551] Sat, 08 June 2013 22:58 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Contemplator is currently offline  Contemplator
Messages: 12
Registered: January 2013
Junior Member
RedMint,

It has long seemed to me that our current understanding of the Holy Ghost is incomplete. Your questions illustrate internal inconsistencies in the traditional conversations about the Holy Ghost in church lessons and discussions. I don't think that I can answer your questions, but I might be able to help with some insights that have been productive in my own searching. And, I have found that there is an understanding of the Holy Ghost that addresses all of your concerns.

First, there is D&C 121:26-28 -
Quote:
26 God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now;
27 Which our forefathers have awaited with anxious expectation to be revealed in the last times, which their minds were pointed to by the angels, as held in reserve for the fulness of their glory;
28 A time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld, whether there be one God or many gods, they shall be manifest.

Notice that this passage describes knowledge being given by God's Holy Spirit and it mentions the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost. I suspect that different words (Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost) are used in this passage because they actually refer to different things. I have found it very productive to study the differences between the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost. Denver Snuffer explores this in a series of posts that starts with "God's Many Works" and continues through a discussion of the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. In addition, Lecture 5 of Lectures on Faith addresses this. Assume that Lecture 5 is correct and see where it takes you.

Another observation from this passage is that the "unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost" has not been revealed since the world was until now. But, it is expected to be revealed in the last times. I believe that God will reveal it to us individually. It is not for us to reveal it to others, yet.

Another resource I have found very productive is the temple. I noticed that the Holy Ghost is not mentioned explicitly in the endowment session. That made me wonder why not. So, prayerfully asking for understanding, I watched carefully for the Holy Ghost and found that there is a lot there. One particularly important insight came from something that is in the live endowment as presented in Salt Lake or Manti, but is not apparent in the same way in the film presentation. In any case, I believe that the work of the Holy Ghost is well represented in the temple. Search 2 Nephi 31 as it contains a list of the roles of each member of the Godhead. Look for what Nephi teaches about the role of the Holy Ghost in the symbolic representations in the temple. It is my belief that there is much that Lord would like to teach us Himself. It is not for us to presume to teach what He has reserved to Himself.

The Lord has invited us to ask and given the promise that we will receive (don't forget the searching and knocking parts). Among the most important things that we can ask about are a knowledge of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. For me, it has been a process of asking, seeking and knocking over many years. I am so grateful for God's love. He has taught me about each member of the Godhead. And, I believe that he loves each of us completely and will teach each of us as quickly as we will receive what he offers.

I hope this is of a little help. Mostly, I just want to say from my experience that these are questions worth pursuing and that the answers will come from God.
 
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