Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise

[zil]

1 hour ago, Zarahemla said:

Does the Holy Ghost love us as much as the Father and the Son because I always hear that the Holy Ghost can easily be driven away like it's easily offended by sin. So is the Holy Ghost a loving entity that wants us to be happy and is there for us, or is it looking for us to make mistakes so it can withdraw itself from us? I've had it as a companion for almost 24 years now and I just thought of this question today.

IMO, yes, the Holy Ghost loves us just as the rest of the Godhead loves us.  That the Holy Ghost is driven away by sin seems a natural consequence wherein we essentially say "go away, I don't want your influence" and he complies with our request.  When we repent, we are saying, "I'm sorry, I want your influence back in my life."  I think technically, we are the ones to go away, not him; or one could say we are the ones to shut him out.

[person0]

1 hour ago, Zarahemla said:

Does the Holy Ghost love us as much as the Father and the Son because I always hear that the Holy Ghost can easily be driven away like it's easily offended by sin. So is the Holy Ghost a loving entity that wants us to be happy and is there for us, or is it looking for us to make mistakes so it can withdraw itself from us? I've had it as a companion for almost 24 years now and I just thought of this question today.

Excellent question.  I will begin by asking another question:  Why does the Holy Ghost exist as a member of the Godhead?

We learn from the scriptures:

Quote

The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. (D&C 130:22)

One thing that is not often considered from this verse is the significance behind the emphasized portion.  That portion also makes it evident that neither the Father nor the Son are physically able to 'dwell in us'.  This is a lost (and considered blasphemous) truth to the world because of the incorrect doctrines around the nature of the Godhead.  If we understand that God the Father and Jesus Christ, as resurrected beings, are unable to physically separate their body and spirit to dwell in us directly, then we can understand that one reason the Holy Ghost exists as a member of the Godhead is specifically to take on the role of dwelling within us and all that entails.

Let us also consider some of the responsibilities of the Holy Ghost:

Quote

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Moroni 10:5)

"Now the Spirit knoweth all things. . ." (Alma 7:13)

Among other things, we can note from these two verses that the Holy Ghost can teach all things and can testify of the truth of all things.  This means, that the Holy Ghost must have access to all knowledge just as the Father, of which the scriptures also witness.  The truth of all things includes the love that the Father and Son have for each and every one of us, at all times throughout our existence.

Would God choose someone to take on the responsibility of being the Holy Ghost, if he was not absolutely certain that his chosen Spirit would be unequivocally loving and devoted to carrying out His will at all times, in all things, and in all places?  Would the Spirit be able to witness fully of the true love of the Father and the Son if he did not also hold within himself that same love for us?  I testify that God would not, and the Spirit could not; He could not correctly teach nor testify of something He Himself did not know and feel.  He does know, and He does love us.

We speak of the spirit withdrawing from us, but it is not His choice to do so.  Our baptismal and sacrament covenants include the promise to always have the spirit to be with us, and he is obligated to abide that promise.  If the spirit has withdrawn it is because he is not permitted to stay due to our obligations in the covenant not being met at the time he withdraws.  When that occurs we have forced Him to leave against His loving and sincere desire to stay.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, person0 said:

Excellent question.  I will begin by asking another question:  Why does the Holy Ghost exist as a member of the Godhead?

We learn from the scriptures:

One thing that is not often considered from this verse is the significance behind the emphasized portion.  That portion also makes it evident that neither the Father nor the Son are physically able to 'dwell in us'.  This is a lost (and considered blasphemous) truth to the world because of the incorrect doctrines around the nature of the Godhead.  If we understand that God the Father and Jesus Christ, as resurrected beings, are unable to physically separate their body and spirit to dwell in us directly, then we can understand that one reason the Holy Ghost exists as a member of the Godhead is specifically to take on the role of dwelling within us and all that entails.

Let us also consider some of the responsibilities of the Holy Ghost:

Among other things, we can note from these two verses that the Holy Ghost can teach all things and can testify of the truth of all things.  This means, that the Holy Ghost must have access to all knowledge just as the Father, of which the scriptures also witness.  The truth of all things includes the love that the Father and Son have for each and every one of us, at all times throughout our existence.

Would God choose someone to take on the responsibility of being the Holy Ghost, if he was not absolutely certain that his chosen Spirit would be unequivocally loving and devoted to carrying out His will at all times, in all things, and in all places?  Would the Spirit be able to witness fully of the true love of the Father and the Son if he did not also hold within himself that same love for us?  I testify that God would not, and the Spirit could not; He could not correctly teach nor testify of something He Himself did not know and feel.  He does know, and He does love us.

We speak of the spirit withdrawing from us, but it is not His choice to do so.  Our baptismal and sacrament covenants include the promise to always have the spirit to be with us, and he is obligated to abide that promise.  If the spirit has withdrawn it is because he is not permitted to stay due to our obligations in the covenant not being met at the time he withdraws.  When that occurs we have forced Him to leave against His loving and sincere desire to stay.

Great answers. One more intriguing question. Since this world was created do you feel there has only been 1 Holy Ghost for the people of this world or do you think others have taken the role and it's sort of like a calling in the church that you can be released from by being born since the Holy Ghost is an all knowing spirit that hasn't been born yet or hasn't been resurrected yet. One of the 2, not sure which one.

[The Folk Prophet]

3 hours ago, Zarahemla said:

Does the Holy Ghost love us as much as the Father and the Son because I always hear that the Holy Ghost can easily be driven away like it's easily offended by sin. So is the Holy Ghost a loving entity that wants us to be happy and is there for us, or is it looking for us to make mistakes so it can withdraw itself from us? I've had it as a companion for almost 24 years now and I just thought of this question today.

This question doesn't actually make sense as it starts from a false premise -- that the Holy Ghost is not "one with" the Father and the Son. They are one Godhead!

We don't believe this means they are the same being, of course, physically or otherwise. But we do believe they are one in purpose, feeling, intent, love, power, etc.

The driving away of the Holy Ghost is also the driving away of the Father and the Son. They are one in this as in all things. One doesn't forgive while the other condemns. They do have different roles, yes. But their purpose is one.

[person0]

On 4/6/2017 at 7:32 PM, Zarahemla said:

Great answers. One more intriguing question. Since this world was created do you feel there has only been 1 Holy Ghost for the people of this world or do you think others have taken the role and it's sort of like a calling in the church that you can be released from by being born since the Holy Ghost is an all knowing spirit that hasn't been born yet or hasn't been resurrected yet. One of the 2, not sure which one.

I believe that the Godhead is a quorum as was taught by Joseph F. Smith:

Quote

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, constitute the Godhead and the matchless governing quorum over all the creations of the Father.
(emphasis added) Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, (2011), 221–29

Beyond that the remainder of my opinion on the matter is merely speculation.  While ideas such as this are fun to discuss and speculate, obviously the most important thing any of us can do is live up to our covenants as best we can to have the continued companionship of the Holy Ghost at all times.

Edited July 5, 2017 by person0

[The Folk Prophet]

1 hour ago, Zarahemla said:

Since this world was created do you feel there has only been 1 Holy Ghost for the people of this world or do you think others have taken the role and it's sort of like a calling in the church that you can be released from by being born since the Holy Ghost is an all knowing spirit that hasn't been born yet or hasn't been resurrected yet. One of the 2, not sure which one.

I'm not trying to sound rude with this, but why would you come up with a theory like this? It seems moderately random. The obvious LDS theoretical supposition is that the Godhead doesn't change. That being said, we have little to no revelation on the Holy Ghost as a being beyond the fact that He is a personage of Spirit. So we could presume all sorts of things if we wanted to that haven't been revealed. Since we don't know, a whole host of things could be true. But why would we presume them, just randomly, to be true?

[JohnsonJones]

On ‎4‎/‎6‎/‎2017 at 7:13 PM, The Folk Prophet said:

I'm not trying to sound rude with this, but why would you come up with a theory like this? It seems moderately random. The obvious LDS theoretical supposition is that the Godhead doesn't change. That being said, we have little to no revelation on the Holy Ghost as a being beyond the fact that He is a personage of Spirit. So we could presume all sorts of things if we wanted to that haven't been revealed. Since we don't know, a whole host of things could be true. But why would we presume them, just randomly, to be true?

I think it comes from a supposition in regards to the composition of the Godhead.  There is an idea that appears in the Bible that at the Beginning there was the Father, the Son, and Michael the Arch Angel.  Michael led the hosts of heaven and tossed out that great serpent (or at least was part of that group that did so).

Now, if Michael was part of the Godhead at creation, and we know he eventually became Adam, who replaced him?

Of course, this is dependent that you feel that he was part of that holy group to begin with, and then logically extend it beyond that.

Edited April 11, 2017 by JohnsonJones