Descriptions:
What is a spirit? Is it light? Midi-chlorians? Is it freaking bottled lightning and whipped cream?? Maybe all of it. In today’s episode, David explores Latter-day Saint doctrine surrounding our spirits. Are they material? Where do they come from? What do they look like? Let’s find out.
“Spirit” from the Guide to the Scriptures: http://bit.ly/3eoOwnq
“Spirit” from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism: http://bit.ly/3rJn5sg
“Resurrection” from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism: http://bit.ly/37Sj503
“Resurrection” from the Guide to the Scriptures: http://bit.ly/30h9zAP
Our video on premortal existence: http://bit.ly/3el0YEZ
Transcript and additional notes here: https://saintsunscripted.com/faith-and-beliefs/the-gospel-of-jesus-christ/what-is-a-spirit/
Notes:
-Joseph Smith taught, “A very material difference [exists] between the body and the spirit; the body is supposed to be organized matter, and the spirit, by many, is thought to be immaterial, without substance. With this latter statement we should beg leave to differ, and state the spirit is a substance; that it is material, but that it is more pure, elastic and refined matter than the body; that it existed before the body, can exist in the body; and will exist separate from the body, when the body will be mouldering in the dust; and will in the resurrection, be again united with it.” -Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 207.
-From the Encyclopedia of Mormonism: “Although the Lord has revealed much in ancient and latter-day scripture about spirit matter and spirit beings, many unknowns remain, especially the full meaning of such terms as ‘intelligence,’ ‘light,’ and ‘truth,’ which are used in the revelations in association with the word ‘spirit.’ Spirit matter is identified with intelligence or the light of truth (D&C 93:29). Joseph Smith taught that elements were not created or made, but can be organized into a spirit being. This spirit, intelligence, or light has always existed, being coeternal with God. It can act and be acted upon; it can be organized, but it cannot be destroyed. Spirits exist upon a self-existent principle, and ‘all spirits that God ever sent into the world are susceptible of enlargement’ (TPJS, pp. 351-54), meaning that they are capable of intellectual growth and maturation and that ‘there is never a time when the spirit is too old to approach God’ (TPJS, p. 191).”
-It may be prudent to point out that while spirit beings and resurrected beings both have form and human shape, these beings clearly do not operate under the same laws by which we mortals are bound. For example, despite Christ’s corporeal resurrected form, he was still able to appear and disappear among his disciples. Sometimes there seems to be the assumption among some faiths that because God is described in the Bible as “invisible,” that He therefore cannot have a body. Latter-day Saints would not agree with this assumption on grounds that, as mentioned, non-mortal beings clearly operate under a different set of rules. And I’m sure that even among non-mortals, different beings have different capabilities (i.e. God’s ability and power is obviously going to be vastly different from the lowly unembodied spirit beings).
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