THE SPIRIT OF GOD, OR HOLY GHOST.
Whenever the Priesthood has been on the earth, through it, and in various ways, the Lord has revealed his will to man. By his voice: "They heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden;" Gen. 3. 8. The Lord talked with Abraham; chap. 18. And with Moses; Exo. 3. He called to young Samuel; 1 Sam. 3.
Passages are numerous in the inspired writings in which it says "The Lord hath spoken;" "The Lord spake;" "Thus saith the Lord;" etc. He has often revealed his will through the ministrations of angels, by visions and dreams, by signs and tokens; but the more general way has been through the agency of his Spirit, or the Holy Ghost.
The Prophet Joseph Smith has informed us that "The Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit." Doc. & Cov. 130, 22, 23.
Its office is to enlighten the understanding and give knowledge and wisdom; Exo. 31. 1-11. 1 Chron. 28. 12. "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.
It is the Spirit of prophecy, and reveals future events, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost;" 2 Pet. 1. 21.
It is a witness and testifies to man, of God and his attributes. "Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God:" 1 Cor. 2. 11. "We are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost;" Acts 5. 32. Chap. 20. 23. "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost;" 1 Cor. 12. 3. It gives the knowledge that is essential to salvation. "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth." John 16. 13.
Nephite prophets declared, that, after Christ should be slain, "He should rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles;" 1 Nephi 10. 11. 3 Nephi 15. 23. "The mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come;" 1 Nephi 10. 19.
The Holy Ghost bears record of the Father and of the Son; 3 Nephi 11. 32. The Holy Ghost and Spirit of God are synonymous. The gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Cor. chap. 12, are often mentioned in the inspired writings as gifts of the Holy Ghost.
The Comforter, and the Spirit of Truth are also synonymous with the Holy Ghost. "But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost;" John 14. 26. "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth;" John 15. 26.
The Holy Ghost is the moving power in the salvation of the human family, for faith is one of its gifts; 1 Cor. 12. 9. And all intelligences work by faith. Doc. & Cov., Lec. on Faith; 1. 11.
The Spirit of God is not only the medium by which knowledge is communicated to man, but it is the power by which all organizations are developed, and by which they exist and move. It is the agent of God's power by which, through faith, the elements are controlled. "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters;" Gen. 1. 2. "By his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens;" Job 26. 13. "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life;" 33. 4. "If he gather unto himself his Spirit and his breath; all flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust;" 34. 14, 15. "Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created;" Psalm 104. 30. "For by the power of my Spirit created I them; yea, all things both spiritual and temporal;" Doc. & Cov., 29. 31. "The power of my Spirit quickeneth all things;" 33. 16.
By it the Lord works his will among the nations: "I have called upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit;" 35. 13. "The elements are the tabernacle of God;" 93. 35. Through the power of the Spirit which pervades them, they are organized and disorganized in accordance with the laws by which they are governed. Spirit and element must be inseparably connected, through the resurrection, in order to attain the greatest perfection; verses 33, 34.
Man, ignorant of God and his attributes, increases in knowledge by experience and observation, explores the fields of nature, watches and experiments with the elements, acquires, to him, new and grand truths, makes discoveries in science which measurably revolutionize the conditions of human life, and thinks, in his ignorance of the spiritual elements, that he accomplishes these important results by his own unaided wisdom, when they are the effects of the workings of that universal spirit of intelligence which emanates from the Father of light, without which man would be like the blind, who wander about at noonday, unconscious of the light that shines around them.
Man observes a universal energy in nature. Organization and disorganization succeed each other. The thunders roll through the heavens; the earth trembles and becomes broken by earthquakes; fires consume cities and forests; the waters accumulate, flow over their usual bounds and cause destruction of life and property; the worlds perform their revolutions in space with a velocity and power incomprehensible to man, and he, covered with a veil of darkness, calls this universal energy, God, when it is the workings of his Spirit, the obedient agent of his power, the wonder-working and life-giving principle in all nature.
Bible.
Gen. 6. 3 my Spirit shall not always strive with man.
Num. 11. 17 I will take of the Spirit that is on thee, and put it on them,
26 The Spirit rested on Eldad and Medad, and they prophesied.
24. 2 and the Spirit of the Lord rested on Balaam.
1 Sam. 10. 10 the Spirit of God came on Saul and he prophesied.
2 Kings 2. 9 let a double portion of thy spirit be on me.
15 the spirit of Elijah rested on Elisha. 16.
Neh. 9. 20 thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them.
30 God for many years testified against Israel by his Spirit.
Job 32. 8 there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
Prov. 1. 23 behold I will pour out my Spirit on you.
Isa. 29. 10 the Lord hath poured upon you the Spirit of deep sleep.
42. 1 I have put my Spirit on him, he shall bring forth judgment.
44. 3 will pour my Spirit on thy seed, my blessing on thine offspring.
48. 16 the Lord God and his Spirit hath sent me.
61. 1 the Spirit of the Lord God is on me. Luke 4. 18.
Ezek. 11. 24 brought me in a vision, by the Spirit of God, into Chaldea.
Dan. 4. 8 in whom is the Spirit of the holy Gods.
Joel 2. 29 upon the servants and handmaids, in those days, will I pour out my Spirit. Acts 2. 17, 18.
Matt. 3. 16 he saw the Spirit of God descending on him like a dove.
4. 1 Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness. Luke 4. 1.
12. 28 if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God?
Luke 1. 17 he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias.
2. 25-27 Simeon came by the Spirit into the temple.
4. 14 Jesus returned in power of the Spirit into Galilee.
11. 13 your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.
John 3. 34 God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
6. 63 it is the Spirit that quickeneth.
16. 13 the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth.
Acts 2. 4 began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
8. 29 the Spirit said to Philip, go near and join thyself to this chariot.
39 the Spirit caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more.
10. 19 the Spirit said to Peter, three men seek thee.
Rom. 8. 10 but the Spirit is life, because of righteousness.
11 if the Spirit which raised up Jesus shall also quicken your mortal bodies.
26 the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us.
1 Cor. 2. 4 in demonstration of the Spirit and power.
10 the Spirit of God searcheth all things.
15. 45 the first Adam was a living soul, the last Adam a quickening spirit.
2 Cor. 3. 6 the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.
17 where the Spirit of God is there is liberty.
18 changed from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Gal. 5. 16 walk in the Spirit; ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.
Eph. 2. 2 the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.
6. 17 take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18.
1 Thess. 5. 19. 20 quench not the Spirit, despise not prophesyings.
2 Thess. 2. 8 the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth.
1 Tim. 3. 16 God manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit.
Rev. 1. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day.
2. 7 hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. 11. 17, 29.
11. 11 After three days, the Spirit of life, from God, entered into them.
14. 13 blessed are the dead that die in the Lord; yea, saith the Spirit.
17. 3 so he carried me away in the Spirit, into the wilderness.
19. 10 for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.
Book of Mormon.
1 Nephi 1. 12 as he read he was filled with the Spirit.
4. 6 was led by the Spirit, not knowing the things I should do.
18 I obeyed the voice of the Spirit, and smote off the head of Laban.
11. 1 caught away in the Spirit, into an exceeding high mountain.
6 when I had spoken these words, the Spirit cried with a loud voice.
8 the Spirit said to me, look; I looked and beheld a tree.
11 I knew it was the Spirit of the Lord, and he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another.
19 I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit.
13. 12 the Spirit of God wrought on the man, and he went forth on the waters.
15 the Spirit of the Lord was on the Gentiles, that they prospered.
14. 30 an end of speaking what I saw, when carried away in the Spirit.
17. 52 lest they wither before me, so powerful was the Spirit.
19. 12 kings of the isles shall be wrought upon by the Spirit.
20 I have workings in the Spirit, for those at Jerusalem.
2 Nephi 2. 4 for the Spirit is the same yesterday, to-day and forever.
8 who layeth down his life and taketh it, by the power of the Spirit.
3. 5 Messiah to be manifest in the latter days, in the Spirit of power.
4. 25 on the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away.
26. 11 the Spirit of God will not always strive with man.
32. 7 I cannot say more, the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance.
Jacob 4. 13 for the Spirit speaketh the truth, and lieth not.
Enos 1. 10 while struggling in the Spirit, the voice of the Lord came.
Mos. 2. 36 that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord.
3. 19 but if he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit.
5. 3 through his Spirit have great views of that which is to come.
13. 5 durst not lay their hands on him, for the Spirit was on him.
18. 26 might wax strong in Spirit, having the knowledge of God.
Alma 3. 26 reap happiness or misery according to the spirit they listed to obey.
5. 54 sanctified by the Spirit, bring forth works meet for repentance.
7. 13 the Spirit knoweth all things.
16 have eternal life according to the testimony of the Spirit.
8. 24 been called according to the Spirit of revelation and prophecy.
12. 3 thou seest that thy thoughts are made known by the Spirit.
13. 4 would reject the Spirit, on account of the hardness of their hearts.
16. 16 the Lord poured his Spirit on the face of the land.
17. 3 given themselves to fasting and prayer, therefore they had the Spirit.
18. 16 being filled with the Spirit, perceived the thoughts of the king.
19. 13 the queen sank down, being overpowered by the Spirit.
22. 1 he was led by the Spirit to the land of Nephi.
23. 6 according to the Spirit of revelation and prophecy.
30. 46 resist the Spirit of truth, that thy soul may be destroyed.
34. 35 the Spirit of the Lord has withdrawn, and the devil has power over you.
40. 13 the wicked have no part of the Spirit of the Lord.
61. 15 give them power to conduct the war, according to the Spirit of God.
Hel. 5. 45 the Spirit entered their hearts, and they were filled as with fire.
6. 35 the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw from the Nephites.
10. 16 Nephi taken by the Spirit and conveyed away.
13. 8 except they repent I will withdraw my Spirit from them.
3 Nephi 3. 19 to appoint captains of those who had the Spirit of prophecy.
7. 21 signified they had been visited by the Spirit of God.
18. 7 if ye do always remember me, ye shall have my Spirit. 11.
20. 9 when the multitude had eaten and drank, they were filled with the Spirit.
Mormon 2. 26 the Spirit of God did not abide in us, and we were weak.
3. 16 manifestations of the Spirit which had testified of things to come.
Ether 2. 15 remember that my Spirit will not always strive with man.
Moroni 6. 9 conduct meetings after the manner of the workings of the Spirit.
Doctrine & Covenants.
Lecture on Faith 2. 24, 25 when the plan of redemption was revealed men began to call on God, and the Holy Spirit was given, bearing record of the Father and the Son.
5. 2 possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy Spirit, that bears record of the Father and the Son.
3 partaking of the fulness of the Father and Son, through the Spirit.
Sec. 1. 33 my Spirit shall not always strive with man.
8. 3 this is the Spirit of revelation, by which Moses brought Israel through the sea.
18. 47 I am Jesus Christ, by the power of my Spirit I have spoken it.
19. 23 walk in the meekness of my Spirit.
27. 18 the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you.
29. 30 first shall be last, last first, in all things created by the power of my Spirit.
31 by the power of my Spirit all things, both temporal and spiritual, were created.
33. 16 the power of my Spirit quickeneth all things.
35. 13 I have called on the weak things of the world, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit. 133. 59.
42. 13-17 all teachings to be by the Spirit.
45. 57 who have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, shall abide the day.
50. 10 come saith the Lord, by the Spirit, let us reason together.
17-21 to impart the truth, it must be preached in the Spirit of truth.
27 the light the Spirit sent, through Jesus Christ, by the will of the Father.
61. 27 to whom is given power to command the waters, is given the Spirit to know all his ways. 28.
63. 32 angry with the wicked, holding my Spirit from the inhabitants of the earth.
64. 16 they sought evil in their hearts, and I withheld my Spirit.
67. 11 no man has seen God in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit.
71. 1 expounding mysteries of the scriptures, according to the Spirit and power given.
72. 24 they that are appointed by the Spirit, to go up to Zion.
76. 11 J. Smith, Jun., and S. Rigdon, being in the Spirit.
12, 13 by the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened to see those things ordained of the Father before the world was. 18.
28 while yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us to write the vision. 80, 113.
83 these are they who deny not the Spirit.
86 receive not of his fulness, but of the Holy Spirit.
118 through manifestations of the Spirit in the flesh, be able to bear his presence.
84. 45-47 whatsoever is light is Spirit. The Spirit enlighteneth every man.
93. 9-11 the Spirit of truth who came into the world. 23.
26 the Spirit of truth is of God; I am the Spirit of truth.
95. 4 bring to pass my strange act; pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
97. 1 I speak unto you with my voice, even the voice of my Spirit.
105. 36 the voice of the Spirit shall manifest those chosen.
121. 37 when compulsion is used, the Spirit is grieved.
131. 5 more sure word of prophecy, means a man's knowing he is sealed up to eternal life, by the Spirit of prophecy.
136. 33 the Spirit sent forth into the world, to enlighten the humble.