So much by way of presenting the spirit in which I have pursued my own studies upon the high themes of these Seventy's Year Books, and this present one in particular.
X. JUSTIFICATION FOR USING DOUBLE TITLE.
The subject of Divine Immanence and the Holy Ghost should be considered together because there are such relations and apparent contrasts subsisting between them—such a likeness and such apparent differences, that they may properly be understood only when so considered—that is, conjointly.
The conception of God immanent in the world, not in bodily presence, of course, but by his spirit—a divine power, carrying with it everywhere the influence of God—proceeding forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space; the light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world—to which all men have access whether following the light of nature or of revelation, the light which is in all things and the power by which all things are sustained and in which they live and move and have their being—this conception, with the conception of the Holy Ghost as a Spirit-personage, union with whom and companionship with whom can only be secured by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel, is a conception that will correct some errors of argumentation that have here and there obtained in the literature of the subject, and leads to an understanding of things at once rational and uplifting, because it is a development of the truth as God has revealed it. This is the purpose of the treatise—The Divine Immanence, and the Holy Ghost.
WORKS OF REFERENCE.
Relative to works of reference I would remind the student that outside of the scriptures accepted by the Church the works that may be cited to assist one in studying the subject of this treatise are very scarce, since the doctrine of the Church on the subject is so radically different from that of the world. I can therefore only recommend as helpful the following brief list.
The Seventy's Library, viz.:
The Bible,
The Book of Mormon,
The Doctrine and Covenants,