First Presidency statement that the Holy Ghost is a spirit personage, while the Spirit of God is an impersonal influence from God. This resolves a quiet dispute that has existed since Joseph Smith's 1833 Lecutre on Faith that says the Holy Ghost "is the mind of God."
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
1902 is incorrect. 1833 is correct because it is based on 1 Cor. 2:10-16 & Philippians 2:5.
ReplyDeleteThe Holy Ghost (exact same as the Holy Spirit) is the mind of the Father and the Son. It is also the unseen power and glory [energy] that emanates from the Father and The Son, and can at His will change TEMPORARILY [E = mc2] into other visible forms: a man (1 Ne.11:11-12), a dove on Jesus' shoulder, a pillar of fire to the converted Lamanites, tongues of cloven fire in Acts 2, a finger writing on the wall to Belshazzar, etc., etc.
Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes) Jan 24, 1902 Spirit of the Lord and the Holy Ghost-- James R. Clark, Provo, Utah.
ReplyDeleteJoshua R. Clark, father of J. Reuben Clark, Jr., of Grantsville, Utah, wrote to President Joseph F. Smith for clarification of questions of a doctrinal nature. He had been certified or licensed by the First Presidency in 1898 as an Instructor in the Religion Classes of the Grantsville Ward. On January 22, 1902, he wrote President Smith seeking clarification of the questions: "Is the Spirit of the Lord and the Holy Ghost one and the same?" and "Was Paul one of the Twelve Apostles?"
President Smith turned the answering of the letter over to his son, Hyrum M. Smith, newly sustained Apostle, and then reviewed and corrected the answer.
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sorry, wrote shorthand; 1902 [statement] is incorrect; 1833 [statement] is correct. both dates are correct.
Deletealso should read "cloven tongues of fire" [misplaced adjective].