There are a number of places in the Book of Mormon where the Holy Spirit is presented, in non-poetical contexts, as being a person (I stress “non-poetical” as many try to relegate possible texts affirming the personality of the Spirit in the New Testament as a result of poetical personification). One such text is Alma 5:50-52:
Yea, thus saith the Spirit: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand; yea, the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion. Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, that the Spirit saith: Behold the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men. And also the Spirit saith unto me, yea, crieth unto me with a mighty voice, saying: Go forth and say unto this people-- Repent, for except ye repent ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, the Spirit saith: Behold, the ax is laid at the root of the tree; therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire, yea, a fire which cannot be consumed, even an unquenchable fire. Behold, and remember, the Holy One hath spoken it.
In these texts, personality is ascribed to the Holy Spirit (how can a non-person or a mere personification speak?) Such is reminiscent of Acts 13:1-2 in the New Testament (discussed here) wherein Luke clearly presents the Holy Spirit, not as being personal merely, but a personality.
Of course, the most explicit witness of the personality of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Mormon is that of 1 Nephi 11 (see David Bokovoy, “Thou Knowest That I Believe”: Invoking The Spirit of the Lord as Council Witness in 1 Nephi 11), but Alma 5:50-52 further strengthens the case that Joseph Smith's theology was not binitarian from the beginnings of "Mormonism" and that the personality of the Holy Spirit is part-and-parcel of early Latter-day Saint theology.
Support this blog:
Paypal
