The Holy Ghost. In this Divine Council there is also a third member, a Person,
sometimes called, The Holy Ghost, and sometimes, The Holy Spirit. He has all
the divine characteristics. He is infinitely wise, holy, good and tender. Our
Lord, immediately before his death, explained the special mission of the Holy
Spirit. He told his disciples that he was about to leave them, but would
return. However, they were not to be left "comfortless" (rather,
"orphans") while waiting for him (John 14:18). They would have the
Spirit of Truth abiding with them. Our Lord says:
"When the Spirit of Truth is come, he will guide you into all
truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that
shall he speak; and he will show you things to come.... He shall glorify me;
for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." (John 16:13-15;
comp. 14:15-18)
That the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person is further evident from
the instructions of our Lord concerning baptism. He said to the Twelve:
"Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matt. 28:19)
Here both the personality and equality of the three members of the
Godhead are clearly taught.
The same truth is conveyed in the Apostolic blessing:
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and
the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all." (2 Cor. 13:14)
The enumeration of the three is the recognition of three distinct
Personalities, and each has, moreover, his own
characteristic—"grace," "love," and "communion."
Distinct personal acts are attributes to the Holy Spirit. He
speaks. (Acts 28:25) He prophesies. (I Tim. 4:1-3) He makes intercession for
the Saints. (Rom. 8:25, 27) He can be grieved. (Eph. 4:30) He can be sinned
against. (Matt. 12:31)
All these are attributes of a person. (See also I Ne. 11:11)
A Divine Power. But there is also a "Spirit of Jehovah," a
"Spirit of God" (Ps. 51:13; Is. 63:11-14) which is not a person, but
that divine force, or power, that, like the wind, cannot be seen, and yet is
the element by which all animate creatures live. (Job 27:3; 33:4; Ps. 104:29,
30) By which the whole universe is animated, filled with life, and governed. It
was this spirit that "moved upon" (might be translated, "was
brooding upon") the face of the waters (Gen. 1:2) as a bird broods over
its nest (Deut. 32:11). It is a regenerating principle which "bloweth
where it listeth, but [thou] canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it
goeth. (John 3:8) It is an element in which we "live, move, and have our
being" (Acts 17:28), a true light which "lighteth every man that
cometh into the world. (John 1:9) It can be imparted and received. (John 20:29;
Acts 2:4) It is an element in which the believer is baptized. (Acts 1:5;
2:16-18; Joel 2:28) It is the light of Christ
"... and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which
it was made. As also he [Christ] is in the moon, and is the light of the moon,
and the power thereof by which it was made; and also the light of the stars,
and the power thereof by which they were made; and the earth also, and the
power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand. And the light which shineth,
which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the
same light that quickeneth your understandings; which light proceedeth forth
from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—the light which is in
all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all
things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is
in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things." (D. and C.
88:7-13)
It is through this Light, this Power, that God
"Comprehendeth all things, and all things are before him, and
all things are round about him; and he is above all things, and in all things,
and is through all things, and is round about all things; and all things are by
him, and of him, even God, forever and ever." (D. and C. 88:41) (George Reynolds and Janne M. Sjodahl, Commentary
on the Book of Mormon, 7 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Press, 1976], 1:93-94)