Commenting on the Holy Spirit being the “mind” of the Father and Son, Drew Briney noted that:
This is another controversial statement as to the nature
of the godhead.
The term “mind,” being equated to the Holy Spirit (as a
member of the godhead), is often chief among reasons offered by apologists for
their removal.
While it may not be articulated “correctly” according to
some, the same paragraph later (and twice) equates the “mind” with “the spirit”
of God that is “shed forth upon all who believe” and obey the Father. This idea
is explored further in the catechisms. See also Philippians 2:5, quoted in the catechism,
which may have been the source of using this word this way (the original Greek
translates better to “thinking”).
Apologists also note that this “mind” is not describing a
personage (see also the catechism that expressly states that there are only two
personages in the godhead). However, later in this lecture, it appears to some
commentators that the Holy Spirit is being described as a personage, hence
the distinction suggested above. (Drew Briney, Doctrine and Covenants 1844
JSV Edition: Lectures on Faith, Sections 1-138, 87 Uncanonized Revelations [JSV
Publications, LLC., 2025], 49 n. 9)
For further reading on
Lecture on Faith 5 and how it teaches, not denies, the personality of the Holy
Spirit, see the following paper from David Paulsen:
David Paulsen, "Binitarianism the Lectures on Faith" (Mormon History Association, 2003)
(this paper changed my
thinking on the issue; I used to believe that Lecture on faith 5 was binitarian
until I read this)
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