The Holy Ghost: Nephi sees the Holy Ghost coming down out of
heaven at the baptism of our Lord. He represents him as the exalted Person who
confers divine authority on the servants of God; who sanctifies those that,
through faith and repentance, enter the High Priesthood; who imparts knowledge,
faith, the gift to speak, power to ordain to the priesthood, and 'many' other
gifts of God enumerated in Moroni 10:9-19.
(References: 1 Ne. 11:27; 2 Ne. 31:8;
1 Ne. 10:22; Alma 13:12; Ether 12:33; 3 Ne. 16:4; Jac. 7:12; Mor. 19:7; 2 Ne.
26:13; 2 Ne. 32:3; 33:1; Moro. 3:4; 10:8-19.)
It is the Holy Ghost that 'bears
record,' or testifies of the Father and of the Son. He manifests or expounds
the word of God. It is, therefore, a great sin to deny him, or to contend
against him.
(References: Ether 11:36; 1 Ne. 10:11;
Moro. 8:9; 2 Ne. 28:4; Alma 34:38; 39:5, 6.)
The three are one, but not one
individual person. They are three persons, in one great divine council.
(References: 3 Ne. 11:27, 36; 28:10; Alma
11:44; Mormon 7:7.)
The Holy Spirit: But according to the Book of Mormon, as well
as other Scripture, there is also a Holy Spirit, sometimes called the Holy
Ghost, which is not a person, but rather a divine essence, a force, or
fluid--for want of a better term--which
permeates all that exists. It is the medium through which God communicates with
the world, and more especially with his children. It is through the presence of
this holy, divine spirit that order is preserved in the universe. Were this mighty
force withdrawn, the world would return to chaos. * * * It is that Spirit, in
whom 'we live, and move and have our being.' It is through his Spirit that
Christ gives light to all and all things. It 'proceedeth forth from the
presence of God to fill the immensity of space; it is 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. & C. 88:4-13.)
It is through this Spirit that God 'is above all things, and in all things, and
is through all things, and is round about all things.' (D. & C. 88:41.) It
is this Spirit that is imparted to the repentant believer who receives baptism
and the laying on of hands by an authorized servant of the Lord. And it is
through this Spirit that the spiritual gifts are distributed.
(References: 1 Ne. 3:20; 13:12; Alma
5: 47; Hel. 5:45; Moro. 10:8, 9; 3 Ne. 19:9-23.) (John A. Widtsoe and Franklin
S. Harris, Jr., Seven Claims of the Book of Mormon: A Collection of
Evidences [Independence, Miss.: Press of Zion's Printing and Publishing
Company, 1937], 148-49)
