Alma 39:6

[Nominee]

Is that what the denial of the Holy Ghost is?

Denying His existence?

Well, it's not about rebelling. Your own post explains that even one who knowingly rebels against God can be saved through repentance.

Like TAO is saying, it's not JUST denying his existence - It is denying his existence when you know him to be as real as you know yourself to be.

Edited December 20, 2012 by Nominee

[CV75]

What do you take this to mean?

***

For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the ^bLord Jesus Christ. (Mosiah 3:10-12.)

Doesn't everyone who knowingly rebels against God commit the unpardonable sin?

It is still a matter of degree. Salvation is realized by degree according to the degree of faith and repentance (See D&C 76--the degrees of glory).

Likewise, people have various degrees of knowledge, and rebel to varying degrees, and so only those who know enough ( and that would be a lot!) and rebel enough (and that would be a lot also!) can commit "the" unpardonable sin that warrants granting one status as a son of perdition.

As far as the involvement of the Holy Spirit in this: The Holy Spirit can have place in us in many ways--you mentioned some of them. Each of the ways can be manifest strongly or weakly, completely or partially, depending on the balance of God's will and our agency. We can also deny what we have received strongly or weakly, completely or partially also, depending on our agency.

[mathonihah]

Alma 39:6 reads "For behold, if ye deny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is unpardonable; yea, and whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness."

The answer is found in the scripture you quoted: "... and ye know that ye deny it". If you don't know, then chances are that you haven't. And in any case, you are now bringing up subjects which you should be discussing with your bishop. He holds the keys to receive the necessary inspiration to assist you in your problems.

[canard78]

Acording to Joseph Smith:

"What must a man do to commit the unpardonable sin? He must receive the Holy Ghost, have the heavens opened unto him, and know God, and then sin against Him. After a man has sinned against the Holy Ghost, there is no repentance for him.

He has got to say that the sun does not shine while he sees it with his eyes open;

he has got to deny Jesus Christ when the heavens have been opened unto him, and to deny the plan of salvation with his eyes open to the truth of it; "

(Joseph Smith King Follett Discourse)

Only problem with the don't worry, King Follet says "sun does not shine" level of reassurance is he goes on to say:

And from that time he begins to be an enemy to this work, like many of the apostates of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When a man begins to be an enemy, he hunts me; he seeks to kill me; he thirsts for my blood; he never ceases. He has the same spirit of them who crucified the Lord of Life-the same spirit that sins against the Holy Ghost. You cannot bring him to repentance. Awful is the consequence.

It seem Joseph is saying 'many of the apostates' qualify as Holy Ghost deniers. On the other hand he may simply be saying that those who deny the Holy Ghost begin to be an enemy to the work... just like apostates become enemies to the work. Take your pick...

[inquiringmind]

And from that time he begins to be an enemy to this work, like many of the apostates of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Many but not all?

If a Mormon loses their testimony, is it possible for him to forget that he ever had one?

Is it possible to have a testimony one day, and lose it the next?

And if it is, is it possible to deny the HG without knowing it?

[canard78]

Many but not all?

If a Mormon loses their testimony, is it possible for him to forget that he ever had one?

Is it possible to have a testimony one day, and lose it the next?

And if it is, is it possible to deny the HG without knowing it?

I think it is indeed possible to forget the strength of the spiritual impressions one has received. Enduring the end can rarely be based solely on a one-off conversion but needs daily nurturing or it will often die out. I sometimes feel sad when I hear people in their 40s/50s still only using mission stories for relating spiritual experiences. As I once said in a talk at priesthood meeting, "if we're still quoting spiritual experiences from 10-20 years ago, maybe we should go and have some new ones."

As to your last question... no, I don't believe that someone who simply loses his testimony is a son of perdition/committing the unpardonable sin.

To be honest I understand very little about it. I sometimes see it as a slightly vague warning. I wish it was more clearly defined. It seems odd that the most serious of all sins has such a vague definition.

So I join you in wondering what the sin actually is. All the lesser ones to it have much more specific dos and don'ts. I know, for examples 'how' to avoid breaking the law of chastity. I know the boundaries. Same too with many other commandments which are, apparently, easier to repent from.

The king follet discourse doesn't really define it, and the definition offered in it is undermined by the 'apostate' comparison.