Is the spirit of god an entity?

[AtlanticMike]

I was always taught by my parents that the spirit of god was a distinct spirit sent to us to serve alongside the holy ghost. Today 99% of the mormons I talk to think the spirit of god is the holy ghost. But I have always thought of it totally separate. To me the gift of the  holy ghost is a way we can communicate with beings from other planets throughout the universe. Its reserved for the most noble of gods earthly children. The spirit of god is here to serve everyone  on earth including the worst of us. In one of my first post in the social hall a board member ask me about "gut" feelings. I personally think gut feelings are one way the spirit if god communicates with his earthly children, every single one of us, from mother Teresa to Jack the ripper, it doesn't matter what sins you commit. The spirit of god is never lost unlike the holy ghost. How do you guys see the spirit of god? Is it an entity, is it the holy ghost or is it the pure essence of god burning like a fire?

[bluebell]

3 minutes ago, Mike Livingston said:

I was always taught by my parents that the spirit of god was a distinct spirit sent to us to serve alongside the holy ghost. Today 99% of the mormons I talk to think the spirit of god is the holy ghost. But I have always thought of it totally separate. To me the gift of the  holy ghost is a way we can communicate with beings from other planets throughout the universe. Its reserved for the most noble of gods earthly children. The spirit of god is here to serve everyone  on earth including the worst of us. In one of my first post in the social hall a board member ask me about "gut" feelings. I personally think gut feelings are one way the spirit if god communicates with his earthly children, every single one of us, from mother Teresa to Jack the ripper, it doesn't matter what sins you commit. The spirit of god is never lost unlike the holy ghost. How do you guys see the spirit of god? Is it an entity, is it the holy ghost or is it the pure essence of god burning like a fire?

I've never heard of anyone describing the Spirit of God as being separate and distinct from the Holy Ghost, and I've never seen that taught anywhere either.  But I've also never heard anyone describe the Holy Ghost as you have (I've bolded the relevant part statements I'm referring to).   Everyone who is baptized receives the gift of the Holy Ghost and His "job" is to testify of truth and to sanctify us. 

You have beliefs, and use phrases, that are not typical for people who were raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[AtlanticMike]

2 minutes ago, bluebell said:

I've never heard of anyone describing the Spirit of God as being separate and distinct from the Holy Ghost, and I've never seen that taught anywhere either.  But I've also never heard anyone describe the Holy Ghost as you have (I've bolded the relevant part statements I'm referring to).   Everyone who is baptized receives the gift of the Holy Ghost and His "job" is to testify of truth and to sanctify us. 

You have beliefs, and use phrases, that are not typical for people who were raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I take your 2nd paragraph as a compliment bluebell even though I think your trying to say there's a chance I'm a troll.

   In 1945 Milton R Hunter, under the direction of the council of the twelve wrote a priesthood guide that explains exactly what I've been taught by my parents. On page 13 of  his book The Gospel Throughout The ages he writes that "the holy ghost is a means by which a man may place himself in touch with the whole universe and draw knowledge from it, includingthe beings of superior intelligence that it contains. The spirit of god was also provided to serve with the holy ghost as another guide for man." If you search, there's many other references of some of the smartest apostles we've ever had that express the same. 

  

[bluebell]

3 minutes ago, Mike Livingston said:

I take your 2nd paragraph as a compliment bluebell even though I think your trying to say there's a chance I'm a troll.

   In 1945 Milton R Hunter, under the direction of the council of the twelve wrote a priesthood guide that explains exactly what I've been taught by my parents. On page 13 of  his book The Gospel Throughout The ages he writes that "the holy ghost is a means by which a man may place himself in touch with the whole universe and draw knowledge from it, includingthe beings of superior intelligence that it contains. The spirit of god was also provided to serve with the holy ghost as another guide for man." If you search, there's many other references of some of the smartest apostles we've ever had that express the same. 

  

It's not a compliment or an insult, it's just a statement that the church doesn't currently teach the things above that you believe.  

[AtlanticMike]

And bluebell,  everytime you get down on your knees and pray, your communicating with beings of superior intelligence that live on another planet that is possibly in our universe. So what did I say that's any different than what you believe?

[The Nehor]

Never heard this about the Holy Ghost and I don’t see why it needs to serve as a go-between to other beings. The Holy Ghost is a God. Why would he pass on messages from anyone but himself or the Father and Son and maybe serve as a conduit for the communication of angels. Maybe those angels are what they meant?  I also have not heard of the Spirit of God being a separate being. What you describe as the Spirit of God is often called the Light of Christ generally. A divine spark in the human spirit designed to lead you to good. I disagree that it can never go away completely or that it is constant no matter what. I would say if you do make it go away entirely you are probably heading for Perdition.

[The Nehor]

1 minute ago, Mike Livingston said:

And bluebell,  everytime you get down on your knees and pray, your communicating with beings of superior intelligence that live on another planet that is possibly in our universe. So what did I say that's any different than what you believe?

You were taught by your parents but never taught in church and you refer to 99% of (sigh) Mormons as if you are not one of them? Either there is a story here or your protestations about not being a troll may come under suspicion.

[bluebell]

5 minutes ago, Mike Livingston said:

And bluebell,  everytime you get down on your knees and pray, your communicating with beings of superior intelligence that live on another planet that is possibly in our universe. So what did I say that's any different than what you believe?

This part--"To me the gift of the  holy ghost is a way we can communicate with beings from other planets throughout the universe. Its reserved for the most noble of gods earthly children."

[The Nehor]

2 minutes ago, bluebell said:

This part--"To me the gift of the  holy ghost is a way we can communicate with beings from other planets throughout the universe. Its reserved for the most noble of gods earthly children."

Yeah, the arrogance of that line stuck out to me as well. There was some of that in the 19th century but no one talks like that anymore. It is not reserved for anyone. Anyone who seeks it out can have it. It is not an exclusive club where you have to meet a special standard of premortal or mortal righteousness.

[AtlanticMike]

2 minutes ago, bluebell said:

This part--"To me the gift of the  holy ghost is a way we can communicate with beings from other planets throughout the universe. Its reserved for the most noble of gods earthly children."

I'm going to assume you believe in communicating with beings from other planets. You try to do it everytime you pray, all of us do, what's wrong with me saying that, have you never sung If You Could Hie To Kolob?? What's Kolob bluebell, it's a planet with superior intelligence that reside on it. God provides us with the gift of the holy ghost so we can communicate with him , the less sinless we commit the more we can understand the answer we hopefully receive back from these superior intelligence's. Am I wrong in anything I just said?? 

[pogi]

51 minutes ago, Mike Livingston said:

I was always taught by my parents that the spirit of god was a distinct spirit sent to us to serve alongside the holy ghost. Today 99% of the mormons I talk to think the spirit of god is the holy ghost. But I have always thought of it totally separate. To me the gift of the  holy ghost is a way we can communicate with beings from other planets throughout the universe. Its reserved for the most noble of gods earthly children. The spirit of god is here to serve everyone  on earth including the worst of us. In one of my first post in the social hall a board member ask me about "gut" feelings. I personally think gut feelings are one way the spirit if god communicates with his earthly children, every single one of us, from mother Teresa to Jack the ripper, it doesn't matter what sins you commit. The spirit of god is never lost unlike the holy ghost. How do you guys see the spirit of god? Is it an entity, is it the holy ghost or is it the pure essence of god burning like a fire?

 

32 minutes ago, Mike Livingston said:

I take your 2nd paragraph as a compliment bluebell even though I think your trying to say there's a chance I'm a troll.

   In 1945 Milton R Hunter, under the direction of the council of the twelve wrote a priesthood guide that explains exactly what I've been taught by my parents. On page 13 of  his book The Gospel Throughout The ages he writes that "the holy ghost is a means by which a man may place himself in touch with the whole universe and draw knowledge from it, includingthe beings of superior intelligence that it contains. The spirit of god was also provided to serve with the holy ghost as another guide for man." If you search, there's many other references of some of the smartest apostles we've ever had that express the same. 

  

Hi Mike,

Often times The Spirit of the Lord or Spirit of God is used to refer to the light of Christ, which better fits the description of the spirit you are talking about. 

Light of Christ (Spirit of the Lord), fills all space, and is the source of our "gut feelings" (conscience), is used to communicate, is a gift to all mankind (righteous/wicked/member/non-member), it is the spirit which a man may draw knowledge from, it is the source of God's power and creation throughout the universe.  

Here is the giveaway that we are talking about the light of Christ, and not the Holy Ghost.

Quote

"The spirit of god was also provided to serve with the holy ghost as another guide for man."

You are right that they are 2 different entities and 2 different spirits. 

Edited December 11, 2020 by pogi

[The Nehor]

7 minutes ago, Mike Livingston said:

I'm going to assume you believe in communicating with beings from other planets. You try to do it everytime you pray, all of us do, what's wrong with me saying that, have you never sung If You Could Hie To Kolob?? What's Kolob bluebell, it's a planet with superior intelligence that reside on it. God provides us with the gift of the holy ghost so we can communicate with him , the less sinless we commit the more we can understand the answer we hopefully receive back from these superior intelligence's. Am I wrong in anything I just said?? 

Yes, Kolob is a star and not a planet. 

[AtlanticMike]

6 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

Yeah, the arrogance of that line stuck out to me as well. There was some of that in the 19th century but no one talks like that anymore. It is not reserved for anyone. Anyone who seeks it out can have it. It is not an exclusive club where you have to meet a special standard of premortal or mortal righteousness.

Arrogance?!?!?!? You've got to be kidding me! The holy ghost is reserved for us latter day saints. No other church on earth can perform a baptism that will let you receive the the gift of the holy ghost because no other baptisms are done under the direction of the holy priesthood. That's the whole reason we send out missionaries!! If every church is able to perform a baptism by water and fire like we do and God accepts it, then there's no need for a mission field of 60,000. How is that arrogance?

[The Nehor]

6 minutes ago, pogi said:

 

Hi Mike,

Often times The Spirit of the Lord or Spirit of God is used to refer to the light of Christ, which better fits the description of the spirit you are talking about. 

Light of Christ (Spirit of the Lord), fills all space, and is the source of our "gut feelings" (conscience), is used to communicate, is a gift to all mankind (righteous/wicked/member/non-member), it is the spirit which a man may draw knowledge from, it is the source of God's power and creation throughout the universe.  

Here is the giveaway that we are talking about the light of Christ, and not the Holy Ghost.

You are right that they are 2 different entities and 2 different spirits. 

I am not sure if the Spirit of God/Light of Christ is an entity or a mechanism. I suspect it is a mechanism.

Oh, and the Church backs me on that.

The Light of Christ “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” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:12–13; see also Doctrine and Covenants 88:6–11). This power is an influence for good in the lives of all people (see John 1:9; Doctrine and Covenants 93:2). In the scriptures, the Light of Christ is sometimes called the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, or the Light of Life.
The Light of Christ should not be confused with the Holy Ghost. It is not a personage, as the Holy Ghost is.

 

[AtlanticMike]

9 minutes ago, pogi said:

 

Hi Mike,

Often times The Spirit of the Lord or Spirit of God is used to refer to the light of Christ, which better fits the description of the spirit you are talking about. 

Light of Christ (Spirit of the Lord), fills all space, and is the source of our "gut feelings" (conscience), is used to communicate, is a gift to all mankind (righteous/wicked/member/non-member), it is the spirit which a man may draw knowledge from, it is the source of God's power and creation throughout the universe.  

Here is the giveaway that we are talking about the light of Christ, and not the Holy Ghost.

You are right that they are 2 different entities and 2 different spirits. 

Thank you for that nice simple answer and not accusing me of being a troll. Why is everyone so sensitive in here, dam!

[The Nehor]

1 minute ago, Mike Livingston said:

Arrogance?!?!?!? You've got to be kidding me! The holy ghost is reserved for us latter day saints. No other church on earth can perform a baptism that will let you receive the the gift of the holy ghost because no other baptisms are done under the direction of the holy priesthood. That's the whole reason we send out missionaries!! If every church is able to perform a baptism by water and fire like we do and God accepts it, then there's no need for a mission field of 60,000. How is that arrogance?

Not kidding.

The Holy Ghost is reserved for Latter Day Saints (or those who join its equivalent in other dispensations) but that does not make those who belong to the church the “noblest”. Some might be but some are not. We send out missionaries to gather people in. It is not exclusive at all. “Reserved for the most noble of God’s children” when we give it to everyone who seeks it? That is not how nobility traditionally works.

[pogi]

19 minutes ago, Mike Livingston said:

I'm going to assume you believe in communicating with beings from other planets. You try to do it everytime you pray, all of us do, what's wrong with me saying that, have you never sung If You Could Hie To Kolob?? What's Kolob bluebell, it's a planet with superior intelligence that reside on it. God provides us with the gift of the holy ghost so we can communicate with him , the less sinless we commit the more we can understand the answer we hopefully receive back from these superior intelligence's. Am I wrong in anything I just said?? 

 

11 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

Yes, Kolob is a star and not a planet. 

Also, God doesn't reside on Kolob.  Kolob is the name given to the star closest to the throne of God in Abraham 3:3

Also, I don't know if it is doctrine that we communicate with God via the Holy Ghost when we pray.  At times we can pray by that spirit, but it is not necessarily the vehicle to the Father.   Since not everyone is endowed with the gift of the Holy Ghost, I assume it is the light of Christ which allows us to communicate with the Father.  

 

[AtlanticMike]

28 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

You were taught by your parents but never taught in church and you refer to 99% of (sigh) Mormons as if you are not one of them? Either there is a story here or your protestations about not being a troll may come under suspicion.

Yes imagine that, I was taught by my parents! Yes imagine that, I refer to mormons as mormons! And yes there is a story, but instead of asking me questions to figure the story out, you rather say I might be a troll, very big of you nehor.

[pogi]

23 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

I am not sure if the Spirit of God/Light of Christ is an entity or a mechanism. I suspect it is a mechanism.

Oh, and the Church backs me on that.

The Light of Christ “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” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:12–13; see also Doctrine and Covenants 88:6–11). This power is an influence for good in the lives of all people (see John 1:9; Doctrine and Covenants 93:2). In the scriptures, the Light of Christ is sometimes called the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, or the Light of Life.
The Light of Christ should not be confused with the Holy Ghost. It is not a personage, as the Holy Ghost is.

 

I guess it depends on how you define "entity".   I am not defining entity as a being, bur rather a distinct thing.  It is spirit, and spirit is material.  It actually "fills (the immensity of) space".  In my mind it is both an entity and a mechanism. 

Edited December 11, 2020 by pogi

[The Nehor]

Just now, Mike Livingston said:

Yes imagine that, I was taught by my parents! Yes imagine that, I refer to mormons as mormons! And yes there is a story, but instead of asking me questions to figure the story out, you rather say I might be a troll, very big of you nehor.

Referring to Mormons as Mormons is actually quite suspicious if you are saying you have been in the church for a while. If you grew up in it and left and just came back, less suspicious.

Taught by your parents but not in Sunday School or Primary or Young Men or Seminary? You don’t talk like what you would if you were taught there. Even if you disagreed with it you would know terminology. Were you only taught at home?

I said you might be a troll because you, you know, might be a troll. I am not going to feel guilty for realizing the possibility is very plausible. If it makes you feel any better I suspect almost all new users here of that. Not in a spiteful vindictive way but just acknowledging they could be.

[The Nehor]

2 minutes ago, pogi said:

I guess it depends on how you define "entity".   I am not defining entity as a being, bur rather a distinct thing.  It is spirit, and spirit is material.  It actually "fills space".  In my mind it is both an entity and a mechanism. 

Oh, I see. I have been using a more restricted definition of “entity” for years. Looking up the definition I did not know the definition could be that expansive. My apologies.

[pogi]

Nevermind

Edited December 11, 2020 by pogi

[AtlanticMike]

I'm sorry if I snapped at some of you especially bluebell but it's tough in here when everybody thinks your a troll.  Everything I wrote this morning in social hall was locked so I'm trying really hard to figure out how to communicate on forums, this is honestly the first forum I've ever been on, I dont do any social media at all, i cant stand it, if I wanted to be depressed I would find a better way than looking at fake people all day on facebook😁. Anyways, nehor, I love parents and I'm proud of what they taught me and I also love the word mormon ,that's why I use it all the time. But back to the subject at hand, I want to read from a paragraph from the study guide called principles of the gospel, it says,  " the holy ghost is the moving powering the salvation of the human family, for faith is one of its gifts. The spirit of God is not only the medium by which knowledge is communicated to man, but it is the power by which all organizations are developed,  and by which they exist and move. It is the agent of gods power by which through faith, the elements are controlled." I'm very intrigued, I honestly don't know what the spirit of god is. That's why I asked. 

[CV75]

2 hours ago, Mike Livingston said:

I was always taught by my parents that the spirit of god was a distinct spirit sent to us to serve alongside the holy ghost. Today 99% of the mormons I talk to think the spirit of god is the holy ghost. But I have always thought of it totally separate. To me the gift of the  holy ghost is a way we can communicate with beings from other planets throughout the universe. Its reserved for the most noble of gods earthly children. The spirit of god is here to serve everyone  on earth including the worst of us. In one of my first post in the social hall a board member ask me about "gut" feelings. I personally think gut feelings are one way the spirit if god communicates with his earthly children, every single one of us, from mother Teresa to Jack the ripper, it doesn't matter what sins you commit. The spirit of god is never lost unlike the holy ghost. How do you guys see the spirit of god? Is it an entity, is it the holy ghost or is it the pure essence of god burning like a fire?

They are separate, one being the personage of spirit (the Holy Ghost, D&C 130:22) and the other the power of the Spirit of Christ as described in D&C 88. I suppose / hope this is what your parents meant. There is also the power of the Holy Ghost, which seems to operate similarly to the light of Christ but has a specific purpose to convey the Holy Ghost's witness of Gospel truths.

It is interesting do to a word search and compare the meaning of the verses where "spirit" is capitalized and not, and how it is used in those contexts.

Edited December 11, 2020 by CV75

[pogi]

42 minutes ago, Mike Livingston said:

I'm sorry if I snapped at some of you especially bluebell but it's tough in here when everybody thinks your a troll.  Everything I wrote this morning in social hall was locked so I'm trying really hard to figure out how to communicate on forums, this is honestly the first forum I've ever been on, I dont do any social media at all, i cant stand it, if I wanted to be depressed I would find a better way than looking at fake people all day on facebook😁. Anyways, nehor, I love parents and I'm proud of what they taught me and I also love the word mormon ,that's why I use it all the time. But back to the subject at hand, I want to read from a paragraph from the study guide called principles of the gospel, it says,  " the holy ghost is the moving powering the salvation of the human family, for faith is one of its gifts. The spirit of God is not only the medium by which knowledge is communicated to man, but it is the power by which all organizations are developed,  and by which they exist and move. It is the agent of gods power by which through faith, the elements are controlled." I'm very intrigued, I honestly don't know what the spirit of god is. That's why I asked. 

Are you talking about this manual?

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/callings/military/83294_000_Principles_of_the_Gospel_Military_barcode.pdf?lang=eng

Or are you referring to the Gospel Principles manual?  Page number would help. 

Without context, it is hard to distinguish if it is only talking about the Holy Ghost or the light of Christ.  They sometimes overlap in name and function. 

This may help:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1989/06/i-have-a-question/what-is-the-difference-between-the-holy-ghost-the-spirit-of-christ-and-the-light-of-christ?lang=eng

Edited December 11, 2020 by pogi