Is the spirit of god an entity?

[CV75]

29 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. 

If you can provide a link or copy and paste the actual quote, that would be helpful. It seems you may not copied it all correctly.

[AtlanticMike]

19 minutes ago, pogi said:

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

Pogi I'm not sure because I left the book in my truck,  but I think I remember it did have something to do with a military copy, it's a small book only about 3x4 inches. I can tell you tomorrow when I get to my truck.

[AtlanticMike]

24 minutes ago, CV75 said:

If you can provide a link or copy and paste the actual quote, that would be helpful. It seems you may not copied it all correctly.

I will try, I hate to admit it but copy and paste on a forum is beyond my capabilities as of this moment, I'll get my 9 year old to show me how later🤣🤣

[AtlanticMike]

1 hour ago, The Nehor said:

Yes, Kolob is a star and not a planet. 

Yes I always forget that

[pogi]

25 minutes ago, Mike Livingston said:

Pogi I'm not sure because I left the book in my truck,  but I think I remember it did have something to do with a military copy, it's a small book only about 3x4 inches. I can tell you tomorrow when I get to my truck.

Sounds good.  It sounds like it is one of the small pocket military manuals. 

So that quote you provided was from your memory?

Edited December 12, 2020 by pogi

[Calm]

2 hours ago, The Nehor said:

The Holy Ghost is reserved for Latter Day Saints

The gift of the Holy Ghost. There may be other ways he interacts with those non baptized. At the very least he needs to be connecting if they get a witness of the truth of the gospel prior to baptism. 

[Calm]

1 hour ago, The Nehor said:

Referring to Mormons as Mormons is actually quite suspicious if you are saying you have been in the church for a while.

As opposed to “we” I am thinking you mean?”

[AtlanticMike]

1 hour ago, The Nehor said:

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 only thing I've lied about, atleast it feels like I have is my last name isn't Livingston. I just picked that out of thin air because I thought I was going to ask a couple questions about fairmorm (that's why I came here) and leave. I'm going to change my name to something else it just doesn't feel right, my first name is mike . But I'm kinda having fun here even though my testimony is bruised right now. I wasn't going to post anymore but Calm said she would buy me a ticket to get in the door at the fair conference and i said, what the hell, I'll keep talking on here even though this is the most typing I've ever done on my phone, ever. Nehor, I've been a member my whole life. I'm an eagle scout, most of my callings have always been in scouting, I think you guys are probably having a hard time figuring me out because I'm definitely not a cookie cutter mormon. I'm a G.E.D. educated highly successful roofer with 15 to 20 employees on any given day. I cuss like a sailor and live life to its fullest. I hunt, spearfish, raise chickens and listen to the bands Korn and five finger death punch because they help me sleep better at night. And with all that said, I love mormonism. I pay my tithing and sometimes attend the temple, I'm having a hard time with that though.To answer your some more of your questions, I've always attended church, primary, young mens and scouts. I dont know what terminology your talking about. I'm definitely not a scholar or an apologist and have no desire to be, I'm not wired for that, plus a have too many calluses on my hands to be one of those guys🤣. Does that help you figure me out any better? Anything else just ask?

[AtlanticMike]

25 minutes ago, pogi said:

Sounds good.  It sounds like it is one of the small pocket military manuals. 

So that quote you provided was from your memory?

No it was from a book, I cant get to it right now because it's in my work truck and I'm 30 minutes away. I'll get it for you though,  tomorrow or sunday.

[AtlanticMike]

Can I post screenshots on here?

[Calm]

8 minutes ago, Mike Livingston said:

Can I post screenshots on here?

Of books instead of typing in quotes?  I think so. 

[AtlanticMike]

4 minutes ago, Calm said:

Of books instead of typing in quotes?  I think so. 

Yes. I was going to take a picture for pogo. I'll try, thank you.

[AtlanticMike]

3 hours 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 like the way you think pogi. 👍

[AtlanticMike]

1 hour ago, CV75 said:

If you can provide a link or copy and paste the actual quote, that would be helpful. It seems you may not copied it all correctly.

I will try thank you

[The Nehor]

59 minutes ago, Calm said:

The gift of the Holy Ghost. There may be other ways he interacts with those non baptized. At the very least he needs to be connecting if they get a witness of the truth of the gospel prior to baptism. 

Yes, good distinction. The Holy Ghost can work with whoever He wishes but some have a right to constant companionship.

[InCognitus]

1 hour ago, Mike Livingston said:

3 hours ago, The Nehor said:

Yes, Kolob is a star and not a planet. 

Yes I always forget that

So, since Kolob really isn't a planet, it's not a good reason to say (as you did in your opening post), that "the gift of the  holy ghost is a way we can communicate with beings from other planets throughout the universe", especially when the quote you provided from Milton R. Hunter (who was in turn quoting John A. Widstoe) to back up your view was referring members of the Godhead and made no mention of other "planets".  

[InCognitus]

2 hours ago, CV75 said:

2 hours 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. 

If you can provide a link or copy and paste the actual quote, that would be helpful. It seems you may not copied it all correctly.

I suspect he has this in mind, from Franklin D. Richards and James A. Little, A Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel, p.148-151 (Deseret News Company, Printer, 1882), with the portion that was quoted shown in bold:

Quote

The Spirit of God, or Holy Ghost

Whenever the Priesthood has been on the earth, through it, and in various ways, the Lord has revealed his will to man. By his voice: "They heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden;" Gen. 3. 8. The Lord talked with Abraham; chap. 18. And with Moses; Exo. 3. He called to young Samuel; 1 Sam. 3.

Passages are numerous in the inspired writings in which it says '"The Lord hath spoken;" "The Lord spake;" "Thus saith the Lord;" etc. He has often revealed his will through the ministrations of angels, by visions and dreams, by signs and tokens; but the more general way has been through the agency of his Spirit, or the Holy Ghost.

The Prophet Joseph Smith has informed us that "The Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit." Doc. & Cov. 130, 22, 23.

Its office is to enlighten the understanding and give knowledge and wisdom; Exo. 31. 1–11. 1 Chron. 28. 12. "But the Comforter, which is the Holy  Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you;" John 14. 26.

It is the Spirit of prophecy, and reveals future events. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost;" 2 Pet. 1. 21.

It is a witness and testifies to man, of God and his attributes. "Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God:" 1 Cor. 2. 11. "We are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost;" Acts 5. 32. Chap. 20. 23. "No man [p.149] can salt, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost;" 1 Cor. 12. 3. It gives the knowledge that is essential to salvation. "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth." John 16. 13.

Nephite prophets declared, that, after Christ should be slain, "He should rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles;" 1 Nephi 10. 11. 3 Nephi 15. 23. "The mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to came;" 1 Nephi 10. 19.

The Holy Ghost bears record of the Father and of the Son; 3 Nephi 11. 32. The Holy Ghost and Spirit of God are synonymous. The gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Cor. chap. 12, are often mentioned in the inspired writings as gifts of the Holy Ghost.

The Comforter, and the Spirit of Truth are also synonymous with the Holy Ghost. "But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost;" John 14. 26. "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth;" John 15. 26.

The Holy Ghost is the moving power in the salvation of the human family, for faith is one of its gifts; 1 Cor. 12. 9. And all intelligences work by faith. Doc. & Cov., Lec. on Faith; 1. 11

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 God's power by which, through faith, the elements are controlled. "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters;" Gen. 1. 2. By his Spirit he hath garnished the heavens;" Job 26. 13. "The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life;" 33. 4. "If he gather unto himself his Spirit and his breath; all flesh shall perish together, and men shall turn again unto dust;" 34. 14, 15. "Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are [p.150] created;" Psalm 104. 30. "For by the power of my Spirit created I them; yea, all things both spiritual and temporal;" Doc. & Cov., 29. 31. "The power of my Spirit quickeneth all things;" 33. 16.

By it the Lord works his will among the nations: "I have called upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit;" 35. 13. "The elements are the tabernacle of God," 93. 35. Through the power of the Spirit which pervades them, they are organized and disorganized in accordance with the laws by which they are governed. Spirit and element must be inseparably connected, through the resurrection, in order to attain the greatest perfection; verses 33, 34.

Man, ignorant of God and his attributes, increases in knowledge by experience and observation, explores the fields of nature, watches and experiments with the elements, acquires, to him, new and grand truths, makes discoveries in science which measurably revolutionize the conditions of human life, and thinks, in his ignorance of the spiritual elements, that he accomplishes these important results by his own unaided wisdom, when they are the effects of the workings of that universal spirit of intelligence which emanates from the Father of light, without which man would be like the blind, who wander about at noonday, unconscious of the light that shines around them.

Man observes a universal energy in nature. Organization and disorganization succeed each other. The thunders roll through the heavens; the earth trembles and becomes broken by earthquakes; fires consume cities and forests; the waters accumulate, flow over their usual bounds and cause destruction of life and property; the worlds perform their revolutions in space with a velocity and power incomprehensible to man, and he, covered with a veil of darkness, calls this universal energy, God, when it is the workings of his Spirit, the obedient agent of his power, the wonder-working and life-giving principle in all nature. 
 

 

[AtlanticMike]

20 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

Yes, good distinction. The Holy Ghost can work with whoever He wishes but some have a right to constant companionship.

I disagree. If you read A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, Legrand Richard's says that Jesus made it pretty clear, that the world cannot receive the Holy Ghost when he is describing him, only the righteous, page126. Richard's goes on to state that God has provided a light for those who aren't entitled to receive the gift of the holy ghost, that would be what I'm guessing is the spirit of god p.126-127. Again on page 130 Richard's writes that the holy ghost isn't given to all men, not until they repent of their sins and come unto a state of worthiness. There's many more references throughout that state the same thing. I could be wrong,  read it, tell me what you think.

[AtlanticMike]

18 minutes ago, InCognitus said:

So, since Kolob really isn't a planet, it's not a good reason to say (as you did in your opening post), that "the gift of the  holy ghost is a way we can communicate with beings from other planets throughout the universe", especially when the quote you provided from Milton R. Hunter (who was in turn quoting John A. Widstoe) to back up your view was referring members of the Godhead and made no mention of other "planets".  

Well he says, "a man may place himself in touch with the hole universeand draw knowledge from it, including the beings of superior intelligence  that it contains." Page 13 gospel through the ages. Am I reading that wrong?

[CV75]

1 hour ago, Mike Livingston said:

Well he says, "a man may place himself in touch with the hole universeand draw knowledge from it, including the beings of superior intelligence  that it contains." Page 13 gospel through the ages. Am I reading that wrong?

Do you think this conflicts with what I replied to you here: Posted 3 hours ago (edited) ?

It is difficult to assess what you are saying without the complete reference for context, e.g. what is a "hole universeand"?

Edited December 12, 2020 by CV75

[InCognitus]

1 hour ago, Mike Livingston said:

Well he says, "a man may place himself in touch with the hole universeand draw knowledge from it, including the beings of superior intelligence  that it contains." Page 13 gospel through the ages. Am I reading that wrong?

The relevant paragraph from page 13 of Gospel Through the Ages is as follows:

Quote

BASED ON ETERNAL LAWS

     God provided the gift of the Holy Ghost as a means by which "a man may place himself in touch with the whole universe and draw knowledge from it, including the beings of superior intelligence that it contains." [3]  The spirit of God was also provided to serve with the Holy Ghost as another guide for man in helping him to establish communication with the Eternal Father.

    Accounting to the Prophet Joseph Smith, all truth was to operate through the power of the Holy Priesthood.  Man was to be given that Priesthood, and through it God was to reveal His will to mortals. 

[3] John A. Widtsoe, Rational Theology, pp. 38-42

The beings of which Elder Widtsoe speaks are God the Father, the divine Son, the Holy Ghost, and:

Quote

Many other intelligent beings, superior to us, no doubt take part in the work of man on earth. There are angels and spirits who no doubt have assigned to them the care of the men and women who walk upon the earth. Man is not alone; he walks in the midst of such heavenly company, from whom he may expect help if he seek it strongly. A plan for the schooling of intelligent spirits, walking in semi-darkness through the acquiescence of beings of higher intelligence, must of a certainty include such continuous though invisible help.  (John A. Widtsoe, Rational Theology, Chapter 12)

He is not referring to people on other planets, but of the members of the Godhead and the angels of God.

[The Nehor]

8 hours ago, Mike Livingston said:

I disagree. If you read A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, Legrand Richard's says that Jesus made it pretty clear, that the world cannot receive the Holy Ghost when he is describing him, only the righteous, page126. Richard's goes on to state that God has provided a light for those who aren't entitled to receive the gift of the holy ghost, that would be what I'm guessing is the spirit of god p.126-127. Again on page 130 Richard's writes that the holy ghost isn't given to all men, not until they repent of their sins and come unto a state of worthiness. There's many more references throughout that state the same thing. I could be wrong,  read it, tell me what you think.

The Holy Ghost can come to anyone. I don’t presume to tell God who He can and cannot speak to. The Gift of the Holy Ghost is different and more expansive. Generally the Holy Ghost testifies but will not tarry forever unless the person humbles themselves and receives the ordinances and the Gift.

[Raingirl]

10 hours ago, Mike Livingston said:

I disagree. If you read A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, Legrand Richard's says that Jesus made it pretty clear, that the world cannot receive the Holy Ghost when he is describing him, only the righteous, page126. Richard's goes on to state that God has provided a light for those who aren't entitled to receive the gift of the holy ghost, that would be what I'm guessing is the spirit of god p.126-127. Again on page 130 Richard's writes that the holy ghost isn't given to all men, not until they repent of their sins and come unto a state of worthiness. There's many more references throughout that state the same thing. I could be wrong,  read it, tell me what you think.

Provide actual quotes, please, not just page numbers and your interpretation of what you think was said. 

[AtlanticMike]

37 minutes ago, Raingirl said:

Provide actual quotes, please, not just page numbers and your interpretation of what you think was said. 

Raingirl I apologize and promise in the next couple of days I will figure out how to provide actual quotes in my post. For right im going to give pages for reference, sorry.

[AtlanticMike]

8 hours ago, InCognitus said:

The relevant paragraph from page 13 of Gospel Through the Ages is as follows:

The beings of which Elder Widtsoe speaks are God the Father, the divine Son, the Holy Ghost, and:

He is not referring to people on other planets, but of the members of the Godhead and the angels of God.

Wow, great answer, thank you.