In the official church manuals of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the personhood and the purpose of the Holy Ghost is described this way:
The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead (see 1 John 5:7; D&C 20:28). He is a “personage of Spirit” (D&C 130:22). He can be in only one place at a time, but His influence can be everywhere at the same time (Gospel Principles, 2009, p. 32).
The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He is a personage of spirit, without a body of flesh and bones (see D&C 130:22). He is often referred to as the Spirit, Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Lord, or the comforter (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference, 2004, pp. 81-82).
1 John 5:7 KJV ‘For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one’.
What is the controversy?
The Johannine Comma
Known as the Johannine Comma, 1 John 5:7 is a series of extra words found in some early printed editions of the Greek New Testament. This textual variant has been the cause of much discussion over the years.
If these words were to be found in the original Greek, they would surely be the most direct source of biblical proof for the doctrine of the Trinity. Sadly though, these words are not found in the earliest and most reliable manuscripts, so modern translations do not include them. The version that does include them is the translation used by Latter-day Saints, the Authorised King James, hence 1 John 5:7 is used in support of their doctrine of the Godhead.
But, even if these words were to be found in the original Greek, they would by no means uphold the Mormon doctrine that the Holy Spirit is a personage of spirit within a Godhead. As they continue to seek to ‘scriptural’ support for their errant belief regarding the personhood of the Spirit, Mormons reference Doctrine and Covenants 20:28, which says:
‘Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.’
How ironic that they should choose this verse. This verse which actually supports the orthodox Christian doctrine of the Trinity, denies their doctrine of a Godhead consisting of three separate Gods.
The Mormon Holy Ghost is limited, so can only be in one place at a time. Yet they claim His influence can be everywhere at the same time. I am not sure how this really works for them, but it is a further denial of the biblical revelation regarding the Person of the Holy Spirit. In Holy writ we are told that:
Psalm 139:7 Where shall I go from you Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
Orthodox Christianity agrees with Doctrine and Covenants 20:28, that there is only ONE GOD, who has eternally existed in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This ONE GOD is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.
The Gift of the Holy Ghost
The gift of the Holy Ghost is different from the influence of the Holy Ghost. Before your baptism, you could feel the influence of the Holy Ghost from time to time, and through that influence you could receive a testimony of the truth. Now that you have the gift of the Holy Ghost, you have the right to the constant companionship of that members of the Godhead if you keep the commandments (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference, 2004, p. 83).
As always with Mormon doctrine, what they say here is confusing at best and absurd at worst. They teach that the Holy Ghost is not omnipresent, then go on to claim that baptised Mormons have the gift of the Holy Spirit as a constant companion. They say this is different to the periodic influence of the Holy Ghost felt pre-baptism.
The Holy Ghost becomes constant through the laying on of hands, which of course has to be done by the proper authority. But it doesn’t stop there. They claim that the entire Godhead (Heaven Father, his spirit son Jesus, and another spirit son, the Holy Ghost) becomes your companion IF you keep the commandments. Which commandments do they mean? You will not be surprised to hear that they mean the laws and ordinances of the Mormon gospel.
The Real Holy Spirit and His Work.
The Holy Ghost of Mormonism is not the Holy Spirit found in the pages of the Bible.
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
(Acts 5:1-4)
In John 14:26 Jesus told his disciples, “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”
“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:7-8).
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Jesus told his disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8)
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you” (John 16:13-15).
Attributes of the Holy Spirit, such as wisdom, knowledge, and power, are manifested in the lives of believers for the good of others. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11.)
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13).
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).
“But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:10-11).
The work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life is an ongoing process of becoming holy through sanctification. Through the conviction and power of the Holy Spirit, believers will not indulge the sinful acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-21) but will bear the good fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25).
Mormons have a different Spirit (2 Cor.11:4), one that does not lead them into all truth, does not give them peace and assurance and, most importantly, one that is not God.
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father…’” (Romans 8:14-16)
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