Who is the Holy Ghost?

The Holy Ghost is a distinct Personage

Joseph Smith taught in 1844:

"I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and the Holy Ghost was a distinct Personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three gods." – JSPapers also TPJS 370

It should be noted that the term “Holy Ghost” can refer to the “gift of the Holy Ghost”. This article is only about the distinct Personage and not the gift.

Even though the Holy Ghost delegates his authority to other ministering spirits and angels, this quote indicates that there is one distinct Personage among these messengers who is Deity. The Holy Ghost is not the Savior, and yet He is in the Godhead, and this shows that others besides the Savior gain exaltation. So who is the distinct Personage that is the Holy Ghost?

Evidence that Adam is the Holy Ghost

President Young said things, at least on one occasion, that point to Adam, who was a co-Creator as Micheal with Elohim and Jehovah, being the Holy Ghost for our world. However, during his life after the fall Adam experienced the Holy Ghost (Moses 5:9). So Adam could only have been given the position of Holy Ghost after his spirit left his immortal body in death.

"It is true that the earth was organized by three distinct characters, namely, Eloheim, Yahovah, and Michael, these three forming a quorum, as in all heavenly bodies, and in organizing element, perfectly represented in the Deity, as Father [Elohim], Son [Yahovah], and Holy Ghost [Michael]!" – JD 1:51

Brigham taught many times that we are the spirit children of Adam who was Michael the Archangel in the Creation. Here is an example:

“Well”, says one, “Why was Adam called Adam”? He was the first man on the earth, and its framer and maker. He, with the help of his brethren, brought it into existence. Then he said, “I want my children who are in the spirit world to come and live here. I once dwelt upon an earth something like this, in a mortal state, I was faithful, I received my crown and exaltation. I have the privilege of extending my work, and to its increase there will be no end. I want my children that were born to me in the spirit world to come here and take tabernacles of flesh, that their spirits may have a house, a tabernacle or a dwelling place as mine has, and where is the mystery? – Deseret News. June 8, 1873

You can read the entire discourse in the 1873 Deseret News online. Brigham starts talking about Adam in the middle of the fourth column. This quote is in the lower half of the fifth column: LINK

And it makes sense that Adam would be the Comforter of his spirit children, the Spirit of Truth that teaches them, and the Holy Spirit of promise that seals all of their covenants as his spirit children. Furthermore, having overcome the world and gained his own exaltation, and having seen the judgment of the earth he lived on as a mortal, and progressed and learned since his mortal life, Adam would understand the learning and sophistries of all humans, and could handle the horrors of war and all corruptions.

Holy Ghost a Spirit that has never had a body?

The present CJC-LDS teaching that a Spirit that has never lived in the flesh is the Holy Ghost is very hard to believe.

We are to believe that the Holy Ghost is a Comforter to those that have more experience in the flesh than he does? He has not proved himself and kept his Second Estate, (Abraham 3:25-26) and yet is teaching us how to do it? Would he be ready to fully understand all the languages and cultures of the world, and deal with the horrors of war and evil?

The Holy Ghost must be a Witness of all things

How could a Spirit that has never experienced marriage and intimacy in the flesh be the Holy Ghost who is to Witness all things?

How could a Spirit that has less experience in the flesh than any child you know playing on the floor with toys, be able to be a witness of billions of married couples over thousands of years that engage in sexual activity? How could he be prepared to deal with sexuality when he himself has never experienced it?

But why would he even have the right to see this as an unmarried male Spirit? It is very difficult for boys as they become men to deal with pornography. It can take their whole life to overcome it, and many don't.

But somehow the Holy Ghost who has never lived in the flesh can see unlimited sexuality, including many perversions, and can deal with it correctly? And has the right to see it?

But if the Holy Ghost is the Father of Spirits, then he could be given the right to see it since he loves his spirit children deeply. And he would be prepared to deal with their sexuality, having lived in the flesh on a previous earth and overcame the temptations of the flesh. And saw the judgment of the world that he lived on.

The Holy Ghost as a God must be Exalted

The Holy Ghost and other members of the Godhead are in a state of exaltation. But what is required for someone to gain exaltation? D&C 131:1-2 says:

"In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]"

D&C 132:37 states that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are now "gods" because they "did none other things than that which they were commanded." In other words they were proven faithful and worthy in their Second Estate as a mortal.

Even though some try to disagree, I am correct stating that CJC-LDS leaders usually teach that the Holy Ghost is a Spirit son of God that has never had a body. But based on just these two verses about exaltation how could a Spirit that has never been proven and kept their Second Estate or entered into an eternal marriage have exaltation?

The Holy Ghost as God is in Eternal Marriage

D&C 132:7 states, as one of the conditions of the law of the Lord for eternal covenants that they must be "sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise". Verses 18, 19 and 26 reaffirm the necessity of covenants being sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise.

Well, the Holy Spirit of Promise is the Holy Ghost according to D&C 88:3 and John 14:16,26. So it makes no sense that the Holy Ghost would be sealing up eternal covenants for the faithful but He himself is a single male Spirit that has never lived in the flesh and had any covenants sealed. He must be in an eternal marriage.

So we see that the Holy Ghost MUST be a Ghost – one who has lived in the flesh, overcame the world, was resurrected and gained his exaltation with an eternal marriage and is now a Spirit again. Again, he cannot be Deity if he has not gained exaltation. Which means that before the resurrection of Christ in the meridian of time the Holy Ghost could not be anyone that lived in the flesh on this our earth.

But Brigham's doctrine that Adam was faithful to his Savior on a previous earth, and is the Father of spirits for this earth, makes Adam the best choice for the Holy Ghost. To be a Comforter to his spirit children, the Spirit of truth to teach them, and the Holy Spirit of Promise to seal their covenants. As one who has gained exaltation would Adam accept some other Spirit doing this for his spirit children?

D&C 131 and 132 verify that the Holy Ghost, being Deity, must have lived in the flesh and overcame the world and gained his exaltation before becoming the Holy Ghost. And as the Holy Spirit of Promise he must have an eternal marriage.

The Holy Ghost is the Holy Spirit of Promise

These two scriptures indicate that the Holy Spirit of Promise is the Holy Ghost:

"Wherefore, I now send upon you another Comforter, even upon you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of promise; which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples, as is recorded in the testimony of John." – D&C 88:3

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ... 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 14:16, 26

Ancient of Days if God must be the Holy Ghost

Many believe that the “Ancient of Days”, who Mormons know will be Adam at Adam-Ondi-Ahman, must be Deity, because of his glory and dominion. And because Christ comes to the Ancient of Days to be given authority over all Mankind for eternity.

Here is the vision given to Daniel the prophet of Adam, as the Ancient of Days, when he returns to establish the Throne of Christ over all the earth:

9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. ….
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man [Jesus] came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. – Daniel 7

D&C 27:11, 107:54 and 128:21 directly establish that Adam is Micheal the Archangel. D&C 116 reveals that the events in Daniel 7 take place at Adam-Ondi-Ahman in today's Missouri.

In the Old Testament there is no evidence that Michael the Archangel is Jehovah or the Messiah. In the New Testament there is strong evidence that the Father and Son mentioned are the OT Jehovah and the Messiah.

So if the Ancient of Days, who is the same Being as Michael the Archangel, is Deity he cannot be Jehovah or the Messiah. So he must be one who takes the position of Holy Ghost.

If Adam is a younger spirit brother of Jesus as taught today, then why does Adam have so much glory and Jesus doesn't? And why does Jesus come before Adam to be given authority from Adam over all mankind?

But if Adam is the Father of spirits for this earth as Brigham taught, and Jesus is his firstborn Spirit, then it makes perfect sense that Adam will be in such glory and have authority over mankind who are his spirit children. And have the right to make Jesus an Eternal king over them.

Holy Ghost must have kept his 2nd Estate

Here in Abraham 3:25-26 it reveals a testing or proving in a Second Estate that spirits must be given and “keep” before they have glory added upon them in exaltation as Deity.

And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever. – Abraham 3

How could a Spirit that has never been proven and kept his Second Estate be Deity? These verses show that in our present “Second Estate” we are all being “proved”. And if we are faithful and keep our Second Estate, we will have glory added upon our heads forever. So clearly a major role for the Holy Ghost is to help all who will heed His promptings to “keep” their Second Estate.

President Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. apparently did not believe the Holy Ghost ever had a body:

“I have never troubled myself about the Holy Ghost whether he will sometime have a body or not because it is not in any way essential to my salvation.” SOURCE

Heber C. Kimball accepted the doctrine taught by Brigham that Adam is our Father and God, and the Father of spirits – Jesus being his firstborn Spirit. It seems that Heber taught that the Holy Ghost is a spirit son of Adam that did not have a mortal body yet. SOURCE

And yet if we accept what these brethren seems to be teaching, then the Holy Ghost is helping people keep their Second Estate but has not kept it himself.

If this is incorrect, and the Holy Ghost is a Ghost that has lived in the flesh and kept his Second Estate, then who is the Holy Ghost if not Adam, the co-Creator with Jehovah?

Father, Son, Holy Ghost is Elohim, Jehovah, Michael?

On the church website, under STUDY HELPS, in the Bible Dictionary entry for “God” it says:

“We learn from the revelations that have been given that there are three separate persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. …

When one speaks of God, it is generally the Father who is referred to; that is, Elohim.… The personage known as Jehovah in Old Testament times, ... is the Son, known as Jesus Christ, and who is also a God. …

The Holy Ghost is also a God and is variously called the Holy Spirit, the Spirit, the Spirit of God, etc. ” SOURCE

So this explanation of God clearly relates:

  God the Father =   Elohim 
  God the Son    =   Jehovah 

But somehow this connection is not made:

  God the Holy Ghost =  Michael.  

I am sure the reason is that no Church scripture makes that connection. But that does not prove it is not true. Why not suggest it as a possibility since it harmonizes with the Father being the creation Elohim, and Son being the creation Jehovah?

Conclusion

Some of us remain convinced that Brigham was correct teaching that Adam is the Father of spirits. And remember, Brigham was the one that prepared the temple ordinances and the endowment ceremony as directed by Joseph. And he was faithful in bringing the Saints to the safety of the Rocky Mountains and establishing endowment houses and then temples. Without Brigham there would not be any temple work in the restoration.

Brigham taught that Adam was faithful to his Savior on a previous earth and obtained an immortal Celestial body in his resurrection. Here is an October 8, 1854 quote of Brigham:

"Moses said Adam was made of the dust of the ground, but he did not say of what ground. I say he was not made of the dust of the ground of this earth, but he was made of the dust of the earth where he lived, where he honored his calling, believing in his Savior, or Elder Brother, and by his faithfulness, was redeemed, and got a glorious resurrection." SOURCE

We also remain convinced of the evidence that Adam was given the Godhead position of Holy Ghost when his spirit temporarily left his immortal resurrected body. But does that contradict this scripture?

“Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption.” – Alma 11:45

In Brigham's doctrine, Adam will never be divided from his immortal resurrected body by taking another mortal body. He came to the Garden with the same immortal body, and after the fall he still had the same immortal body. Since his body remained immortal the “death” of Adam was not a “death of the mortal body” but a temporary separation.

Adam left his immortal body to take upon him the position of Holy Ghost for the sake of his spirit children. His immortal body will never see corruption, so Adam will never need to be divided from it and take another mortal body in some form of reincarnation. Adam will take up his immortal body again to come to Adam-ondi-Ahman.

And so we remain convinced that the creation Godhead is the same as the present New Testament Godhead.

Elohim Jehovah Michael = Father Son Holy Ghost