Journal of Discourses 2:344-346 “The plain, simple Scriptural doctrine is that God’s Spirit is there, which is God in all His power and majesty. All those seemingly mysterious passages which the learned divines have applied to the person of the Father being omnipresent, have reference to that All-wise Spirit of which we have spoken. … that a person who believes and follows this as taught in the Book of Covenants, and the Book of Mormon, will never be confounded. … What influence will this have over a man who believes it? It will put him more upon his guard…when we know that the Holy Spirit is everywhere present, being combined with all matter then we have a correct understanding.
Do you believe that the particles of the Holy Spirit have such great knowledge? How much knowledge will they require to enable them to overlook and superintend all the works of God? They will require knowledge infinitely greater than ever we thought of. For instance, they must have a most perfect knowledge of the law of the inverse square of the distance pertaining to universal gravitation, or how could they know the exact distance of those innumerable worlds under their charge, so as to keep them all moving harmoniously as we see them. Particles of intelligence that can do all this, can surely know of the thoughts and intents of the heart; hence, we should always consider, when tempted to do evil, that God is round about us with all the knowledge that governs and controls nature. You see, then, that this view of the subject is calculated to have an effect that will be profitable to us all.” — Orson Pratt, Delivered in the open air, on the Temple Block, Great Salt Lake City, February 18, 1855.
John 14:16-17 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
To say Mr. Pratt’s talk was confusing would be an understatement. His theory about the Holy Spirit provides insight why members of the Church are confused on how His HS works in the life of believers.
While most members probably haven’t heard about this talk, the results are the same. Another example is found in Doctrine and Covenants 130:22-23 –
“The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. 23 A man may receive the Holy Ghost, and it may descend upon him and not tarry with him.”
With demonstrative evidence from the Bible, show the Mormon you know how God’s Holy Spirit operates!
With Love in Christ –
Michelle
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