Holy Ghost on Probation and Still Waiting for His Body
Encyclopedia of Joseph Smith’s Teachings, p. 323 “Words of Franklin D. Richards: Joseph also said that the Holy Ghost is now in a state of probation which if he should perform in righteousness he may pass through the same or a similar course of things that the Son has. (Joseph Smith, The Words of Joseph Smith, p. 245; standardized)…But the Holy Ghost is yet a spiritual body and waiting to take to himself a body, as the Savior did or as God did or the gods before them took bodies; for the Savior says the work that my Father did do I also. . . . He took himself a body and then laid down his life that he might take it up again. (Joseph Smith, The Words of Joseph Smith, p. 382; standardized).”
Matt 15:9 “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
I recall being taught this LDS doctrine/revelation as a child in Utah and often wondered when this ghost guy was going to get a body.
The thought of some spirit or ghost waiting for a body was nothing more than a strange teaching of the Church and too complicated in my mind to do any further investigation or study of.
Since becoming a Christian the identity of the Holy Spirit and His purpose in the life of a believer, is made abundantly clear through the work of God.
There are a few questions I’d ask your Mormon friend/loved ones about this teaching.
Why is He still waiting for a body?
Where is he at right now?
Why hasn’t he received his body after all this time?
Will he ever get a body?
Why aren’t there any other definitive teachings about this subject?
How did the Holy Ghost come to be?
Was he once a man, or was he always just a ghost?
Be sure to tell the Mormon you know that Jesus clearly taught He’d send His Spirit – Jn. 14:14-17 and believers are the temple of God which is where He resides – 1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19.
This is truly one of the worst things Joseph Smith ever taught and it’s heartbreaking to see how many people have believed him.
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
Joe Smith was successful in manipulating people because he had Satan on his side. I believe that Satan likely gave Joe the words that he spoke and the words that he wrote down. All of these words stemmed both from Satan and from Joe’s own twisted heart.. Millions have followed Joe Smith, just as millions of others followed Adolf Hitler. The end result is always disastrous. Has anybody ever seen photographs of Berlin after the war? Devastation and chaos are always the end result of misplaced faith. There is but one God, one faith., one Lord Jesus Christ. Anything outside of that is not worth following. For whatsoever is not of faith, is sin and sin can have no place in God’s Kingdom (Ephesians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9 and Colossians 3:17)
Great analogy, albeit a very sad one at that.
It seems there is no end to the blasphemy/heresy that Joseph embraced. I don’t remember being taught this. Now, as a Christian, I shudder at the foul utterances of Joe. He truly is an evil, devil-following, eternally damned creature.
The more they can keep people confused the more they can control the masses. Ill never forget the experience of brain fog dissipating the first few years after leaving the Church. PTL for His patience & mercy w/ me!!!
Amen!
It sounds to me like the church doesn’t want the members to know the Holy Ghost and how He operates as part of the God Head, because the members wouldn’t really need to rely on the leaders. God replaced the high priest with His Holy Spirit. He tore down the veil and made Himself accessable through His Son.
And I’ve read the members don’t believe/understand the Trinity because the word itself is not in the Bible. And that is true, however the definition, meaning, and concept are illustrated in the Bible.
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