Holy Spirit

Author: Wilson, Jerry A.

The Holy Spirit is a term often used to refer to the Holy Ghost. In such cases the Holy Spirit is a personage. Ghost is an Old English word meaning spirit. The scriptures use this term to designate the third member of the Godhead (Alma 11:44) and to speak of the Spirit's power to testify (Alma 7:16), to grant knowledge (Alma 5:46; D&C 76:116), to persuade (Mosiah 3:19), to indicate remission of sins (D&C 55:1), and to sanctify (Alma 5:54). The term Holy Spirit is the core of the phrase Holy Spirit of promise denoting the Holy Ghost's sanction of every ordinance performed in righteousness. The influence or spirit that emanates from Jesus Christ, which is also called the Light of Christ, is holy, but is neither the Holy Spirit nor a personage.

JERRY A. WILSON