The Nature of God

There are three separate persons in the Godhead: God, the Eternal Father; his Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost. We believe in each of them (A of F 1:1). From latter-day revelation we learn that the Father and the Son have tangible bodies of flesh and bone and that the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit, without flesh and bone (D&C 130:22–23). These three persons are one in perfect unity and harmony of purpose and doctrine (John 17:21–23; 2 Ne. 31:21; 3 Ne. 11:27, 36).

God the Father

It is generally the Father, or Elohim, who is referred to by the title God. He is called the Father because he is the father of our spirits (Mal. 2:10; Num. 16:22; 27:16; Matt. 6:9; Eph. 4:6; Heb. 12:9). God the Father is the supreme ruler of the universe. He is all powerful (Gen. 18:14; Alma 26:35; D&C 19:1–3), all knowing (Matt. 6:8; 2 Ne. 2:24), and everywhere present through his Spirit (Ps. 139:7–12; D&C 88:7–13, 41). Mankind has a special relationship to God that sets man apart from all other created things: men and women are God’s spirit children (Ps. 82:6; 1 Jn. 3:1–3; D&C 20:17–18).  There are few recorded instances of God the Father appearing to or speaking to man. The scriptures say that he spoke to Adam and Eve (Moses 4:14–31) and introduced Jesus Christ on several occasions (Matt. 3:17; 17:5; John 12:28–29; 3 Ne. 11:3–7). He appeared to Stephen (Acts 7:55–56) and Joseph Smith (JS—H 1:17). Later he appeared to both Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon (D&C 76:20, 23). To those who love God and purify themselves before him, God sometimes grants the privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves that he is God (Matt. 5:8; 3 Ne. 12:8; D&C 76:116–118; 93:1).

God the Son

The God known as Jehovah is the Son, Jesus Christ (Isa. 12:2; 43:11; 49:26; 1 Cor. 10:1–4; 1 Tim. 1:1; Rev. 1:8; 2 Ne. 22:2). Jesus works under the direction of the Father and is in complete harmony with him. All mankind are his brothers and sisters, for he is the eldest of the spirit children of Elohim. Some scripture references refer to him by the word God. For example, the scripture says that “God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1), but it was actually Jesus who was the Creator under the direction of God the Father (John 1:1–3, 10, 14; Heb. 1:1–2).

God the Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost is also a God and is called the Holy Spirit, the Spirit, and the Spirit of God, among other similar names and titles. With the aid of the Holy Ghost, man can know the will of God the Father and know that Jesus is the Christ (1 Cor. 12:3).

For more scriptural references, see: lds.org

Learn to Recognize the Promptings of the Spirit

Learn to Recognize the Promptings of the Spirit

The Spirit is always available to guide and direct you. However, the Spirit speaks quietly, through your feelings as well as your mind. One great challenge for you is to recognize the quiet, subtle promptings of the Holy Ghost.

President Boyd K. Packer taught: “The voice of the Spirit is described in the scripture as being neither ‘loud’ nor ‘harsh.’ It is ‘not a voice of thunder, neither . . . voice of a great tumultuous noise.’ But rather, ‘a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper,’ and it can ‘pierce even to the very soul’ and ‘cause [the heart] to burn.’ (3 Ne. 11:3; Hel. 5:30; D&C 85:6-7.) Remember, Elijah found the voice of the Lord was not in the wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but was a ‘still small voice.’ (1 Kgs. 19:12.) “The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand.  Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all. (No wonder that the Word of Wisdom was revealed to us, for how could the drunkard or the addict feel such a voice?)

“Occasionally it will press just firmly enough for us to pay heed. But most of the time, if we do not heed the gentle feeling, the Spirit will withdraw and wait until we come seeking and listening and say in our manner and expression, like Samuel of ancient times, ‘Speak [Lord], for thy servant heareth.’ (1 Sam. 3:10.)” (“The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, Jan. 1983, 53).

Many voices in the world compete for your attention, and they can easily drown out
spiritual impressions if you are not careful.

In answer to the question, “How do we recognize the promptings of the Spirit?”
President Gordon B. Hinckley read Moroni 7:13, 16-17 and then said: “That’s the test, when all is said and done. Does it persuade one to do good, to rise, to stand tall, to do the right thing, to be kind, to be generous? Then it is of the Spirit of God. . . .

“If it invites to do good, it is of God. If it inviteth to do evil, it is of the devil. . . . And if you are doing the right thing and if you are living the right way, you will know in your heart what the Spirit is saying to you.

“You recognize the promptings of the Spirit by the fruits of the Spirit—that which enlighteneth, that which buildeth up, that which is positive and affirmative and uplifting and leads us to better thoughts and better words and better deeds is of the Spirit of God” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 260–61).

God answers your prayers through personal inspiration and revelation. Through the Holy Ghost He will guide you. Your task is to live worthily, pray fervently, and learn to recognize and follow courageously the Spirit’s guidance.

Preach My Gospel: Chapter 4

The Falcon, Prophet, and Holy Ghost

There once was a mighty king who enjoyed hunting more than anything. He had a trusted friend, a falcon, whom he would take on his hunting trips. The falcon had been trained to fly high above the hunters and alert them to where the game was.
  One day the king took his trusted men and his prized falcon out to hunt. After a day of traversing the land the hunters became disoriented and lost their way. They were tired and thirsty, so when they heard the sound of rushing water
they were overjoyed. They discovered a
pool of clear water with a steady stream of water splashing into it. The king took his goblet from  the servant's pack and bent to catch the clear, cool water and once more the falcon swooped down and knocked it from his hand. By know the king was extremely angry and asked for his gun. The bird that he considered his friend had spilled his water for the second time. The king wondered why the falcon had turned on him.
  The king attempted to fill his cup a third time, but the bird again knocked it from his hand. The king lifted his rifle to shoot the falcon, yet just as he was about to pull the trigger his servant called for him to come and look. The king walked up the hill and behind some trees, above where he was to have taken the drink. In the river was the decaying carcass of an elk. The water that had looked so fresh and inviting could have easily killed him. The falcon could see farther than the king, and had warned him of the danger.

  This is the same with a prophet. Things may look good to us, but in actuality can be harmful. The prophet is who is going to warn us.

  This story can also be related to the Holy Ghost.  While the falcon did warn the king of the danger that he could not see, a lot of the time the prophet is not there to help us make decisions.  The falcon can be symbolic of the Holy Ghost as well because of it's immediate promptings.

My testimony is that we have both working in our lives today.  The prophet gives us the knowledge we need to make right choices, while the Holy Ghost confirms everything that he tells us.  I know that if we follow both of these heavenly influences that we will be protected as we go through this dangerous world.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

The Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead.  He is a personage of Spirit, not having a body of flesh and bones.  This means that He can dwell within each one of us.  I like to portray this as the influence of the sun.  There is only one sun, but it's warmth and light can be felt by all. 

His primary purposes are to bear witness of the Father and the Son, reveal the truth of all things, and to sanctify those who have repented and become baptized.   There are many 'voices' that compete for our attention in this busy world and they can easily drown out spiritual impressions if we're not careful.  The voice of the spirit is distinct in the way that it:

-is a still voice of perfect mildness Helaman 5:30

-is a still small voice 1 Kings19:12
-pierces to the very soul 3 Nephi 11:3
-causes our hearts to burn 3 Nephi 11:3

Listening to the quiet whisperings of the spirit comes in a variety of ways including experiencing feelings, thoughts, and impressions.  Some of these feelings include love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faith, and hope.  Who wouldn't want to feel any of those feelings?  We need to strive constantly to listen to these promptings and valiantly and courageously act on them.  Doing so will give us better direction in our lives, all of the aforementioned feelings, and the constant companionship of one of the members of the Godhead.  I testify that having the Holy Spirit as our companion is vital in everything we do.