For years I wondered how the Holy
Ghost could inspire millions simultaneously. He is a personage of spirit, but a personage nonetheless, and like the
Savior and God the Father, can only be in one place at one time. President Joseph
Fielding Smith, in his book, Doctrines of
Salvation, provides insight into the personage of the Holy Ghost:
The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He is a
Spirit, in the form of a man. The Father and the Son are personages of
tabernacle; they have bodies of flesh and bones. The Holy Ghost is a personage
of Spirit, and has a spirit body only…
As a Spirit personage the Holy Ghost has size and
dimensions. He does not fill the immensity of space, and cannot be everywhere
present in person at the same time.
If he is a personage who can be in
only one place at one time, how can he dwell in the hearts of the millions who
seek comfort and guidance each day?
Every Sunday, there are many
thousands of sacrament meetings taking place at the same time. Prayers, both
individual and congregational, are offered for guidance and inspiration. There
are all kinds of administrative meetings taking place (bishopric, stake
presidency, ward council, youth council, high council, and many others) in
which a prayer is said asking for inspiration and guidance as they consider the
needs of their area of responsibility.
There are many individuals not
necessarily in any meeting, who pray for inspiration as they read the
scriptures, ponder their life’s direction, and seek comfort and peace as they
deal with crises and tragedies in their own lives. These prayers are offered
every second of every day all over the world.
The Holy Ghost, named the
Comforter, the Holy Spirit of Promise, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the
Lord, the Spirit of Truth, and the Holy Spirit
(among others), is the emissary of the Father and the Son. Again, President Joseph
Fielding Smith, in his book, Doctrines of
Salvation, provides insight into the mission of the Holy Ghost:
His mission is to teach us all truth. He partakes of the
things of the Father and the Son and reveals them to those who serve the Lord
in faithfulness. It was through the teachings of the Comforter, or Holy Ghost,
that the teachings of Jesus Christ were recalled by the apostles. It is through
the teachings of the Holy Spirit that prophecy comes.
But how does he do this? Elder
McConkie explains the process in his book, A
New Witness for the Articles of Faith:
The light of Christ (also called the Spirit of Christ and
the Spirit of the Lord) is a light, a power, and an influence that proceeds
forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space. It is everywhere
present and accounts for the omnipresence of God. It is the agency of God's
power and the law by which all things are governed. It is also the agency used by the Holy Ghost to manifest truth and
dispense spiritual gifts to many people at one and the same time. For
instance, it is as though the Holy Ghost, who is a personage of spirit, was
broadcasting all truth throughout the whole universe all the time, using the
light of Christ as the agency by which the message is delivered. But only those
who attune their souls to the Holy Spirit receive the available revelation. It is in this way that the person of the
Holy Ghost makes his influence felt in the heart of every righteous person at
one and the same time.
The next question, then, is just
what is the Light of Christ? To requote Elder McConkie from the above:
The light of Christ (also called the Spirit of Christ and
the Spirit of the Lord) is a light, a power, and an influence that proceeds
forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space. It is everywhere
present and accounts for the omnipresence of God. It is the agency of God's
power and the law by which all things are governed.
Hyrum L. Andrus, in his book, The
Glory of God and Man's Relation to Deity offers more insight into the Light of
Christ:
Above and beyond the powers that quicken life in the natural
man are the more pure, refined, and highly endowed elements of light and power
that center in Jesus Christ. Here, as far as they are manifested in mortality,
we find these divine powers in their highest, most pure and refined degrees. We
may call this portion of the Light of Christ the "Light of the
Gospel." Here is the source of the power that arises out of the
manifestation of true faith. Here also is the power of the Holy Ghost. The Holy
Ghost as a Personage draws upon these powers that center in Christ to fulfill
His mission.
We have something called “the
internet” that has changed the whole culture of every country in the world, which,
by the way was given to us through the Light of Christ. In Mormon doctrine,
Elder Bruce R. McConkie explains:
This light of Christ is the Spirit which is being poured out
upon all flesh in the last days, according to Joel's promise. (Joel 2:28-29;
Jos. Smith 2:41.) As a result of this outpouring of the Lord's power the great
inventions and advancements of modern times have been made possible.
The internet is a wonderful thing.
Because of my computer geek background, I tend to simplify the light of Christ,
as the Father and the Savior’s internet, with the Holy Ghost as the IT manager.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie, in his book, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith,
describes the light of Christ much better than I do:
There is a spirit—the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of
Christ, the light of truth, the light of Christ—that defies description and is
beyond mortal comprehension. It is in us and in all things; it is around us and
around all things; it fills the earth and the heavens and the universe. It is
everywhere, in all immensity, without exception; it is an indwelling, immanent,
ever-present, never-absent spirit. It has neither shape nor form nor
personality. It is not an entity nor a person nor a personage. It has no
agency, does not act independently, and exists not to act but to be acted upon.
As far as we know, it has no substance and is not material, at least as we
measure these things. It is variously described as light and life and law and
truth and power. It is the light of Christ; it is the life that is in all
things; it is the law by which all things are governed; it is truth shining
forth in darkness; it is the power of God who sitteth upon his throne.
My own simple-minded description of
the Light of Christ is obviously completely inadequate.. Let me try again. Cave paintings are to our technologically
advanced internet as our internet is to the Light of Christ. Anyone with
the right electronics can connect to the internet. We can do this almost
anywhere with the right tools. Whether we are good or evil, kind or cruel,
celestial or carnal, we can connect just like anyone else, and use it for any
purpose, good or evil.
We are all born with the light of
Christ within us. But we can connect to this incomprehensible network of God’s
power only by the choices we make. As we choose to live the gospel, as we
choose to serve others and listen to the promptings of that connection, we can
maintain the connection. Again quoting from Elder McConkie’s book, A New
Witness for the Articles of Faith:
…it is as though the Holy Ghost, who is a personage of
spirit, was broadcasting all truth throughout the whole universe all the time,
using the light of Christ as the agency by which the message is delivered. But
only those who attune their souls to the Holy Spirit receive the available
revelation. It is in this way that the person of the Holy Ghost makes his
influence felt in the heart of every righteous person at one and the same time.
We have only begun to scratch the surface of the Holy Ghost’s mission and his use of the immeasurable powers available to him and us through the Light of Christ. Let us live so as to make the connection to that wonderful network daily. Doing so is the only way to ensure regular communication with the Savior and the Father, and the only way to receive the inspiration and guidance we need to return to our Father-in-Heaven.
