FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Holy Ghost
Contents
- 1 Holy Ghost
- 1.1
- 1.2 Topics
- 1.3 The Holy Ghost
- 1.3.1 Anachronistic Holy Ghost in Book of Mormon?
- 1.3.2 Burning in the bosom
- 1.3.3 Divinity without a body?
- 1.3.4 Joseph Smith is the Holy Ghost?
- 1.3.5 Moroni's promise
- 1.3.6 Similar experiences
- 1.3.7 Testimony and doubt reconciliation
- 1.3.8 Will the Holy Ghost receive a body?
- 1.3.9 Why do I "feel the spirit" when watching fictional movies?
- 1.3.10 Spectacular Witness
- 1.3.11 Revelation from God or the devil
- 1.3.12 "Feeling the spirit" while listening to ex-Mormon exit stories?
- 1.4
- 1.5 Further reading and additional sources responding to these claims
Holy Ghost
Topics
The Holy Ghost
Anachronistic Holy Ghost in Book of Mormon?
Summary: Why is the Holy Ghost mentioned so many times in the Book of Mormon prior to the time of Christ (e.g., 1 Nephi 10:17) and yet in the Old Testament there is hardly any mention of the Holy Ghost, especially with regard to his mission of bearing witness of the truth?Burning in the bosom
Summary: Critics complain that the LDS appeal to "revelation" or a "burning in the bosom" is subjective, emotion-based, and thus unreliable and susceptible to self-deception. Sectarian critics also belittle appeals to spiritual experiences, comparing them to "warm fuzzies," or merely something "felt by simply watching a Hollywood movie."Divinity without a body?
Summary: Critics charge that since LDS doctrine teaches that a body is required for exaltation, the Holy Ghost cannot be fully God, because he does not have a physical body.Joseph Smith is the Holy Ghost?
Summary: I have heard a few claims about certain Church leaders saying that Joseph Smith is the Holy Ghost (or "held the office of Holy Ghost"). Are there quotes or citations supporting or alluding to this somewhere?Moroni's promise
Summary: Critics have made a variety of attacks Moroni's promise (Moroni 10:3–5): They claim that praying about the Book of Mormon is not an objective standard for determining if the book is true or not, and should therefore not be trusted. They claim that many people have read and prayed about the Book of Mormon and have either received no answer, or an answer from God that it is false.Similar experiences
Summary: Some claim that when religious experiences of people of other faiths sound similar, it calls into question LDS spiritual experiences.Testimony and doubt reconciliation
Summary: How can a person reaffirm their testimony when they learn disconcerting facts that may bring their testimony into doubt?Will the Holy Ghost receive a body?
Summary: Who is the Holy Ghost? Has he or will he receive a physical body?Why do I "feel the spirit" when watching fictional movies?
Summary: We often feel good when watching an inspirational movie. Why would "the spirit" manifest the "truthfulness" of something fictional?Spectacular Witness
Revelation from God or the devil
Summary: How do we know when a revelation comes from God, or from the devil?"Feeling the spirit" while listening to ex-Mormon exit stories?
Summary: Why would one "feel the spirit" while listening to ex-Mormon exit stories?