The personage who is the Holy Ghost is also referred to as the Spirit (big “S”), the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Spirit of Promise, the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter, the Testator, Ruach Ha-Kodesh, and Peace, et al. All these references are more titles than they are names. Case and point: my name is Craig. But, within the context of some of my roles and responsibilities now and in the past, I’ve been called a lot of things: mister, son, brother, husband, father, dad, grandpa (Pop), uncle, nephew, Elder, Brother, president, counselor, councilor, representative, chairman, honorable, administrator, none of which are my name. Each one of these titles or references places(ed) me in a certain context of duty/responsibility. So, too, does the personage who fills the priesthood role as the Holy Ghost have numerous titles because of the associative context of his responsibility(ies).
Holy Ghost
Probably the most familiar name/title of the individual who holds the position of the third member of the Godhead, is the “Holy Ghost.” See #1 of this series.
spirit
For the big “S” Spirit, see the next section. In contrast to a small “s,” which would be a spirit that resides with a body—the soul of man. Or, an unembodied, disembodied, or re-embodied spirit (i.e. pre-mortal spirit, a spirit who has died, or a resurrected spirit). A person can live as a “s”pirit individual without a body of flesh, bones, and blood, but a body cannot live without its “s”pirit. See also, the explanation in the BIBLE DICTIONARY. Unembodied spirits would also include those spirits who opted out of the mortal experience.
The Spirit (big “S”) has a spirit (small “s”), in fact, he is spirit (matter without flesh). All spirit is matter according to Doctrine & Covenants 131:7-8: “There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes; (w)e cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter.”
The Spirit
See the next section on The Holy Spirit.
The “Holy” Spirit
The Spirit is the third member of the godhead, being holy by virtue of his priesthood responsibility, calling, position (in the godhead) and foreordination.
When the adjective “Holy” is used with the noun “Spirit,” the title implies the added inference that the man (personage) who holds the office of The Spirit is, in fact, worthy of complete devotion as one perfect (in the covenant, Moroni 10:33) in goodness and righteousness—although not yet a perfected being. Perfected beings are re-embodied spirits, resurrected to a Celestial State, which The Holy Spirit is not, yet.
Spirit of God
(In the context of “God” meaning our Heavenly Father.)
The Spirit of God is NOT our Heavenly Father’s small “s” spirit. God has a body of flesh and bones, as tangible as man’s (the Son, also). God is a re-embodied (resurrected) person, with an inseparably connected spirit and body—an Eternal “Soul.” Therefore, Father’s spirit is NOT The Spirit of God. In fact, this is the very reason there is a need for a Holy Ghost in the first place. Heavenly Father can only be in one place at a time. (Seems pretty limiting for an Omnipotent Being, right?! However, the fact remains. So, too, does the same condition exist with The Son.)
“The Spirit of God like a fire is burning,” is the lyric from the hymn by William W. Phelps, 1792–1872. Sung at the Kirtland Temple dedication in 1836. The relationship of the Spirit of God to fire is metaphorical, and is best described as the light (energy) that emminates from within perfect heavenly beings, as well as the purifying (sanctifying) effects that association with these beings offers.
The Spirit of the Lord
(In the context of “the Lord” meaning the Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.)
The Spirit of the Lord is used synonymously with the previously stated titles.
The Spirit of the Lord is NOT Jesus Christ’s small “s” spirit. Jesus Christ has a body of flesh and bones, as tangible as man’s (the Father, also). Jesus Christ is a re-embodied (resurrected) person, with an inseparably connected spirit and body—an Eternal “Soul.” Therefore, Christ’s spirit is NOT The Spirit of the Lord. In fact, this is the very reason there is a need for a Holy Ghost in the first place. Jesus Christ can only be in one place at a time.
The Holy Spirit of Promise
In his priesthood role, the Holy Ghost ratifies priesthood ordinances individuals receive as they make and keep sacred covenants (i.e. baptism, confirmation, priesthood ordination, endowment, sealing, etc.). His responsibility, in this capacity as Holy Spirit of Promise, is to make known the acceptance or denial of the ordinances performed. The “stamp of approval” gives assurance that 1) the saving ordinance was performed properly, and 2) that our Father in Heaven has accepted the covenant as contractually sound. As with all blessings, our continued adherence to the provisions of the covenant are what determines the dissemination of the Promise, and continued blessings.
Doctrine & Covenants 130
20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.
If the Holy Spirit of Promise (the Holy Ghost) continues to “fix his seal” to the ordinance(s) of an individual who has remained faithful to his/her covenants, eventually the outcome is the attainment of Eternal Lives—God’s Life. (84, 132)
(President McEwen (sp?) Find Marriage Certificate, confirmed to Kim and I that the HSP validated our sealing.)
Spirit of Truth
The Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaEmet) implies the Holy Ghost “speaks” truth.
John 16:13 (13-15) states that the Spirit of Truth will guide us in all truth. Because he speaks for the other two members of the godhead, he “glorifies” Them:
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Truth. What IS truth? Doctrine and Covenant 93:24 (23-28) states that:
23 Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;
24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;
25 And whatsoever is more or less than this is the spirit of that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning.
26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth;
27 And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments.
28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.
Comforter (The First Comforter)
(The scriptures are replete with instances of people giving “comfort,” or, that some person in need was “comforted” by someone else. Those references won’t be discussed here.)
The Holy Ghost acting as Comforter is a title (noun) and a designation of priesthood office. To be a Comforter an unembodied (pre-existent) spirit personage must possess godly attributes of compassion, peacemaking, consolation, solace, condolence, sympathy, (empathy?), commiseration, help, support, succoring, relief, easement, alleviation, reassurance, cheer, gladdening, encouraging, soothing, reassuring, abating, refreshing, invigorating, sustaining, lightening, mitigating, warming, restoring, revitalizing, softening, freeing, etc.
The First Comforter should be definitionally separated from the Second Comforter (and the Second Comforter won’t be discussed here).
Testator
The Holy Ghost acting as Testator is a title (noun) and a designation of priesthood office. Each of us can testify (verb), but the title of Testator is reserved for the Holy Ghost. To be a Testator an unembodied (pre-existent) spirit personage must be a witness—witnessed events in the beginning, witnessed events throughout the Plan, witnessed Jehovah’s (YHWH) pre-earth role, witness Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry (e.g. Matt 3, in the form of a dove), witnessed the acts of the Atonement, etc. Also, witness our Father as a loving Perfected Heavenly Parent.
Ruach Ha-Kodesh (Hebrew)
Ruach is best represented by the English synonyms: spirit, wind, or breath. Ha is “the.” And, Kodesh synonymistically translates into: apartness, holiness, sacredness, or separateness.
http://livingwordin3d.com/discovery/2018/08/09/ruach-hakodesh-the-holy-spirit/
Therefore, the title translates into (among other translations) the Holy Spirit, Sacred Wind, Holy Breath, Holy Wind, and Sacred Breath (the Breath of Life).
We will realize that Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) appears already in the Old Testament! For example, in Psalm 51:11 when David prayed: “Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take your Ruach HaKodesh from me.” Similarly, Ruach Elohim means the Spirit of God.
Joseph Smith commented on the use of the word “Ruach” in terms of the creation of man/woman:
“God Breathed into Adam His Spirit. The 7th verse of 2nd chapter of Genesis ought to read—God breathed into Adam his spirit [i.e. Adam’s spirit] or breath of life; but when the word “rauch” applies to Eve, it should be translated lives.” (TPJS, p. 301)
Understanding the Hebrew use of this title shines light on the KJV of the scriptures if only read in the English.
Peace
One of the Holy Ghost’s names is “Peace.” Just as Christ has many names, or titles, so too does the Holy Ghost. Part of his “Comforter” role is to be the “Peace” described in John 14:26-27:
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
After Christ is resurrected, He leaves/gives His “Peace” with/to the apostles, the Comforter, or the Holy Ghost.
Moving on to John 20:20-22, the resurrected Christ meets with the apostles in the “evening” following his “early” visit with Mary Magdalene at the Garden Tomb. He shows the apostles his hands and his side:
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost…
The procedural hierarchy then is: The Father sent The Son, The Son sent Peace (aka The Holy Ghost), and The Holy Ghost will teach us all things. In the physical absence of the Savior, He provides revelatory access to through the Holy Ghost.
The Greek translation of the use of the word “breathed” suggests Christ breathed “into” them the “breath of life”—the Holy Spirit. (See the Greek bible usage—HERE.)
The “breath of life” (aka Holy Ghost) is given with the invitation to “receive.” The potential receiver must willingly accept the gift (by exercising agency).
OTHER BIBLICAL USES of the term “RUACH” with their extensions may be found at this link: HERE
