Is the Holy Spirit created in Mormonism?

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gazelam said:
I fully believe and understand that the Lord made all things grow as the original texts state. I will NOT deny that whole truth! Take care.
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I find it interesting that you want to define Creation as growing things.

The Bible, the Word of God, which God gave human beings, it came to us so that we might know our Creator, our purpose, and our destiny. When the Bible says in many, many places that God created ALL things, visible and invisible, why do you want to doubt that, or infer that God is not telling us the whole truth. How is pre-existing matter not part of that truth?
 
JMM1957 said:
I find it interesting that you want to define Creation as growing things.

The Bible, the Word of God, which God gave human beings, it came to us so that we might know our Creator, our purpose, and our destiny. When the Bible says in many, many places that God created ALL things, visible and invisible, why do you want to doubt that, or infer that God is not telling us the whole truth. How is pre-existing matter not part of that truth?
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Scholar Peter Hayman records:

“Nearly all recent studies on the origin of the doctrine of creation ex nihilo have come to the conclusion that this doctrine is not native to Judaism, is nowhere attested in the Hebrew Bible, and probably arose in Christianity in the second century C. E. in the course of its fierce battle with Gnosticism.” (Peter Hayman, “Monotheism – A misused word in Jewish Studies?”)

The doctrine of creatio ex nihilo was clearly a man made theological innovation.
 
gazelam said:
Scholar Peter Hayman records:

“Nearly all recent studies on the origin of the doctrine of creation ex nihilo have come to the conclusion that this doctrine is not native to Judaism, is nowhere attested in the Hebrew Bible, and probably arose in Christianity in the second century C. E. in the course of its fierce battle with Gnosticism.” (Peter Hayman, “Monotheism – A misused word in Jewish Studies?”)

The doctrine of creatio ex nihilo was clearly a man made theological innovation.
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No gazelam, I use God’s Word in the Bible to tell me that ALL things were created by God, whether visible or invisible, which pretty much covers everything don’t you think? What purpose does it serve from the Mormon position, to say that the Bible isn’t telling the whole truth about where ALL creation originated from?
 
Your answer is found in the Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Otherwise, beware of the other views on this thread.

Kind regards.
 
The Articles of Faith do not answer the OP’s question about what the LDS believe is the origin of the Holy Ghost.
 
CourtingTex said:
It is foundational to Latter Day Saints otherwise go to lds.org for further understanding.
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Yes, the Articles of Faith articulate the LDS foundational beliefs. It’s their creed.

But, going back to the OP’s original question, the AoF do not answer the question as to what Mormons believe the origin of the Holy Ghost is.

THAT is what the OP was asking about.
 
Marie5890 said:
Yes, the Articles of Faith articulate the LDS foundational beliefs. It’s their creed.

But, going back to the OP’s original question, the AoF do not answer the question as to what Mormons believe the origin of the Holy Ghost is.

THAT is what the OP was asking about.
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The Articles of Faith do provide foundation in addition to a understanding revelation ---- personal revelation from the Holy Ghost.

Kind regards.
 
thephilosopher6 said:
Mormonism is pretty explicit about the origin of the god Jehovah, who they believe to be Jesus Christ, but I’ve never seen any explanation as to the origin of the Holy Spirit in Mormonism. Is he created by the god Elohim? Or is he an eternal god himself? Or is his origin in Mormonism unknown?
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Using LDS only sources (further limited to only things found on their official site) here’s what we know about what they believe:

They believe there is God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Source: LDS Articles of Faith
Article of Faith 1:
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
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  1. They call these three things the Godhead and the Holy Spirity is a person. Source: “The Holy Ghost” April 1974 General Conference by Marion G. Romney, apostle and a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Holy Ghost by MArion G. Romney:
The scriptures all teach about the Holy Ghost. They frequently refer to him as the Comforter, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, or the Spirit of the Lord.

According to these scriptures the Holy Ghost is a person.
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  1. The Godhead is three separate and distinct persons united in purpose. Source: Godhead (Topic, LDS website)
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Godhead:
…But where Latter-day Saints differ from other Christian religions is in their belief that God and Jesus Christ are glorified, physical beings and that each member of the Godhead is a separate being.

…Although the members of the Godhead are distinct beings with distinct roles, they are one in purpose and doctrine. They are perfectly united in bringing to pass Heavenly Father’s divine plan of salvation.
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  1. God, the Eternal Father created Jesus Christ and all of His “Spirit children” in the “pre-existence” which is now preferred to be called the “pre-mortal life.” Source: Plan of Salvation
  2. The Holy Spirit has the form of a man, but with no physical body. The Holy Spirit is limited, in all but knowledge (has physical dimensions, isn’t omnipresent or have the ability to be.) It is also worth noting that is states that God cannot be omnipresent either, so God, in the LDS view is limited (which is further supported by the concept of eternal progression, because by definition one cannot grow unless one is limited). Source: Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual, Chapter 5
Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual:
The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead.
  1. The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit and possesses all the characteristics of a divine personality (see D&C 130:22; 1 Nephi 11:11).
  2. The Holy Ghost knows all things (see D&C 35:19; Moroni 10:5; Moses 6:61).
  3. The Holy Ghost testifies of the Father and the Son (see D&C 20:27; 3 Nephi 28:11).
“The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He is a Spirit, in the form of a man. … The Holy Ghost is a personage of Spirit, and has a spirit body only. His mission is to bear witness of the Father and the Son and of all truth.
“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. He is also called the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of Truth, and the Comforter” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:38).

“The Holy Ghost as a personage of Spirit can no more be omnipresent in person than can the Father or the Son, but by his intelligence, his knowledge, his power and influence, over and through the laws of nature, he is and can be omnipresent throughout all the works of God” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 61).
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Conclusion:
Considering that it is taught that Jesus Christ was created in the pre-existence as the “elder brother” of all the spirit children, we can discern that (in the LDS view) one doesn’t have to be “uncreated” to be a part of the “Godhead.” Further that means that it We also see that the Holy Spirit is seen as limited is scope and power, meaning it is it stands to reason that it is inferior to God, the Eternal Father, in it’s “progression” (which can also be deduced by the lack of physical body when weighed against the “Plan of Salvation”).

I can only conclude that it is implicitly stated by LDS doctrine that the Holy Spirit is a created person.
 
Thanks for taking the time to lay out the LDS sources and documentation. 👍
Erikzen said:
Using LDS only sources (further limited to only things found on their official site) here’s what we know about what they believe:

They believe there is God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. Source: LDS Articles of Faith
2. They call these three things the Godhead and the Holy Spirity is a person. Source: “The Holy Ghost” April 1974 General Conference by Marion G. Romney, apostle and a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
3. The Godhead is three separate and distinct persons united in purpose. Source: Godhead (Topic, LDS website)
4. God, the Eternal Father created Jesus Christ and all of His “Spirit children” in the “pre-existence” which is now preferred to be called the “pre-mortal life.” Source: Plan of Salvation
  1. The Holy Spirit has the form of a man, but with no physical body. The Holy Spirit is limited, in all but knowledge (has physical dimensions, isn’t omnipresent or have the ability to be.) It is also worth noting that is states that God cannot be omnipresent either, so God, in the LDS view is limited (which is further supported by the concept of eternal progression, because by definition one cannot grow unless one is limited). Source: Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual, Chapter 5
Conclusion:
Considering that it is taught that Jesus Christ was created in the pre-existence as the “elder brother” of all the spirit children, we can discern that (in the LDS view) one doesn’t have to be “uncreated” to be a part of the “Godhead.” Further that means that it We also see that the Holy Spirit is seen as limited is scope and power, meaning it is it stands to reason that it is inferior to God, the Eternal Father, in it’s “progression” (which can also be deduced by the lack of physical body when weighed against the “Plan of Salvation”).

I can only conclude that it is implicitly stated by LDS doctrine that the Holy Spirit is a created person.
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Marie5890 said:
Thanks for taking the time to lay out the LDS sources and documentation. 👍
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My pleasure, I found myself with time on my hands and felt the frustrations of the posters in not getting straight answers. It’s not the first time I’ve had to go digging through their website for answers to questions avoided.

If I recall correctly, from a previous post, or another thread, you used to attend the Mormon Church. Was it your experience that the Holy Spirit was regarded in this way? It has been my experience that the teachings from year to year change, that one church president’s teaching’s one day is doctrine, then once no longer president, it’s open season to be labeled as heresy. For all I know, this could be the understanding that is currently en vogue.
 
Erikzen said:
My pleasure, I found myself with time on my hands and felt the frustrations of the posters in not getting straight answers. It’s not the first time I’ve had to go digging through their website for answers to questions avoided.

If I recall correctly, from a previous post, or another thread, you used to attend the Mormon Church. Was it your experience that the Holy Spirit was regarded in this way? It has been my experience that the teachings from year to year change, that one church president’s teaching’s one day is doctrine, then once no longer president, it’s open season to be labeled as heresy. For all I know, this could be the understanding that is currently en vogue.
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Yes, I used to be LDS. What one would call a TBM (True believing Mormon). Went to BYU, was very active, temple endowed and attended regularly.

And yes, what you have laid out was what was taught, even in the religion classes I had to take as a BYU student.

The Holy Ghost was the 3rd person in the godhead, a personage of spirit, another spirit child of Heavenly father and heavenly mother like Jehovah. etc.
 
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