"The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. A man may receive the Holy Ghost, and it may descend upon him and not tarry with him." (D&C 130:22-23.)
In Doctrine and Covenants Compendium, Sidney B. Sperry wrote: "The world of Christianity is shocked by our belief as thus expressed, but Christian peoples generally have been conditioned by false traditions and teachings of men which have been handed down by uninspired teachers."Jesus said to Philip, He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.' (John 14:9.) Moreoever, our resurrected Lord said to Thomas,Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side; and be not faithless, but believing.'
"The modern generation is too often faithless, not believing either Jesus or John's report, but holding his Gospel to be unhistorical. Joseph Smith evidently not only believed John but also knew for himself that the resurrected Lord was a being of flesh, bones, and spirit; and knowing that, he knew that the Father was also a tangible being like unto His son.
"Notice that the Holy Ghost is a spiritual personage, that is, without flesh and bones. (p. 699.)
In The Doctrine and Covenants Speaks, Roy W. Doxey wrote:
"Why is it of value for the Latter-day Saint to know that God is a personal being with body, parts, and passions? First, one may then know that faithful men may become as the Father in every sense of the word.
"Second, to know that God is personal and that He is our Father gives man the ability to approach Deity in prayer in a meaningful way, rather than to pray to an all-present spirit, as God is conceived in the `Christian' world.
"Third, the true concept of God and Christ and the Holy Ghost, who is also an individual - a personage of spirit - gives meaning to the scriptures about the members of the Godhead.
"Fourth, one sees that God has a habitat, and He is not in person throughout all space."
(Additional information)
Articles on this page may be used in conjunction with the gospel doctrine course of study.
Information compiled by Gerry Avant
Sources: History of the Church, by Joseph Smith; The Doctrine and Covenants Speaks, by Roy W. Doxey; Doctrine and Covenants Commentary, by Hyrum M. Smith and Janne M. Sjodahl; Doctrine and Covenants Compendium, by Sidney B. Sperry.
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