Difference between revisions of "Holy Spirit of Promise"

Revision as of 16:43, 13 September 2013

The Holy Spirit of Promise is the sealing power of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit. The term comes from Acts 2:33:

Therefore being by the bright hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

Before Jesus Christ left, He promised His apostles that He would not leave them comfortless. When He was gone, He would send the Holy Ghost to provide comfort. In addition to comfort, the Holy Ghost provides wisdom, advice, and the ability to communicate with God through prayer.

When a person receives a saving ordinance, such as baptism, the Holy Spirit of Promise testifies or ratifies to God that it was done correctly and is complete. The Holy Spirit of Promise then seals the ordinance, and it is valid in the eyes of God. A worthy person has his ordinance sealed. If he lies about his worthiness in order to receive it, the ordinance is not sealed, because the Holy Ghost knows whether or not the person has been truthful. Should the person later repent and become worthy, the ordinance can then be made valid. A worthy person may also lose the power of the ordinance through personal unworthiness.

When the resurrection of the just occurs, the just will be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, and they will receive everything God the Father has. He will not hold back any blessing from those who have been His most faithful and loving children.

This is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—

That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true (Doctrine and Covenants 50–53).

A covenant that is sealed on earth is also sealed in Heaven through the Holy Spirit of Promise. For example, Mormons (a nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) teach that marriages performed on earth are also valid in heaven. Mormons who marry in the Mormon temples are married for this life but also for eternity, it they keep their covenants and remain worthy. The children born to them are also theirs for eternity. They refer to the marriage as a sealing, and that sealing is valid both on earth and in heaven if both parties are worthy. Baptisms and other ordinances are also eternally valid.

Sources:

• Holy Spirit of Promise, Eternal Marriage Student Manual, (2003), 136
• President James E. Faust, The Gift of the Holy Ghost—A Sure Compass, Ensign, April 1996