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The Lectures on Faith speak of the Holy Spirit as the "mind" of the Father and the Son, but what does that mean doctrinally and for us spiritually? I seek to answer this question and understand the mission of the Holy Spirit in a way that sheds light on how we can approach oneness with God.

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Lucifer reigns over his own, as an Unholy Ghost...He has not a body to start a family with...His priesthood dominion is based on government/force and his anti-temple is the bank and the money/power thereof.

The Holy Ghost presides over this dark and dreary Telestial world...a world with little light, candle light, lights on the hill and the light of the glory of the stars....(the Son presides over the Terrestrial and the Father presides over the Celestial...)

We enter mortality and receive a body...we lay on hands... are given a name...to be recorded on the records of the church... followed by a blessing.

Following baptism...by the laying on of hands... we are given a ghost/a name...by the wording "receive the Holy Ghost" and "I baptise you in the name of the.... Holy Ghost... followed by a similar blessing.

If we receive the Holy Ghost...do we take upon ourselves the name of the Holy Ghost as per the wording of the baptism prayer?

How can we take the name of the Holy Ghost if His name has not been revealed?

If the Patriarchal Order Of The Priesthood is after the Order of the Father...and If the Melchezedec priesthood is after The Order Of The Son.... then perhaps the Aaronic Priesthood is after the order of... the Holy Ghost?

If we receive the Holy Ghost following baptism...perhaps we are submitting ourselves to the authority of the president of the Aaronic Priesthood...being the Bishop...and the priests who bless the Lord's supper and the teachers and the deacons and all they do...all functions of the Aaronic priesthood.

When we receive the Lord's Supper we are invited to take upon ourselves the flesh, blood, name, memory, commands, and spirit of Jesus Christ....an invitation extended by the (Aaronic Pristhood, Holy Ghost, Bishop) and those working under his keys.

If we receive the Melchchezedek priesthood we received the authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ.

If we receive the Aaronic priesthood are we assuming the authority to act in the name of the Holy Ghost?

When we receive a wife in the New And Everlasting Covenant Of Marriage...are we receiving the Patriarchal, Celestial Order and act in the name of...the father?

Obviously their is Telestial birth and marriage, Is their also a Terrestrial birth, name and marriage? and a Celestial birth, name and Marriage?

Perhaps believing in God the Eternal Father and in His Son and in the Holy Ghost is more than just spectatating but participating as...

5tev3, well done! Thank you for sharing your personal studies with us. Nephi's experience with the Spirit of the Lord has always stood out to me.

5tev3 wrote:The Lectures on Faith speak of the Holy Spirit as the "mind" of the Father and the Son, but what does that mean doctrinally and for us spiritually? I seek to answer this question and understand the mission of the Holy Spirit in a way that sheds light on how we can approach oneness with God.

READ THE ARTICLE HERE

Interesting concepts 5tec3,

Isn't it interesting how we can all read something and draw a conclusion as to what we think it is saying. That is because we are all on different wave lengths of what we perceive to be the truth.

Your perception of the Holy Spirit is very different than mine... however I believe the "fruits" of the Holy Spirit are the same, and in this we are in agreement.

To make this simple, I taught my children the difference between the "fruits of the Spirit" and the "fruits of the flesh." We then made a list of both fruits and had many lessons over the years, defining each fruit and teaching the difference. There are many other scriptures that list the fruits and we talked about them all. To make this simple I will list two scriptures and add a few more fruits:

Fruits of the Spirit:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance... mercy, justice, love, patience, kindness, honesty, etc...
(New Testament | Galatians 5:22 - 23)

Fruits of the Flesh:
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: ... anger, lying, cheating, etc...
(New Testament | Galatians 5:19 - 21)

Once the "fruits" are understood it was easy to point out that we each have the "potential" to manifest any fruit we desired in our work, play, quiet moments, in our thoughts, in the words we use when speaking to each other. We always have the ability to choose the fruits we want to become.
Once the "fruits" are understood it is easy to place proper names below the fruits, for example:

Under the Fruits of the Spirit we have:
Our Heavenly Father
Jesus Christ
(me)?

Under the Fruits of the flesh we have:
Satan, the devil
(me)?

If we make a wrong choice in the "fruit" we manifest, we have the "fruits of the Spirit" to help us get back on the path our Father in Heaven or Christ is on... that specific "fruit" would be "mercy," which is the principle of repentance and forgiveness... you get the point.

Without getting into a debate on the Holy Spirit/Ghost or the "mind of God" (see my opinion below) or if the Holy Spirit is a "real being" or a "metaphor" of God's nature, attributes and character... or if 1 Nephi 11:11 is really describing the actual person of the Holy Spirit/Ghost or the actual Spirit body of Jesus Christ... does this knowledge change your behavior? Did it really matter what the brother of Jared knew before his experience of seeing the finger of the Lord. Did it really matter what Joseph Smith thought before he saw the Savior and the Father? I don't think it really mattered what preconceived ideas they had of the Father or Son at first... what really mattered is, what they learned in that experience, that changed there lives and changed their actual knowledge of what God really looked like and the type of "being" they were. The bottom line is that the "fruits" of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit/Ghost are the "same." In my opinion, it's the "fruits" we manifest that will bring either salvation or damnation to our souls.

When it comes to the "mind of God" as it relates to the Holy Spirit, here is my opinion on the matter. To have the "mind of God" is to have the same "belief" system as God has! Their are 3 "belief" systems known as the telestial, terrestrial and celestial. I want to see things through God's perspective, His "belief" system; not the worlds belief system, not the Church's belief system, not the Prophets belief system (except for Christ's, for some think he was a prophet)... does not matter... I am seeking for and want to "know" the Fathers belief system, through Christ.

To achieve this I know I must partake and manifest the “fruits of the Spirit” or Holy Spirit… it is the same to me from personal experience!

@dauser "Lucifer reigns over his own, as an Unholy Ghost...He has not a body to start a family with...His priesthood dominion is based on government/force and his anti-temple is the bank and the money/power thereof."

Great line and great thoughts. We are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, yet we say that we are taking the name of "Christ" upon us. The word Christ means "anointed one" and anointing has strong ties to the Holy Ghost as well. I'm not familiar with the concept that we take upon the name of the Holy Ghost at baptism, so I can't comment on that.

@SkyBird the beauty of the gospel is that there are so many ways that we can see and learn at different levels and from different directions. Truth is like a giant, multifaceted gem that can be viewed from any angle and each angle is profitable if it draws you closer. You're right, at the end of the day, the fruits of the Spirit are the same. In the article, I was seeking to address what the Lectures on Faith meant by referring to the Holy Spirit as the "mind" of God by exploring it from a different angle and showing how that angle helps to link together several other teachings to illustrate that our oneness with God is achieved by receiving the mind of God and how receiving his mind makes us one.

We each will find a flavor of the truth that fuels our desire.

5tev3 wrote:@dauser "Lucifer reigns over his own, as an Unholy Ghost...He has not a body to start a family with...His priesthood dominion is based on government/force and his anti-temple is the bank and the money/power thereof."

Great line and great thoughts. We are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, yet we say that we are taking the name of "Christ" upon us. The word Christ means "anointed one" and anointing has strong ties to the Holy Ghost as well. I'm not familiar with the concept that we take upon the name of the Holy Ghost at baptism, so I can't comment on that.

@SkyBird the beauty of the gospel is that there are so many ways that we can see and learn at different levels and from different directions. Truth is like a giant, multifaceted gem that can be viewed from any angle and each angle is profitable if it draws you closer. You're right, at the end of the day, the fruits of the Spirit are the same. In the article, I was seeking to address what the Lectures on Faith meant by referring to the Holy Spirit as the "mind" of God by exploring it from a different angle and showing how that angle helps to link together several other teachings to illustrate that our oneness with God is achieved by receiving the mind of God and how receiving his mind makes us one.

We each will find a flavor of the truth that fuels our desire.

Wouldn't you agree that our "oneness" with God is achieved in part when we manifest the "same fruits of the Spirit?" Perhaps another part of that "oneness" is achieved when we have the "same beliefs" as God... and perhaps there is a 3rd part of that "oneness"... if there is I have not thought of it yet.

I think we are saying some of the same things but perhaps using different words. However, I'm not sure that "having the same beliefs" as God is the same as obtaining the same mind as God by receiving a member of the Godhead upon principles of righteousness. Pursuing this course brings the fruits of the Spirit.

I'm sure there is more to it that we realize. I'm just using the Lectures on Faith to describe a facet of this process.

5tev3 wrote:I think we are saying some of the same things but perhaps using different words. However, I'm not sure that "having the same beliefs" as God is the same as obtaining the same mind as God by receiving a member of the Godhead upon principles of righteousness. Pursuing this course brings the fruits of the Spirit.

I'm sure there is more to it that we realize. I'm just using the Lectures on Faith to describe a facet of this process.

Perhaps part of the idea to "Receive the Mind of God" is captured in part by Paul to the Ephesians:

"One Lord, one faith, on baptism" (Ephesians 4: 5).

And I believe to emphasis this in the next verse he said:

"One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you all" (Ephesians 4: 6).

Perhaps if Paul we here we would certainly ask him how this is achieved or what is the message he is trying to convey to us?

Lectures on Faith is profound and I love the many messages it implies. The one your are portraying: "Receive the Mind of God" conveys seeking out God or Christ personally ourselves to that degree we are speaking to them "face to face." To receive the "same mind" as God certainly implies more than casual outward obedience to God or Christ in our lives. Since Joseph Smith connects the "same mind" with the Holy Spirit or Ghost, this would imply another type of obedience to God which I believe Paul is referring to in the above words to the Ephesians. The "one God and Father" who is "in you all" certainly has reference to the "attributes, character and perfections" of godliness that potentially is within us all. It is apparent according to LonF and the scriptures that in order to be saved in the highest degree of Celestial glory we must have the "same mind" as God, otherwise "our own mind damns us" to a lessor degree of glory according to Joseph Smith.

So to me the "same mind" of God has reference to not just the "attributes, character and perfections" of God; but also the "same beliefs," the "same experiences," (taught to us via the Spirit) the "same feelings," (taught to us via the Spirit) the "same power," the "same glory," the "same authority," so that someday in the future when we are "Gods" we will be able to say also: "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end and knowest all things." Why? Because we have "Received the Same Mind of God" via the Spirit, "now the Spirit knoweth all things" (Alma 7: 13) even the suffering of all as Christ experienced in Gethsemane. How could we possible be "Gods" in the full sense of the word, unless we have the "same mind" and experiences taught to us via the Spirit? Not everyone is willing to go this far down the rabbit hole and experience this potential reality... the scriptures says "few there be that find it..." and then the scripture tells us why "few" make it this far. "Because ye receive me (face to face, heart to heart, mind to mind) not in the world (mortality which includes the Spirit World) neither do ye know me" (D&C 132: 22-24).
But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that where I am ye shall be also.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 132:23)

This to me is what it means to "Receive the Mind of God" in its fullness and completeness.

God Bless.

brrgilbert wrote:I present the following for your consideration. There may be some confusion in regard to "the Mind of God" and the Spirit.

http://unblogmysoul.wordpress.com/2011/ ... of-christ/

Further:

http://unblogmysoul.wordpress.com/2012/ ... is-spirit/

The Light of Christ is to enlightenment(recognition)/mind as the Spirit of Christ is to understanding(association)/heart as the Holy Ghost is to empathy(realization of Love)/soul. The Holy Spirit is a term that may encompass all of these things, together.

A LIGHT is for illumination; a SPIRIT is for feeling and I believe that the Holy Ghost is for both, simultaneously.

Interesting blogs, both of them. Ever since the restoration people have presented ideas concerning the differences between the Light of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit and the Holy Ghost. To me they are all metaphors attempting to teach us the true nature and character man and the Gods (the Father and the Son). We know that before God was "God," he was a mortal man on an earth and before that he was a "spirit being" like all the rest of us, eternal in our spiritual nature (Abraham 3:18) and makeup. Having the capacity to choose freedom or some degree of bondage.

As mentioned before the "fruits" of the "Light of Christ," "Holy Spirit," "Spirit," and "Holy Ghost" are the SAME... that is what is important to us. The "fruits of the Spirit" are innate to each of us... they are part of our duality or dual nature. We can manifest either the carnal side or the divine side... we each have the "potential" to do either. The point of the restoration and scriptures is to get us to manifest always or have a "constant companionship" with the "holy" side of our potential. The whole idea to "receive" the "mind of God" or the "Holy Ghost," is to "awaken" to the duality of our nature and make a choice to serve the divine potential within! ... we can not serve two masters and expect to become as God is.