The Holy Spirit of Promise, Revisited

I find the doctrines of salvation fascinating (beyond the books of Joseph Fielding Smith). Always have. When my family converted from the Presbyterian Church many years ago, my mother, as a professional educator, led our family in our study of the gospel. At one point in her career she held the position of “Director of Christian Education” at a large local Presbyterian Church.

It was something she always enjoyed – studying the doctrines of salvation – and something that she passed on to me. I also inherited her love of the temple, if that is possible, for which I will be forever grateful. Even though I am not currently a member of the LDS Church, I participated in temple ordinances for most of my life, and always felt there was something more to be received.

The Promises Remain Intact

I have a unique opportunity to discuss the sealing power and the Holy Spirit of Promise with a member of our ward who formally served as the President of the Los Angeles Temple (I still attend the LDS Church with Carol each week for fellowship). In order to be more prepared for our upcoming conversation, I’ve gathered a few orthodox quotes from material that will be familiar.

I previously wrote about this subject ten years ago in this post. My views have not changed since then, especially in regard to the response from members of the High Priests group who castigated me for expressing my views. To the reader who took the time to write wondering if I would “discard my marriage as I had my membership,” you are welcome to visit me in my home and ask Carol how we are doing.

Ye Must be Born Again

In what is probably the most often referenced and quoted definition found in a search of the church website today, we read from Elder David A Bednar, General Conference, April 2007 “Ye Must be Born Again” in what is also known as the “Parable of the Pickle” talk:

“The Holy Spirit of Promise is the ratifying power of the Holy Ghost. When sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, an ordinance, vow, or a covenant is binding on earth and in heaven. Receiving this stamp of approval from the Holy Ghost is the result of faithfulness, integrity, and steadfastness in honoring gospel covenants in the process of time. However, this sealing can be forfeited through unrighteousness and transgression. Purifying and sealing by the Holy Spirit of Promise constitute the culminating steps in the process of being born again.”

From the guide to the scriptures on the LDS church website, we read:

Holy Spirit of Promise

The Holy Ghost is the Holy Spirit of Promise (Acts 2:33). He confirms as acceptable to God the righteous acts, ordinances, and covenants of men. The Holy Spirit of Promise witnesses to the Father that the saving ordinances have been performed properly and that the covenants associated with them have been kept.

• They who are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise receive all that the Father has, D&C 76:51–60 (Eph. 1:13–14).
• All covenants and performances must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise to have force after this life, D&C 132:7, 18–19, 26.

Quoting Elder Bruce R. McConkie

From the Eternal Marriage student manual:

“The Holy Spirit of Promise is the Holy Spirit promised the saints, or in other words the Holy Ghost. This name-title is used in connection with the sealing and ratifying power of the Holy Ghost, that is, the power given him to ratify and approve the righteous acts of men so that those acts will be binding on earth and in heaven. ‘All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations,’ must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, if they are to have ‘efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead.’ (D. & C. 132:7.)

“To seal is to ratify, to justify, or to approve. Thus an act which is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise is one which is ratified by the Holy Ghost; it is one which is approved by the Lord; and the person who has taken the obligation upon himself is justified by the Spirit in the thing he has done.

“The ratifying seal of approval is put upon an act only if those entering the contract are worthy as a result of personal righteousness to receive the divine approbation. They ‘are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.’ (D. & C. 76:53.) If they are not just and true and worthy the ratifying seal is withheld.

“When any ordinance or contract is sealed by the Spirit, it is approved with a promise of reward, provided unrighteousness does not thereafter break the seal, remove the ratifying approval, and cause loss of the promised blessing. (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p. 55; vol. 2, pp. 94–99.) Seals are placed on contracts through righteousness.

An Example to Illustrate

“The operation and power of the Holy Spirit of Promise is best illustrated by the ordinance and contract of baptism. An unworthy candidate for baptism might deceive the elders and get the ordinance performed, but no one can lie to the Holy Ghost and get by undetected. Accordingly, the baptism of an unworthy and unrepentant person would not be sealed by the Spirit; it would not be ratified by the Holy Ghost; the unworthy person would not be justified by the Spirit in his actions. If thereafter he became worthy through repentance and obedience, the seal would then be put in force. Similarly, if a worthy person is baptized, with the ratifying approval of the Holy Ghost attending the performance, yet the seal may be broken by subsequent sin.

“These principles also apply to every other ordinance and performance in the Church. Thus if both parties are ‘just and true,’ if they are worthy, a ratifying seal is placed on their temple marriage; if they are unworthy, they are not justified by the Spirit and the ratification of the Holy Ghost is withheld. Subsequent worthiness will put the seal in force, and unrighteousness will break any seal.

“Even if a person progresses to that state of near-perfection in which his calling and election is made sure, in which he is ‘sealed up unto eternal life’ (D. & C. 131:5; 132:18–26), in which he receives ‘the promise … of eternal life’ (D. & C. 88:3–4), in which he is ‘sealed up unto the day of redemption’ (D. & C. 124:124; Eph. 1:13)—yet with it all, these great promises are secured only if the ‘performances’ are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise” (Mormon Doctrine, 361–62).

An act which is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise … is one which is approved by the Lord.

One more from the old triple-combination of the scriptures that I studied in my youth:

• those who come forth in resurrection of just are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, D&C 76:53 (132:26).
• the Lord sends another Comforter, the Holy Spirit of Promise, D&C 88:3.
• Hyrum Smith, as patriarch, holds sealing blessings, the Holy Spirit of Promise by which men are sealed up unto day of redemption, D&C 124:124.
• all covenants and performances must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise to have force after this life, D&C 132:7, 18–19, 26.

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Switching now to material you won’t find in official LDS sources, I like this definition from the Glossary in the T&C:

A Promise Sealed by God

The sealing word of God; it must confirm or ratify a sealing for it to become eternal, as described in T&C 157:35–39. All mankind’s ordinances contemplate a further ratification from heaven.¹

If one does not obtain this promise sealed by God, through His word — sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise — then there is no promise as pertaining to the ordinance. The only thing that will endure is that which is established by God or, more completely, through His word, which is then sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise.²

The sealing of things through the Holy Spirit of Promise must come in mortality. This hope is to be gained in mortality as a gift of faith to empower the recipient to be able to claim it in the next life. Mortality is the time and place for obtaining faith and hope. When out of this life, the season for faith has passed, and the opportunity for hope has ended. It cannot be developed there.³

The only exception is set out in T&C 122:5: Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying, All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the Celestial Kingdom of God. Also, all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that Kingdom.

Promises Include those not Married

The Holy Spirit of Promise can extend to even single people who receive the word of the Lord by revelation here in mortality that they will be sealed and live in the eternal marriage covenant, even if they do not obtain that sealing while still mortal. Any promise from God confers this hope. What He commits to someone here, He is bound to deliver there.⁴

The term “Holy Spirit of Promise” is used without adequate appreciation that it can be an office held by Divine appointment. Joseph Smith became the Holy Spirit of Promise through operation of the Divine appointment to hold the right. The office is held by more than just a single mortal man at one time and includes others who minister on earth, as well. These, at a minimum, include the Lord, John the Beloved, the Three Nephite Disciples, Elijah, other angelic ministers, as well as potentially others about whom nothing is known (see T&C 35:3).⁵

This Holy Spirit of Promise is given its name because when one has received the Father and the Son, he becomes Their child of Promise, the inheritor of all the Father has, a member of His family. To reject this, as Joseph described it, is to deny the sun at noon-day. For to have been given the Holy Spirit of Promise, one has seen God and received from Him a Promise.⁶

¹ “Question on Sealing,” Feb. 29, 2012, blog post.

² “Cursing and Abominations,” June 28, 2012, blog post.

³ Eighteen Verses, 71 (page 70 in my printed first edition).

⁴ Eighteen Verses, 71n49 (note 49 on page 70 in first edition).

⁵ “Question on Sealing,” Feb. 29, 2012, blog post. (See also T&C 157:39 Answer to Prayer for Covenant).

⁶ “God’s Many Works, Conclusion,” Aug. 18, 2012, blog post.

Revised Revelation on Marriage

Here is the replacement wording of section 132 that defines marriage (T&C 157:35-39):

1. Marriage was established at the beginning as a covenant by the word and authority of God, between the woman and God, the man and woman, and the man and God. It was ordained by my word to endure for ever. Mankind fell, but a covenant established by my word cannot fail, and therefore in death they were not to be parted.
2. It was my will that all marriages would follow the pattern of the beginning, and therefore all other marriages would be ordained as at the first. But fallen men refused my covenant, did not hearken to my word, nor receive my promise, and marriages fell outside my rule, disorganized and without me, therefore unable to endure beyond the promises made between the mortal man and the mortal woman, to end when they are dead.
3. Covenants, promises, rights, vows, associations, and expectations that are mine will endure, and those that are not cannot endure. Everything in the world, whether it is established by men, or by Thrones, or by Dominions, or by Principalities, or by Powers, that are not by my word and promise, shall be thrown down when men are dead and shall not remain in my Father’s Kingdom. Only those things that are by me shall remain in and after the resurrection.
4. Marriage by me, or by my word, received as a holy covenant between the woman and I, the man and woman, and the man and I, will endure beyond death and into my Father’s Kingdom, worlds without end. Those who abide this covenant will pass by the angels who are appointed, and enter into exaltation. Concerning them it shall be said, You shall come forth in the first resurrection, and if they covenant after the first resurrection, then in the next resurrection, and shall inherit in my Kingdom their own thrones, dominions, principalities, powers, all heights and depths, and shall pass by the angels to receive exaltation, the glory of which shall be a fullness, and a continuation of their posterity for ever.
5. Marriage is necessary for the exaltation of the man and woman and is ordained by me through the Holy Spirit of Promise, or in other words, by my covenant, my law, and my authority. Like the marriage in Eden, marriage is a sacrament for a sacred place, on holy ground, in my presence, or where the Holy Spirit of Promise can minister. But rebellion has kept mankind from inheriting what I ordained in the beginning, and therefore women and men have been left to marry apart from me. Every marriage established by me requires that I be part of the covenant for it to endure, for Endless is my name and without me the marriage cannot be without end: for so long as I endure it shall also endure, if it is made by my word and covenant.

The More Sure Word of Prophecy

In my previous post on this subject ten years ago, I referenced this paper. I recommend it again. In it you will find logic that leads one to understand the importance of hearing the word of God confirm that the promises are yours. I reemphasize the point with which I started – it takes more than being married or sealed in the temple to ensure a marriage will last into the eternities.

In the formal response from when I asked to have my name removed from the records of the church, I was told the action removed the promises of temple marriage sealing. I disagreed then and I disagree now. A temple marriage or sealing is only the first part of the ordinance. It must be ratified by the Lord. Only He can confirm the Holy Spirit of Promise is present in a marriage.