=6. Personality and Powers of the Holy Ghost.=--The Holy Ghost is associated with the Father and the Son in the Godhead. In the light of revelation, we are instructed as to the distinct personality of the Holy Ghost. He is a Being endowed with the attributes and powers of Deity, and not a mere thing, force, or essence. The term Holy Ghost and its common synonyms, Spirit of God,[464] Spirit of the Lord, or simply, Spirit,[465] Comforter,[466] and Spirit of Truth,[467] occur in the scriptures with plainly different meanings, referring in some cases to the person of God, the Holy Ghost, and in other instances to the power or authority of this great Being. The context of such passages will show which of these significations applies. [464] Matt. iii, 16; xii, 28; I Nephi xiii, 12. [465] I Nephi iv, 6; xi, 8; Mos. xiii, 5; Acts ii, 4; viii, 29; x, 19: Rom. viii, 10, 26; I Thess. v, 19. [466] John xiv, 16-26; xv, 26. [467] John xv, 26; xvi, 13. =7.= The Holy Ghost undoubtedly possesses personal powers and affections; these attributes exist in Him in perfection. Thus, He teaches and guides,[468] testifies of the Father and the Son,[469] reproves for sin,[470] speaks, commands, and commissions,[471] makes intercession for sinners,[472] is grieved,[473] searches and investigates,[474] entices,[475] and knows all things.[476] These are not mere figurative expressions, but plain statements of the attributes and characteristics of this great Personage. That the Holy Spirit is capable of manifesting Himself in the true form and figure of God, after which image man is shaped, is indicated by the wonderful interview between the Spirit and Nephi, in which He revealed Himself to the prophet, questioned him concerning his desires and belief, instructed him in the things of God, speaking face to face with the man. "I spake unto him," says Nephi, "as a man speaketh; for I beheld that he was in the form of a man, yet nevertheless I knew that it was the Spirit of the Lord; and he spake unto me as a man speaketh to another."[477] However, the Holy Ghost does not possess a tangible body of flesh and bones, as do both the Father and the Son, but is a personage of spirit.[478] [468] John xiv, 26; xvi, 13. [469] John xv, 26. [470] John xvi, 8. [471] Acts x, 19; xiii, 2; Rev. ii, 7; I Nephi iv, 6; xi, 2-8. [472] Rom. viii, 26. [473] Eph. iv, 30. [474] I Cor. ii, 4-10. [475] Mos. iii, 19. [476] Alma vii, 13. [477] I Nephi xi, 11. [478] Doc. and Cov. cxxx, 22.