Spirit of promise seals the righteous
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The Holy Spirit of Promise is the Holy Spirit promised the saints, or in other words, the Holy Ghost, according to Elder Joseph Fielding Smith.
"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 the loss of the promised blessing." (Quoted in A Companion to Your Study of the Doctrine and Covenants by Daniel H. Ludlow, Vol. 2, pp. 133-134.)
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(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
Articles on this page may be used in conjunction with the gospel doctrine course of study.
Information compiled by Elayne Wells and John Hart
Sources: Sacred Truths of the Doctrine & Covenants by L.G. Otten and C.M. Caldwell, volume 2; Discourses of Brigham Young arranged by John A. Widtsoe; BYU Speeches of the Year (April 1960); Gospel Standards by Heber J. Grant; The Ensign (June 1975); A Companion to Your Study of the Doctrine and Covenants by Daniel H. Ludlow, Vol. 2.
