ABSTRACT

Although we know much abut the Holy Ghost’s roles in our lives, we know little about Him personally. Nor do we understand the reasons that God has chosen to reveal so little. While it would be inappropriate to teach private ideas on the matter as doctrine, and some have considered speculation on the person of the Holy Ghost to be fruitless, thinking about this subject can enhance our understanding on related topics including the meaning of godhood.

Michael (also known as Adam) helped create the earth and led the winning team in the war in heaven. Joseph Smith taught that Ada was next to Christ in priesthood authority; that he holds the keys of salvation under Christ; that he reveals the ordinances to man; and that in fact it is through Adam whom Christ was and is revealed—which seems like the Holy Ghost’s role. If Ada is truly next to Christ in priesthood authority, where does that put the Holy Ghost?

I present here on idea on the identity of the Holy Ghost—that He is the same person as Adam—and show how this idea could answer some questions on both individuals. For example, D&C 130:22 tells us that the Holy Ghost can perform His role because he lacks a physical body. But Christ also lacked a physical body until He was born; perhaps Christ performed that role during Adam’s mortal life, or even after. Adam may have been able to perform parts of that role, but now to give he gift of the Holy Ghost until after Christ’s resurrection; this would explain why New Testament saints did not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost during Christ’s mortal life, and it provides one reason that the gospel was withheld from the Gentiles until Christ’s resurrection. This “Adam/Michael hypothesis” requires that Adam has not been resurrected yet; despite popular and very reasonable opinion that Adma has been resurrected, no scripture actually states this. This hypothesis also requires us to accept that Michael’s archangel status doesn’t preclude other roles.

I compare this hypothesis to the conventional stance that the Holy Ghost is not Adam and discuss pros, cons, and objections to both ideas. The Adam/Michael hypothesis shows that like the Father and Son, the Holy Ghost is also a father, and answers several other questions about the Holy Ghost is also a father, and answers several other questions about the Holy Ghost. This hypothesis does not contradict scripture, but I am cautious to present this as just an idea for thought. Ultimately, only revelation from God through His prophet can resolve this matter in an official definitive way.