Today's Favorite Verse: John 1:32, 33

Today's Favorite Verse: John 1:32, 33

"And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."

I had a question as I read this, "It this the first time the Spirit was actually seen and just not felt?" I don't believe John actually saw a dove. He saw the sign of a dove descending from heaven. That made me try to find out more.

Bible Dictionary: Dove, sign of

"A prearranged means by which John the Baptist would recognize the Messiah at Jesus’ baptism (John 1:32–34). “The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. … The sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence” (Joseph Smith, HC 5:261). See 1 Ne. 11:27; 2 Ne. 31:8; D&C 93:15; Abr., fac. 2, fig. 7. Though we usually associate the sign of the dove with John the Baptist, from the latter reference we learn that it was manifested to Abraham also. We suppose that it has been similarly made known to other prophets on occasion since the time of Adam."

"And I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world, of whom my father had spoken; and I also beheld the prophet who should prepare the way before him. And the Lamb of God went forth and was baptized of him; and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove."

(1 Nephi 11:27)

"Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove."

(2 Nephi 31:8)

"And I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son."

(Doctrine and Covenants 93:15)

"Fig. 7. Represents God sitting upon his throne, revealing through the heavens the grand Key-words of the Priesthood; as, also, the sign of the Holy Ghost unto Abraham, in the form of a dove."

(Abraham, Facsimile 2, figure 7)

Well, I got the answer to my question. This was not the first time the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove? Abraham was shown this too. Which brings me to my next question "Did it really take the form of a dove?"

"Whoever led the Son of God into the waters of baptism, and had the privilege of beholding the Holy Ghost descend in the form of a dove, or rather in the sign of the dove, in witness of that administration? The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost is a personage, and is in the form of a personage. It does not confine itself to the form of the dove, but in sign of the dove. The Holy Ghost cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence."

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p 275-276)

"What was the result of obedience to the ordinance of baptism in the case of the Savior? The Holy Ghost, in the form of a dove, it is said, rested upon him. This is not exactly the fact, though a natural dove descended and rested on the head of the Lord Jesus, in witness that God had accepted the offering of his Son. But the dove was not the Holy Ghost, but the sign that the Holy Ghost was given to him. And after that, Jesus went forth and was tempted, Matt. 4:1 as you read."

(Brigham Young, "The One-Man Power, etc.", JD 14:91)

My reasoning is then if it's called the sign of a dove, and takes the form of a dove, that's an emblem or token, then it may have really been a dove they saw come down, especially if it sat upon him. It was representing the Spirit. So I guess they didn't actually see the Spirit, but only something that represented it was there. I will look at those pictures that show an actual dove appearing a little differently now.

Day 3157