Gospel topic
Dove
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How is it John was considerd one of the Greatest of Prophe[t]s? 3 things 1st. he was trusted with a divine missoin [mission] of preparing the way before the face of the Lord.— [blank] Trust before or since? no man!— 2d. He was trusted & it was reqird at his ha[n]ds to baptize the son of Man. who evr did that? who had so gr[e]at a privelige & glory?— son of God into the waters of baptism & beholding the Holy Ghost.— in <in the sign> the form of a dove.— [blank]— [blank] with the sign of the dove. institutd before the creation Devil could not come in sign of a dove.— Holy Gh[o]st is a personage in the form of a personage.— does not confine itself to form of a dove.— but in sign of a dove.— Discourse, 29 January 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards–A, 154-155, josephsmithpapers.org.
Joseph Smith
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How is it that John was considered one of the greatest of prophets? His miracles could not have constituted his greatness. First. He was entrusted with a divine mission of preparing the way before the face of the Lord. Whoever had such a trust committed to him before or since? No man. Secondly. He was entrusted with the important mission, and it was required at his hands, to baptize the Son of Man. Whoever had the honor of doing that? Whoever had so great a privilege and glory? 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 thesign 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. Joseph Smith, in History of the Church, 5:260.
Joseph Smith
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The Prophet Joseph Smith has given us the clearest explanation of this wonderful event in discussing the question of the greatness of John. He said John was one of the greatest of prophets. His greatness was not due to his prophesying or because he performed great miracles, but because he was entrusted with the mission of preparing the way before the Lord and he also had the honor to baptize him. Said Joseph Smith: "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." We raise no question as to the fact that the Holy Ghost did appear to John in the form of a dove and that the sign of the dove was given to him as convincing evidence that it was verily the Son of God whom he baptized. It is also true that Nephi was granted in vision to have the same experience. He saw the baptism of our Lord and the Holy Ghost descend upon the Lord apparently in the form of a dove, the dove being an emblem of purity. It is interesting to consider other passages of scripture in regard to the dove. Satan cannot imitate this sign; that is one thing which is denied him. The dove has been considered as a sacred emblem through the history of Israel. It was the dove which Noah sent forth from the Ark which returned to him with the evidence that the waters had departed from the face of the earth. The dove as an emblem of purity was offered in sacrifice in ancient Israel, and perhaps before, by which means certain sins were cleansed. Chief among these was the purifying of mothers after the birth of their children as follows: "And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: "Who shall offer it before the Lord, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. "And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles [turtle doves], or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean." A short time after the birth of our Savior, when the days of his mother's purification were accomplished, "they brought him, to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord. ... "And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons." In counseling his apostles as they were about to go forth on their first missionary journey, the Lord said to them: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
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