We have discussed often omniscience and omnipotence and there meanings in relation to the reality of our Father in Heaven. Less discussed is Omnipresence. The LDS Guide to the scriptures defines omnipresence simply as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ability to be present everywhere through his spirit.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d [1] Robert Millet opines, in his article \u00e2\u20ac\u009dWhat is our Doctrine?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/i> a sort of clarification to this. He says \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Our Father in Heaven is indeed omnipotent, omniscient, and, by the power of His Holy Spirit, omnipresent.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d [2] <\/p>\n
It is unclear what Millet means in this, though if his opinion is that the Holy Spirit (the third member of the Godhead) is omnipresent in a physical way, he is in disagreement at least with one prophet of the Church, Joseph F. Smith, who said \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Holy Ghost as a personage of Spirit can no more be omnipresent in person than can the Father or the Son, but by his intelligence, his knowledge, his power and influence, over and through the laws of nature, he is and can be omnipresent throughout all the works of God\u00e2\u20ac\u009d [3] President Marion G. Romney concurred with this assessment, noting that God is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153in spirit, and power, and influence\u00e2\u20ac\u201dan omnipresent person\u00e2\u20ac\u009d [4] Others also shared this view. [5]<\/p>\n
To add to the Confusion, Francis M. Gibbons [6] opines that Jesus Christ \u00e2\u20ac\u0153through the Light of Christ, \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 is omnipresent.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d [7] and others held that Christ was omnipresent in other ways as well. [8]<\/p>\n
And with that tangled introduction, my friends, that leads me to my questions.<\/p>\n
1. If Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have just as much capacity to be omnipresent as our Father in Heaven, what is the need for the Holy Ghost? <\/p>\n
2. Why can not Heavenly Father or Christ be our comforter, answer our prayers, or interact with us directly via their omnipresent power and influence?<\/p>\n
3. What are the Limits of Divine Omnipresence?<\/p>\n
4. If we can not stand the presence of God, due to our unworthiness, and he is omnipresent, is God withholding his presence from us for our protection or is it only the perceived presence of God we can not withstand in sin?<\/p>\n
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[1] see here <\/a><\/p>\n [2] see the First full paragraph of page 29, here<\/a><\/p>\n [3] (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939], p. 61). As quoted here <\/a> The lesson for the Aaronic Priesthood adds it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s own clarification: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153the person of the Holy Ghost can be in only one place at a time, but his power and influence can be omnipresent\u00e2\u20ac\u201dpresent everywhere at the same time.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n