I concluded the last post with an intriguing idea -- perhaps the Holy Ghost is the "Teacher of Righteousness" revered by the Essenes and other ancient religious groups. This idea is appealing for the simple reason that it fits in with some scriptures very nicely.
29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” (Numbers 11, NIV)
Is this what Enoch and his people were able to achieve when they were "of one heart and one mind"?
I have to say, when it comes to identifying the Teacher of Righteousness, I think taking an "all of the above" approach is the better strategy. Divine messengers, whether they are angels, mortals, or members of the Godhead, should present a consistent message. The Lord outlines a standard in D&C 50 that reinforces this point:
17 Verily I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the Spirit of truth, doth he preach it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?
18 And if it be by some other way it is not of God.
19 And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?
20 If it be some other way it is not of God.
21 Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth?
22 Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together. (D&C 50)
This leads us to the next question: What does it mean to be "ordained of [God] and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter"?
President Eyring gave a talk titled "The Comforter," in which he said:
You are a covenant member of the Church of Jesus Christ. A great change began in your heart when you came into the Church. You made a covenant, and you received a promise that began changing your very nature.
Saving ordinances are sacred acts performed by priesthood authority by which we enter into solemn covenants with God. If you stop to think about it, it isn't hard to see the symbolic "change in nature" embedded in these ordinances.
Adam's baptism was particularly unique:
64 And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken with Adam, our father, that Adam cried unto the Lord, and he was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the water, and was brought forth out of the water.Adam became "born of the Spirit" and entered into the order of Jesus Christ, which transcends time.
65 And thus he was baptized, and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man.
66 And he heard a voice out of heaven, saying: Thou art baptized with fire, and with the Holy Ghost. This is the record of the Father, and the Son, from henceforth and forever;
67 And thou art after the order of him who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all eternity.
68 Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons. (Moses 6)
We learn more about this order in Section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants:
32 And the sons of Moses and of Aaron shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, upon Mount Zion in the Lord’s house, whose sons are ye; and also many whom I have called and sent forth to build up my church.
33 For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.
34 They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God. (D&C 84)
This is the essence of the gathering of Israel. It is all about those who have received the word and had a change in their nature through covenants reaching out to others and inviting them on to the Way of Eternal Life.