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I think the majority of people here have felt spiritual experiences which, at some point in their life, suggested “the church is true”. I know I have. Some are very powerful. Some were in direct response to a question. But as I gained more experience in the church, I found these spiritual experiences harder and harder to believe. They weren’t enough, and I even started questioning what they meant. I don’t deny they happened, or that they may be some indication of truth, but other litmus tests of truth haven’t supported these touchy-feely kinds of experiences.
Does this mean I’m sinning against the holy ghost, or “denying” the holy ghost, which is more grievous than most other sins, says the scriptures?Short answer, Yes … Just kidding. 
The only son of perdition that everyone can seem to agree on is Cain. He killed his brother and lied to God’s face about it.
I think there may have been times when some of the people writing the holy scriptures wanted to paint awful motives and an even more awful future for anyone that would turn away from their sect. As churches mature and acquire a relatively larger community of former members these sort of teaching are less tenable. It no longer seems reasonable to disown, expel, or shun the backsliding believer.
Today, I have heard in the LDS church that in order to be a son of perdition or sin against the holy ghost that one would need absolute knowledge of the truth of the gospel and then to fight against it. Like seeing the face of God and then spitting on Him and that probably only members of the Q15 are eligible.
I think this de-emphasis is a good thing. We do not need reasons to start calling our wayward teenagers false prophets, Korihors, or sons of perdition. Better by far to reach out to former members with a sincere invitation for them to return at their own timetable – rather than casting them out and closing ranks.
IMO, absolutely not. Life has its ebbs & flows. Or, up & downs. Then you throw in a FC & you may question everything. Or, you see a beautiful sunset, have a conversation with your grandchild or read scripture you forgot & it can come rushing back.
To label it a sin is wrong. Again IMO.
Man was meant to question. God knows that & I believe it.
I have always said denying the Holy Ghost as an unpardonable sin would be like throwing a punch at God while knowing you are doing it AND knowing you shouldn’t do it AND having the ability not to do it. (very similar to spitting in God’s face) Frankly, I think there are very few people who are capable of doing that. I think even some (maybe most or even all) of the “most wicked” people ever probably wouldn’t do that. I also think the Mormon pre-mortal narrative agrees with that view. After all, everyone had that chance at one point, at least figuratively, and everyone who has lived, lives now, or will live chose not to do it. Theologically and scripturally (or even historically), who do we have who fits those criteria?
Lucifer lived in the presence of God, the Father, and, presumably, the Holy Ghost. That is one.
Cain killed Abel and rejected God directly. I see that story as mythological (to set up the good vs. evil in mortality), so I see it as kind of a re-telling of the Jehovah vs. Lucifer story. If we count it separately, that is two.
Korihor said he “knew” God existed, but there is no indication he had an undeniable witness of God and denied it. It sounds more like what we would call a testimony that he lost.
I can’t think of another example in the moment.
I think it is a convenient, necessay, and even potentially good way to talk about the worst possible action (complete, conscious, intentional rebellion against perfect authority), but perfect authority can’t exist in this world, so it becomes theoretical and cautionary only, in practical terms. Unfortunately, that makes it subject to manipulation, over-application, and even serious abuse.
Given how I view it, I ignore it completely as a practical issue.
I remember shortly after being released from a high profile leadership position, multiple people mentioned the loss of the spirit I would feel after the release. I watched and waited for this mythic emptiness and loss to happen. It never did. I felt the same. I still had impressions. I still had inspirations.
I think sometimes we try too hard to fit a conscious narrative into life. Sinning against the Holy Ghost is one of those.
I am in agreement with everyone’s comments before me. Life is a flow. Just like seasons of dark, wet, cold happen, so do connections with the Divine.
I’m under the impression it is a very serious and rare sin, although if it was this then Peter would have been guilty of it.
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