Jesus Receives the Holy Ghost After Baptism

Following his baptism by John the Baptist, Jesus ascended straightway out of the water, at which moment the heavens were opened unto him. He witnessed the Spirit of God descending like a dove, which alighted upon him. As Joseph Smith taught, this sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world to act as a divine witness for the Holy Ghost; because it serves as an emblem of truth and innocence, the devil cannot replicate the sign. The Prophet clarified that the Holy Ghost, being a personage of spirit in the form of a man, does not transform into a dove, but utilizes the sign as a token to signify the truth of the baptism and divine approval. The event further demonstrated the individuality of the Godhead, as Jesus was present in the flesh, the Holy Ghost was manifest through the sign of the dove, and the voice of the Eternal Father was heard from heaven declaring, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

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 who had baptized Jesus to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence.