12. The Holy Spirit

12A. Are Mormons confused about the nature of the Holy Spirit?

Yes,

Joseph Smith taught the Holy Spirit is one distinct God of many Gods. "I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and that these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods."

Teachings of the Prophet, Joseph Smith p. 370.

But,

Articles of Faith states: "He (the Holy Ghost) is an immaterial being possessed of a spiritual form and definite proportions."

Articles of Faith, James E. Talmage

"Jesus Christ...was filled with the divine substance or fluid called the Holy Spirit, by which He comprehended and spake the truth in power and authority, and by which He controlled the elements and imparted health and life to those who were prepared to partake of the same...The purest, most refined and subtle of all these substances and the one least understood or even recognized by the less informed among mankind is that substance called the Holy Spirit."

Key to Theology, pp. 38, 46. Parley P. Pratt.

12B. Who does the Bible teach the Holy Spirit is?

The Holy Spirit is God.

"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."
Acts 5:3, 4

The Holy Spirit is Joined with the Father and Son:

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
Matthew 28:19

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."
II Corinthians 13:14

The Holy Spirit is:

Eternal (Hebrews 9:14)

Omniscient (I Corinthians 2:10, 11)

Omnipresent (Psalms 139:7-13)

Creator (Genesis 1:2)

The Holy Spirit is called:

The Comforter, He Abides forever (John 14:16)

Brings to remembrance Christ's words (John 14:26)

Testifies concerning Christ (John 15:26)

Convicts the world of sin (John 16:7, 8)

Guides into all truth (John 16:13)