Was the Holy Ghost on the Earth Before the Time of Our Savior?

Joseph Fielding Smith, 
Answers to Gospel Questions, 5 vols., 2:, p.157-161

Question: "In our class discussion the thought was expressed that the Holy Ghost was not upon the earth before nor during the time of the Savior's life and ministry. If it is the function of the Holy Ghost to teach and warn and bear testimony of the mission of the Savior, to be received following baptism, and if we believe the gospel to be the same yesterday, today, and forever, how can we account for the fact the Holy Ghost was not upon the earth until after the death of Jesus Christ? Would it not be according to reason that the Holy Ghost would be upon the earth as long as the gospel was upon the earth?"  

Answer: It is an astounding thing that an entire class studying the gospel would not have one member who could settle this question definitely from the scriptures. If the members of the class will read their Book of Mormon, they will find that Lehi and Nephi and all the prophets had the gift of the Holy Ghost, and by that Spirit, Nephi received visions.  

If they had read in the Pearl of Great Price, they would have seen that the ancient prophets were guided by the Holy Ghost and that when Adam was baptized, he was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and the Spirit of the Lord, or Holy Ghost, descended upon him.  

A little ordinary thinking would reveal to us the fact that the ancient prophets could not have spoken by prophecy and revelation unless they were in possession of this great gift. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and, in fact, all of the prophets were inspired and revealed to mankind, and more especially to Israel, the commandments of the Lord. It was by this gift that Joseph interpreted the dreams of the butler and the baker and that Daniel received his great visions concerning Israel and our present times.  

This error arises in the fact that the disciples of Jesus did not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost while he was with them. The reason for this, in part at least, was due to the fact that they had with them to guide and teach them the second member of the Godhead, even Jesus himself. While he was with them there was no occasion for them to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Before the Savior left them, he promised to send them the Comforter, or Holy Ghost. This promise was given only a few hours before his crucifixion, as he was in counsel with them at the Feast of the Passover.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

General Conference Report, April 1953, Second Day Morning Meeting, p.74-76

The Holy Ghost has been given to righteous men from the beginning so they could certify of the truths about God and salvation. He has been the companion of those who have presided over the Church and the kingdom in every age, and by his power they have received revelation and given guidance to the people of the Church and to all people in the world. And when these brethren speak, these brethren, the First Presidency and the Twelve who are prophets, and seers, and revelators, it is by the power of the Holy Ghost and what they say is the mind and the will of the Lord.

The Holy Ghost Before the Day of Pentecost

Robert J. Matthews, Behold the Messiah , p.40-41

Because of the statement that the Holy Ghost "was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified"  (John 7:37-39),  many have thought that the Holy Ghost was not enjoyed in any degree by anyone before the day of Pentecost spoken of in  Acts  chapter 2. There is sufficient in the Bible to determine this is not so, but it is made far more clear in latter-day revelation, which shows that the ancient Saints and prophets had both the power and the gift of the Holy Ghost from the days of Adam  (Moses 6:64-66;  1 Ne. 10:17-19;  D&C 20:26-27).  The meaning of  John 7:37-39  is that the gift of the Holy Ghost had not been received in that local area of the country in that dispensation among the Jews, where Jesus was in person. But they did enjoy the power of the Holy Ghost, which gave them testimonies. The Nephites at this same time had both the power and the gift.