The Nature of God – The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost
During his First Vision, the Prophet Joseph Smith learned that the Father and the Son were two separate beings. He also learned that God does hear and answer our prayers. This was the beginning of his discovery that many of the traditions about who God is were incorrect. As a prophet of God, Joseph spoke with God face to face on several occasions, as did Moses (Exodus 33:11) and other prophets. After one of these visions, he shared the following testimony (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24):
“22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
23 For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—
24 That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.”
Latter-day Saints believe this testimony powerfully teaches what is the essence of the most important message to the world in our day: God is not dead, nor is He silent. Just as in all past ages, He is again appearing to modern-day prophets and apostles and revealing His will to His chosen servants through direct revelation.
Because of this, and because of the contradictions between the teachings of the creeds and the teachings of the Bible, Latter-day Saints do not believe in traditional views about God’s nature, including those found in the Nicene Creed regarding God being one in three and three in one. The concept of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost being “of the same essence” or “consubstantial”, did not come through revelation to God’s prophets and apostles. Furthermore, the word “consubstantial” (the original Greek word is homoousion, or ὁμοούσιον) is never mentioned in the Bible. Rather, this concept was invented through the debates and arguments between theologians and philosophers that lasted hundreds of years, where Christian ideas were mixed with pagan ones. Scholars agree that the concept of homoousion was invented by Gnostics, a 2nd-Century Christian movement that began by mixing Christian and pagan beliefs. Even after the creed was accepted centuries later during the Council at Chalcedon in 451 A.D., debates about it still continued for centuries.
Latter-day Saints believe that the Bible teaches that doctrine comes through revelations given through prophets and apostles, not councils or debates (Amos 3:7). We also believe the Bible teaches clearly and simply about the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. We believe that one of God’s greatest gifts to the world is the writings and teachings of the New Testament. Because of this, we teach that all Christians should study the Bible for themselves, ponder about its teachings, and seek wisdom from God in order to understand it (James 1:5). We also believe that the Bible teaches us that the Father and the Son “are one” in purpose and unity and love. The Savior taught his 12 disciples that they were to be one in the same way that He was one with His Father (John 17:20-23).
Latter-day Saints believe that the Bible clearly teaches that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate, individual beings. We will not list every reference in the Bible, but will share a few of the teachings of Christ that we believe most clearly show that he also taught this. We have chosen verses from Christ’s ministry because during this period, Jesus was teaching simple, uneducated people living in the land of Jerusalem. There were no secret meanings behind his words or teachings that required the interpretation of philosophers or theologians.
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
*Jesus shows that he is a different person than his Father. He is “one” because he has chosen to submit His will to His Father.*
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
*Jesus teaches clearly and simply how he and the Father are one–in exactly the same way he wants His followers to be one. Can we believe this passage means that Jesus expects all his followers’ nature to be swallowed up and somehow become a part of God? Once we understand this, then the correct meaning of passages like John 10:30 become clear as well.*
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
*If the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost were all one person, then a sin against Jesus Christ would be the same as a sin against the Holy Ghost and not forgiven.*
But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
*If the Father and the Son are the same person, how can the Father know something and the Son does not know it?*
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
*If the Father and the Son are the same person, why would Jesus clarify who is our judge?*
“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
*We do not believe these verses can mean Jesus was talking to himself. If the Father and the Son were the same person, he would not have to ask to have the cup removed, he could have just done it himself.*
…I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
*We believe that Jesus Christ is a God of truth and cannot lie. If the Father and Son are the same person, then the Father cannot be greater than the Son.*
“Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
*Who was Jesus going to, if He is both the Father and the Son? Why would he tell Mary that the Father was his God and Mary’s God if He is the same person as the Father?*