In my experience, one of the most common misconceptions about Mormons is this: that we're not Christians. Not true! We believe in God, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. We are Christians because "we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ!" (2 Nephi 25:26)
We believe that "the Godhead" consists of three individual beings: 1) God, our Father in Heaven; 2) Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and 3) the Holy Ghost. They are separate individuals, but are perfectly united in purpose and effort. President Gordon B Hinckley explained: "It is that perfect unity among the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost that binds these three into the oneness of the divine Godhead" (The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost).
God, Our Father
We believe that God is a personage with a body of flesh and bones, a perfected, exalted being. He the Creator and the Father of our spirits. I don't view Him as some distant unknowable being, but rather as a father who is carefully watching over all His children here on Earth. How do we know this? Because the scriptures tell us we are "the children of God" (Romans 8:16). My personal experiences as a parent have helped me better understand the true nature of God, and I believe Him to be a kind, loving, and intensely concerned father who knows me personally. He is the perfect example in all things, so it makes sense to me that He is perfect at parenthood. I enjoy spending time each day talking to my Father in Heaven through prayer, praying to Him in the name of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to be able to communicate with Him who knows all things!
Jesus Christ, the Son of God
Jesus Christ is The Son of God. He was born of Mary under miraculous circumstances, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). The only man to live a perfect life, he served, he taught, he was The Example, and he sacrificed his life to atone for everyone's sins. And then, he took up his life again and was resurrected. He is our living Lord, with a body as tangible as mine and as perfected and glorified as His Father's.
Jesus Christ is my Redeemer, and your Redeemer. What does that mean? It means that when Christ said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48), that's do-able! I can't become perfect on my own. I'm too mortal, too imperfect, too prone to making mistakes... all the time! But with Christ's atonement I can repent of my mistakes and change for the better. That knowledge fills me with so much hope and peace and joy.
Holy Ghost
The third member of the Godhead is the Holy Ghost. As the name implies, he is a personage of spirit, meaning he does not have a body of flesh and bones. His other names are: the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, or the Spirit of the Lord. So what is his role?
1. He testifies of Jesus Christ: "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth . . . he shall testify of me" (John 15:26)
2. He guides us to the truth: "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13).
3. He helps us become more Christ-like: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, / Meekness, temperance . . . " (Galatians 5:22-23)
For more information about the Godhead, visit: LDS.org, The Godhead.
Continue reading: {Article of Faith #2} Personal agency is the key to understanding The Fall .
There are big important questions about life and God, but sometimes the challenge is knowing where to look for the answers. My purpose is to share my own questions, how I've found answers, and the effect it has had on my life. I want to share with family, friends, and strangers why "who I am" is inseparably connected with my faith in Jesus Christ and my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Mormons believe in—The Godhead
Labels:
Articles of Faith
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Godhead
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Heavenly Father
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Holy Ghost
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Jesus Christ
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What Mormons Believe
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