Wednesday, May 4, 2011

We Believe: The Godhead

"We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost." (Articles of Faith 1:1)


Fundamental to our beliefs and our understanding of the Gospel is our relationship with God and His Son.

God, Christ and the Holy Ghost are three distinct individuals, but they are unified in purpose.  God and Christ each have a glorified body of flesh and bones.  The Holy Ghost has a spiritual body. (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22-23)

God is the literal, loving Father of our spirits.  He has a perfect glorified body of flesh and bones.  We lived with Him as spirits before we came to earth.  He is a perfect parent who wants us to have all the joy and happiness that He has.  In order for us to receive all that He has, we needed bodies and the experiences of mortal life.  We are created in His image. (see Genesis 1:26-27; Doctrine and Covenants 20:18)

Among the Children of God is Christ.  He is the Firstborn and the Only Begotten.  Under the direction of the Father He was the creator of "all things." (see John 1:1-3; Moses 2:1,26-27)  He was known as Jehovah to the Old Testament prophets and revealed His Gospel to them.  Born to the virgin Mary in the "meridian of time" (Doctrine and Covenants 39:3) He walked among men and taught them according to the will of the Father (John 6:38).  In the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross He took upon Himself the burden of all of our sins.  He also suffered all of our physical and emotional pains and discomforts. (Alma 7:11-13)  After His death, He rose again and thus overcame physical death as an obstacle to returning to our Father in Heaven.  He is our Savior and Redeemer, our Lord and our King.

The Holy Ghost testifies to us of the truthfulness of the Gospel.  He bears witness of God the Father and Jesus Christ. (3 Nephi 11:32)  Through baptism and confirmation we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This gift means that we can have the Spirit as our constant companion whenever we are living righteously and worthily.  He can guide and direct us in all aspects of our lives.  He can teach us "of all things." (Moroni 10:5)

I know that God is, indeed, our loving Heavenly Father, that He wants us to return to live with Him after this life.  I know Christ came to make it possible for us to repent and do those things that will help us become like Him.  I know these things through the Holy Ghost.  He has brought peace to my mind and comfort to my heart when nothing else could.
   I have prayed to know that God is there and that He loves us.  My prayers have been answered.  I invite you to do the same: to sincerely pray to know the truthfulness of these things, then to be committed to act on the answer that will come.  You can and will find greater joy by living the gospel than by any other way.

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