What we believe: Article of Faith #1

"We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."

We believe these three are completely united in purpose and mission. They are "one", in the same sense that "if ye are not one, ye are not mine." Where we depart from mainstream Christians is our understanding that while one in unity, the Godhead is composed of three separate personages. Many critics will often dismiss us as "non-Christians" and "polytheists" for this reason. However, we are actually in good company with those who walked and talked with Jesus Christ, and who bear witness of Him in the New Testament.

With enormous respect for those who derive their Christian beliefs from decisions rendered by 4th and 5th century councils of Nicaea, I am nonetheless unafraid to declare that our understanding of the Trinity is derived from the gospel as found in the New Testament, and in the witness of modern revelation. I am grateful for a personal testimony of continuing revelation from a loving God who still communicates with His people.

The New Testament offers scriptural evidence of the separate personages of the Godhead, including Jesus Christ's own statements, as well as events that describe the members of the Godhead as distinct.

The boy Jesus taught in the temple, and acknowledged that He was doing His Father's work. In Jesus’s intercessory prayer to God, He stated that “this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." In Gethsemane He asked His Father if it be possible to let the cup pass, acknowledging "not my will but thine be done." On the cross He pleaded, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Jesus also said, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do,” “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me,” “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God,” and “My father is greater than I.”

The scriptures record other events, including Jesus' baptism, the Mount of Transfiguration, and the martyrdom of Stephen.

Even the Apostle Paul acknowledged them as separate when he said, "Christ Jesus . . . being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.”

And more recently, the boy Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ appear to him in a vision as two separate personages.

God is the Father of our spirits. We lived with Him as spirit children before we were born on this earth. He is our Heavenly Father, and He loves us very much. So much, that he gave us His Only Begotten Son. We are His children, with the potential to be "joint heirs with Christ". In our Pearl of Great Price scriptures we learn that that His work and glory is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." He has established a plan of salvation that brought us to earth to receive a physical body and to prove whether we will do all things that are commanded of us. He provided His Only Begotten Son to be our Savior and Redeemer, so that we could overcome death and sin and return home to His presence.

God the Father has a body as tangible as man's. We are created in His image. He is not mysterious and unapproachable. He is a loving Father who cares for us and provides us with all that we need.

Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God. He is the Savior and Redeemer of the world, and my personal Savior. He created the earth under the direction of the Father. His Atonement and Resurrection overcame the barriers between us and God, which are physical death and sin. In addition, Jesus bore the pains and afflictions of the world, so that he would know exactly how to help us overcome anything that we face. (We know this from the Book of Mormon, in Alma, chapter 7.)

Jesus Christ came to earth as the baby born to the Virgin Mary. He lived a perfect life. He taught us how to live, and He established a church, with priesthood authority given to those who would lead the church. He atoned for us, He died for us, and He was resurrected. He lives, with a resurrected body of flesh and bones.

Fulfilling His words to the Jews, Jesus visited his "other sheep", who were the people inhabiting the Americas. He taught them His gospel and established a church. Their record is found in the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Jesus Christ, witnessing that He is the Christ and the Savior of the world.

Through the prophet Joseph Smith, Jesus restored His church to the earth (hence the name, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"), including the restoration of priesthood authority. He stands at the head of this Church.

Jesus will return to this earth, as described in the Bible, to rule and reign.

The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit, so that he can dwell within us. He is the Comforter. He testifies of Christ. Through the power of the Holy Ghost we may know the truth of all things. When we are baptized we are also given the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, so that he can be our constant companion.

I have a personal testimony of the reality of God the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost has borne witness of this to me, and it is something that is unmistakable and undeniable. I see the hand of God in my daily life, and I have felt His love for me, which gives me great peace. I know that Jesus is my Savior and Redeemer, and my appreciation for what He has done for me grows daily.

Together and unified, the Godhead each does their part to help bring to pass our immortality and eternal life.

Some sources:
John 17:3, John 12:27–30, John 14:26, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 1:1–3, John 5:19, John 14:10, John 6:38, John 15:24, Matthew 19:17, John 14:28, Matthew 26:39, Matthew 27:46, Philippians 2:5–6