Chapter 1: Foretelling the Kingdom
Chapter 2: The First Vision
Chapter 3: The Book of Mormon
Chapter 4: Restoration of the Priesthood
Chapter 5: Building Temples
Chapter 6: The Godhead
Chapter 7: The Word of Wisdom
Chapter 8: The Pre-Existence
Chapter 9: Eternal Marriage

What kind of being is God

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee
the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3)

           In order to understand our existence, we need to understand God, for when we understand God, we will understand ourselves, who we are, why we are here, and what is our future, for when we understand God we will know that God is our literal Father, that is why Jesus declared that it is eternal life to know God.

            As Jesus prayed to the Father, He pointed out that the world did not know God: “O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:25.) Jesus veiled many of His teachings in parables, and when the disciples asked why, Jesus simply replied: “…Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” (Matthew 13:11.) It was the Lord’s intention that the world did not understand.

A close look at the Old and New Testaments will reveal that they are in agreement with the teachings of God and in  realizing that our eternal life rests in knowing the true living God, not only His physical make up, but also the attributes that make up His character. (John 17:3.)

            Of the Godhead, the scriptures reveal the greatest amount of information about Jesus, and by getting to know Him we can also know more about the Father as Jesus said: “…he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father…” (John 14:9)

Pre-existence

Delegated to Jesus was the assignment of creation of this earth. “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3.) Not only was Jesus instrumental in creating this world, but as Paul informed,  “…by whom also He made the worlds.” (Hebrews 1:2.) Moses standing in the presence of God was told: “And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.” (Moses 1:33.) Abraham was permitted to actually see many of these creations: “Thus I, Abraham, talked with the Lord, face to face, as one man talketh with another; and He told me of the works which His hands had made; And He said unto me: My son, My son (and His hand was stretched out), behold I will show you all these. And He put His hand upon mine eyes, and I saw those things which His hands had made, which were many; and they multiplied before mine eyes, and I could not see the end thereof.” (Abraham 3:11-12.)

We were also in the pre-earthly estate before being born into this world. “Where wast thou,” the Lord asked Job, “when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner stone thereof?” (Job 38:4-6.)

To Jeremiah came the Lord’s answer: “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5.)

            “I was there,” declared Solomon, as he told of his relationship with Jesus in that first estate: “I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there: when He set a compass upon the face of the depth: When He established the clouds above: when He strengthened the fountains of the deep: When He gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth. Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him. Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.” (Proverbs 8:23-31.)

Solomon acknowledged that he was “brought up with Him,” revealing our brotherhood with Jesus. Paul also affirmed this truth when he declared: “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” (Ephesians 3:14-15)

           We were in that pre-earthly existence, we were the “…morning stars (that) sang together and all the sons of God (that) shouted for joy.” (Job 38:7.) The early writers of the scriptures recorded of the Father, He is “…the Father of spirits…” (Hebrews 12:9) and  “…we are also His offspring.” (Acts 17:28) 

          If our Heavenly Father was the Father of “the whole family in heaven and earth” that would also stand to reason that Paul was also declaring “Lucifer, son of the morning,” as our brother, for he was in heaven and was cast down to earth for rebellion and seeking to exalt himself above the Father. (Isaiah 14:12-14) It must also be recognized in the scriptures that Satan is a “man,” as Isaiah refers to him. (Isaiah 14:16)

            We also notice from the scriptures that Jesus is the “…the firstborn of every creature,” (Colossians 1:15) making Him the eldest of all Heavenly Father’s children in the pre-existence. That can only be referring to the spirit world, for while He is the Only Begotten in the flesh, He was not the firstborn here on the earth.

In reference to His mortal life, Jesus taught: “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:18) Jesus received this power over life and death from the Father, for He is the “Only Begotten” in the flesh in this world. (John 1:14)

We learn from the record of Abraham that Jesus, though presiding over the creation of the world did not do it alone, but we were invited and participated in its organization. “And there stood One among them that was like unto God, and He said unto those who were with Him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell.” (Abraham 3:24.) The One that was like unto God was Jesus and He invited those who were with Him to participate in the creation of the world.

            While Heavenly Father is the God and Father of the whole human family, we notice that Jesus is declared as God and Father of a select number of that family. Jesus became known as the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as the “Everlasting Father.” (Isaiah 9:6) Who are His sons and daughters? And how do we become His children? John wrote: “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” (John 1:12.) It is through faith, repentance, and baptism we become sons and daughters of Christ, and  “…are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19.) We are then part in the “…adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” (Ephesians 1:5.) Jesus further declared: “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.” (Revelation 21:7.)

            Abinadi speaking of Christ, asked Noah and his priests:  “…And who shall be His seed?”  then he answered:  “Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God. For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now, are they not His seed? Yea, and are not the prophets, every one that has opened his mouth to prophesy, that has not fallen into transgression, I mean all the holy prophets ever since the world began? I say unto you that they are His seed.” (Mosiah 15:10-13)

            Only in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is this distinction between our Heavenly Father, God of the whole human family, and Jesus, as Father and God of His followers, made so clear. The Lord declared by His own voice: “Behold, I am He who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem My people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on My name; and they shall become My sons and my daughters.” (Ether 3:14.)

First Vision

The appearance of both Father and Son to Joseph Smith was not a single historical event. We see at his stoning, Stephen bore record: “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55-56.)

            When Moses and Aaron with seventy of the elders of Israel, went up on the mount, it is written: “And they saw the God of Israel,” speaking of Jesus as He appeared to them. And in addition they saw the Father, for it is written: “…also they saw God…” (Exodus 24:10-11.) Even dating back to the creation of the earth, a conversation is recorded between the Father and the Son: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26.)

One God

            The phrase, “there is one God,” (Mark 12:32) has confused Christianity for centuries, particularly recorded by John: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7-8.) This reference to the Godhead as “one God” is also used in the Book of Mormon. (Mormon 7:7)

I listened to a biblical scholar as he answered religious questions. When asked by a young girl about the Godhead, stating that she did not understand, he responded; “don’t feel bad, I don’t understand it either.”

While the world is puzzled about the term “one God,” latter-day prophets have made it clear. They have revealed that the Godhead are one in mission and purpose not one in personage. Recorded by John is a prayer offered by Jesus, defining what is meant by the expression “one God.” The Lord prayed; “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.” How much clearer could it be, when Jesus prayed for His followers, “…that they may be one, even as we are one.” (John 17:21,22) This term of many coming together as “one” was not an unusual expression among ancient Israel, for after the Babylonian captivity, the multitude came together as “one man” to give sacrifice, and to prepare to rebuild the temple. (Ezra 3:1 see also Nehemiah 8:1 Judges 8:1,8,11)

            What the prophets and apostles are teaching is that there is no disagreement between members of the Godhead, they all speak and act as “one God,” they speak as the Father would speak and act. Jesus testified, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30.) “…My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me.” (John 7:16) “…the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.” (John 14:24) We are also told that Jesus, after his death and resurrection, sat down on the right hand of the Father revealing that the Father has a right hand and that Jesus sits next to the Father. (see Hebrews 1:3 10:12 12:2 Mark 16:19 Luke 22:69 Acts 2:33 5:31 7:55 Rom 8:34 Colossians 3:1 1Peter 3:22

Holy Ghost

            Likewise the Holy Spirit is sent from the Father to testify: “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of Me:” (John 15:26.) The purpose of the Holy Ghost is to bear “…witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:16) He is “…the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:17.) He is “…the Spirit of truth, … he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13.)

The Holy Spirit, by name alone signifies that he is different from the Father and Son; he has a body of spirit, “…were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.”(Doctrine and Covenants 130:22) He is the communicator between God and man.

What does our spirit look like? We know that after the resurrection of Jesus, He appeared to the Apostles as they were together. They at first thought they were seeing a spirit personage until Jesus said: “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” (Luke 24:39) On one occasion as the disciples were at sea, the Savior approached; “But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out.” (Mark 6:49.)

A spirit looks like and has the same form as our body of flesh and bone. The brother of Jared beheld the pre-mortal Lord and was told: “Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of My spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto My people in the flesh.” (Ether 3:16.)

When Jesus completed His earthly mission and died on the cross, “…He said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost.” (Luke 23:46.)

James taught about the death of our physical body that: “…the body without the spirit is dead…” (James 2:26) It is clear from the scriptures that at death our spirit leaves our body.

Resurrection

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What type of body did Jesus have after his resurrection? He had a body of flesh and bone. The scriptures bear record that in the resurrection the spirit returns to the body, and though consigned to mother earth, “…the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (Matthew 27:52-53.)

            Some at Paul’s day must have questioned the lasting effects of the resurrection, supposing that the body and spirit might separate again, which would mean that we would die again, for “the body without the spirit is dead.” Paul affirmed that this reuniting of body and spirit was permanent, he declared: “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.” (Romans 6:9-10.)

The returning of spirit to body during the resurrection is eternal, and Jesus as well as all who have died will be resurrected, endlessly having that body of flesh and bone.

            The scriptures bore record that Jesus took this body of flesh and bone into heaven and that He will return with that same body. After witnessing the ascension of the resurrected Lord, two angels testified to the disciples: “…this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11.)

Heavenly Father

            What kind of body does the our Heavenly Father have? The scriptures affirm the truth that the Father has a body of flesh and bone also, for Jesus is now in “…the brightness of His (the Father’s) glory, and the express image of His person…” (Hebrews 1:3) If we were to reason, as the world believes, that the Father is a spirit, then why leave our pre-mortal existence where we lived as spirits. What would be the purpose to come here, to go through the trials, suffering, and pain of this mortal life? If the Father is a spirit why not stay there? Would we not be better off and more like Him? If there is not a resurrection after death to again obtain this body, why obtain a physical body in the first place? The fact that we are here with this corporal body, and that there is a resurrection, discloses the truth that our Heavenly Father has a body of flesh and bone.

            “Ye worship ye know not what:” declared John, “we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God (the Holy Ghost, the communicator) is a Spirit: and they that worship Him (the Father) must worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:22-24.) Again this passage has perplexed millions as to the make up of the personage of the Father, yet what John is teaching is that we worship the Father through the spirit of the Holy Ghost.

We learn that “…in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who shall come in the meridian of time.” (Moses 6:57) Ezekiel stated as he gazed into the heavens, that he saw a throne, and upon “… the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a Man above upon it.” (Ezekiel 1:26) The Father is an immortal exalted man.

            Another truth that has brought the Church under much criticism is that we can become like God. When Jesus was here on earth, He declared: “I am the good shepherd,” (John 10:11) He was declaring to the Jews, I am the one that you sing about in the twenty-third Psalm, “the Lord is my shepherd.” This upset His listeners, but when He stated, “I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, for a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” Jesus then quoted from Psalms where it reads: “I have said, ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” (Psalms 82:6.)  “Jesus answered them, is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken.” (John 10:31-35.)

            What greater evidence could we have then the testimony of our Lord; “Ye are gods…and the scripture cannot be broken.” We are God’s children, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:16-17) Our Lord has promised: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.” (Revelation 3:21)

 

My testimony of God

 

          "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him?  and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the gods, and hast crowned him with glory and honour." (Psalm 8:3-5) (in the original Hebrew text it is rendered gods instead of angels but the translators changed the text to angels) As Latter-day Saints we are often criticized for our teachings pertaining to the Trinity. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been labeled as a cult and even non Christian for its teaching of the Godhead. That does not bother me for the same popular religious voice that condemns the Church for its teachings of the Godhead, also condemned Jesus as being of the devil. (John 10:20)

We are the only church that believes that the Godhead is made up of three individuals, the Father and the Son, which have a body of flesh and bones, and the third member, the Holy Ghost, a body of spirit. (D&C 130:22) How could this knowledge of the Godhead be lost through the ages? The answer is quite plain; the priesthood holds “…the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:19.) With the loss of the Priesthood there was also a loss of the knowledge of God.   

God the Father of all

           Paul referred to God our Heavenly Father, when he wrote of his worship: “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,” (Ephesians 3:14, 15) I believe in that God who is the Father of the whole human “family in heaven and earth.” He is the Father of our spirits, including the spirits of all men and women born and unborn into this world. (Hebrews 12:9) As Paul taught; “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also His offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.”  (Acts 17:28, 29) This would also include the man “Lucifer, son of the morning,” who was cast out for rebellion. Satan is now here on earth with those who have followed him, deceiving and causing division and destruction. At the day when we see him, we “… shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?” (Isaiah 14:12-17)

What kind of being is God the Father? Ezekiel wrote that he saw a throne in the heavens and a Man sitting upon it. (Ezekiel 1:26)

I believe that we are truly created in the image of God for He is truly our Father, we are the offspring of God and what then is our possibility?

The Psalmist David pondered: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?  and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalms 8:4)

David later answered his own question; “Ye are gods and all of you are children of the most high.” (Psalms 82:6) Jesus affirmed this scripture to the Jews; “is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods?…and the scripture cannot be broken.” (John 10:34, 35) This knowledge of God brings a dramatic difference in my life, to know God and my relationship with Him.

Though Christianity has a closer and more personal relationship with God than any other religious faction, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a much closer and more intimate belief in God, that we are literally the offspring of God and that His interest in us is a daughter and son to Father.

Jesus the Christ

I believe in the Christ who was the “first-born” (1 Colossians 1:15) in our pre-earthly estate to that God who is the Father of not only Jesus Christ but “the whole family in heaven and earth” (Ephesians 3:14, 15, John 20:17)

I believe that Jesus was selected in that pre-earthly estate, as Peter and John wrote of Him; “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world,” (1 Peter 1:19,20) Jesus is that “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8)

I believe that our reaction to this plan of Redemption was as Job recorded; “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” (Job 38:7)

 Jesus helped the Father in the creation of this world, which “all things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:3)

I believe that Jesus was born on earth, “the only begotten of the Father,” (ver. 14) and that, because He was begotten of our Heavenly Father in the flesh He had the power over life and death. Jesus testified of this power He received from His’ Father; “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:18)

Not only did Jesus come to sacrifice His life for us but to bear testimony of principles of eternal consequence. The principles that He lived and taught are principles that have been proven through the eternities, principles verified to establish and perpetuate peace. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17) We see that these principles are self evident, they are self testifying, those who live them will become aware of their certainty.

Jesus came and lived as the Father would live and act if He were here. Jesus testified, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” (John 5:19) Therefore as we study the teachings of Jesus and the way He lived, we are actually viewing the way the Father would teach and act if He were here. Jesus was asked by Philip; “… Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?  he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?  the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.” (John 14:8-11)

Jesus added a proof of an individual’s discipleship; “Jesus answered and said …, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.” (John 14:23,24)

Jesus is also referred to as the Father, as Isaiah recorded many names that He would be known by: “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 called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) But Jesus refers to Himself as the God and Father of only  a select group, those who believe on His name. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:” (John 1:12)

We see that through faith in our pre-earthly existence that we are “predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” (Ephesians 1:5) It appears that is why Jesus refers to Himself as the God of Israel, and not as the Father and God of the whole human race.

Jesus lived a perfect life, without sin. “The wages of sin is death,” therefore had Jesus sinned He would have been subject to death for His own sins but we know that He is the “Lamb without spot or blemish”. Jesus did not sin therefore He did not have to die for His own sins so He could suffer and lay down His life for us. The contrast of what would have happened if we did not have a Savior is best expressed in the Book of Mormon by Jacob:

3  Behold, my beloved brethren, I speak unto you these things that ye may rejoice, and lift up your heads forever, because of the blessings which the Lord God shall bestow upon your children.

4  For I know that ye have searched much, many of you, to know of things to come; wherefore I know that ye know that our flesh must waste away and die; nevertheless, in our bodies we shall see God.

5  Yea, I know that ye know that in the body he shall show himself unto those at Jerusalem, from whence we came; for it is expedient that it should be among them; for it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him.

6  For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfill the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord.

7  Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption.  Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration.  And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more.

8  O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace!  For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more.

9  And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness.

10  O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit.

11  And because of the way of deliverance of our God, the Holy One of Israel, this death, of which I have spoken, which is the temporal, shall deliver up its dead; which death is the grave.

12  And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall deliver up its dead; which spiritual death is hell; wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.

13  O how great the plan of our God!  For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect.

14  Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness. 2 Nephi 9:

I believe that we learn to love Jesus as we become aware of our sins, and learn that Jesus atoned for those sins and that we can be forgiven. Jesus differentiated between those who loved and those who did not, when speaking to Simon the Pharisee Jesus stated:  “to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little” (John 7:47) We can also learn from the Lord’s question to Simon; “Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.” To this Jesus responded “Thou hast rightly judged.”  (Ver. 40-43)

Seeking forgiveness of sin is how we obtain that love of our Lord, and as we view our sins we will also have compassion on others, for how can we condemn others when we are aware of our own failings. The Lord stated:    “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” Ether (12:27)

While His body lay dead in the tomb, Jesus continued the work of redemption which He had begun here on earth. We are told that He “went and preached to the spirits in prison.” (1 Peter 3:19)

Three days later Jesus resurrected His body to be joined forever never to again separate. As Paul wrote  “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.” (Romans 6:9)

Oh how great is our Lord who has provided an escape from death and hell.

The Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, He is the communicator, He is the revealer for the Godhead. The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit so that He can communicate directly with our spirit, and He can dwell in us. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:…Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:16, 26, 27)

These Three are One

Perhaps the phrase that has confused most of the Christian world for centuries is the expression, “these three are one” (1 John 5:7)

The question then, is the meaning that the Godhead is one person expressing in different forms? Or does it mean that they are three individuals unified and undivided in purpose and action with no contradiction in teachings or purpose?

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.

24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.(John 17:20-25)

Both of these passages come from the Greek word heis so it seems that John gave his interpretation of the meaning of the word one as being in total harmony. It is evident that Jesus only taught and did the will of the Father.

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. (John 14:23, 24)

The use of the word one meaning united seems to be used in Old Testament Israel also. 

1  AND when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. (Ezra 3:1)

I believe that God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three seperate beings that are totally in harmony, there is no contridiction or contention between them but they are in total agreement in all things.