Ever wonder why this life is so messed up? I sure as hell do! I don’t get it. I mean we’re here for a reason…maybe. I don’t understand anything about it though. I wish I did, it would be nice to be able to grasp something about this life and not simply expect it to be here whenever we need it to be. Yet that’s exactly what we do! We expect life to be here for us and we don’t want to give anything back, talk about an annoying thought process. But what are we going to do about it all? I don’t know. I wish I did, but there are so many things in this life that don’t quite make sense at times, and we are here trying to make sense of them all. It sucks, it really does. But what else are you supposed to do about it? I don’t know.
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ,
and in the Holy Ghost.
The
first article of faith deals with the godhead. Some faiths call this
the trinity. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not
hold to a trinitarian view on the godhead. They believe that the
godhead is made up of three individual beings, separate in body and
mind1
but one in purpose.
It
would appear that the nature and thought of God has changed over the
years. Oliver Cowdery once taught:
The language in which this record2
is written is very comprehensive, and many of the hieroglyphics
exceedingly striking. The evidence is apparent upon the face, that
they were written by persons acquainted with the history of the
creation, the fall of man, and more or less of the correct ideas of
notions of the Deity. The representation of the god-head—three, yet
in one, is curiously drawn to give simply, though impressively, the
writers views of that exalted personage.3
It
is interesting how he phrases the notion of the godhead, “three,
yet in one” and defines it as what appears to be one “exalted
personage.” He does not state they are three separate beings, but
one. Is this on purpose? Or did he not understand the godhead as it
was presented in the Book of Abraham?
Perhaps
it was defined as one god, but Joseph Smith changed the writings to
be gods instead? Who is to say what was done as he was translating4
the record.
Another
example of Jesus and God being one is found in 2nd Nephi:
And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is
none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved
in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of
Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.5
Now,
we are taught that they are one in purpose not one in body or spirit.
Yet it would be interesting to know they the author didn’t mention
this outright and explain it. People in bible times stated that they
saw God and Jesus on the right hand of God while being in the spirit.
Even at Jesus’ baptism it states that the Holy Ghost descended upon
Jesus in the form of a dove and a voice was heard from heaven which
is assumed to be God. I find it interesting the words “which is one
God.” If we are to believe they are three distinct and separate
individuals, it needs to be defined as such. Why else do you think
there is so much confusion even within the Latter-day Saints about
the nature of God at times. I remember in seminary people had asked
this question, and the answer was always “one in purpose not in
body.” Well say it then.
From
the Lectures on Faith we learn the nature of God and Jesus Christ.
The Father being a personage of spirit, glory and power: possessing
all perfection and fulness: The Son, who was in the bosom of the
Father, a personage of tabernacle, made, or fashioned like unto man,
or being in the form and likeness of man, or, rather, man was formed
after his likeness, and in his image;6
This
goes contrary to the teachings in the Doctrine and Covenants about
the nature of God and Jesus Christ it would seem:
The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the
Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but
is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not
dwell in us.7
It
makes one wonder, which teaching of God is correct and true? They
cannot both be truth, for one says that God is a spirit while the
other claims that God has a body of flesh and bone like the Son.
Perhaps it is simply one of those things which cannot be understood
at this time. If that is the case, then it is one of those things
which should be understood later in life and is not important at this
time. However, if we are to worship such a being...would it not be
easier to have an understanding of such a being?
The
reason for the Holy Ghost being a personage of Spirit is so he can
dwell in us. Now I’m assuming this is not to be possessed of the
spirit, but more of feeling the spirit as those good feelings that
people experience.
So
even with all the answers we have regarding the Godhead, we still
have questions. I suppose that is okay for now, but eventually
answers will be needed.
1. Joseph
Smith once taught that the Holy Spirit was the mind of God and Jesus
and there were only two beings in the godhead. This can be found in
Lectures on Faith 5.
2. The
record of which is being talked about is the Book of Abraham
3. Messenger
and Advocate, Page 236
4. Recently,
it’s been determined that translating is not the same as
translating as is known today. In this reference, translation is
actually revelation using the papyri as a catalyst for the
revelation and inspirations from God.
5. 2
Nephi 31:21
6. Lectures
on Faith 5:2
7. D&C
130:22
Comments
Post a Comment