LDS - I have a question about the Godhead.?

Mormons believe in a Trinity comprised of three individual divine beings. Mormons believe in the Trinity but have a slightly different view than other Christians. Mormons tend to read the New Testament more literally than other Christians when considering this question.

We believe in the divinity of the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost. We believe they are physically separate beings, but that they function in perfect harmony of will and purpose as one monotheistic unit, called the "Godhead," or, as Mormons often shorten it, just "God."

The difference between Mormons and other Christians is that other Christians technically believe that the three members of the Trinity are somehow simultaneously "one and three," but when they talk about the Trinity casually they typically speak of its three members as if they were separate beings. In casual speech Mormons speak the same way about the Trinity, except they actually do believe they are three separate beings (but one in purpose).

To quote Jeffery R. Holland, one of the world-wide leaders of the Mormon Church: "We believe these three divine persons constituting a single Godhead are united in purpose, in manner, in testimony, in mission. We believe Them to be filled with the same godly sense of mercy and love, justice and grace, patience, forgiveness, and redemption. I think it is accurate to say we believe They are one in every significant and eternal aspect imaginable except believing Them to be three persons combined in one substance, a Trinitarian notion never set forth in the scriptures because it is not true."

The Godhead Lds

You are asking a query approximately an hindrance that was once closely debated within the early days of the church, like round three hundred AD. The obstacle is that your query references this high-quality debate however the problems worried are inappropriate to Mormons. Our theology does no longer originate within the equal position because the theology of the ones sects who argue whether or not or no longer God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost are same. That debate was once began via the corrupted Early Church, which ultimately cut up into Orthodox and Catholic, which ultimately splintered even additional. Mormons are external of this whole conglomeration. We aren't a facet of it. We've in no way had a position on this debate and to interact on this debate might be silly on the grounds that we do not take delivery of the equal commonplace premises. Mormons think within the doctrine based via Christ earlier than the Church grew to become corrupted. There is not any such factor as a Trinity within the mainstream Christian feel. There is a Godhead. There are 3 targeted participants of the Godhead, The Father, The Son, The Holy Ghost. Mormons most effective worship the Father. The 3 paintings in combination in team spirit for the salvation of the human race. When the Bible speaks of them as being one, it's refering to this team spirit.

http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=6843

"He (Christ) is the Father by what has aptly been termed divine investiture of authority. That is, since he is one with the Father in all of the attributes of perfection, and since he exercises the power and authority of the Father, it followes that everything he says of does is and would be exactly and precisely what the Father would say and do under the same circumstances."

"Accordingly, the Father puts his own name on the Son and authorizes him to speak in the first person as though he were the Father."

Good question. It's hard to tell weather it's the Father speaking or the Savior.

The link I provided is a good talk on explaining the authority of the two.

BTW, we also believe that we have to potential to become God's as well. So your answer would be an INFINITE amount of God's can occupy an infinite amout of space.

Edit: Really? That's interesting about Bruce. I live in Utah and Mormon's (here and hopefully everywhere) still hold him in high regard and quote him all the time. He was general authority so what he says can be taken as truth. What he says will deffinetly support the doctrine we beleive. And the doctrine that we have the potential to become celestialized and possibly become creators as well like Heavenly Father is still taught by the church. That is the whole purpose of coming to this earth. "Behold this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the IMORTALITY and ETERNAL LIFE of man." God want's us to succed in becoming like him. Don't forget to watch conference on line if you have to this weekend. I'm sure you'll get answers there!

I think Pinkadot meant that there is only one God of this world.

The church that existed primitively (i.e. before the birth of Christ) was almost singularly the only one who claimed monotheism. This is the time period we are talking about, not today. Other or pagan religions had a god for every occasion. The prophets here are clearly stating that although there are 3 individuals in the godhead they do not have different points of view or different responsibilities. They are one in purpose. The prophets also understood that the God of their time was in fact the Savior. He is called the God of this world. It was his to create at the direction of the Father, his to redeem at the direction of the Father. He is the same individual who taught the prophets what to teach, he therefore was supremely qualified to teach doctrine in the temple in Jerusalem. We the human race are his flock, he is our Shepperd when we stray he calls to us to bring us back. He is our Master. It is difficult to see people misunderstand this simple truth about him.

Oh yeah about Bruce R. McConkie.... he was right when you really understand the context and level at which he spoke and lived. It is hard for others to understand or comprehend, sometimes even for me. I know though that when I heard him speak and I read his words today the Holy Ghost testifies as did Brother McConkie that Jesus is the Christ.

I also understand that you are asking to be confrontational and not as a true seeker of truth, therefore you may gleen what you may from these answers, to bad it isn't real for you.

The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are seperate physically, but they are united in purpose. They are of one heart and one mind.

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/130/22-23#22

In the Bible, Jesus prays that his apostles and all of his believers will be one in the same way that He and God are one. He doesn't want us to become one physical being. He's not talking about a physical one-ness, but a spiritual one-ness. One heart and one mind.

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/john/17/20-22#20

This is also the definition of Zion.

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moses/7/18-21,23,27,3...

EDIT: I guess you are saying that the scriptures you quoted are contradicting? With the exception of the Mosiah scripture, I think they all support what I've said. They are ONE God, but they are seperate physical beings, which is why they are distinguished as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

The Mosiah scripture is tricky. It sounds like Abinadi is saying that they are physically one, that God the Father became Christ. People sometimes use this scripture to argue that Joseph Smith's ideas of God had developed over time. There are arguments against that idea. Here's an article that explains the scripture with a faithful perspective.

http://fairlds.org/apol/ai220.html

http://en.fairmormon.org/Polytheism

http://feastupontheword.org/Talk:Mosiah_15:1-5

hey man, I think this is a good question that really only needs a short answer( I'll make it longer if you ask me too).

The deal is, scripires are written by ancient people who used language different than we do. More symbology etc... And they do it to make a point. In this case they are making the point that Jesus represents His Father in what He does.

Now, to get to the point, LDS believe in modern revelation and inspiration from our leadership. So, the main reason we believe in a Godhead is because that is how it has been taught, and it makes sense with the scriptures.

Hope this sheds some light on the topic

Actually, there is only one God, and that/He is our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ is not God the Father. We worship God through Jesus Christ...

The Godhead consists of the three, God the Father - who is the ONE God - and Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Ghost. I guess it is a little hard to understand, because Christ can also be called "God"... I think that is why many Christians and other religions don't think God and Christ are different beings.

I think in the "one" they represent the same thing, so they are "one". Like my husband and I. There are two of us in ONE marriage, one couple. We aren't the same physically, but we are both united in OUR purpose. Does that make sense?

It makes a lot more sense to me than the Trinity concept... Praying for understanding always helps too...

The definition of God has been a stuggle in religion since the dawn of time. Due to many conflicting concepts about God simple passages are misunderstood by many.

For example, the Jews didn't think that the Messiah was God, just one annointed to help God, therefore many thought it was blasphemy when Christ pronounced Himself God.

The best way to clear it up is with a talk by Jeff Holland:

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1...

If that leaves you wondering then look up in google "doctrine of divine investiture".

It's easy to misinterpret verses especially when so many others do, but Jesus descening and calling Himself the Son of God and Only begotten of the Father and hearing he Father's voice speak when He is present shows clearly Gods acting as one God.

I admit it is somewhat confusing. In general, when someone is talking about God, they are refering to God the father. Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost work for him and represent him through the direct transfer of authority. So Jesus Christ is separate from God, but because he represents God with the full authority of God, he can also be called God.

An example might be when you see blinking blue lights in your rear view mirror and think "Police!", when in actual fact it is just one guy whose name you probably don't know.