For the most part, mainstream Christianity views the Godhead from the perspective of the Nicene Creed (323 A.D.) which only looked at the ‘oneness’ of the Father and the Son, and the Athanasian Creed (which originated around 500 A.D.) which was the first creed to vocalize equality of the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost into a ‘Trinity”.
It is still a hotly contested issue to this day. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims its view of the Godhead from the eyewitness accounts of modern apostles and prophets.
Both views of God were brought to us by men. The Trinitarian view has evolved through time out of councils, and debates, and has been defined in creeds; the LDS view is claimed to have come from revelation. That said, let’s take a look and see what the scriptures have to say on the matter.
“The Book of Mormon teaches the doctrine of the Trinity better than the Bible.”
Believe it or not, while serving as a full-time missionary, this was a statement made by a woman that was not a Latter-day Saint. She shared a few verses from the Book of Mormon that she thought were beautiful Trinitarian scriptures. She asked us why we didn’t believe the doctrine of the Trinity if that is what our book taught. Good question.
I took a minute to think about that since I had never been asked or even thought of that question before. After a moment, I mentioned how before publishing the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith had already claimed to see the Father AND the Son and that they were two distinct beings. I suggested that it was possible that those who wrote the Bible and the Book of Mormon probably had a deeper understanding of what the word “one” means.
I also suggested the thought that it would be kind of a waste of time for Joseph Smith to write this incredible book of fantasy capable of “fooling” so many people while not making an unambiguous statement of the true nature of the Godhead. I mean, how hard would it have been to have Christ speaking to the Nephites saying, “And I and my Father are independent and distinct beings but one in purpose and love”? It could have just been that Joseph forgot to put that line in there, right? But what about the many scriptures in the Book of Mormon that seem to indicate a Trinitarian view instead of what Joseph Smith claimed to know years before when he had never even heard of the Book of Mormon. I think you could say that he made a serious blunder, or there is more to the word and the idea of ‘oneness’ than we realize; these prophets know what they mean when they say “one.” Is it possible the error lies with us and our modern understanding?
Book of Mormon “Trinity” scriptures
Mosiah 15
1 And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.
2 And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son—
3 The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son—
4 And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth.
5 And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to the temptation, but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people.
2 Nephi 31
21 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.
Alma 11
26 And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God?
27 And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God.
28 Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God?
29 And he answered, No.
44 Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.
3 Nephi 11
27 And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one.
36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.
3 Nephi 20
35 The Father hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of the Father; and the Father and I are one.
3 Nephi 28
10 And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one;
Mormon 7
7 And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.
Testimony of the Three Witnesses in the front of the Book of Mormon
…And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
So the nature of the Godhead appears to be pretty conclusive from the Book of Mormon’s contents, or is it? We have ancient texts of the New Testament, not the originals, but most that are close enough to the right time frame to where we can assume they are close to the original text. We can translate those and examine the Greek for understanding, but we do not have the original text of the Book of Mormon, so it is impossible to explore the meanings of the text from that angle. Another problem may be that there are understandings that lie outside of the words themselves that may have been lost.
So we are left to explore what was said about the Godhead elsewhere to attempt to understand the ideas of the ancient disciples. How did they use the word “one” in other contexts? We can examine eyewitness accounts of the Father and the Son in the rare instances where they are mentioned together. We can look at how the apostles referred to them and to finally examine the words of Christ himself and what he says about his relationship to the Father. It is also essential to read these verses with an understanding of when they were speaking, either before or after Christ’s resurrection.
There is information here that can be studied for years, and the current compilation is by no means exhaustive.
New Testament scriptures that are commonly used to support the doctrine of the Trinity
John 1 (This verse doesn’t appear that clear on the surface, but it was one of the verses translated in the JST)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1 John 10 (An understanding of this verse can be gleaned from reading all of John 17)
30 I and my Father are one. (“my” should be rendered “the”)
1 John 5 (It is understood that this verse was not in the original Biblical text, but was most likely added later by Biblical Translators.)
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
First, note 1 John 5:7. As given in the text of the King James Bible, this verse reads, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” On the surface, this verse seems to clearly teach the Trinity. However, there is one problem with that: this verse was never in any of the inspired Greek manuscripts. That it originated as a monkish insertion into the Latin text is almost universally admitted by Bible scholars! The Interpreter’s One Volume Commentary on the Bible, published by Abingdon Press, explains that during the fourth century controversies about the doctrine of the Trinity the text was expanded—first in Spain around 380ad, and then taken up in the Vulgate, the official Roman Catholic version written in Latin (p. 939). Bullinger’s Companion Bible explains in its footnote on the text of 1 John 5:7, “The words are not found in any Gr. MS. [Greek manuscripts] before the sixteenth century. They were first seen in the margin of some Latin copies. Thence they have crept into the text.” The New Bible Commentary: Revised simply states in its comment on that text that “the words are clearly a gloss and are rightly excluded by RSV even from its margins” (p. 1269). Clearly the early Trinitarian teachers of the Catholic Church were at such a loss to find any Biblical substantiation for their teaching that they resorted to simply adding words to the text!
Is God Really a Trinity? By John H. Ogwyn
John 14 (Interpreting verse 9 literally becomes problematic when you get to verse 20)
9 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?
10 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.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
In my opinion, the verses above are not clear enough to give us insight into the nature of the Godhead. Many of the scriptures that will be listed below seem to overwhelmingly side with the idea that the Father and the Son are distinct beings. However, it is easy to see how both Trinitarians and non-Trinitarians can see their side plainly in the text and this is by no means a new problem.
When Constantine was in power and assembled the Council of Nicaea to reach a consensus on the doctrines of the church the views on the Godhead were very divided. Up for debate was the doctrine that Christ was even the literal son of God or not! All 1800 Bishops of the church were invited but only about 220 – 318 actually showed up.
For about two months, the two sides argued and debated, with each appealing to Scripture to justify their respective positions. According to many accounts, debate became so heated that at one point, Arius was slapped in the face by Nicholas of Myra, who would later be canonized and became better known as “Santa Claus”. via Wikipedia
I find it interesting that Protestants and Evangelicals still hold to an interpretation of the Godhead that was initiated at a Catholic council and then further modified later. However, if the Catholics nailed the interpretation right, then there’s no problem for Protestants and I think that’s the stance currently taken.
The fact that there was this much confusion and that it took 200 years after this to decide where the Holy Ghost fit in seems to indicate that knowledge of the Godhead by these early Christians was not understood as firmly it seemed to be understood by the Apostles as they wrote of it in scripture. If these men of the past were divided, using texts similar to what we have today, then it stands to reason that it would still be a topic of debate.
The fact that an issue that should be one of the easiest to define – the nature of the Godhead – is so confusing, is just one more reason why the Latter-day Saints stress that a restoration was needed. It is interesting that of all the doctrines of the Gospel, the nature of the Godhead was the first to be revealed to Joseph Smith, for his very first experience with God involved him speaking with both the Father and the Son face to face much like the experience of Stephen in the New Testament:
“And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”
Acts 7:56
How the word ‘One’ is used in the New Testament
The scriptures speak quite a bit about becoming “one”. In terms of husband and wife becoming “one flesh”, the members of the Church being “one body” and Christ and his followers being “one”, those things are generally understood as being merely symbolic. When it comes to The Father and the Son, on the other hand, even though the same language and the same words are being used, it is interpreted as being literal. How can you tell when one is literal and one is symbolic?
Here are some examples of the word “one” being used in the New Testament:
Mark 10
7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
John 17
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
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.
Acts 4
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
Acts 17
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Romans 12
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
1 Corinthians 8
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1 Corinthians 12
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Galatians 3
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1
7 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Philippians 2
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
1 Timothy 2
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Hebrews 2
11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
1 Peter 3
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
Eyewitness accounts of the Father and Son
Matthew 3
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 5
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
John 12
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
Acts 7
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Father and Son mentioned distinctly
Mark 1
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Romans 1
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
1 Corinthians 1
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Corinthians 1
2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Galatians 1
1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Ephesians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Philippians 1
2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Thessalonians 1
1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Thessalonians 2
1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Timothy 1
2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
Timothy 2
2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Titus 1
4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Philemon 1
3 Grace to you, and peace, from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
1 Peter 1
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
2 Peter 1
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
1 John 1
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 2
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 John 1
3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Jude 1
1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 3
21 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.
Jesus Christ’s comments about his Father
Matthew 24
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Matthew 6
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Matthew 11
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
Matthew 16
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 20
23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
Matthew 21
37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
Matthew 23
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
John 5
17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, 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.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
John 8
19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
John 10
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 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.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
John 14
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 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?
10 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.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
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.
28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I ago unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
John 15
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
John 20
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Revelation 2
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Revelation 3
21 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.
Conclusion
Some might ask the question, “If the Father and Son were distinct entities, then why did Christ say that they are ‘one’?” I might respond with a few other questions, “Why did Christ also say that we are ‘one’ with him and the Father as they are ‘one’? And if they are ‘one’ in the most basic sense, then why were Christ and the Father referred to individually almost every single time in the New Testament by the apostles and Jesus Christ himself?”
First, it is important to understand that in the Bible we have a pre-resurrection Jesus Christ and a post-resurrection Jesus Christ. I would suggest a closer study as to how he is addressed in relation to the Father during these periods. Note that before the resurrection, we have Christ on earth and a voice from heaven three times: the baptism of Christ, the Mount of Transfiguration, and another time glorifying the name of Christ. There were witnesses on all three occasions and then we have Christ praying to God the Father in John 17.
After the resurrection, however, you would think that Christ, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are back to being one “substance”, yet at the very first appearance of Jesus Christ after his resurrection, among his first words are: “…Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”
He is still speaking of his Father as if he is a distinct individual, he even refers to him as his God. “Fine”, you might say, “But once he ascended, then they all three were one permanently”. The only problem is that you later have Stephen seeing Jesus sitting on the right hand of God and then you have the many epistles of Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude all referring to: “God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Why would these men not say instead “Jesus Christ our Father, Lord and God,” why would they state such things as “truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3)? Now possibly we are reading them in error, and they understood the Godhead to be a Trinity and that we are just not enlightened enough to read these verses properly; maybe we’re just seeing the surface and missing the deeper meaning.
However, we must go back to that time of debate and confusion when opinions on the matter were vehemently disagreed on; when the final conclusion was not made by revelation, by “thus saith the Lord,” but by popular vote. How is it that God’s representatives on earth did not even know anything concerning his nature? If we are left to examine the scriptures it would seem that the evidence weighs overwhelmingly on the side of the Father and the Son being two distinct individuals that are one, in a manner of holiness that we don’t quite comprehend and that we can become one with them.
The amazing testimony of Joseph Smith and the many other apostles that followed him, sets the matter in stone for Latter-day Saints, just as the Council of Nicaea and the Athanasian Creed that followed 200 years later define the nature of the Godhead for those of other faith traditions.
But whatever we believe, we can come to an agreement that there is a God in heaven, the Father, and that his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, walked this earth, atoned for the sins of all mankind, was resurrected, and ascended into Heaven to sit down in glory on the right hand of God. This is what the scriptures testify to and the fundamental principles of what Latter-day Saints believe.
The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 121
