THE ONE

 

There are several important scriptures which confirm the latter-day doctrine that the Godhead we worship is one: 2 Nephi 31:21; Alma 11:44; 3 Nephi 11:27; 3 Nephi 11:36; Mormon 7:7; D&C 20:28.

When we, in the Church, are asked how they are one, we inevitably answer: they are one in purpose. Whereas this is true, there is so much more to this. According to Lecture 5 of the Lectures on Faith, the oneness of the Godhead is symbolic of our salvation because they have the same godly nature (see Jerry A. Wilson, “The Great Plan of Happiness – Insights From the Lectures on Faith” p 53).

They could not be one in purpose without it. This means they have the same characteristics and attributes in perfection and hence they work in harmony as the Plan of Salvation unfolds for all of God’s children. This is a comforting doctrine because it means there is no inconsistency in their influence or the execution of their individual responsibilities.

Imagine if they were all different with varying ideas and attributes and were not in agreement with some things. We would never know where we stand. This is also why we can have assurance that what the Holy Ghost tells us is the same as what Heavenly Father would tell us and that is exactly what we would want to hear and know. We pray to the Father in the name of His Son and receive answers through the Holy Ghost. This is why we can rightly refer to all three of them as ‘God’.

Consider this important role that the Saviour has as He guides His Church. It is the authority given Him by the Father to speak and act in the first person of the Godhead, as though he were the Father. This is called ‘divine investiture of authority’.  (“The Father and the Son: A Doctrinal Exposition by the First Presidency”, in Talmage, Articles of Faith, pp 465-73)

Often it can be confusing to read: “Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ” and shortly thereafter to come across a reference to “mine Only Begotten Son” (D&C 29:1, 41-46). Elder Bruce R. McConkie explains it this way: “Since Christ is one with the Father in all of the attributes of perfection, and since he exercises power and authority of the Father, it follows that everything He says or does is and would be exactly and precisely what the Father would say and do under the same circumstances” (Mormon Doctrine, p 130)

There should be no confusion when we are directed by either or any one of the Godhead. When the Saviour speaks by the divine investiture of authority He is saying: whether it is me speaking or the Father, it is the same because I am my Father’s Son. I look like Him, I am like Him, I am made by Him in the flesh, therefore, I AM Him. Both the Comforter and I are one with the Father and we will do everything in our power to save you from the jaws of hell. You are our purpose, our desire and our ultimate work. We are your hope and your salvation. We are the anchor for your soul. We are one.

After 50 years of Church membership and Gospel study, I am beginning to understand the Godhead at a deeper level. Whether it is the stirring of my pre-mortal knowledge within me, or the fact that I am more teachable and ready for greater understanding, I bear witness of the powerful, wonderful, incomparable God we worship: the Father (the Planner), the Son (the Executor), the Holy Ghost (the Finisher).

I wrote recently about the Holy Ghost being the Holy Spirit of Promise who places the seal on our worthiness to receive eternal life hence my title of the Finisher for him. I could write volumes about him who I once thought was the most mysterious of the three.

I don’t know how it can be but I am beginning to know all three separately who are ONE……how merciful and how gracious is MY God!!!! When I come home and I approach the throne of God, I will kneel and I will weep.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: As One by Danny Hahlbohm)