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)
