I'm Not Worried If I Meet God And I'm Wrong On The Trinity

[bjw]

There's two topics on this right now so I wasn't sure which to post in, but I think the salvation question should only focus on the Atonement, not on theology issues not specifically defined scripturally. The "other Jesus" described in the Bible always focuses on rejecting that. The doctrines in question seem to be salvation by the Mosaic law, antinomianism, or Christ not coming in the flesh. These three ideas definitely would affect your view of the Atonement, which is ultimately the saving doctrine.

[PeterPear]

The testimony of John was given in D&C 93. Why? As noted in verse 13:

" 19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness."

So you know what you worship. John the Baptist testified of the separate members of the Godhead that they are separate beings, as also recorded in the Bible.

If you don't know what you worship, your faith won't be much strenghtened in worshipping a nebulous undefinble godhead.

[bjw]

The testimony of John was given in D&C 93. Why? As noted in verse 13:

" 19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness."

So you know what you worship. John the Baptist testified of the separate members of the Godhead that they are separate beings, as also recorded in the Bible.

If you don't know what you worship, your faith won't be much strenghtened in worshipping a nebulous undefinble godhead.

Exactly, I think a proper view of the Godhead given by revelation strengthens faith and cuts down on our search for the truth. Some, like those who believe in the creeds, have not yet received of the fulness, but I don't think they belong in the "other Jesus" category either. Just like I don't think they should lump us with that title, when the "other Jesus" charge levelled in the Bible referred to specific characteristics of teachings, not speculated doctrine about the godhead, exaltation, preexistence, etc.

[Rivers]

Hi Fly.

As a practicing Latter-day Saint, I believe that the members of the Godhead (though three separate personages) are most definitely unified as "one God" through more than just a common purpose, common goals or common efforts. The Father and the Son are also unified by a common and shared Spirit, even the uncreated Spirit of Truth that...

12 ... proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—

13 The light which is in all things (including the Father and the Son), which giveth life to all things (including both the Father and the Son), which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things. (D&C 88)

 

Since Latter-day Saints believe the Spirit of God is composed of very real spiritual matter, and is not the so-called 'immaterial 'substance' of not-LDS theology, and since we are told both the Father and the Son enjoy a fullness of the presence of that Spirit within their beings, then it's plain the Father and the Son are indeed beings of "one substance," that substance being the Spirit of God. Even that same Spirit in which dwelleth...

"... the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things (including God), which maketh alive all things (including God); that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment." (Moses 61:6)

I believe through this understanding that both the Father and the Son are filled to infinite and eternal measure with this uncreated Spirit of truth, power and life, the Latter-day Saints have solved the mystery as to precisely what that indwelling unifying substance is that makes the Father and the Son one. And it is that same tangible and very real spiritual substance that makes the saints one with each other as well as one with their God.

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

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. (1 Cor 12)

Yet for reasons which to me seem weak and unscriptural, many Latter-day Saints seem to recoil at the scriptural concept that the Father and the Son do share an actual common substance that mightily helps to make them one in purpose and one God. I'm actually fascinated that this wonderful concept seems to have escaped the attention of so many knowledgeable members. Perhaps the reason why is because many Latter-day Saints are loathe to admit there really is an actual substance the facilitates the unity of the Godhead, because they don't want to give the non-LDS Christians that satisfaction that there really is a substance that plays a significant role in making the Godhead one in purpose. Yet we read:

"And he being the Only-Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and having over-come, received a fullness of the glory of the Father, possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy Spirit... (Lectures on Faith 5)

 

I'm just as fascinated and perplexed by the fact that our non-LDS Christian friends, in spite of all that's written in the New Testament, apparently still haven't figured out that the common substance that unifies the Godhead is that same eternal Spirit of Truth that had no beginning and will have no end.  Why they insist on leaving the trinity a mystery by not defining what that unifying substance actually is beyond me, especially in light of the fact that the New Testament clearly spells out that unity can only come by means of the Spirit. After all, one of the main themes of the New Testament is the unity that God that and His saints enjoy by means of the common presence of that same Spirit.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4)

I have never heard the Godhead expressed in this way before. Very intriguing.