Those who read the book of mormon and diligently apply its. Godhead is simply an archaic english way of saying godhoodthat is, the state or nature of being god. The doctrine of the godhead is developed in several book of mormon passages. The book of mormon teaches that god knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it 2 nephi 9.
The book of mormon contradicts itself and the bible. The book of mormon translated three years earlier in 1829 also contains numerous passages which teach a physical separation and embodiment even if only in spirit bodies, which are clearly not immaterial, but have shape, position, and form of the members of the godhead. Invite students to find the doctrinal mastery passages in the book of mormon that support these doctrines. Jan 15, 2008 in latterday saint mormon thinking, however, there is a subordinationism within the godhead. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful. God is the allpowerful, allwise, and allknowing creator of the universe and of all mankind. Jul 12, 2016 also, i agree that a more detailed comparison and contrast of the teachings on the godhead of various book of mormon prophets would be interesting. How are the book of mormons teaching about the godhead unique. In alma 11, when zeezrom, an evil lawyer, was contending with amulek, a prophet of god in the book of mormon, he challenged him as to whether a true and living god exists verses 2627.
The book of mormon and the bible will grow together, 2 ne. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. One of the most powerful and impressive of these is found in nephis prophetic discourse regarding the baptism of christ in 2 nephi 31. This concept of god cannot be found in the first edition of the book of mormon, however. The book of mormon provides spiritual nutrition, prescribes a plan of action, and connects us with the holy spirit. What mormons believe about the godhead now you know. The lords words will hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, 2 ne.
Teachings of the prophet joseph smith, by joseph f. The godhead the holy bible and book of mormon side by side. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon. The lds church interprets this oneness as a metaphorical oneness in spirit, purpose, and glory, rather than a physical or bodily unity.
The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection. If joseph smith was correct, then the mormon may want to consider joining the united pentecostal church, as this aberrational group is more in line with the book of mormons view of the godhead. God, godhead the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Does the book of mormon support the idea of the trinity. Lds father god is a resurrected man with physical body, christ is a separate resurrected man with physical body. God the father has a father heavenly father has a father and so on.
While the book of mormon does indeed contradict the orthodox version of the trinity, it also rejects mormonisms current view of god. Those who read the book of mormon and diligently apply its precepts into their own lives will. And they did fall down at the feet of jesus, and did worship him. Trinitarian godhead v mormon godhead logic exercise so given all that, please consider the following logic exercise and tell me if and where you see any flaws in my thinking and reasoning. The book of mormon teaches that god the father, and his son jesus christ, and the holy ghost are. However, davis points out that while isaiah shows up in mosiah, several of his major themes are still absent. Some of these scriptures simply confirm what is taught in the bible and other modern revelations. Questions for mormons on the godhead presenting the. His influence can be felt when we read the scriptures, including the bible and the book of mormon. All christians know, and the bible and the book of mormon and joseph smith all teach, that god is a god of miracles. The godhead of mormonism is nothing like the trinity of christianity. The current doctrine of the the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is that the godhead is three distinct beings.
The book of mormon was written for the intent that we may believe the bible, morm. It kind of depends on which version of the book of mormon you read. Their belief in god, jesus and the holy spirit is made up of exalted men and a spiritual force that can provide inspiration to members if theyre following the dictates of the church. The mormon godhead is three distinct beings who are one in. The mormon view of the trinity the bottomline guide to. Moroni, the last of the nephite prophethistorians, sealed up the abridged records of these people and hid them in about a. Also, i agree that a more detailed comparison and contrast of the teachings on the godhead of various book of mormon prophets would be interesting. One could argue if the original 1830 edition of the book of. Those who read the book of mormon and diligently apply its precepts into their. Lds father god is a resurrected man with physical body, christ is a separate resurrected. Each of the three is god, but the father reigns supreme, and as it says in i cor.
The book of mormon shall stand as a testimony against the world, ether 5. The nature of the godhead and the relationship between god the. He confirms the teachings set forth by holy prophets such as. Other passages, however, offer unique and unparalleled insights about the nature and character of each member of the godhead. The original 1830 edition of the book of mormon taught a very different version of the godhead than what modern mormons believe today. In latterday saint mormon thinking, however, there is a subordinationism within the godhead. I can attest to most of your research as the doctrines of godhead certainly evolved as the mormon church had to cover one deception his declaration of 3 gods to proclaim that joseph smith is still a true prophet.
The book of mormon helps us to understand the nature of the godhead, just as the brass plates helped the nephites to understand the concept of the godhead. The lord covenanted with enos to bring forth the book of mormon to the lamanites, enos 1. The book of mormon states that jesus, the father and the holy spirit are one. According to mormonism, jesus is a created being, the first spirit to be born of the father mormon doctrine, p. Each member is a different, individual being, yet all three are united in thought, desire, knowledge, power, and purpose. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. The savior submitted to baptism to fulfill all righteousness by humbling himself before the father and witnessing unto the father that he would be obedient in keeping his commandments. Joseph spencer on isaiah, baptism, and the godhead in the. The book of mormon teaches that god the father, and his son jesus christ, and the holy ghost are one, with jesus appearing with a body of spirit before his birth, and with a tangible body after his resurrection.
An email i sent regarding the evolution of the godhead as i see it. Godhead the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The only exception to this dearth of isaiah is during abinadis speech, in mosiah 12 and 14 see this list by grant hardy of every time the book of mormon quotes other scripture for at least two verses. The godhead consists of god the father, jesus christ, and the holy ghost. Jul 08, 2016 ultimately, i agree with book of mormon central that abinadis teachings, though they may be challenging, can be reconciled with our godhead doctrine. This doctrine is aligned closer with eastern religions than the abrahamic faiths judaism, christianity, islam which teach monotheism. Orthodox christians sometimes use the term godhead, but the meaning is different. Holy ghost is a separate man with a spiritual body 3 totally. How are the book of mormons teachings about the godhead unique. Jun 01, 2011 the only exception to this dearth of isaiah is during abinadis speech, in mosiah 12 and 14 see this list by grant hardy of every time the book of mormon quotes other scripture for at least two verses. Doctrinal changes a selection of doctrinal changes in the book of mormon.
The book of mormon and early revelations of joseph smith do indeed vividly portray a picture of the father and son as the same god. Aug 26, 20 the mormon godhead, then, is really a unified group of godsa kind of cosmic triumvirate or ruling council. A twohundredyear era of peace followed that visit of christ. In rejecting the christian doctrine of the trinity i. Apr 17, 2019 the godhead consists of god the father, jesus christ, and the holy ghost. Mormonism and the nature of godgod is a spirit fairmormon. In orthodox mormonism, the term god generally refers to the biblical god the father, whom. What is the concept of the godhead in the book of mormon.
If students struggle to remember these passages, encourage them to scan the paragraphs under the sections god the father and jesus christ in doctrinal topic 1, the godhead, in the doctrinal mastery core document. Mormon beliefs on the godhead trinity the first article of faith in the mormon church states that, we believe in god, the eternal father, and in his son, jesus christ, and in the holy ghost. By the words of three, god hath said, i will establish my word. The holy bible and book of mormon side by side 2018 contact us. Jan 25, 2017 the doctrine of the godhead is developed in several book of mormon passages. Joseph smith testified concerning the book of mormon that its readers would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other. He gives directions which they carry out in total unity and unanimity with him. Joseph spencer gets into some of that in an other testament, as i recall, his focus is more on baptism than on the godhead, but those are obviously related. Articles of faith 1 mormons do not believe in the traditional doctrine of the trinity precisely because thats what it is tradition. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the. The first article of faith, one of statements of belief in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, states, we believe in god, the eternal father, and in his son, jesus christ, and in the holy ghost.
There is no knowledge or power beyond god to acquire. I would also like to point out that in the book of mormon we learn that christ is the god of ancient israel see jesus christ is jehovah. Visit book of mormon centrals website follow us on facebook verily i say unto you, that the father, and the son, and the holy ghost are one. Mormons view their concept of the godhead as a restoration of original christian doctrine as taught by christ and the apostles.
Jul 08, 2008 the godhead in mormon belief the first article of faith of the mormon church states simply that, we believe in god, the eternal father, and in his son, jesus christ, and in the holy ghost. What unique doctrines did the lord reveal through the book of mormon. In alma 11, when zeezrom, an evil lawyer, was contending with amulek, a prophet of god in the book of mormon, he challenged him as to. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. Book of mormon check out some of these book of mormon study guides, including understanding the house of israel, book of mormon map, and 4. Ultimately, i agree with book of mormon central that abinadis teachings, though they may be challenging, can be reconciled with our godhead doctrine.
How are the book of mormons teaching about the godhead. July 6, 2019 messages of the book of mormon after using the gold plates to record jacob s, isaiah s, and his own testimony of christs gospel, nephi states the following. Mormons reject the doctrine of the trinity, believing instead in the godhead. Book of mormon central how are the book of mormons. Joseph smith, prophet and founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or mormon church, wrote, we believe in god, the eternal father, and in his son, jesus christ, and in the holy ghost. However, mormons dont believe that he works alone but as the presiding member of what they call the godhead. Written for us, 8 it contains the word of god in plainness 9 and tells us of our identity, purpose, and destiny.
Why is 3 nephi important for understanding the godhead. Godhead changes were made to the book of mormon after joseph smith changed his doctrine from monotheism to polytheism. Each of these beings is a distinct god, whose cooperative action and joint purpose with the other two constitute a oneness in the holy trinity. However, mormon doctrine denies the trinity, teaching that the father, son, and spirit do not comprise one god. The mormon godhead, then, is really a unified group of godsa kind of cosmic triumvirate or ruling council. I was a mormon for 40 years until the true christ me out about 25 years ago t have my faith in him alone. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. The father clothes the intelligences of the son and holy ghost with spirit form and is therefore superior to them. The first article of faith of the mormon church states simply that, we believe in god, the eternal father, and in his son, jesus christ, and in the holy ghost. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible.
Jul 09, 2014 the original 1830 edition of the book of mormon taught a very different version of the godhead than what modern mormons believe today. The trinity in the book of mormon mormons today believe that god the father, jesus christ and the holy ghost are three separate persons who together constitute the godhead. We believe in god, the eternal father, and in his son, jesus christ, and in the holy ghost. How are the book of mormons teachings about the godhead. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints sometimes casually called mormons believe, as do other christians, in one supreme being who governs the universe, and who is allpowerful, allknowing, and allloving.
Mormonvoices defending the restored gospel of jesus christ. But i disagree that the fluidity of jesus roles is the point of abinadis teaching herethe point is how jesus personifies the atonement by reconciling the two opposing natures of god. Each member is a different, individual being, yet all three are united in thought, knowledge, power, and purpose. Mormons say they believe in the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Heavenly father, jesus christ, and the holy ghost are referred to as the godhead. The book describes the spirit of the lord in the form of a man and speaking as a man would. This doctrine was made up by continue reading the trinity vs. The doctrine of god the father is taught in specific, unique episodes of the book of mormon where the father and the son are described as separate divine personages. The holy ghost is a separate and distinct personage in the form of a man. Our heavenly father, also called elohim, stands in the exalted position above all beings. The doctrine of god the father in the book of mormon. Behold, the virgin which thou seest, is the mother of god, after the manner of the flesh.
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