Through the period known as the dark ages, the period that followed after the death of our Savior there was developed by the design of men, numerous theories regarding the Godhead, many of which are utterly incomprehensible in their inconsistency and mysticism.
By the year 325, a council was convened by the emperor Constantine, who sought by a group vote to secure a declaration of Christian belief that would be received as authoritative, regarding the makeup of the Godhead.
The Council condemned some of the theories then current, which asserted that the son was created by the Father, and therefore could not be co-eternal with the Father. The Council then developed what is known as the Nicene Creed; and this was followed in time by the other Creeds, over which much controversy has arisen. The creed follows: "We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, son, and Holy Ghost, is all one; the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet there are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated; but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty; and yet there are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God."
I would suggest to you that it is no wonder that when Joseph Smith tried to understand this and the many other contradicting doctrine he was...
JOSEPH SMITH STORY
In his words: Called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; He said "but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit.... so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations that it was impossible for a person as young as I was, and so unacquainted with men and things to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong.
While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first Chapter and fifth verse which reads; "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all man liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than did this at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again knowing that if anyone needed wisdom from God I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all belief in settling the question by an appeal to the bible.
At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs that is ask of God, I at length came to the determination to "ask of God" concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would give liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.
so in accordance with this my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred twenty. It was the first time I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.
As Joseph prayed he records "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me...
When the light rested upon me I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other "This is My Beloved son. Hear Him"
Joseph Smith found here within the scriptures, admonition and counsel directly applicable to his case and circumstances.It was as if the lines had been addressed to him by name. After a brief period of hesitation, in which he shrank from the thought that a mortal like himself, weak, youthful, and unlearned, should approach the Creator with a personal request. Then resolving himself with a humble and contrite resolution to act upon the counsel of the ancient apostle. The result, to which he bore solemn record (testifying at first with the simplicity and enthusiasm of youth, afterward confirming the declaration with manhood's increasing powers, and at last voluntarily sealing the testimony with his life's blood,) proved most startling to the sectarian world&emdash;a world in which according to popular belief no new revelation of truth was possible. It is interesting to note that while growth, progress, advancement, development of known truths and the acquisition of new ones, characterize every living science, the sectarian world has declared that nothing new must be expected as direct revelation from God.
Joseph's testimony was, in response to his supplication, and the admonition of an inspired apostle, he received a divine ministration; from heavenly beings who manifested themselves to him&emdash;two, clothed in purity, and alike in form and feature. Pointing to the other, one said, "This is my beloved son, hear Him." Joseph was given a confirmation that God does live, and He cares for His children of modern times as He did for those of ancient days; He has not shut Himself away from the people, closed the windows of heaven, and suspended all direct communication with the people of earth."
In 1820, there lived one person who knew that the words uttered by our Creator, "Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness," and that such words had more meaning than just in a metaphor. Joseph Smith, while still a youth, knew that the Eternal Father and the well-beloved son, Jesus Christ, were in form and stature like unto perfect men; and that the human family was in very truth of divine origin.
From the first vision and the revelations that followed we learn that:
1) We lived with God the Father and His son Jesus Christ before coming to this earth. We saw that our Heavenly Father had a body of flesh and bones and we desired to be like him.
2) That Jesus Christ created this earth under the direction of the Father.
3) The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead and as such does not yet have a body of flesh and blood that he may work through the spirit to accomplish...
4) Joseph Smith said of their diverse coordination of functions: An everlasting covenant was made between three personages before the organization of this earth, and relates to their dispensation of things to men on the earth; these personages, according to Abraham's record, are called God the first, the Creator; God the second, the Redeemer; and God the third, the witness or Testator.
Ministry of the Father
There are four ways in which the labors and ministry and status of "God the first", who is the Father, are distinct and separate from the other members of the Godhead. They are:
1) The Father is a Holy Man; he is Ahman, the Almighty Elohim.
The profound truth concerning God is that he is a Holy Man, a personage of tabernacle, a being in whose image and likeness mortal man was made. His work and his glory are to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
2) Elohim is the Father of spirits.
While our finite minds cannot comprehend the infinite laws of God we however can comprehend the simple truth that he is a personal loving Father of our spirits. He is more than just the father of the Only Begotten, more than the father of the first mortal man. He is indeed and in fact the Father of the spirits of men in the literal and full sense of the word. Each and everyone of us were begotten by him in the pre-mortal world. We are his spirit children.
3) The Father is the Creator.
IN the ultimate and final sense of the word, the Father is the creator of all things. The fact that he used the son and others to perform many of the creative acts, delegating to them his creative powers, does not make the others creators in their own right independent of him.He was the creator first of our spirits Christs included; none were Fathered by anyone else. Second he was the creator of the first physical body of man as he delegated the assigned roles of Jehovah and Michael.
4) The Father is the Author of the Plan of Salvation
He alone was in a position to ordain the laws and establish the system whereby his spirit children (Christ included) could be saved. We can read in the inspired word the infinite and eternal perspective of the plan of salvation: "God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. he has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences. that they may be exalted with himself, so that they might have one glory upon another, and all that knowledge, power, glory,and intelligence, which is requisite in order to save them in the world of spirits.
Ministry of the son of God sets himself apart from the other members of the Godhead as a separate and distinct member of the Godhead. Chief among them are:
1) He is the Firstborn
Our Savior was the firstborn spirit child of our Father in Heaven; all other spirits are junior to him. His is the eternal birthright and the everlasting right of presidency. In that spirit state he advanced and progressed until , in power, dominion, and intelligence, he became "like unto God" (Abraham 3:24) It was then that he created all things and was foreordained to be the Savior and Redeemer.
2) He is the Creator
Under the direction of the Father , Christ is the Creator of this earth, of worlds without number, of all things. Paul says: "By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him all things consist."(Colossians 1:16-17)
3) He is the promised Messiah
He is the very one that the ancient prophets testified of the Deliverer, the redeemer, the Messiah, the Anointed One , the son of David even the son of God who would reign on the throne of his father. All of the ordinances of the gospel were established in such a way as to bear record of the son and the atonement that he would make.
4) He is the God of our Fathers
As the Lord Jehovah, he appeared to Abraham and other ancient patriarchs, and he bears their name to signify to their descendants that they worship that same blessed person who guided their forefathers.
"He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world"
(3 Nephi 11:14)
as he told the Nephites after his resurrection.
Personality and Mission of the Holy Ghost
In addition to the labors nd missions of the Father and son being different from each other, so to is that "God the Third", who is the Holy Ghost.
1) He is a personage of Spirit.
While the Father and the son both have bodies of flesh and blood the Holy Ghost does not have a body of flesh and bones but is a personage of spirit. Which the scriptures refer to its importance as "were it not so he, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us." (D&C 130:22) From the foundation the father gave him the distinct mission to figuratively dwell in the faithful, and he is to speak to their spirits in a special and particular way, which he can do because he himself is a spirit.
2) He is the Testator, Revelator, Comforter.
He is appointed to teach and testify, to bear witness of the Father and the son and to reveal all things to men. As the revealator he is responsible for our receipt of testimony of the truth and divinity of the Lords work on earth. " And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:5) As the comforter; those that share his companship are filled with comfort, joy and the want to do those things that they know be be right.
3) He uses the light of Christ in his ministry.
sometimes we use term "the Spirit of the Lord", "Light of Christ" and "the Holy Ghost" synonymously. We often say the Spirit of God when we mean the Holy Ghost; we likewise say the Holy Ghost when we mean the Spirit of God. The Holy Ghost is a personage in the Godhead, and is not that which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. It is the Spirit of God which proceeds through Christ to the world, that enlightens every man that comes into the world, and that strives with the children of men, and will continue to strive with them, until it brings them to a knowledge of the truth and the possession of the greater light and testimony of the Holy Ghost. (Joseph F Smith Gospel Doctrine)
Since the holy Ghost is a personage of spirit and in the form of a man and as such confined to a limited space the question is often asked: How can he be a comforter to all who have received the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, given that they are currently scattered through out all the nations of the world.
An Illustration here may help: The sun is a million miles away from the earth; it is a physical body of specific dimensions; yet when it arises over the mountains to our east and its rays touch our face one cannot deny that they can feel of its presence. But at the same time that the sun is touching our life with its warming rays of light, others even millions of people through out the entire earth can also proclaim that they too feel of its warming glow at that very instant that it is so touching our lives.
To recap we find the following:
(John 14:15-17,26)
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
(John 14:7,12-14)
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
There are a few fundamental truths that we can learn from these two statements by the Savior.
1) That he, his Father and the Holy Ghost are distinct personages, and that their oneness referred to in the scriptures is only a oneness of purpose and desire. Else why would the Savior pray to the Father, that the Father would send another comforter. It is ill-logical to think that there can be another if there is not already one. In addition, if Jesus were the one comforter he would surely not pray unto himself, asking himself to send himself as the other comforter.
2) That the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit as was Jesus before he was born to the Virgin Mary. In John 17 the Savior made the following statement:
John 17 :4-5
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
"Before the world was" Jesus was indeed with the Father before the world was created and shared his glory. At that time he was a personage of spirit until he was born into the world. It was while Jesus had a spirit body that he created this earth under the direction of the Father. Likewise, the Holy Ghost in his spirit body has his assignment of responsibility as the third member of the Godhead, which assignment is that of the comforter. While Jesus does not ever explain why he and the comforter cannot remain on the earth and serve together, nevertheless he does make this fact clear:
... It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you... John (16:7)
3) The third important truth we learn is: that the gift of the Holy Ghost comes not to the World, but only to those upon whom the gift has been conferred by the laying on of hands by those ordained to this authority:
4) Yet another truth is that the reception of the Holy Ghost enables one to understand the truths of the Spirit:
...he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
...he shall testify of me (John 15:26)
For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. (Luke 12:12)
5) It is by the power of God that all things are made that have been made. It is by the power of Christ that all things are governed and kept in place that are governed and kept in place in the universe. It is the power which proceeds from the presence of the son of God throughout all the works of his hands, that giveth light, energy, understanding, knowledge, and a degree of intelligence to all the children of men, strictly in accordance with the words in the Book of Job: "There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." It is this inspiration from God, proceeding throughout all his creations, that enlighteneth the children of men; and it is nothing more nor less than the spirit of Christ that enlighteneth the mind, that quickeneth the understanding, and that prompteth the children of men to do that which is good and to eschew that which is evil; which quickens the conscience of man and gives him intelligence to judge between good and evil, light and darkness, right and wrong. (Gospel Doctrine)
I pray that we may develope a relationship with our Father in heaven by approaching him in earnest prayer, through his son Jesus Christ. In Addition, that we may be blessed with the courage to live lives that will prove us the opportunity to be guided by the Holy Ghost to a life of righteousness. That we all may live with our Father in Heaven again....