The Articles of Faith Part 4

[78] Doc. and Cov. cx, 1-4.

=19.= These are a few of the testimonies establis.h.i.+ng the fact of direct revelation from G.o.d unto men in ancient and modern times. The privilege of communing with our Maker is restricted to none; true faith, sincerity of purpose, and purity of soul will win, for every one who seeks the boon, the blessing of G.o.d's favor and the light of His presence.

=20. The G.o.dhead: The Trinity.=--Three personages composing the great presiding council of the universe have revealed themselves to man: (1) G.o.d the Eternal Father; (2) His Son, Jesus Christ; and (3) the Holy Ghost. That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is very plainly proved by the accepted records of the divine dealings with man. On the occasion of the Savior's baptism before cited, John recognized the sign of the Holy Ghost; he saw before him in a tabernacle of flesh the Christ, upon whom he had performed the holy ordinance; and he heard the voice of the Father.[79] The three personages of the G.o.dhead were present, manifesting themselves each in a different way, and each distinct from the others. The Savior promised His disciples that the Comforter,[80]

which is the Holy Ghost, should be sent unto them by His Father; here again are the three members of the G.o.dhead distinctly referred to.

Stephen, at the time of his martyrdom, was blessed with the power of heavenly vision, and he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of G.o.d.[81] Joseph Smith, while calling upon the Lord in fervent prayer for wisdom to guide him in his religious professions, saw the Father and the Son, standing in the midst of light which shamed the brightness of the sun; one of these declared of the other, "This is my beloved Son, hear Him."[82] Each of the members of the Trinity is called G.o.d,[83] together they const.i.tute the G.o.dhead.

[79] Matt. iii, 16-17; Mark i, 9-11; Luke iii, 21-22.

[80] John xiv, 26; xv, 26.

[81] Acts vii, 55-56.

[82] See page 9.

[83] I Cor. viii, 6; John i, 1-14; Matthew iv, 10; I Tim. iii, 16; I John v, 7; Mosiah xv, 1, 2.

=21. Unity of the G.o.dhead.=[84]--The G.o.dhead is a type of unity in the attributes, powers, and purposes of its members. Jesus, while on earth[85] and in manifesting Himself to His Nephite servants,[86] has repeatedly testified of the unity existing between Himself and the Father, and between them both and the Holy Ghost. By some this has been construed to mean that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one in substance and in person, that the names in reality represent the same individual under different aspects. A single reference to prove the error of this view may suffice:--Immediately before His betrayal, Christ prayed for His disciples, the Twelve, and other converts, that they should be preserved in unity,[87] "that they all may be one" as the Father and the Son are one. It is absurd to think that Christ desired His followers to lose their individuality and become one person, even if a change so directly opposed to the laws of nature were possible. Christ desired that all should be united in heart, and spirit, and purpose; for such is the unity between His Father and Himself, and between themselves and the Holy Ghost.

[84] See Note 11.

[85] John x, 30, 38; xvii, 11, 22.

[86] III Nephi xi, 27, 36; xxviii, 10; see also Alma xi, 44.

[87] John xvii, 11-21.

=22.= This unity is a type of completeness; the mind of any one member of the Trinity is the mind of the others; seeing as each of them does with the eye of purity and perfection, they see and understand alike; under similar conditions and circ.u.mstances each would act in the same way, guided by the same principles of unerring justice and equity. The one-ness of the G.o.dhead, to which the scriptures so abundantly testify, implies no mystical union of substance, nor any unnatural and therefore impossible blending of personality; Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are as distinct in their persons and individualities as are any three personages in the flesh. Yet their unity of purpose and operation is such as to make their edicts one, and their will the will of G.o.d. To see one is to see all; therefore said Christ when importuned by Philip to show them the Father: "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me."[88]

[88] John xiv, 9-11.

=23. Personality of Each Member of the G.o.dhead.=--From the evidence already presented, it is clear that the Father is a personal Being, possessing a definite form, with bodily parts, and spiritual pa.s.sions.

Jesus Christ, who was with the Father[89] in spirit before coming to dwell in the flesh, and through whom the worlds were made,[90] lived among men as a man, with all the physical characteristics of a human being; after His resurrection He appeared in the same form;[91] in that form He ascended into heaven;[92] and in that form He has manifested Himself to the Nephites, and to modern prophets. Now we are a.s.sured that Christ was in the express image of His Father,[93] after which image man also has been created.[94] Therefore we know that both the Father and the Son are in form and stature perfect men; each of them possesses a tangible body, infinitely pure and perfect, and attended by transcendent glory, yet a body of flesh and bones.[95]

[89] John xvii, 5.

[90] John i, 3; Heb. i, 2; Eph. iii, 9; Col. i, 16.

[91] John xx, 14-15, 19-20, 26-27; xxi, 1-14; Matt, xxviii, 9; Luke xxiv, 15-31, 36-44.

[92] Acts i, 9-11.

[93] Heb. i, 3; Col. i, 15; II Cor. iv, 4.

[94] Genesis i, 26-27; James iii, 8-9.

[95] Doc. and Cov. cx.x.x, 22.

=24.= The Holy Ghost, called also Spirit, and Spirit of the Lord,[96]

Spirit of G.o.d,[97] Comforter,[98] and Spirit of Truth,[99] is not tabernacled in a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of spirit;[100] yet we know that the Spirit has manifested Himself in the form of a man.[101] It is by the ministrations of the Spirit that the Father and the Son operate in their dealings with mankind;[102]

through Him knowledge is communicated,[103] and by Him the purposes of the G.o.dhead are achieved.[104] The Holy Ghost is the witness of the Father and the Son,[105] declaring to man their attributes, bearing record of the other personages of the G.o.dhead.[106]

[96] I Nephi iv, 6; xi, 8; Mos. xiii, 5. Acts ii, 4; viii, 29; x, 19; Rom. viii, 10, 26; I Thess. v, 19.

[97] Matt, iii, 16; xii, 28; I Nephi xiii, 12.

[98] John xiv, 16.

[99] John xv, 26; xvi, 13.

[100] Doc. and Cov. cx.x.x, 22.

[101] I Nephi xi, 11.

[102] Neh. ix, 30; Isa. xlii, 1; Acts x, 19; Alma xii, 3; Doc. and Cov. cv, 36; xcvii, 1.

[103] John xvi, 13; I Nephi x, 19; Doc. and Cov. x.x.xv, 13; 1, 10.

[104] Gen. i, 2; Job xxvi, 13; Psalms civ, 30; Doc. and Cov. xxix, 31.

[105] John xv, 26; Acts v, 32; xx, 23; I Cor. ii, 11; xii, 3; III Nephi xi, 32.

[106] For a fuller treatment of the Holy Ghost, His personality and attributes, see Lecture viii, p. 162.

=25. Some of the Divine Attributes.=--_G.o.d is Omnipresent_: There is no part of creation, however remote, into which He cannot penetrate; through the medium of the Spirit the G.o.dhead is in direct communication with all things at all times. It has been said, therefore, that G.o.d is everywhere present at the same time; but it is unreasonable to suppose that the actual person of any one member of the G.o.dhead can be in more than one place at one time. The senses of G.o.d are of infinite power, His mind of unlimited capacity; His eye can penetrate all s.p.a.ce, His ear can comprehend every sound; His powers of transferring Himself from place to place are not limited; plainly, however, His person cannot be in more than one place at any one time.

Admitting the personality of G.o.d, we are compelled to accept the fact of His materiality; indeed, an "immaterial being," under which meaningless name some have sought to designate the condition of G.o.d, cannot exist, for the very expression is a contradiction in terms. If G.o.d possesses a form, that form is of necessity of definite proportions and therefore of limited extension in s.p.a.ce. It is therefore impossible for Him to occupy at one time more than one s.p.a.ce of such limits; and it is not surprising therefore to learn from the scriptures that He moves from place to place. Thus we read in connection with the account of the Tower of Babel, "And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower."[107] Again, G.o.d appeared to Abraham, and having declared Himself to be "the Almighty G.o.d," He talked with the patriarch, and established a covenant with him; then we read "And He left off talking with him, and G.o.d went up from Abraham."[108]

[107] Gen. xi, 5.

[108] Gen. xvii, 1, 22.

=26.= _G.o.d is Omniscient._--By Him matter has been organized and energy directed. He is therefore the Creator of all things that are created; and "Known unto G.o.d are all his works from the beginning of the world."[109] His power and His wisdom are alike incomprehensible to man, for they are infinite. Being Himself eternal and perfect, His knowledge cannot be otherwise than infinite. To comprehend Himself, an infinite Being, He must possess an infinite mind. Through the agency of angels and ministering servants, He is in continuous communication with all parts of creation, and may personally visit as He may determine.

[109] Acts xv, 18; see also Pearl of Great Price: Moses i, 6, 35; I Nephi ix, 6.

=27.= _G.o.d is Omnipotent._--He is properly called the Almighty. Man can discern proofs of the Divine omnipotence on every side, in the forces that control the elements of earth, and that guide the orbs of heaven in their prescribed courses; all are working together for the common good. There can be no limits to the powers of G.o.d; whatever His wisdom indicates as fit to be done He can and will do. The means through which He operates may not be of infinite capacity in themselves; but they are directed by an infinite power. A rational conception of His omnipotence is power to do all that He may will to do.

=28.= _G.o.d is kind_, _benevolent_, _and loving_, tender, considerate, and long-suffering, bearing patiently with the frailties of His wayward children. He is just, yet merciful in judgment,[110] showing favor to all alike, and yet combining with these gentler qualities a firmness, almost amounting to fierceness, in avenging wrongs.[111] He is jealous[112] of His own power and the reverence paid to Him by His children; that is to say, He is zealous for the principles of truth and purity, which are nowhere exemplified in a higher degree than in His personal attributes. This Being is the Author of our existence, Him we are permitted to approach as Father. Our faith will increase in Him as we learn of Him.[113]

[110] Deut. iv, 31; II Chron. x.x.x, 9; Exo. x.x.xiv, 6; Neh. ix, 17, 31; Psalms cxvi, 5; ciii, 8; lx.x.xvi, 15; Jer. x.x.xii, 18; Exo. xx, 6.

[111] Exo. xx, 5; Deut. vii, 21; x, 17; Psa. vii, 11.

[112] Exo. xx, 5; x.x.xiv, 14; Deut. iv, 24; vi, 14, 15; Josh. xxiv, 19, 20.

[113] See Note 12.

=29. Idolatry and Atheism.=--From the abundant evidence of the existence of Deity, the idea of which is so generally held by the human family, there would seem to be little ground on which man could rationally a.s.sert and maintain a disbelief in G.o.d; and in view of the many proofs of the benignant nature of the Divine attributes and disposition, there ought to be little tendency to turn aside after false and unworthy objects of wors.h.i.+p. Yet the history of the race shows that theism, which is the doctrine of belief in and acceptance of, G.o.d as the rightful Ruler, is opposed by many varieties of atheism;[114] and that man is p.r.o.ne to belie his boast as a creature of reason, and to render his wors.h.i.+p at idolatrous shrines. Atheism is probably a development of later times, whilst idolatry a.s.serted itself as one of the early sins of the race. Even at the time of Israel's exodus from Egypt, G.o.d deemed it proper to command by statute, "Thou shalt have no other G.o.ds before me;"[115] yet even while He wrote those words on the stony tablets, His people were bowing before the golden calf which they had fas.h.i.+oned after the pattern of the Egyptian idol.