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by Anonymous on May 18th, 2004

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Do Mormons believe in the concept of the Holy Trinity?

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Answers. 16 helpful answers below.

  • by Charles Sampson on July 9th, 2004

    Charles Sampson

    As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I believe that God the Father is a separate being from our Saviour, Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost, being another separate being, is a spirit in nature in the form of a man. Three separate and distinctive beings, each with the same goals and purposes. "To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (which includes women and children)".

    Knowing that, when I say my prayers, I know it is to a real person, not
    immaterial matter floating out in space.

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  • by Jon Liu on February 15th, 2005

    Jon Liu

    From a non-Mormon point of view
    If you believe that the Bible is in fact the Word of God.
    When it says in John 1:1(NIV) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"
    Later in the same passage John 1:14(NIV) "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,who came from the Father, full of grace and truth"
    we can see that:

    the Word = God
    Word = flesh (which is interpreted as Jesus, 100% God and 100% man)
    therefore God = Jesus

    BUT, we cannot have two gods.
    we do have a clear distinction between God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I believe that they are three different aspects but ONE entity.

    LDS interprets it as: the Word = jesus, God = God the father, jesus given authority from God"

    it says in John 1:1 "....and the Word was God..."

    If the Word = Jesus and according to the verse, the Word = God therefore the Jesus = God. It explicitly says that in the verse. Either the bible is wrong or something is wrong with your interpretation.

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  • by Anonymous on August 2nd, 2006

    Anonymous

    In the July 2006 First Presidency Message, Gordon B. Hinckley gave what I think is the best explanation I have ever heard or read of what we believe concerning the Godhead, the three individuals who comprise it, and how they relate to one another and to us.

    You may read it at http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2043-1-3470-1,00.html

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  • by BluePen on September 19th, 2005

    BluePen

    We do not believe in the concept of the Holy Trinity in the same way that is put forth by other religions. In a sense we do believe it.

    We believe that God the Father, Jesus Christ the son, and the Holy Ghost are seperate. So in that way we completely disagree. However, they form a group that is known as the Godhead. Together they act as one in unity and in that way are one God.

    When Christ prayed to the Father asking that his disciples be one even as he and the Father are one, he was not asking for them to be combined, but united in purpose and action.

    A modern day example of this idea could easily be shown by attending any of our church services. We have a bishop and his two counselors. Together they comprise a bishopric. Any decisions made concerning the ward is generally done by concensus of this group, and often counselors are treated as though they were the bishop, especially when speaking of the Presiding Bishopric which is over the whole church.

    Sorry if this wasn't very clear, but I'll recap. We believe that God Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are seperate and distinct, but work as a team and is sometimes referred to as a group as simply God.

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  • by laie_techie on August 17th, 2006

    laie_techie

    It is all a matter of symantics. Mainstream Christianity believes that three Persons form one God; Mormonism believe that three Gods form one Godhead.

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  • by Truthbringer on August 2nd, 2006

    Truthbringer

    No Mormons do NOT believe in the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. Mormons believe God the Father is a seperate and distinct person (god) from the Son who is a seperate and distinct person (god) from the Holy Ghost. Mormons believe that both the Father and the Son have glorified resurrected bodies of flesh and bone (no blood) and that the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit.

    www.mormon.org clearly states that Mormons worship Christ. Mormons also worship the Father in the name of Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Mormons are tri-theists better known as polytheists. There is NO such thing as a Christian polytheist.

    Mormonism is NOT = to Christianity just as Christianity is NOT = to Judaism. Christianity may have sprung from Judaism, but it is not the same religion. Just as Mormonism sprang from Christianity (19th century protestantism) it is NOT the same thing. Mormonism is NOT Christian!

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  • by SpecialEdTeacher on May 19th, 2004

    SpecialEdTeacher

    No.

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  • by Alatea on February 2nd, 2006

    Alatea

    No they do not. Mormons believe in plural gods. The Trinity as it's understood within mainstream Christianity means One God. Mormons call the Father, Son and Holy Spirit one Godhead, but they actually believe that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are separate "gods" united in will and purpose. The concept or belief in the Trinity makes the Trinity itself indivisible.

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  • by rdwray on October 14th, 2011

    rdwray

    I am not Mormon, nor could I be one - read the preface to their bible which I totally disagree with - man will not become a God in heaven and equal to God. Now to the point of the Holy Word of God.

    If Paul is correct, and most churches are built on his teaching, then why can we not consult what he says:

    If Christ is the image of God, can He actually be God? Are we not all created in the image of God?
    2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

    Again, can the dead resurrect the dead:
    Acts 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
    31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
    32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

    Can God physically be in Heaven and on Earth:
    Mt 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
    Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

    Why would Jesus say "Baptize in the name of the Father, name of the Son and the Holy Spirit"? Why not just in the name of the Father?

    The following scriptures speak of the separation of Jesus and the Holy Spirit:
    Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
    Joh 14:26 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.
    Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
    Joh 16:7 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.

    Needless to say, I believe that there is a Holy Trinity of one mind, but they are separate and not equal in position and here is the scripture that seals it:
    Mt 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

    If all three are one, then why is one singled out?

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  • by Neville_B on October 5th, 2010

    Neville_B

    As I read it, Mormons do not believe in the Holy Trinity. I know there is no direct doctrine in the Bible that sets out the Trinity, but I'm sure that we all know the verses which imply it. What I am trying to come to grips with is how the Mormons [LDS] teach that the Trinity does not exist. Of course throwing them some proof texts will draw the comment that they trust the Bible only in as far as it is translated correctly. But I refer them to their trusted KJV and ask them to read 1John 5:7,8 which goes

    "7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree in one."

    The NKJV says:

    "7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these thre agree as one."

    Virtually the same.

    Now, this agrees with what the Book of Mormon has to say in; 2 Nephi 31:21; Mosiah 15:2-5; Alma 11:44; and Mormon 7:7. They all say virtually the same thing: I quote from 2 Nephi 31:21:

    21 And now behold, my beloved bretheren, this is the way: and there is none other way nor name given under heaven and earth whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.'

    No problem with that? The Book of Mormon says it straight out the father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are one God! So they therefore teach something other than what the Bible and Book of Mormon clearly state.

    BUT. the apostasized, damnable NIV translation [not my view] Says:

    "7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and the three are in agreement."

    Notice that there are quite a lot of words missing. This is because the KJV because of the date it was originally translated did not have access to the manuscripts that are available now, and also, its translation is supported by the Latin Vulgate which is a very late translation.

    "The passage is absent from every known Greek manuscript except eight, and these contain the passage as a variant reading written it the margin as a later addittion to the manuscript... Also... The passage is quoted by none of the Greek Fathers, who, had they known it, would have most vertainly employed it in the Trinitarian controversies (Sebalian and Arian). Its first appearance in Greek is in a Greek version of the (Latin) Acts of the Lateran Council in 1215."

    Quoted in: Metzger, Bruce M., "A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, 2nd Edition, United Bible Societies [German Bible Society] Stuugart, 1994"

    So I guess this falls into the category in trusting the Bible 'as far as it is correctly translated' category.

    Therefore, Mormons [LDS] do not believe in the Trinity despite the fact that the two books [Bible-KJV and Book of Mormon] that the missionaries carry around bound together I would hope as a matter of convenience, rather than a statement of equality, and although they [books] proclaim the same message: that there IS a Trinity they still deny it!

    In reponse to Charles Sampson, July 9th, 2004 [I am slow, but I do get around to things - eventually!] I pray to God the Father, through Jesus Christ his Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so I am praying to a person, Jesus Christ, Son of the true and living God, who constantly intercedes for us.

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  • by Neville_B on October 5th, 2010

    Neville_B

    Mormons [LDS] do not believe in the Trinity. I am not a Mormon and I believe in the Trinity. Despite ample Biblical Scriptural evidence for the Trinity, I realise the Trinity is not set out as a specific doctrine but this does not mean that it does not exist.
    Unlike Charles Sampson, when I pray I pray to God the Father, through Jesus Christ His Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Since I am praying 'through Jesus Christ' I am praying to a person - Jesus is both human and God, the Father and the Spirit are Spirit.

    Intersting to read 2 Nephi 31:21 [remember, Nephi is 'speaking clearly' here]; Mosiah 15:2-5; Alma 11:44; Mormon 7:71; which all say something like this:
    "[2 Nephi 31:21] ... And now behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true edoctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen." Certainly looks how I would describe the Trinity. Either the Godhead is one, as written in The Book of Mormon quoted above, or it's not as the Mormons [LDS] teach. But how can they belive it if they deny what is clearly written in their own scriptures?

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  • by Joseph Smith was a fraud and Eisegete on April 6th, 2012

    Joseph Smith was a fraud and Eisegete

    No, not for a second

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  • by John Cox will be back April 6th 2013 on November 13th, 2009

    John Cox will be back April 6th 2013

    No they do not.

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  • by TenLostTribes on February 20th, 2010

    TenLostTribes

    I'd love to answer your question but I'm kind of curious as to whether or not this is an honest question.

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  • by 4freedom on April 29th, 2006

    4freedom

    All of us have a trinity. We all have a body, a soul and a spirit. The body is Jesus, flesh and in everyway a man. The Soul is ours and God's will. Remember Jesus taught us to pray like this: Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. The Spirit is the part of God and man that communicates. Remember we were created in God's image.

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  • by Anonymous on July 27th, 2008

    Anonymous

    Members of the Godhead are united in purpose and will but consist of three separate Beings: God, the Eternal Father; Jesus Christ, His Son, our Redeemer; and the Holy Ghost. This view of the Godhead is based on ancient and modern revelation, and Mormons’ belief in the personal appearance of the Father and the Son to Joseph Smith in 1820. The Latter-day Saint understanding of the Godhead and the nature of God are rooted in Joseph Smith’s first vision in which the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph standing side by side. The two members of the Godhead were clearly two separate, distinct personages. These two with the Holy Ghost, also an individual person of spirit, constitute the Godhead of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. They are absolutely one in love, will, purpose, and direction. There is no variation among them, and to underline this unity, even though it is not an ontological unity, Latter-day Saints often define the doctrine of the Godhead as “Social Trinitarianism,” thereby underlining the indivisible unity of the three.


    In Latter-day Saint thinking, however, there is a subordinationism within the Godhead. The Father clothes the intelligences of the Son and Holy Ghost with spirit form and is therefore superior to them. He gives directions which they carry out in total unity and unanimity with Him. Each of the three is God, but the Father reigns supreme, and as it says in I Cor. 15:24 after subordinating all things to himself, in the end the Son will deliver all things to the Father and then subject himself fully to the Father, in order that the Father may reign over all.

    As is clear, Latter-day Saints do not subscribe to the traditional doctrine of the Trinity as defined at Nicaea in 325 C.E. The Latter-day Saint doctrine is not derived from an interpretation of scripture or from neo-Platonic philosophy, but rather from the first vision. It is the Latter-day Saint conviction that the traditional doctrine of the Trinity cannot be found or defended from the Old and New Testaments, but rather that it is an unnecessary philosophical addition to biblical doctrine, trying to answer a question that does not need answering. That question is how there can be one God in the Old Testament, and yet three persons who receive divine ascription in the New? The Nicene answer is that there are three simultaneously, co-existent persons–Father, Son, and Holy Ghost–in the Godhead, and to retain the Old Testament one God, they must be of “one essence” or “one nature.” Any competent Protestant or Catholic theologian will, however, say that this is THE mystery of God and is not fully comprehensible.

    Latter-day Saints do not see such a problem, because they believe that in the New Testament something new about God is learned. The one who is made known in the Old Testament as God, YHWH or Jehovah, has become incarnate as Jesus, and from him we learn that there is not just one God, but a Godhead composed of three simultaneously, co-existing persons–Father, Son, and Holy Ghost–who are one in all aspects save nature, and who together compose a Social Trinity.

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