Jesus Godhead

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 The Godhead is comprised of God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.  Mormons believe these three to be distinctly separate personages who share a common purpose.  Jesus Christ plays an integral role in the Godhead.
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Jesus Christ

As a member of the Godhead, Jesus has certain roles and responsibilities.  Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the Creator of the World, and indeed, of all worlds.  He accomplished this under Heavenly Father’s direction.

And it came to pass, as the voice was still speaking, Moses cast his eyes and beheld the earth, yea, even all of it; and there was not a particle of it which he did not behold, discerning it by the spirit of God.

And he beheld many lands; and each land was called earth, and there were inhabitants on the face thereof.

And it came to pass that Moses called upon God, saying: Tell me, I pray thee, why these things are so, and by what thou madest them?

And the Lord God said unto Moses: For mine own purpose have I made these things. Here is wisdom and it remaineth in me….by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth (Moses 1).

Jesus is the Redeemer of the World.  Mormonism says that because of His sacrifice on the cross, we can live with our Heavenly Father again.  Because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, we are able to repent for our sins and be forgiven for anything we do wrong.  When we are facing great trials in life, we can take comfort in knowing that Jesus Christ has endured great pain and can empathize with us.  He is the only perfect man to ever walk the earth.   Mormons believe that every person born on the earth has the light of Christ within them.  To have the light of Christ means that people are born good and everyone is born with the capacity to love, and everyone is born with a conscience that can naturally discern between right and wrong.  Christ is our brother, as well, since we are all the spirit-children of God, and Christ is Heavenly Father’s first-born in the spirit.  He comforts us and has sacrificed His life so we might return to live with Him again.  His is the only name through which we can be saved.

Jesus Christ was the firtfruits of the resurrection.  Because of His atonement, all who ever live on this earth will be resurrected and receive perfect, immortal bodies of flesh and bone.  Mormons believe that the resurrected state is the ideal, eternal state, and that both God the Father and Jesus Christ still have resurrected bodies of flesh and bone.  Their glory, however, is so profound and powerful, that no man can withstand their presence unless he is “quickened.”

Jesus Christ is the Only-Begotten of the Father.  He put the whole plan of redemption, salvation, and exaltation in place.  Through Him the gospel, all saving truths, and every edifying principle have been revealed in all ages.  He is the Eternal Jehovah, the Promised Messiah, the Redeemer and Savior, the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 129).

Mormons believe in the Virgin Birth, that Jesus was born to a mortal mother, Mary, and from her inherited the ability to die.  He inherited the powers of immortality from God, His Father.  Therefore, He had the power to lay down His life, and to take it up again.  He comprehends all things and holds all truth and all power.  He is infinite in His power, His compassion, and His wisdom.

Mormons believe that Jesus will come again to the earth in what is called His Second Coming.  At that time He will destroy the wicked and usher in one thousand years of peace, during which he will govern the earth.  He will reign over the earth during the millennium, during which there will be no sickness nor wickedness.

God the Father

Mormons pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ.  He is the Supreme Being and creator of the universe.  He is all-knowing, all-wise, all-powerful, and all-loving.  He has put into place the Plan of Salvation in order to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.  His goal is to help all mankind to develop God-like attributes, so that they may dwell with Him throughout all eternity.

God has a tangible body of flesh and bone, but glorious beyond description. No man can endure His presence without first being quickened.  God created all things spiritually before they were created physically.  In this way, we are all the literal children of God, because we dwelled with him as his spiritual offspring before we gained bodies through our mortal birth.

God has granted us our agency, which He considers immutable.  He would rather see us destroy each other than to take away our agency to choose between good and evil.  He established opposition on the earth in order to give us choices.  The evil things that have occurred on the earth have been the result of the choices of men.

God the Father hears and answers prayers.  Every prayer is heard.  He knows His children individually and is willing to hear their personal prayers and give them personal guidance.  His absolute greatness does not diminish His absolute intimacy with each of His children.

The Holy Ghost

The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead and is a personage of spirit who can dwell in one’s heart.  He is one in purpose with God the Father and Jesus Christ.  The old trinitarian notion that God is a spirit and can fill the universe or dwell in one’s heart is false.  It is the Holy Ghost that can magnify goodness in the heart of man.  The Holy Ghost witnesses of truth and leads one towards Christ.  He can warn of danger, prophesy of future events, give peace, comfort, and presence of mind, impart pure knowledge, and increase one’s desire to do good.  He becomes the permanent companion of those who are baptised by the proper authority and who continue in worthiness.