What Do Mormons Believe About the Trinity?

1 We ^abelieve in ^bGod, the Eternal Father, and in His ^cSon, Jesus Christ, and in the ^dHoly Ghost. (Article of Faith 1)

Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are 3 separate and distinct beings.  It is easy to be confused about the nature of God with all the doctrines that can be found everywhere we look, but we can and should go to God in prayer and faith, and ask Him.  I have done this and have come to know that He is our Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ is His son, and the Holy Ghost is united in purpose with them.

Joseph Smith saw God Jesus Christ (See The Restoration)

What is this purpose?

• '39 For behold, this is my ^awork and my ^bglory—to bring to pass the ^cimmortality and ^deternal ^elife of man.' (Moses 1:39 - the Lord speaking to Moses)
• '3And this is ^alife ^beternal, that they might ^cknow thee the only true ^dGod, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast ^esent.' (John 17:3 - the Lord speaking in prayer to God the Father)
• These two scriptures mean the same thing: the purpose of life is to live eternally with (or 'know') our Father in Heaven.  The Godhead (God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost) are all united in bringing about this purpose.  They do everything they can to help us return and live with our God.

Why do the scriptures say they are 'One,' if they are in fact three separate beings?

• The scriptures are saying they are one in purpose, methods, objectives etc.  just as a football team strives to become 'one' or united.  In the following scripture reference 'they,' refers to Christs people or believers.

• 21 That they all may be ^aone; as thou, ^bFather, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be ^cone in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.  (John 17: 21-23)
•  The Savior is praying that the people will become 'one' in the same way that he and he Father are 'one' - In desires, beliefs, perfection.  He is praying that the people will become a perfect people so they can be united again with God, himself, and the Holy Ghost.
• 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be ^aone, even as we are ^bone:  (John 17: 21-23)
• He gave us glory (knowledge, his example, doctrine, 'the way') so we could follow it/him.  In this way, when we follow Jesus Christ, we are following Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost because they are all walking the same 'way'.
• 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made ^aperfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast ^bloved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17: 21-23)
• God loves us and wants us to perfect ourselves so we can become united and live in His presence again!  We do this through the gospel of Jesus Christ.