The LDS Daily WOOL Home Page
(3/1/98)
"When first communicated to mankind by prophets, the teachings we now
have in the Bible were 'plain and pure, and most precious and easy' to
understand (1 Ne. 14:23). Even in the transmitted and translated version
we have today, the Bible language confirms that God the Father and his
resurrected Son, Jesus Christ, are tangible, separate beings. To cite
only two of many such teachings, the Bible declares that man was created
in the image of God, and it describes three separate members of the
Godhead manifested at the baptism of Jesus (see Gen. 1:27; Matt.
3:13-17)."—Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Apostasy and Restoration,
General Conference, April 1995
(3/2/98)
"Of what great significance to the world are the contributions of Joseph
Smith, the Prophet?... Perhaps most important is the concept of the
Godhead. The New Testament clearly established that the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost are three separate and distinct beings, yet there are
many in the Christian world who do not accept this or believe in a
personal God in whose image we were created. The Father and the Son
actually appeared personally to Joseph Smith to establish their
personality and image. When the boy came out of that grove he knew the
facts--that God is in form like a man. He speaks, he is considerate and
kind, he answers prayer. He is a personal God for he called Joseph by
name. His Son is a like and distinct person and is the Mediator between
God and man."—President N. Eldon Tanner, The Contributions Of The
Prophet Joseph Smith, General Conference, October 1979
(3/3/98)
"That the unity of the Godhead is not oneness in person is made very
clear in the account of the baptism of Jesus Christ. The Son on that
occasion, coming up out of the waters of Jordan, the Holy Spirit
descending upon him in the form of a dove, and the voice of the Father
from heaven proclaiming 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.' Jesus said, 'I came forth from the Father, and am come unto
the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.' He also
prayed to the Father and in the prayer recorded by John, explained in
unmistakable language what he meant when he declared. 'I and my Father
are one.'"—Reed Smoot, Conference Report, April 1933, p.20
(3/4/98)
"Further, carrying out these duties [the commandments of God] will
entitle us to an ever-increasing companionship of the Holy Ghost. And
when we have the Spirit with us, it means we have achieved significant
Christ-centeredness in our lives, for we cannot be close to one member
of the Godhead without being close to all three."—Neal A. Maxwell, Notwithstanding
My Weakness, p.112
(3/5/98)
"Our Godhead consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. They are
supreme over all, and though they administer their kingdoms through a
hierarchy of appointed angels who also are exalted, one of whom is Adam
or Michael, in the ultimate sense these members of the Eternal Godhead
are the only Gods with whom we have to do. We worship the Father, in the
name of the Son, by the power of the Holy Ghost. We follow the Son as he
follows his Father. We labor and strive to be like the Son as he is like
the Father, and the Father and Son and Holy Ghost are one. For these
holy Beings we have unbounded love, reverence, and worship."—Bruce R.
McConkie, The Promised Messiah, p.13
(9/28/04)
"Notwithstanding the numerous New Testament witnesses of the Savior as a
resurrected being following his crucifixion (see, for example, Luke
24:36-48), there still persists the fallacious doctrine formulated
at the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325 that God the Father, his Son, Jesus
Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three personages of spirit-three
personages in one. The sacred record of the Savior's appearance to the
ancient Nephites is an essential, additional witness of the true nature
of the Son and of his relationship to the Father and to the Holy Ghost.
After introducing himself as Jesus Christ, he who had taken upon himself
the sins of the world (see 3
Ne. 11:11), he warmly invited the multitude to 'come forth unto
me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may
feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet' (3
Ne. 11:14). The resurrected Christ had a glorified body of flesh
and bone as certified by a multitude who 'did see with their eyes and
did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record,
that it was he' (3 Ne.
11:15)." - Spencer J. Condie, "The Fall and Infinite Atonement,"
Ensign, January 1996, p. 25
(10/21/04)
"The first article anchors our belief in God, our Eternal Father, in His
Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. How grateful we are for a
knowledge of Supreme Beings that rule and govern this world. Our belief
does not come from the speculations of men about the existence and
nature of God, but from firsthand experience from the Prophet Joseph
Smith in the Sacred Grove. His experience clarified for mankind the
existence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Thus
to the world came the vision that three personages comprise this great
presiding council of the universe and have revealed themselves to
mankind as three separate beings, physically distinct from each other as
demonstrated by the accepted records of their divine dealings with
mankind. We know the occasions where they have been in evidence to
mankind as three distinct personages. It is clear that the Father is a
personal being possessing a definite form of body, parts, and spiritual
passions, that Jesus Christ was with the Father in spirit before coming
to dwell in the flesh, and through whom worlds were made. He lived among
men as a man, with all of the physical characteristics of a human being.
After His Resurrection He appeared in that same form. The Holy Ghost,
also called Spirit or Spirit of the Lord, Spirit of God, Comforter, or
the Spirit of the Truth, is not tabernacled in a body of flesh and bones
but is a personage of spirit. The Holy Ghost is a witness of the Father
and of the Son declaring to man their attributes, bearing record of the
other personages of the Godhead." - L. Tom Perry, "The Articles of
Faith," Ensign, May 1998, p. 23-24
(10/23/04)
"When first communicated to mankind by prophets, the teachings we now
have in the Bible were 'plain and pure, and most precious and easy' to
understand (1 Ne.
14:23). Even in the transmitted and translated version we have
today, the Bible language confirms that God the Father and his
resurrected Son, Jesus Christ, are tangible, separate beings. To cite
only two of many such teachings, the Bible declares that man was created
in the image of God, and it describes three separate members of the
Godhead manifested at the baptism of Jesus (see Gen.
1:27; Matt.
3:13-17)." - Dallin H. Oaks, "Apostasy
and
Restoration," Ensign, May 1995, p. 84
(11/14/05)
"The Lord has blessed us with a knowledge that he lives, and has a body,
and that we are created in his image. We do not believe that he is some
kind of essence or that he is incomprehensible. If you have received the
witness that has come to me and know as I know that our Heavenly Father
has revealed himself to the children of men, that he is a personal God,
that we are created in his image, that our spirits were begotten by him,
that he has given us an opportunity to dwell upon the earth to receive a
physical tabernacle, in order that we may be prepared to return into his
presence and live eternally with him, I say, if you have received that
assurance, then you have a foundation upon which you may build your
faith. Take that from you, the knowledge that God really lives, the
assurance that Jesus Christ was the manifestation of God in the flesh,
take from you the assurance that there will be a literal resurrection
from the dead, and you will find yourselves in the condition that our
Father's children are in throughout the world, and I ask you, what
comfort remains to you then? These are the truths that are fundamental."
- George Albert Smith, Conference Reports, October 1921, p. 39
9/17/06
"Our eternal life is as dependent upon spiritual nutrients as our mortal
life is upon air. The most important spiritual nutrients are knowledge
of God and knowledge of his Son. We know the Father by knowing the Son.
What is the best source on the face of the earth to learn about the Son?
It is in studying another testament of him, commonly known as the Book
of Mormon, and then having the Holy Ghost bear witness to you that it is
true." - J. Thomas Fyans, "The
Book
of Mormon's Witness of Jesus Christ," Ensign (CR), May 1987, p.28
11/26/06
"History tells us there is a God. Science confirms the fact there is a
Supreme Being. Human reasoning persuades us that there is a God. His own
revelations to man leave no doubt as to his existence. In order for an
individual to obtain unwavering knowledge of the reality of God, he must
live the commandments and the doctrines announced by the Savior during
his personal ministry. 'Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is
not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall
know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of
myself.' (John
7:16-17.) In other words, those who are willing to make the
search, apply themselves, and do God's will, will have the knowledge
come to them of the reality of God." - Howard W. Hunter, "Conference
Report," April 1970, p.10
4/26/07
"How deeply grateful I am that we of this Church do not rely on any
man-made statement concerning the nature of Deity. Our knowledge comes
directly from the personal experience of Joseph Smith, who, while yet a
boy, spoke with God the Eternal Father and His Beloved Son, the Risen
Lord. He knelt in Their presence; he heard Their voices; and he
responded. Each was a distinct personality. Small wonder that he told
his mother that he had learned that her church was not true. And so, one
of the great overarching doctrines of this Church is our belief in God
the Eternal Father. He is a being, real and individual. He is the great
Governor of the universe, yet He is our Father, and we are His
children." - Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Things
of Which I Know," General Conference, April 2007
4/30/07
"I know that heaven-sent revelations have replaced the gross errors of
man-made doctrines concerning the Godhead. I know that God is our
Heavenly Father. His Son, Jesus Christ, is my Savior. The Holy Ghost
testifies of the Father and the Son. I express my profound gratitude to
God for introducing the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ to mankind in
these last days. The Savior lives; He has been seen; He has spoken; He
directs the work of His Church through apostles and prophets today. What
magnificent truths He has taught as the Good Shepherd who continues to
look after His sheep." - Gary J. Coleman, "Mom,
Are
We Christians?" General Conference, April 2007
11/25/07
"We once knew well our Elder Brother and our Father in Heaven. We
rejoiced at the prospects of earth life that could make it possible for
us to have a fulness of joy. We could hardly wait to demonstrate to our
Father and our Brother, the Lord, how much we loved them and how we
would be obedient to them in spite of the earthly opposition of the evil
one. Now we are here. Our memories are veiled. We are showing God and
ourselves what we can do. Nothing is going to startle us more when we
pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know
our Father and how familiar His face is to us." - Ezra Taft Benson, "The
Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson," p.24
2/15/08
"We have a little advantage over
the rest of the world, because our Father has supplemented the teachings
in the scriptures by a visitation to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Together
with the Savior he appeared manifesting his true character and clearing
away all doubt as to their actual existence. This modern day visitation
has placed us in a position to know our Father and to know his Son Jesus
Christ, and as Latter-day Saints, we ought to praise God for this
glorious revelation of the latter days, for it has brought us happiness
on earth, it has brought us even a taste of heaven while we dwell here
in mortal flesh." - G.
E. Ellsworth, "Conference
Report," October 1917, Second
Meeting Outdoors, p.130
4/20/08
"It
is of special significance that whenever Heavenly Father wants to
introduce His Son to us, He commands us to listen—to 'hear'
the words of Jesus."
- Robert D. Hales, "Gaining
a
Testimony of God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy
Ghost," General Conference, April 2008
2/23/09
"For
us
God is not an abstraction, he is not just an idea, a metaphysical
principle, an impersonal force or power. He is not identical with the
totality of the world, with the sum of all reality. He is not an 'absolute'
that in some way embraces the whole of reality in his being. Like us, he
exists in a world of space and time. Like us, he has ends to be
achieved, and he fashions a cosmic plan for realizing them. He is a
concrete, living person, and though in our finite state we cannot fully
comprehend him, we know that we are akin to him, for he is revealed to
us in the divine personality of his Son Jesus Christ."
- Hugh B. Brown, "Conference Report," April 1964, Afternoon
Meeting, p.83
6/28/09
“The following passage of Scripture is often cited to prove that the
Savior is the only personal being in the Deity: ‘Neither pray I for
these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their
word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in me and I in
Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that
Thou hast sent me. And the glory which Thou gavest me I have given
them; that they may be one, even as we are one.’ (John 17:20-22.) The
very wording of this Scripture shows that the Father and the Son are
not one in person, because He prays that all the disciples may be one
in the same manner that the Father and the Son are one, and one in
that sense only, for the simple reason that the oneness of the Father
and the Son is perfect and complete. Their unity consists in being one
in wisdom, one in knowledge, one in power, one in council, having a
unity of purpose in the accomplishment of man's salvation to the
tallest extent and in every conceivable respect. The disciples of
Jesus could not be one in person, for each of himself is a separate
individuality; they can be one, however, as the Father and Son are
one, in the accomplishment of one great purpose—the salvation of
mankind—because they are baptized by one Spirit into one body, even
the church of Christ; they have one Lord, one faith and one baptism,
and are all taught of God, having ‘access by one Spirit unto the
Father’ (Eph 2:18), who is not the author of confusion, and cannot
consistently, with His own attributes, contradict Himself.” -
Matthias F. Cowley, “Cowley's Talks on Doctrine,” p. 80
2/4/10
“To
me it is a significant and marvelous thing that in establishing and
opening this dispensation our Father did so with a revelation of
himself and of his Son Jesus Christ, as if to say to all the world
that he was weary of the attempts of men, earnest though these
attempts might have been, to define and describe him. Strange as it
seems, we alone, among all the great organizations that worship God,
have a true description and a true definition of him. The experience
of Joseph Smith in a few moments in the grove on a spring day in 1820,
brought more light and knowledge and understanding of the personality
and reality and substance of God and his Beloved Son than men had
arrived at during centuries of speculation. Notwithstanding the
declaration at Jordan at the time of the Savior's baptism when the
voice of the Father was heard, and notwithstanding the events on the
Mount of Transfiguration when again the voice of the Father was heard,
men somehow evidently had been unable to realize the separate entities
of the Father and the Son, their relationship and their reality.” -
Gordon B. Hinckley, “Conference Report,” April 1960,
Afternoon Meeting, p. 82
4/23/10
"I do not want this congregation, or any of
the congregations of the Latter-day Saints, to conceive the idea, or
to entertain it for one moment, that the true and living God—the
Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—who so loved the world that
he sent his Only Begotten Son into the world, to bleed, to die, and to
be sacrificed for the sin of the world, the Father of our spirits, he
who loves his children, is in any degree responsible for the carnage,
the bloodshed, the crime and the infamy that is today being
perpetrated because of war, or any other cause, throughout the world.
God is not responsible for it. I want you to let this sink into your
hearts and remember it. God does not design wickedness or crime in the
midst of his children, neither is he the cause of it. One of the
apostles said: 'Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of
God: for God cannot be tempted with evil; neither tempteth he any man.
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and
enticed.' The Lord God Almighty has no pleasure whatever in the
nations of the earth contending one with another and destroying
themselves. All this is contrary to the will of God, contrary to his
purposes, and contrary to his love, and to the very nature of the true
and the living God. He loveth his children; he desires them to have
life everlasting and not death. I pity the expressions that I have
heard so many times in the public print from ignorant preachers and
some poor mothers whose sons have been sacrificed at the front: 'Why
does God permit it? Why has God permitted my son to be slain? Why does
God permit the war that is existing today in all the nations of the
earth?' The answer is: Because the nations of the earth, together with
their leaders, exercise their freedom, the freedom of their agency, to
pursue their wicked course, which results in war and in the death and
destruction that is being perpetrated today throughout the nations of
the earth. The Lord has no pleasure in it, and I do not want the
Latter-day Saints to conceive the idea that God is responsible, or to
charge him with the crime of desiring the destruction of his children.
It is not true!" - Joseph F. Smith,
"Conference Report," April 1918, Afternoon Session, p. 170
5/14/10
"Even if you cannot
always see that silver lining on your clouds, God can, for He is the
very source of the light you seek. He does love you, and He knows your
fears. He hears your prayers. He is your Heavenly Father, and surely He
matches with His own the tears His children shed." - Jeffrey
R. Holland, "An High Priest of Good Things to Come," Ensign (CR),
November 1999, p. 36
9/27/11
The source of our spiritual power is
the Lord! The ultimate source of spiritual power is God our Father. The
messenger of this power is the Holy Ghost. This power differs from
electrical power. An electrical appliance consumes power. The use of His
spiritual power replenishes our power. While electrical power can be
used only for measured periods of time, spiritual power can be used for
time and eternity! - Russell M.
Nelson, "