Mormon Beliefs: Article of Faith 1
“We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”
Mormon doctrine teaches about God, the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Christianity often calls these three the Holy Trinity. Mormonism favors the term Godhead instead of Trinity, in order to distinguish its belief in the nature of God.
Mormon doctrine claims that the Godhead is three separate individuals. God, the Father, is literally the spiritual Father of all mankind. He has a glorified body of flesh and bone. Mormons believe what is written in Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his [own] image,” is also literal. If God were to reveal Himself today, He would appear as a man, for man is created after His image. Although the image is the same, His body is not a mortal body, but a perfect, immortal body. As our Father, God shares passions and personality common to men. He loves us as a father would love his children. He rejoices in our righteousness and sorrows for our sins. God is all powerful, and all knowing, benevolent, and just. He is perfect, and His desire is for us to become like Him.
Jesus Christ is the firstborn spirit of God, according to Mormon doctrine. Because we are all spirit children of God, this makes Him our elder brother. Jesus was chosen before the world was created to be the Savior of all mankind. Under the direction of His Father, He created the earth and became Lord over all things. He ruled as Jehovah of the Old Testament and came to earth as Jesus of Nazareth. He had a mortal mother, Mary, but His Father was God. With this sacred parentage He was able to make Atonement for the sins of the world, being sacrificed for all our sakes when he was crucified. After three days He was resurrected and now sits at the right hand of God, possessing an immortal, glorified body like God the Father. Mormon doctrine says that Jesus Christ will be our mediator at the judgment bar of God. Because He has suffered all things, He will know how to judge us mercifully. Our sins are forgiven through obedience to Jesus Christ.
The Holy Ghost is a distinct personage in the Godhead, according to Mormon belief, but does not have a physical body as do God and Jesus. He is a personage of spirit and thus His influence can be everywhere at once. It is through the Holy Ghost that the power of God is wrought. The Holy Ghost is the revealer of truth. No one can know of God or Jesus Christ except by the power of the Holy Ghost. He is the Comforter that Jesus spoke of in John 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.” Because of the Holy Ghost, the power and influence of God can always be with us. The Mormon (LDS) Church teaches that the gift of the Holy Ghost may only be given by priesthood authority.