Lorena's 1st Article of Faith Helps
Church approved resources compiled by Lorena Brown / ga10162007
 

“The Father has a body of flesh and bones, as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit.  Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.” (See D&C 130:22).
 

 God, the Eternal Father:  Mankind has a desire to worship something or someone.  We know that there is a God as he directed the creation of the earth in the book of Genesis in the Bible.  We are created in his own image – flesh, blood and bones (see Genesis 1: 26-27, Genesis 5:1, Moses 6:9). There is evidence that Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8). 

 In the New Testament, God’s voice was heard when Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan (Matthew 3:16-17).  When the apostle Stephen was being stoned to death, he saw God and Jesus (Acts 7:55-56). 

Jesus Christ:  Jesus was God’s son, as we know of from the account of his birth in Luke 2.  Jesus performed many miracles.  He was living among the Jewish people.  His Disciples bore testimony of him.  He was one of the three members of the Godhead present when he was baptized. 

In the Book of Mormon, Jesus showed the brother of Jared his finger, and then his whole body (Ether 3:19-20).  The Jaredites lived in the time of the tower of Babel.  When the tower was destroyed, the Jaredites were a righteous people and were led to make barges that would take them from the Old World to the New World.  When the brother of Jared asked Jesus to light stones so there would be light in the barges, he saw Christ’s finger.  Another time he was seen was when Christ appeared to the Nephites after his Crucifixion and resurrection.  God the Father’s voice was heard at the same time as Christ was descending from heaven (3 Nephi 11:3-11).

Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ when he had the vision telling him not to join any churches (Joseph Smith History).  He also saw Christ again when the Kirkland Temple was being dedicated (D&C 110:1-10).

Holy Ghost:  One cannot see the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit.  He is invisible to the eye, but the heart can feel him.  The Holy Ghost bears witness of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  He is also known as:  The Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God, Comforter and the Spirit of Truth.  He is the one that helps bring to our hearts a warm, fuzzy feeling when something is true, or a small thought when there’s trouble nearby.  He warns us, protects us, he makes us feel good when we’ve done the right thing.    

 
“The Godhead”

by President Gordon B. Hinckley (Adapted from an October 1986 conference address. See Ensign, November 1986, pages 49-51.)

“When writing down our most important beliefs, the Prophet Joseph put this as number one:” We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost” (A of F 1:1).

“I believe in God, the Eternal Father. He is my Father, the Father of my spirit, and the Father of the spirits of all of us. He is the great Creator, the Ruler of the Universe. He directed the creation of this earth on which we live. In his image man was created. The Eternal Father is personal. He is real. He is individual. He has a “body of flesh and bones as tangible [touchable] as man’s” (D&C 130:22).

“I worship him. I look to him as my strength. I pray to him for wisdom beyond my own. I seek to love him with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. His wisdom is greater than the wisdom of all men. His power is greater than the power of nature. His love is greater than the love of any other, and it is his work and his glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of all of us. (See Moses 1:39.)

“I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the eternal, living God. I believe in him as the Firstborn of the Father and as the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. I believe in him as an individual, separate and distinct from his Father.

“I believe that he was born of Mary and that Heavenly Father was his father. I believe that in his mortal life he was the one perfect man to walk the earth. I believe that through his atoning sacrifice, the offering of his life on Calvary’s Hill, he paid for our sins if we will forsake evil and follow him. I believe that through his atonement, without any price on our part, each of us is offered the gift of resurrection from the dead. None so great has ever walked the earth.

“He is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world. I believe in him. I love him. I worship him as I worship his Father. I thank him and kneel before his wounded feet and hands and side, amazed at the love he offers me.

“I believe in the Holy Ghost as a personage of spirit who occupies a place with the Father and the Son. He stands as the third member of the Godhead, the Comforter promised by the Savior, and the one who would teach the Savior’s followers all things and bring all things to their remembrance. The Holy Ghost is the Testifier of Truth. He can teach men things they cannot teach one another.

“I was baptized in the name of these three. I was married in the name of these three. They are distinct beings, but they are one in purpose and effort. They are united as one in bringing to pass the grand, divine plan for the salvation and exaltation of the children of God.” 

 
“The Godhead” 

By Karen Lofgreen, “The Godhead”, Friend, Feb. 1995, p. 36

”You are special! You know many things. Do you know someone who knows everything? Three glorious persons do know everything: God, the Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost. They are the three members of the Godhead.

When the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote the Articles of Faith, he knew that it was important for us to know about the Godhead and to understand how the members are alike and how they are different. “The Father has a body of flesh and bones … ; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost … is a personage of Spirit (D&C 130:22).

God the Eternal Father is the father of everyone. He is kind, and he loves you and all his children. Because he loves you, he sent his Son Jesus Christ to be your Savior and to be an example for you to follow.

Heavenly Father also wanted someone to always be near you to help you and to teach you, so he sent the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost helps you make right choices.”
 

Activity - (Taken from the February 1995 Friend Magazine) The scriptures help us learn about each member of the Godhead. After you read each characteristic and scripture citation below, look up the reference to learn more about God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Then color the spaces in the picture as suggested after the scripture reference. The title, “The Godhead,” may be any color you choose. When you finish, outline the letters you see in black, and you will have a beautiful mosaic to hang in your room.

Characteristics

1. God the Father is the father of everyone: “We are the offspring of God” (Acts 17:29) and “Ye are of God, little children.” (See 1 Jn. 4:4.) Color 1s and 20s yellow.

2. You receive the Holy Ghost after you are baptized: “If thou wilt … be baptized … in the name of … Jesus Christ, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (See Moses 6:52.) Color 2s and 16s orange.

3. The Holy Ghost is a gift from Heavenly Father: “The Holy Ghost, which … shall dwell in your heart … is thy gift.” (See D&C 8:2-4.) Color 3s and 33s green.

4. Jesus is Heavenly Father’s Son: “Jesus is baptized and the Father acclaims him,” saying, “This is my beloved Son.” (See Matt. 3:17, heading.) Color 4s and 17s blue.

5. God the Father lives in a beautiful and shiny place: “The angels … reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire.” (See D&C 130:6-7.) Color 5s, 22s, and 27s purple.

6. God the Father knows all things: “O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things.” (See 2 Ne. 9:20.) Color 6s and 23s yellow.

7. Jesus Christ created our earth: “The Father … hath delivered us … into the kingdom of his dear Son: … For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth.” (See Col. 1:12-16.) Color 7s, 18s, and 32s purple.

8. Jesus Christ is the perfect example: “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; … For I have given you an example.” (See John 13:13-15.) Color 8s and 29s blue.

9. The Holy Ghost helps you gain a testimony of Jesus Christ: “Ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost.” (See Moro. 10:7.) Color 9s, 21s, and 34s red.

10. God the Father gave us his Only Begotten Son: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” (See John 3:16.) Color 10s and 25s yellow.

11. Jesus Christ is the God of this earth: “Behold, I am Jesus Christ. … I am the God of … the whole earth.” (See 3 Ne. 11:10-14.) Color 11s, 26s, and 31s red.

12. You lived with Heavenly Father in heaven: “Ye have known him … from the beginning … , because ye have known the Father.” (See 1 Jn. 2:13.) Color 12s green.

13. The Holy Ghost helps you to know the truth: “And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (See Moro. 10:5.) Color 13s, 19s, and 35s blue.

14. You belong to Jesus’ church: “For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” (See D&C 115:4.) Color 14s, 24s, and 30s green.

15. The Holy Ghost can guide you: “If ye will … receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.” (See 2 Ne. 32:5.) Color 15s and 28s orange.