Guest Author - P.D. Wiles

By guest author, P.D. Wiles.



The first of the thirteen Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints simply states:

We believe in God, the eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

Latter-day Saints believe in God, and that every person that has lived, is living now, or will ever live upon the earth is a child of God, our Heavenly Father:

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him…”(1 Corinthians 8:6.)

Latter-day Saints also believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He is the brother of us all. We believe that Christ, out of His love for us and for our Father in Heaven, agreed to be our Savior:

“And after he had said these words, he said unto me: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.” (1 Nephi 11:24.)


Latter-day Saints also believe in the Holy Ghost, a personage of spirit, who bears witness to the hearts of the children of God that Jesus Christ is the redeemer:

“And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.” (1 Nephi 10:17.)

Latter-day Saints believe that God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three separate and distinct persons. When the scriptures refer to the three being as one, Latter-day saints believe this means they are one in purpose, not three personalities combined into one embodiment of spirit. For example, Latter-day Saints believe the well-known scripture in Mark 1:9-11 is an example of how the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are distinct, physically and spiritually:

“And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Likewise this scripture detailing the testimony of Stephen, from Acts 7:55-56:

“But he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.”


(Note from your host—This series on the Articles of Faith is meant to explain core beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many different religions are represented here at Bella, and we as hosts honor each other’s rights to worship in the ways we feel are right. Please afford your hosts the same respect we offer one other, and refrain from argumentative, derogatory posts on any of our religious topics. Inappropriate posts in my LDS forums will not be accepted.)