If I am not mistaken (but do correct me if I am), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate beings, i.e. three separate Gods. What Scripture passages do Latter-day Saints use to refute the “three persons in one God” view of trinitarianism?
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3These questions that ask for Biblical basis about LDS beliefs are often difficult to answer because the LDS believe in an open canon; that is, they accept more books of scripture than just the Bible. Incidentally, I'm not sure your question can be answered to your satisfaction. You'd have to expand the question to allow answers from any LDS book of scripture, but there are already questions about that.– MattCommented Jun 1, 2016 at 6:20
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1As originally asked, this question was on topic because it asked for the views of a specific denomination (LDS). In the course of editing, it got broadened and diffused to tritheists in general, which makes it too broad. If it were re-edited back to asking specifically about the biblical basis of LDS beliefs on this subject, it would be back on-topic. Also, the title asks for scriptural evidence for tritheism, whereas the body asks for the biblical basis against the traditional Christian Trinity of Persons, making the question unclear. IOW, this question needs clarification.– Lee WoofendenCommented Jun 2, 2016 at 3:02
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Thank you. I was really confused about this. I had one of my other questions close-voted for being too broad. When I saw this one get edited I was seriously confused about what exactly is off-topic and on-topic here.– Joey DayCommented Jun 2, 2016 at 3:12
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@Matt I changed the question to ask for “Scripture” passages. Obviously passages from the Bible will be more convincing to those of us who only subscribe to the Bible, but the question now leaves open which Scripture is acceptable in answers.– Joey DayCommented Jun 6, 2016 at 13:53
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@LeeWoofenden I've edited the question back to something close to the original wording.– Joey DayCommented Jun 6, 2016 at 13:54
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4 Answers
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
In this event, God the Father appeared as one individual introducing Jesus Christ as another separate being. There is no mention of the Holy Ghost but we can be sure he is there. (2 distinct individuals + Holy Ghost)
The Church’s first Article of Faith is:
“We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”
(3 distinct individuals)
But he, 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,
Holy Ghost within Stephen, Jesus Standing next to God. (3 distinct individuals)
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Jesus Christ in the River Jordan, Heavenly Father's voice from Heaven, Holy Ghost descends as a dove (3 distinct individuals)
Other Resources:
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1988/03/comparing-lds-beliefs-with-first-century-christianity?lang=eng
In addition to the references in Staples' answer, there is a statement in the book of Doctrine & Covenants:
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.
I'd also like to reinforce that the primary reference for LDS followers is Joseph Smith's First Vision, where both the Father and the Son appear standing next to each other, recounted in Joseph Smith-History 1:17. This is the event, taken as truthful, that puts a different perspective on passages from the Bible, rather than deriving the individuality of the Godhead from prior biblical teachings.
I am a Latter Day Saint, so I can answer this. For a more fully answer, I recommend that you go to http://everyverse.org/god-triune/ (which is a site I created - feel free to comment or ask questions there to reach me). But here below are some thoughts:
FATHER AND SON HAVE/ARE SEPARATE SPIRITS: - Luke 23:26 Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost/spirit. - Gen 1:2 And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters - Matt. 12:18 Behold my servant… I will put my spirit upon him
FATHER AND SON HAVE/ARE SEPARATE SOULS: - Matt. 12:18 Behold my servant… in whom my soul is well pleased - John 12:27 My soul is troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me (?)
FATHER AND SON ARE SEPARATE GODS (ONE IS THE GOD OF THE OTHER): - Ps. 45:7 God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows (compare to Heb. 1:9) - John 20:17 I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God
Hope this is helpful!
Let's start with 1st John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." THREE bear record, not one.
These three are one, but how? They are in complete agreement, they bear the same record.
If they are not separate why are there three bearing record? They are separate and their records are in perfect harmony, thus they are one.
At no point does John state nor indicate that these three are one mass form that does three things. Nowhere in scripture is it stated that these three are one person or one mass form or three entities in one or a conglomeration of three people in one body or three beings in one body, etcetera.
Colossians 2:9 "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." The Holy Ghost is a spirit and has no temple (physical body) (see 1st Corinthians 6:19) therefore for Jesus to contain the fulness of the Godhead bodily means that He is a God (has a fulness) physically. Therefore, the Holy Ghost is a God without a physical body AT THIS TIME as Jesus was before He obtained a physical body.
Similarly, since God the Father is greater than our Lord, He already has a body and is of course the 1st God in the Godhead. Numerous scriptures teach that God the Father does physical things, for instance Jesus commits His Spirit into His Hands (Luke 23:46) and He can be seen and not just heard (John 14:9) and (Matthew 3:17).
