What Latter-day Saints believe
The Godhead
Latter-day Saints believe in God the Eternal Father, his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost as three separate beings, the Father and the Son with bodies of flesh and bones.
In the Church's words
The Church uses the word Godhead for the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and teaches that they are three distinct beings who are one in purpose. It does not accept the Trinity as defined by the early creeds.
1We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
Articles of Faith 1:1 · read it at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
22The 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.
Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 · read it at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
What the Bible says
The Bible holds two truths together: there is only one God, and the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are each God. Jesus sends his disciples to baptise in the one name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity is the Church's attempt to say both without denying either.
4Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one.
Deuteronomy 6:4 (WEB) · context
19Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 28:19 (WEB) · context
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1 (WEB) · context
3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.”
Acts 5:3-4 (WEB) · context
Sources
- Articles of Faith 1:1; Doctrine and Covenants 130:22 (churchofjesuschrist.org).