Part 1-The Godhead

“ We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost."

A) God, the Father
God! Who is he really? Does he really exist? When we look around at the beauty of the world and its organization, everything denotes and testifies that there is a God. Everyone, at least once in their lifetime wonders about it. It is reasonable to say that most of the people, here on the earth, believe in a supreme being, called by many different names. From God to Allah, from Buddha to the Great Spirit.
It is a true and basic belief that we have, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that there is a God! A living God. He is perfect, all wise and all-powerful! The prophet Joseph Smith once said: “If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves.1” Through a revelation concerning the church organization received in April 1830, the prophet Joseph Smith recorded: “By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them; And that he created man, male and female, after his own image and his own likeness, created he them; And gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship.2”
Many Christians believe in a God and a Son, as one being. After studying the Bible in depth, the true gospel of Jesus Christ appears in its simple truth. “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.3” What a beautiful way for our Father in heaven to show us His great love. His Son came to earth and gave his life for us. While on earth, Jesus Christ was baptized by immersion, by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Matthew gave an account of this baptism. “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water....And lo a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.4” What a beautiful experience. If a voice was coming out from heaven saying "This is my beloved Son", how could Jesus Christ and God the Father be the same beings ?

Later on, after Jesus Christ was resurrected, he appeared to Mary Magdalene in the Garden and reaffirmed the same truth when she tried to touch him, wanting to make sure that the person she was seeing was real. He said “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: But go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.5” Jesus Christ was acknowledging his Sonship and the greatness of His father, who is the Father of all. The final and great truth about the Godhead6 was announced while Jesus Christ was praying to his Father for those who believe that he has sent him7: “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one8” Jesus Christ expresses his desire of unity between the saints and their Lord just as God the Father is united with his Son Jesus Christ. God the Father is literally a Father.
The Book of Mormon reinforce this eternal truth by giving us a little more insight on the subject: “And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me. And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.9” These are the words that the Lord addressed to his people while visiting on the American continent. We believe that God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are three separate and different beings although, one in unity and purpose. God the Father being the Father of all, living from eternities to eternities.

B) Jesus Christ, the Son
Jesus Christ was sent by the Father to redeem us from our sins and showed us the way to return to the Father. Some confusion may occur in the fact that the Son, Jesus Christ, may also be called the Father; having taken part in the creation of the world with his Father.
“And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness...10”. Moses knew whom was this "us" spoken about in the book of Genesis. He gave an account himself of the creation while he was being taught by the Lord: “And I, God, said unto mine Only Begotten, which was with me from the beginning: Let us make man after our own image, after our likeness...11”.
“Us” was God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ created the earth and every one of us under the direction of his Father.
Many centuries ago, Jesus Christ asked his Apostles while they were at the coast of Ceasarea Phillipi: “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?12” . Proof of the confusion of the time is that they referred to him as John the Baptist, or any other prophet. With a desire to find out what they, the Apostles thought about him, he asked: “But whom say ye that I am?13” . Simon Peter answered: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.14” At that time, the divine Sonship of Christ had been revealed to Peter Simon, not by men's knowledge but by the Father, which is in heaven15."

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is also our Savior and Redeemer; He was the only one pure and perfect enough to take the sins of the world upon Him. One of the prophets of the Church, David O. Mckay said: “ The gospel teaches that Christ is the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world. No true follower is satisfied to accept him merely as a great Reformer, the ideal Teacher, or even as the one perfect Man. The Man of Galilee is not figuratively, but literally, the Son of the living God 16.”
Jesus Christ, during his mortal life, showed us the way to return to our heavenly Father. He, being “The way, the truth and the life.17” He taught important truths that help us become more like him and our Father in heaven. He simply asked us to do by the simple thing: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.18” Because he paid the price for us, he obtained the right to judge us. “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son [..]. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father, which hath sent me19”, said Jesus Christ. The Father hath committed all judgment unto the Son who seeks to do the will of his Father “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are on earth.... And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.20” In fact, John expresses the idea that Jesus Christ will be our advocate with the Father21.
Each of us will be judged by our works and the desires of our hearts. A revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith from the Lord expresses the truth: “For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.22”

C) The Holy Ghost
We have treated of two essential beings constituting the Godhead. The third one is called the Holy Ghost; being a personage of spirit. “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. A man may receive the Holy Ghost, and it may descend upon him and not tarry with him.23” He has a real importance in the Godhead. He testifies of the truth. His role is to testify of Jesus Christ.
While Jesus Christ was with his Apostles, just before his crucifixion, he explained to them that he was about to leave and return home to His father. But he wouldn't leave the Apostles alone. He would send them the Holy Ghost or Comforter: “But when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proccedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.24” The Holy Ghost testifies of the truth, about Christ; just as Christ testifies of the Father.

The Holy Ghost often times is referred to as the Comforter. He also has the power to enlighten our minds, to stimulate our conscience through feelings, and witnesses of the truthfulness of all things. “ And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.25”

The Apostle Paul identified these feelings from the Holy Ghost, while he was teaching the people in Galatia. He used the analogy of a spirit tree and explained the fruit coming from this tree, just like every tree produces fruit. Any truth, coming from the Lord is confirmed by the Holy Ghost. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.26” From the Mormon Doctrine, we read: “The Holy Ghost is the Comforter, Testator, Revelator, Sanctifier, Holy spirit, Holy Spirit of Promise, Spirit of Truth, Spirit of the Lord, and Messenger of the Father and the Son, and his companionship is the greatest gift that mortal man can enjoy. 27”

Any truth can be confirmed through the power of the Holy Ghost. Those feelings mentioned by the Apostle Paul are some of the ways the Lord uses to talk to his children. It is the way the Lord has provided so that his children can find the truth and not be lost in darkness and confusion.
In the world many truths are given, many truths are taken. The Lord loves us so much that he made it possible for us to recognize which is from Him, and which is from man. God the Eternal Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are what we call the Godhead. Three different beings, all witnessing of the other and having the same purpose which make them one. It is fundamental to know them; to appreciate them, and recognize their role and their importance.

References:

1. Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 343
2. Doctrine and Covenants 20: 17-19
3. John 3: 16
4. Matthew 3: 17
5. John 20: 17
6. Godhead meaning “God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and The Holy Ghost”
7. See John 17: 20
8. John 17: 21-22
9. 3 Nephi 11: 32, 36
10. See Genesis 1: 26
11. See Pearl of Great Price; Book of Moses 2: 26
12. Matthew 16: 13
13. Matthew 16: 15
14. Matthew 16: 16
15. See Matthew 16:17
16. David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals, pg. 46
17. See John 14: 6
18. John 14: 15
19. See John 5: 22, 30
20. See Colossians 1: 16-17
21. See 1 John 2: 1
22. Doctrine and Covenants 137: 9
23. Doctrine and Covenants 130: 22-23
24. John 15: 26
25. Moroni 10:5
26. Galatians 5: 22-23
27. Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pg. 359