What do Mormons believe about the Trinity?

Joseph Smith's 1st Vision

This time I'm going to do something a little different. My posts have normally been fairly long, filled with explanations, scriptural references, and proof. Here, I will tell you what we as Latter-Day Saints have come to know about Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Ghost and if you have questions please leave them as a comment, and I will answer to the best of my ability.

As I have said in an earlier post, We believe that God The Father is the literal Father of our souls (John chapter 20 vs. 17), with a prefect Body (Genesis chapter 1 vs. 26) We believe that Jesus Christ is Literally God's only Begotten Son. He is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. He is the savior of all mankind, and the redeemer of us all. He literally suffered and died for us, and was actually and truly resurrected, or reunited with his body In a perfect form, three days after His death. Since then, He too has had a perfect body of flesh and Bone. He is our brother in spirit, and He loves us dearly. He is the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Because Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ both have bodies, and can therefore only be in one place at a time, there needed to be a personage of spirit who could influence the Hearts of all men to do good. That is the Holy Ghost, or the Spirit of Promise that Christ said would come to lead us after He returned to live with the father. The Holy Ghost does not have a Body. He speaks to our Hearts quietly and meekly, always testifying of truth and helps us to know what Heavenly Father and Christ desire for us. The Holy Ghost is also referred to as the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, and the Spirit of Promise.

Who was present at Christ's Baptism?

We believe that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Ghost are three distinct and separate individuals, who are one in purpose, goals, mindset, plan, and doctrine (see St John chapter 17 verse 21 for an explanation of the usage of the word "one" to describe these individuals)

Finally, we believe that these individuals love us deeply, and that they have sacrificed much for us and want us to come to live with them once more. That's why, when we pray, we can sometimes feel the reassurance of their love, and we can receive answers to questions that pertain to our eternal salvation. Which leads me into my usual suggestion: don't take my word for it, ask them. Study the scriptures (including the Book of Mormon) and ask God sincerely if these things are true, and by the power and influence of the Holy Ghost, He will manifest the truth of it unto you (Moroni Chapter 10 verse 4)

Where Do We Go After We Die?

If only it were that easy, Huh?

The Bible teaches us that after this life, we either go to Heaven or Hell. (...thou shalt be brought down to hell - Isaiah 14:15. ...he was received up into heaven: Mark 16:19) The Bible also tells us that, because Christ was resurrected, all people shall be resurrected and reunited with their bodies, only in a perfect state (See John chapter 11 verse 25 and 26). However, the Bible also mentions some things that are not really explained, such as in 2 Corinthians chapter 12 where Paul speaks of knowing a man who was caught up into the third heaven, and of the man caught up into paradise, or when he speaks in chapter 15 about celestial, terrestrial, and telestial bodies. Luckily, Heavenly Father knew that all or the teachings of His Gospel could not be contained into one book perfectly; that's why we have the Book of Mormon to help us see the whole picture.

Immediately After Death

This is an illustration of the stages of Life from Beginning to End

(Note: These teachings come from the 40th chapter of the Book of Alma within the Book of Mormon as well as the 9th chapter of the second book of Nephi in the Book of Mormon, pages 307 - 309 and 72 - 77 accordingly. I strongly suggest reading those chapters so as to get your answers from the source of truth, instead of second hand)

Death is the literal separation of out spirits from our bodies. As soon as we die, Alma tells us that our spirits are taken to, essentially, one of two waiting areas: "And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise ... this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection." As members of the church, we call these two places spirit paradise (just as Paul described) and spirit prison, and together, they make up the Spirit World. Our spirits wait in the Spirit World until it is time for each of us to be resurrected. (I feel to mention that this Spirit World is where the Idea that there is one heaven and one hell comes from. Remember however, that Christ said, "In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2))

Resurrection and Judgment

When it comes our time, we will be reunited with our bodies, and our bodies will be perfected so that we can live forever. At this time, we will "be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to [our] works" here I return to Paul. He knew very well that the spirit world was not our final destination. In chapter 15 of Corinthians, he informs us that there are three glories in the Kingdom of God: "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead" (verse 41 - 42). Those who have accepted Christ, repented, been baptized by His priesthood Authority, and lived all of His teachings to the best of their ability are made clean in His atonement and are allowed to enter into the Celestial Kingdom, or the Glory of the Sun, where Heavenly Father resides. There they will live in everlasting Joy for the rest of eternity with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

As always, I would advise you to study the scriptures diligently and ask Heavenly Father in honest prayer if the things which I speak are true. He alone will never lie to you. My desire is that you will find this truth for yourself so that you may realize that this life is a time for us to prepare for the eternities. Please do not trade 100 years of simple pleasure for an eternity of complete joy. Come to Christ, for His arms are opened to you. Of Him I so testify, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

Who is Joseph Smith?

Actor who plays Joseph Smith

Well, the Simple answer to that Question is that Joseph Smith was a Servant of The Lord Jesus Christ. Namely, he was God's chosen Prophet for this day in the Time (About 1830 - 1844 AD) that he lived. Therefore, like Moses, Abraham, or Noah, Joseph Smith was, at his time, the divinely chosen leader of Heavenly Father's Children, given the task to instruct God's Children as to the will of God in our Day, that we might have the opportunity to continually progress and one day live with Him again.

Establishing some Background

Sound presumptuous? Maybe; But let me take you to some scriptures.
Genesis Chapter 7 Verse 7 reads: "And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood"
A prophet of about 600 years of age, with only 7 followers.

Even without a computer, He's still pretty awesome.

Exodus Chapter 14 Verse 12 reads: "Is not this the Word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness
A Prophet sent to deliver God's Children from bondage, and God's Children would that he had never come.

Lamentations Chapter 1 Verse 1 reads: "How Doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! How is she become as a widow! She that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!"
...And so a nation who was given a prophet to guide them out of the conquering hands of the Babylonians lies in heaps of ash because they would not listen to the Prophet of their day.

And Finally, St. Matthew Chapter 26 Verse 66-68 Reads: "What Think ye? They answered and said, His is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the pals of their hands, Saying, prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?"
For though the Son of God himself would appear to lead the Children of God, still Jesus Christ is rejected with the least and greatest of the prophets.

You see? It is as Jesus Taught, "A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house" Mark 6:4. Prophets of old have been rejected because, much like today, the Children of God for some reason believed that God eventually stops loving us enough to send us guidance.  But I am here to testify that God the Father has not stopped loving us. He is the same Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, for that is what he taught of himself. Therefore, now, as in times of old, God has sent a prophet to the Earth to make known His Will.

What did Joseph Smith Do?

Lots of Things, but since we don't have forever, and you don't want to read a novel, here are just a couple.
Under the Direction of Heavenly Father, and after Receiving from explicit permission to act in His name (called the Priesthood) Joseph Smith preached the Word of God to the children of men, translated the Book of Mormon from Ancient records inscribed on golden plates and buried in the ground, Re-established or restored the Church of Jesus Christ in the same way and with the same organization as it had been organized by Jesus Christ Himself while He was on the Earth, lead the members of that Church out of harms way to a place where they could safely worship God, and Prophesied and received revelation for our day so that we could know for a surety how to live that way God intends for us to Live. Joseph lived a good life endeavoring to continually live the way he was being taught by God. Like Moses, Noah, or even Christ, Joseph came to this world in a time where the 100% pure word of God did not Exist, so he was tasked with rebuilding bridge from us here on Earth to Our Heavenly Father.

Why do we need a prophet? Isn't The Bible Enough?

Can you ask the bible what a computer is? Can you ask the Bible What the proper way to use the internet is? If you asked Moses whether or not we should smoke cigars, what would he say? 
The problem is, though God does not change, we do. We are constantly learning, creating, changing, and moving about. We need living Scriptures. Noah's revelation to build an Ark did not instruct Moses as to how to rescue the Israelites from Egypt, and Moses' revelation did not tell Jeremiah to preach repentance to Jerusalem lest they be destroyed. They were living scripture in their day, and now, out of love, Heavenly Father has sent Living scriptures to ensure that we know the way back to Him. We still have the agency to choose, but at least Heavenly Father has done His part.

How Can I know This is True?

My suggestion is to read the bible. First see if you can pull out some of the things that Christ did while on the Earth pertaining to organizing a Church. Then, compare that to the way The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is organized. Above all, pray to the one person you know who can't lie. Ask Him if this is His work. When you get your answer, remember, our doors are always open. We Love You. I love You. God the Father and Jesus Christ Love you. Seek for their word, and you shall find.
May the Lord Bless us in our search for Him. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.