The Trinity Questions – For Traditional Christians

[Elgama]

I have yet to wade into this one - I came intially from a High Anglican background (explained to me by Gran as Roman Catholic but our priests can marry and there is a cross instead of a crucifix on the alter). I used to go to a presbyterian church with my Auntie because the Sunday School teacher was lovely and the rooms they held it in were warmer. I managed to get to about 12 without ever hearing the term trinity or understanding what it meant, and it was at a JW meeting in my experience traditional Christian churches quite rightly tended to concerntrate on following Jesus. Its only on LDS boards that the trinity tends to become of major importance, I dont honestly believe the makeup of the Godhead was that important to most of the people I went to church with - their concerntration was on obeying commandments and living a Christlike life.

My personal view is we cannot hope to understand more than a slight segment of the mechanics and makeup of God both now and through the eternities, so probably both the hardline trinitarians and the non trinitarians are correct in their views - they are both trying to explain something we are not yet ready to understand so we there is room for both right and wrong in both views.

I personally see it along the lines of the Hindu One God with many faces for all I know when I use the term God I am including Heavenly Father's, Heavenly Parents and siblings etc God is the term I use when I am talking about the laws that guide us, and things that are eternal, I feel what we are working for is to become part of that. I use the Godhead when I am not sure if I mean which of the 3 gods that pertain to Earth Iam speaking about there are occasions of overlap when all 3 seem to be working together and not just in purpose. And then their are times when I I know which one is responsible for particular acts for example the atonement. my conscience. My prayers involve all 3 and it is them I have the relationship with Heavenly Father receives my prayers through the Saviour but without the Holy Ghost I could not hear their answer.

-Charley

[RONALD]

Originally Posted by Elgama

I have yet to wade into this one - I came intially from a High Anglican background (explained to me by Gran as Roman Catholic but our priests can marry and there is a cross instead of a crucifix on the alter). I used to go to a presbyterian church with my Auntie because the Sunday School teacher was lovely and the rooms they held it in were warmer. I managed to get to about 12 without ever hearing the term trinity or understanding what it meant, and it was at a JW meeting in my experience traditional Christian churches quite rightly tended to concerntrate on following Jesus. Its only on LDS boards that the trinity tends to become of major importance, I dont honestly believe the makeup of the Godhead was that important to most of the people I went to church with - their concerntration was on obeying commandments and living a Christlike life.

My personal view is we cannot hope to understand more than a slight segment of the mechanics and makeup of God both now and through the eternities, so probably both the hardline trinitarians and the non trinitarians are correct in their views - they are both trying to explain something we are not yet ready to understand so we there is room for both right and wrong in both views.

I personally see it along the lines of the Hindu One God with many faces for all I know when I use the term God I am including Heavenly Father's, Heavenly Parents and siblings etc God is the term I use when I am talking about the laws that guide us, and things that are eternal, I feel what we are working for is to become part of that. I use the Godhead when I am not sure if I mean which of the 3 gods that pertain to Earth Iam speaking about there are occasions of overlap when all 3 seem to be working together and not just in purpose. And then their are times when I I know which one is responsible for particular acts for example the atonement. my conscience. My prayers involve all 3 and it is them I have the relationship with Heavenly Father receives my prayers through the Saviour but without the Holy Ghost I could not hear their answer.

-Charley

Thanks for your thoughts - but - I believe it does really matter to know who and what we worship and I'd like to tell you why I say this. As I was raised a Catholic and went to Catholic schools for the most part I was taught to worship a God without body, parts or passion but in the same breath I was taught that Jesus has a physical body of flesh and bone and as a son of God I was made in His image. This was all so confusing for me and was told not to worry about this.
Something deepdown within me did not believe what I was being taught for when I pondered upon these things a fairly clear image of my Heavenly Father would come to mind and I saw a man with body and parts in whose image I was created. I then followed an eastern Guru who taught principly the same that God was every where, a divine ocean etc. So I was no closer to those inner feelings and images. I ask myself who put those images in my mind, when I had been taught differently ? It was only some 8 months after the missionaries from LDS church in a discussion said that God had a BODY with Flesh and Bone as His Son and that we would be resurected with the same imortal body.(not the same Glory)

DID I SIT UP AND LISTEN ? U BET!

I ask the question where would I be still worshiping God with the thoughts and feelings and images that caused me so much confusion.

[Elgama]

Originally Posted by RONALD

Thanks for your thoughts - but - I believe it does really matter to know who and what we worship and I'd like ...............Something deepdown within me did not believe what I was being taught for when I pondered upon these things a fairly clear image of my Heavenly Father would come to mind and I saw a man with body and parts in whose image I was created. I then followed an eastern Guru who taught principly the same that God was every where, a divine ocean etc. So I was no closer to those inner feelings and images. I ask myself who put those images in my mind, when I had been taught differently ? It was only some 8 months after the missionaries from LDS church in a discussion said that God had a BODY with Flesh and Bone as His Son and that we would be resurected with the same imortal body.(not the same Glory)

DID I SIT UP AND LISTEN ? U BET!

I ask the question where would I be still worshiping God with the thoughts and feelings and images that caused me so much confusion.

We all have the reasons we become LDS mine was connected to the requirement of baptism, the fall of Adam and Eve and a couple of others,

I guess my question is - did the God you prayed to, listened to, loved change? or did just your understanding change?

One of my favourite parts of the Chronicles of Narnia is when the children comment that Aslan is bigger than the last time they saw him, and he says its not him that has grown its the children.

For me the Body is part of my knowledge because I grew up with a spiritualist Auntie and Uncle living next door, and they often believe God has a physical body, but I still don;t know how his body works or functions.

-Charley

[RONALD]

Originally Posted by Elgama

I guess my question is - did the God you prayed to, listened to, loved change? or did just your understanding change?

-Charley

I believe that He knows us and the intentions of our hearts so I believe He deffinitely listened to my simple prayers as he does with all his children irespective of our individual understanding, I liken it to the two of us meeting and you call me Peter once or twice as I remind you of a Peter (no ofence would be taken) but with time I would expect you to call me by my proper name as you get to know me better.
I am sure that I am able to give more full of myself just based on my understanding as the conflict before was deffinitely something that held me back

[Elgama]

I guess its often hard to remember we all have our own journeys to take in religion for me God was a huge part of my life early on I wanted to be a Nun right upto my baptism it still called me - for me God was just God and my love and relationship doesn't change a huge amount knowing more.

-Charley

[RONALD]

Originally Posted by Elgama

I guess its often hard to remember we all have our own journeys to take in religion for me God was a huge part of my life early on I wanted to be a Nun right upto my baptism it still called me - for me God was just God and my love and relationship doesn't change a huge amount knowing more.

-Charley

One step at a time always in the right direction (very important)

[prisonchaplain]

A pretty common understanding of "sons of God" in Job, is that they were angels.

[RONALD]

Originally Posted by prisonchaplain

A pretty common understanding of "sons of God" in Job, is that they were angels.

Why is God asking Job where he was when He was laying the foundation, in a way as to say dont you know you were here with us ?

[georgia2]

I guess my question is - did the God you prayed to, listened to, loved change? or did just your understanding change?

God doesn't change, we change our understanding. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

It is very important to have an understanding of the Godhead as a member of the LDS church, This is a main doctrine. This is one of those things that totally set the church apart from others.

Joseph Smith saw 2 personages who called him by name and said to him pointing to the person on his right hand, "You will know the truth through my son". If you have a testimony of Joseph Smith being a prophet, then you have to believe that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are 2 distinct beings.

Our earthly families are fashioned after our heavenly family. My father is definitely a different and distinct being than my brother. The difference with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is that they are perfect and if you are perfect, you are the same, together, one. One in purpose, character, goals, pursuit, judgement.

[prisonchaplain]

Originally Posted by RONALD

Why is God asking Job where he was when He was laying the foundation, in a way as to say dont you know you were here with us ?

Or, just as easily, and always my understanding, "When I was making the world you were yet to be made, so who do you think you are to offer me counsel?"