Who God Isn’t
5 Truths about Our Heavenly Father
We can learn a lot about who God is when we understand who He is not.
Illustration by Camila Gray
One of the biggest blessings of the Restoration is that God has again revealed Himself and His character as a loving Heavenly Father. But sometimes we have thoughts or ideas about God that simply aren’t true. When this happens, we can learn a lot about who God is by understanding who He is not.
God is not some unfamiliar person on a throne far, far away.
He is our Father, more wonderful than even the best earthly father you could imagine. Although we can’t remember our premortal life with Him, He knows us individually and perfectly. He has a perfect body of flesh and bones, and we are in His image.
If you struggle to picture what God is like, there’s a perfect example: His Son, Jesus Christ. Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also” (John 14:6–7). In other words, if we want to know what Heavenly Father is like, we can learn about what Jesus Christ is like! They are perfectly united in purpose.
God is not someone too busy for you.
In fact, helping you have eternal life is His work and His glory. You are His #1 focus! He is not bound by time the way we are. Reach out to Him in prayer at any time. Then listen for the many ways He answers.
God is not someone forcing you to follow Him.
Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once taught, “Our Heavenly Father’s goal in parenting is not to have His children do what is right; it is to have His children choose to do what is right and ultimately become like Him.” He will invite you, counsel with you, and teach you truth, but He will not remove your agency by forcing you to follow Him.
God is not someone trying to catch you doing something wrong so He can punish you.
Instead, as Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles put it, “God is in relentless pursuit of you,” meaning He will never give up trying to help you return to Him. He knows all of us will naturally face hard things when we make mistakes. So He provides a way for us to be made clean from sin and find strength through His Son’s Atonement.
God is not someone waiting for you to be “enough” or “perfect” before He will love you.
His love for you is infinite. He loves you right now, as imperfect as you are! President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gives a powerful clarification about this truth: “‘Come as you are,’ a loving Father says to each of us, but He adds, ‘Don’t plan to stay as you are.’ We smile and remember that God is determined to make of us more than we thought we could be.” With perfect love and encouragement, Heavenly Father is trying to help you become like Him and receive all He has, one step at a time.
Who God IS
The best way to get to know your Heavenly Father is to keep having experiences with Him. How? Learn about Him and His Son from the scriptures and words of living prophets. Pray to Him. Keep His commandments. Spend quiet, personal time worshipping Him at church, in the temple, and in other holy places. Make and keep covenants with Him. He will help you know who He is and how He feels about you.