Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove looking up at the personages of God the Father and Jesus Christ
Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost were all present at Jesus Christ’s baptism. This lesson can help you deepen your understanding of each member of the Godhead, which in turn can impact your choices in life.
Recognizing a student’s current understanding. Each student brings unique experiences, knowledge, understanding, and perspective to class. Seek to discover students’ current understanding of a given doctrine, principle, or concept, and then look for ways to guide them through the learning process.
Student preparation: Invite students to come to class prepared to share what they know about the Godhead, how they know it, and what questions they might have.
Possible Learning Activities
What helps Latter-day Saint youth handle difficulties well?
Consider displaying the following statement as students discuss the questions that follow.
Read the following statement from President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency:
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President Dallin H. Oaks
A [news] article had the title “Mormon teens cope best: Study finds they top peers at handling adolescence.” This article concluded that “Mormons fared best at avoiding risky behaviors, doing well in school and having a positive attitude about the future.” One of the researchers in the study, who interviewed most of our youth, said, “Across almost every category we looked at, there was a clear pattern: Mormons were first.”
Why do you think many Latter-day Saint youth might handle the difficulties of life so well?
Think about your own experience in life.
Consider inviting students to quietly rate themselves on a scale like the following:
How well do you think the description of the youth who were interviewed describes you?
This describes me well.
This somewhat describes me.
This does not describe me at all.
President Oaks went on to say that one reason he feels youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are so prepared to face challenges is their understanding of the plan of salvation and their knowledge of their relationship with God (see “Parents and Children,” 62). On another occasion, he taught:
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President Dallin H. Oaks
Because we have the truth about the Godhead and our relationship to Them, the purpose of life, and the nature of our eternal destiny, we have the ultimate road map and assurance for our journey through mortality.
Why do you think understanding these truths helps Latter-day Saint teenagers avoid risky behaviors, do well in school, and have a positive attitude about the future?
Even among Latter-day Saint youth, what are some obstacles in coming to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Ghost?
Take a minute to think about what you know and understand about the roles of the Godhead and the love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for you. In this lesson, you will have the opportunity to learn more about Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost and to ponder how learning about Them can help you in your life.
The scriptures teach about the Godhead
Consider inviting students to share what they prepared for class by having them write down what they know about the Godhead and how they know it.
Divide a sheet of paper into three columns and label the top of the first column “Heavenly Father,”the second column “Jesus Christ,”and the third column “The Holy Ghost.” Inside each respective column, write down one or two things you know about this member of the Godhead. Include a brief explanation of how you learned each truth or why you believe it. Throughout the lesson, take the opportunity to add to these columns what you learn about each member of the Godhead.
This activity can also be done as a class by making three columns on the board. Students could be invited to come up to the board to add different insights throughout the lesson.
One place in scripture where we can learn more about the Godhead is when Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist.
Display an image of Jesus Christ’s baptism.
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John the Bapist baptizing Jesus Christ in the River Jordan
Read about Jesus Christ’s baptism in one or more of the following Gospel accounts, looking for what you can learn about each member of the Godhead:
Students may identify truths similar to the following:
the Godhead are three separate and distinct beings,
Jesus Christ submits to the will of the Father,
Jesus Christ fulfills all righteousness,
Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost bear record of Jesus Christ,
What did you learn about each member of the Godhead?
Listen carefully as students share, then use some or all of the following information to help them better understand the Godhead.
These verses help us understand that each member of the Godhead is a separate being and fulfills an important role in our lives. For example, the Savior gave us an example of doing the will of the Father. When God was pleased with Jesus Christ at His baptism, He showed that He is a loving Heavenly Father who is happy when we obey Him.
When have you felt that Heavenly Father was pleased with you for something you did? How did knowing He was pleased affect you?
Some students may initially think that they have never done anything that pleased Heavenly Father. It may help to ask them to carefully ponder these questions and pay attention to their thoughts and feelings. Identifying times when they felt love, joy, peace, or goodness (feelings that come from the Holy Ghost) could help students see times that Heavenly Father was happy with their actions (see Galatians 5:22).
The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) explained that the Holy Ghost did not appear as a dove. Instead, the dove showed that the Holy Ghost was present. Joseph Smith taught, “The Holy Ghost cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 81).
When has the Holy Ghost testified of truth to you?
What questions do you have about the Godhead?
Use these or other available options that will best meet the needs of the students. Instead of asking students to choose an option, it may also be helpful to study together as a class or watch one of the videos together.
Choose one or more of the following options to help you find answers to your questions about the Godhead. As you study, also look for ways that understanding the Godhead can bless you personally.
Search for additional insights in the scriptures. You may want to look under “God, Godhead” in the Guide to the Scriptures or “Godhead” in the Topical Guide.
Study teachings from prophets and apostles about the Godhead. For example, you could read Dallin H. Oaks’s talk “The Godhead and the Plan of Salvation” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 100–103) or Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk “Knowing the Godhead” (Ensign or Liahona, Jan. 2016, 32–39).
Watch the video “What Is the Godhead?” (7:03) or “Godhead—He Knows Me” (3:01), both found on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
What scriptures or teachings helped you learn more about the Godhead? What did you learn?
How can this knowledge bless your relationship with Them?
Imagine that you were asked to be interviewed for an article following up on the one discussed at the beginning of class. Many people wrote to the editor and wanted to know reasons why Latter-day Saint youth coped best with adolescence. You have an opportunity to provide insight into how each member of the Godhead has helped you in Their individual but related roles. For example, you may have experiences with Heavenly Father answering your prayers, Jesus Christ suffering for your sins, or the Holy Ghost confirming truth to you. Plan your response by answering the following questions.
How does each member of the Godhead help you handle the difficulties of teenage life?
What experiences have helped you understand and come to know the different members of the Godhead?
What would you recommend others do to receive the blessings that come from Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?
Invite several students to share their answer to one of the questions. Share your own testimony of how understanding and knowing the Godhead has helped you in your life.
Commentary and Background Information
Why do the scriptures say that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are “one” if they are separate and distinct beings?
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
We believe these three divine persons constituting a single Godhead are united in purpose, in manner, in testimony, in mission. We believe Them to be filled with the same godly sense of mercy and love, justice and grace, patience, forgiveness, and redemption. I think it is accurate to say we believe They are one in every significant and eternal aspect imaginable except believing Them to be three persons combined in one substance, a Trinitarian notion never set forth in the scriptures because it is not true. …
We declare it is self-evident from the scriptures that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are separate persons, three divine beings, noting such unequivocal illustrations as the Savior’s great Intercessory Prayer [see John 17] …, His baptism at the hands of John [see Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22], the experience on the Mount of Transfiguration [see Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35], and the martyrdom of Stephen [see Acts 7:55–56]—to name just four.
Matthew 3:16. Did the Holy Ghost appear as a dove?
The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) explained:
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the Prophet Joseph Smith
The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost is a personage, and is in the form of a personage. It does not confine itself to the form of the dove, but in sign of the dove. The Holy Ghost cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence.
(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 81)
Supplemental Learning Activity
Alternate student preparation
Invite students to think of one example of how Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are united in purpose but fulfill different roles. (For example, we pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost helps us recognize the answers to our prayers.)