Matthew 3:13–17, Part 2

Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost

Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove looking up at the personages of God the Father and Jesus Christ, who have appeared to him.

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.

What helps Latter-day Saint youth handle difficulties well?

Read the following statement from President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency:

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.”

(Dallin H. Oaks, “Parents and Children,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 62)

Why do you think many Latter-day Saint youth might handle the difficulties of life so well?

Think about your own experience in life.

How well do you think the description of the youth who were interviewed describes you?
1. This describes me well.
2. This somewhat describes me.
3. 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:

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.

(Dallin H. Oaks, “The Godhead and the Plan of Salvation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 103)

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

Writing on a piece of paper with a pen or pencil.

One place in scripture where we can learn more about the Godhead is when Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist.

John the Bapist baptizing Jesus Christ in the River Jordan. A landscape of trees and mountains is in the background.

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:

What did you learn about each member of 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?

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?

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.

7:3
What Is the Godhead?
God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost form a group known as the Godhead. Each member is a different, individual being, yet all three are united in thought, desire, knowledge, power, and purpose.

3:1
Godhead - He Knows Me
Two siblings in Ghana identify actions they can take to become closer to their Heavenly Father.

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.

Optional: Want to Learn More?

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:

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.

(Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 40–41)

Matthew 3:16. Did the Holy Ghost appear as a dove?

The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) explained:

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)