“How Can Knowing the Godhead Change Me?” New Era, Jan. 2014, 22–23
How Can Knowing the Godhead Change Me?
Five principles about the Godhead can make a difference in the way you live.
Photo illustration by Welden C. Andersen
Joseph Smith said, “It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God.”1 What we know about the Godhead can change the way we live, not only in big things but in little, everyday things. Consider how your knowledge of the Godhead affects your life as you read about these five principles.
The Godhead love us and want the best for us.
The members of the Godhead are eternal and omnipotent, but They still care that we are happy and doing well. President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) testified: “They are interested in us, and we are the substance of Their great concern. They are available to each of us. We approach the Father through the Son. He is our intercessor at the throne of God. How marvelous it is that we may so speak to the Father in the name of the Son.”2
Because the members of the Godhead love us and want the best for us, our choices matter, especially the little things we do each day that bring us closer to Them. We have limitless potential, and God cares about our success, even in the small things.
Heavenly Father gave us everything.
We know that Heavenly Father has given us everything, so we should try to recognize His hand and be grateful. When we are grateful, we act differently. President Thomas S. Monson promised that “we can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude.”3
Because everything we have comes from God (see Mosiah 2:20–21; D&C 59:21), our gratitude can make us more willing to share with others. This includes our time and talents as well as our material blessings.
Heavenly Father is merciful.
God’s work and glory is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). He wants our success, so He offers us forgiveness for the mistakes we make. His mercy even provides forgiveness when we make the same mistakes again. Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost will help us change.
God’s mercy teaches us to be forgiving. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, said, “Because God loves us so much, we too must love and forgive each other.”4 This includes forgiving ourselves.
Jesus Christ suffered for us.
Through the Atonement, the Savior experienced all our pains and sorrows (see Alma 7:11–13). If we ever have a hard day and feel like no one understands, we can know that the Savior does understand. And when we have a wonderful day and want someone to share it with, the Savior is there for us. He wants to share our joys just as He shares our pains.
The Holy Ghost guides us.
Jesus Christ promised His Apostles that the Comforter, or Holy Ghost, could be with them always to teach and comfort them (see John 14:16–17, 26–27). We too can have the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide us. And we can trust that the answers the Holy Ghost gives will help us. With His direction, we can be in constant contact with the Godhead. And as we follow the promptings we receive, we will begin to know Them even better.