The question on the Trinity is a very popular yet also a very sensitive question. There is no question as to why it is a very passionate topic, because in one form or another, it is the very foundation of all Religion. Keeping in mind that I'm not trying to convert anyone, but simply explain what it is that we believe and why, it can be answered relatively easily by a careful review the scriptures and well known historical information.

There are several references in the scriptures of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ being "One" as well as them being separate and distinct individuals. So let's take some of them for our discussion so that I can explain what it is that we believe and why.

First of all, let's take a look at some of the scriptures that are commonly used to illustrate that they are one.

"John the Baptist Baptizing Jesus", by: Harry Anderson

Let's start with the most common scripture used to defend this point of doctrine. That scripture is found in John 10:30, and it reads simply "I and my Father are one." I think it's important to note that he doesn't say that they are one in body, mind or spirit, or that they are the same being. So with such specific details not stated in this portion of scripture, or in any other scripture anywhere, it is our understanding and belief that what the Savior is stating here, is quite simply that they are One in purpose, one in cause and fully and completely united in their goals, objectives and methodologies. The same as the Apostles were united in their purpose and cause. They teach the same gospel, doctrines, principals and values and were fully unified in this sense.

Where do we get this idea that they are simply one in purpose and function, and not one individual being? The answers are found in many places throughout the scriptures. Starting with verse one in John chapter 17 it says, "These words spake Jesus , and lifted up his eyes to heaven , and said , Father , the hour is come ; glorify thy Son , that thy Son also may glorify thee". Now the obvious question is why would Jesus lift up his eyes as though to physically look towards his Father in Heaven and pray to himself? You will note that Jesus prays many times throughout the New Testament raising the same question again and again: Why would the Jesus, the Savior of all Mankind, pray to God, his Father (as he states in each one of his prayers) if He himself were that same Devine Being as is stated by the Trinity. Why would he deceive us by his actions and make us believe that he's praying to His Father in Heaven, when he is in reality praying to himself? With the upmost respect, the thought that the Lord Jesus would or could deceive us is blasphemous and laughable. So if Jesus didn't deceive us by praying to God the Father, than that means that he really was praying to God the Father as a separate and distinct being.

Additionally in Matthew chapter 3 we read of the baptism of Jesus. Here we read not only that Jesus and God the Father are separate, but also the Holy Ghost.

verse 16 - And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

verse 17 - And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Here we have Jesus being baptized in verse 16 and as he comes forth out of the water, the Holy Ghost descends upon him and then the voice of God the Father comes from heaven saying "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." So in these two verses, we have all three members of the Godhead clearly defined as separate and distinct beings yet operating in unity and functioning as one.

There are other scriptures that also reference this being one, or rather the unity and working together as one, such as that found in Genesis 2:24 (also found in Matthew 19:5), "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." It is ridiculous for us to take from this scripture that when a man and woman are married, that they become "one flesh" in the literal sense. Obviously what is meant here is that the man and woman become fully unified in purpose, function, goals, objectives, worship and belief.

There are many other scriptures that further support this logic where you have the Savior speaking to God the Father. They are too numerous to list all of them, but so that you can have a few to begin your further study of this topic they are:

Matthew 7:21- Jesus is teaching "the will of my Father which is in heaven"
Matthew 18:10 - Jesus teaches regarding little children; "That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."
Matthew 27:43 - The people of that day understood that they were separate beings.
Matthew 27:46 - Jesus cries "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
John 5:45 - Jesus says, "Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father".
John 8:18 - Jesus says, "the Father that sent me beareth witness of me."
John 8:42 - Jesus teaches, "If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me."
John 17:11 - In prayer, talking to God, Jesus says, "I come to thee. Holy Father".
1 Corinthians 8:6 - Paul teaches, "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."

Additional Evidence:

We as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believe that God has loved, does love and always will love us his children here on the Earth and wants only the best for them, but realizes that he must allow their free agency. So in accordance with allowing free agency he raises up a prophet to teach and lead those who are willing to follow his commandments. In ancient times he selected prophets to teach and lead his people. That prophet becomes a special witness to the people of the world having witnessed Lord Jesus Christ and on occasion God the Father also. There is no question that he loves his people today just as much as he did his people in ancient times, and as such he continues that same exact pattern of divine instruction through his Holy Prophets. Joseph Smith was a witness to God the Father and Jesus Christ as they stood before him and gave him divine teachings and instruction. Thus Joseph Smith became a firsthand witness that God the Father and Jesus Christ were not only separate and distinct beings, but that they also had a glorified physical body. This is once again consistent with the scripture found in 1 Corinthians 11:7 as well as many others.

All this information and references provides an excellent working base for our explanation. However they are quite simply temporal and logical answers to a spiritual question. Answers to Spiritual questions can only come from Spiritual means. Thus the ONLY way for you to find out for sure is to bow yourself before your Father in Heaven and pray to Him directly, with a sincere desire to learn the truth, whatever it may be.

I have done this and know that he does answer our prayers and that he will also answer yours, though they may be in different ways. He wants nothing more than to have us know the truth. So please with a broken heart real intent, pray to Him and listen for his answer.

So where did the "TRINITY" doctrine of the come from?

Following the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the subsequent martyrdom of his Apostles the priesthood power was no longer found on the earth, leaving the mortal man without the divine guidance from Heaven. This divine guidance is critical to maintain and to grow the Lords church. So because it wasn't found on the earth anymore, there were many individuals and groups of people that made various fraudulent claims to have that authority or knowledge Gods will that really didn't.

The idea of the Trinity came into play in the year of 325 A.D. during the reign of Constantine who was not a member of the church but a sun worshipper (but was later baptized on his death bed), simply dominated the leaders of the church who bowed to him. Struggling with two feuding groups of his kingdom the Christians and the Pagans (each was led by one of his sons in a bitter rivalry of each other), he called a council in Nicea with the purpose of uniting the two portions of his kingdom. After some lengthy discussion it was determined that the best way to unite the two groups was through their religious beliefs; more specifically to change their fundamental doctrines regarding the nature of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. In the course of this council and through much public debate, they created a creed, known as the Nicene Creed that outlines this new doctrine which was to be taught to the two groups. This creed simply combined the two common beliefs of the time; 1) the beliefs of the Christians, that God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost were separate and distinct beings, 2) the beliefs of the Pagans (of which Constantine was) who worshiped the Sun and various other elements as being their Gods. This new doctrine that was conceived at this council of men is now commonly taught in many forms still today and is known as the doctrine of the Trinity.

There is little wonder that the Apostle Paul was dealing with a similar apostasy among the people 260 years earlier when he recorded the writings found in Galatians 1:6-9.

This Nicene Creed was followed within a few years by a second revision headed by a man named Athanasius, and was titled the Athanasian Creed. Other variations and subsequent revisions include the Roman Catholic Creed and the Creed of Chalcedon. Additionally there are many other variants and off-shoots of this original Nicene Creed found among the many different protestant churches of modern day.

This information regarding Constantine, the various creeds and the council at Nicea is common and public information that can be readily found in numerous historical records.