Verses that seem to prove the Trinity

These explicitly declare that 'the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are one God', eternally! This surely should call to mind the popular Shield of the Trinity diagram!

They read:

1. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.
2. And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.
3. Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.

Fantastic! These should end the debate here and now. Excellent!

But where are these scriptures from? Surprisingly, the first two are from the Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 31:21 and Mormon 7:7 respectively, and the third is from the Mormon scripture Doctrine and Covenants at 20:28.

Yet, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) identify the Trinity (or Godhead) as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, but with a different intention than the Nicene faith. They regard these three as individual members of a heavenly triumvirate, completely united with one another in purpose—each member of the Godhead being a distinct being of physical form (God the Father, Jesus Christ) or spiritual form (The Holy Ghost.)"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity#Non-orthodox_Trinitarianism

Confirming this, a Mormon apostle even declared: "We declare it is self-evident from the scriptures that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are separate persons, three divine beings." (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 40–42 link)

So, Trinitarianism rightly rejects Mormonism, but the most explicit expressions of Trinitarianism are Mormon, and Mormonism rightly rejects Trinitarianism.

As my friend Solomon Landers said,

Strange that to find an explicit declaration of the Trinity in a holy book, one has to go, not to the Bible, but to a "heretical" scripture.

Trinity Modeling Kit!

Make your own model of the Trinity as a three-sided pyramid!
http://www.sundayschoolkids.com/activities-trinity-god/0-pyramid-1activity.htm



It can also be modified to reflect the structure and teachings of the "Shield of the Trinity":

1. Designate a capstone and label it "God." This label can appear on all three sides.
2. Under the capstone designate a belt to be labeled "Is" on all three sides.
3. Along the three edges add a parallel line about an inch away from the edge, and label this "Is Not." One option is to have "Is" on one side and "Not" on the joining side. Or, "Is Not" could be written on each side to appear twice along each edge.
4. Label the remaining three sides "Son" or "Jesus," "Father," and "Holy Ghost."

Now we have a three-dimensional pyramidal model of the Trinity! How easy it is now to visualize how the Son is not the Father but is God like the Father is not the Son and is not the Holy Ghost but is God!

For further accuracy, you can add more vital information on the side labeled "Son" or "Jesus." Since Jesus has two natures, the divine and physical or human, you can draw a line from "Is Not" to "Is Not," dividing it roughly in half. Then, divide the lower space in half vertically. With the top portion labeled "Son" or "Jesus," label the lower portions "Human Nature" and "Divine Nature" however you wish. Have a vertical label in between the lower two portions labeled "Is Not," perhaps adding ": in Hypostatic Union." Then have a horizontal label on the horizontal division labeled "Is." For further clarification, you may add in parentheses under "Human Nature" "(Outside of Earth's atmosphere)" as Jesus' human nature is in hypostatic union with his divine nature in the heavenly realm and not on earth. How clearly this illustrates Jesus' Dual Nature of the hypostatic union! (See figure below.) Be sure to show your neighbors your Trinity Pyramid! But be careful not to worship it, as that would be idolatry!

Created by JimSpace

For more information on the "Shield of the Trinity," read my other blog entry here.