1-Our Heavenly Father

 

There Is a God

• What are some things that testify to you that there is a God

Alma, a Book of Mormon prophet, wrote, “All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator” (Alma 30:44).

(44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.)

 

We can look up at the sky at night and have an idea of what Alma meant. There are millions of stars and planets, all in perfect order. They did not get there by chance. We can see the work of God in the heavens and on the earth. The many beautiful plants, the many kinds of animals, the mountains, the rivers, the clouds that bring us rain and snow—all these testify to us that there is a God.

The prophets have taught us that God is the Almighty Ruler of the universe. God dwells in heaven (see D&C 20:17).

(17 By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them;)

 

Through His Son, Jesus Christ, He created the heavens and the earth and all things that are in them (see 3 Nephi 9:15; Moses 2:1).

15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.

 

Moses 2:1

 

Pearl of Great Price

1 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I reveal unto you concerning this heaven, and this earth; write the words which I speak. I am the Beginning and the End, the Almighty God; by mine Only Begotten I created these things; yea, in the beginning I created the heaven, and the earth upon which thou standest.

 

He made the moon, the stars, and the sun. He organized this world and gave it form, motion, and life. He filled the air and the water with living things. He covered the hills and plains with all kinds of animal life. He gave us day and night, summer and winter, seedtime and harvest. He made man in His own image to be a ruler over His other creations (see Genesis 1:26–27).

 

Genesis 1:26–27

 

26 ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

 

God is the Supreme and Absolute Being in whom we believe and whom we worship. He is “the Great Parent of the universe,” and He “looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 39).

The Nature of God

• What are some of God’s attributes?

Because we are made in His image (see Moses 2:26; 6:9),

 

Moses 2:26

26 And I, God, said unto mine Only Begotten, which was with me from the beginning: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and it was so. And I, God, said: Let them have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

 

Moses 6:9

 

9 In the image of his own body, male and female, created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created and became living souls in the land upon the footstool of God.

 

we know that our bodies are like His body. His eternal spirit is housed in a tangible body of flesh and bones (see D&C 130:22).

 

 

Doctrine and Covenants 130:22

 

22 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.

 

God’s body, however, is perfected and glorified, with a glory beyond all description.

God is perfect. He is a God of righteousness, with attributes such as love, mercy, charity, truth, power, faith, knowledge, and judgment. He has all power. He knows all things. He is full of goodness.

All good things come from God. Everything that He does is to help His children become like Him. He has said, “Behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).

 

Moses 1:39

 

39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

• Why is it important for us to understand the nature of God?

Coming to Know God

• How can we come to know God?

Knowing God is so important that the Savior said, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).

 

John 17:3

 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

 

The first and greatest commandment is “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart” (Matthew 22:37).

 

Matthew 22:37

 

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

 

The more we know God, the more we love Him and keep His commandments (see 1 John 2:3–5).

1 John 2:3–5

 

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

By keeping His commandments we can become like Him.

 

We can know God if we will:

1. Believe that He exists and that He loves us (see Mosiah 4:9).
   Mosiah 4:9
   9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.
2. Study the scriptures (see 2 Timothy 3:14–17).
    Timothy 3:14–17
   14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
3. 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
4. 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
5. Pray to Him (see James 1:5).
   James 1:5
   5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6. Obey all His commandments as best we can (see John 14:21–23).
   John 14:21–23
   21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
7. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

As we do these things, we will come to know God and eventually have eternal life.

• Ponder what you can do to draw nearer to God.

Additional Scriptures

• Acts 7:55–56 (Son at the right hand of the Father)
• D&C 88:41–44 (attributes of God)
• Psalm 24:1 (the earth is the Lord’s)
• Moses 1:30–39 (Creation)
• Alma 7:20 (God cannot do wrong)
• Joseph Smith—History 1:17 (Father and Son are separate beings)
• Alma 5:40 (good comes from God)
• John 14:6–9 (Son and Father are alike)
• Mormon 9:15–20 (God of miracles)
• Amos 3:7 (God of revelation)
• John 3:16 (God of love)