An open letter of response to you, friend Matt.

Matt, the Bible consistently states that there is only one God in existence.

Isa 44:6-8
6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.

8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
KJV

In verse 6 above Matt, the word “redeemer” in the original Hebrew script is Go’alkem. In verse 14 below for “redeemer,” the Hebrew word is essentially the same. They both refer to, (and the Jews reading or hearing these words knew this) the “kinsman redeemer,” or “go el.” The word is pronounced, gaw al. The accent is on the second syllable. A kinsman redeemer was a relative, ‘next of kin’ who would buy back a relatives’ property or marry his widow. You can read about a good account of this well-known custom in the Book of Ruth, where Boaz kindly stands in as the kinsman redeemer for Ruth. In the verse below, the word in the Hebrew for redeemer was again, Go alaam, meaning the same thing; go el, or kinsman redeemer. This is the one and only one God continuously referred to in these verses.

Isa 43:10-14
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.

13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel;
KJV

Ps 78:35
35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
KJV

Matt, a careful reading of the Bible makes it clear that Jesus is our kinsman redeemer. He bought back our salvation for us, with his suffering and death and resurrection. This gift is free—ours simply for the asking.

From my vantage point, I see three separate personages that are somehow one eternal God. He reveals Himself to us in this way. Remember that triangle diagram?


"Many men say there is one God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are only one God! I say that is a strange God anyhow—three in one, and one in three! It is a curious organization...All are to be crammed into one god, according to sectarianism. It would be a wonderfully big God—he would be a giant or a monster."
History of the Church 6:475, 476, Joseph Smith, Jr.

The truth is, He is a “wonderfully big God,” and He came from Heaven and revealed Himself to us as our kinsman redeemer.


1 Tim 1:17
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
KJV

How could Joseph Smith see the invisible God? And which of Joseph Smiths visitation accounts are we talking about here Matt?