“The Father and the Son, and the Holy Ghost Are One”

Alan C. Miner

According to T.J. O'Brien, one of the strongest arguments for Christian teachings in ancient America would be the presence of one of Christianity's most enigmatic doctrines, the belief in one God who forms a trinity. Even devout Christians have never been able to explain fully how one God is also three. To find such a parallel among native beliefs would be remarkable indeed, yet it exists . . . [T.J. O'Brien, Fair Gods and Feathered Serpents, p. 218]

“Are One”

According to Donna Nielsen, in the original Hebrew, the word for "one" (see 3 Nephi 11:27) was echad," which meant a composite oneness rather than the absolute number "one." It was the word, for example, that would be used for a single cluster of grapes. It often took at least two to make one. The scriptures have many examples. This same word, echad, appears in Genesis 2:24 to signify that Adam and Eve became "one flesh." The purpose of marriage in biblical understanding was to "become one." so that together they could "bring forth." The word "echad" appears again in Ezekiel 37:16-19 to describe the sign of the two sticks that became "one" in the prophet's hand. In John 10:30 it is found in the declaration that Christ and the Father are "one." And in John 17:20-23 we find this word used to describe how Christ and his disciples are "one." [Donna B. Nielsen, Beloved Bridegroom: Finding Christ in Ancient Jewish Marriage and Family Customs, p. 138]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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