Pearl of Great Price, Articles of Faith 1:1

“We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”

Topics and Questions, “God the Father,” Gospel Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“God the Father is the Supreme Being in whom we believe, whom we worship, and to whom we pray. He is the ultimate Creator, Ruler, and Preserver of all things. He is perfect, has all power, and knows all things.”

“We are all literally children of God, spiritually begotten in the premortal life. As His children, we can be assured that we have divine, eternal potential and that He will help us in our sincere efforts to reach that potential.”

“Our Father in Heaven wants us to dwell with Him eternally.”

Topics and Questions, “Godhead,” Gospel Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“Latter-day Saints pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. They acknowledge the Father as the ultimate object of their worship, the Son as Lord and Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit as the messenger and revealer of the Father and the Son. But where Latter-day Saints differ from other Christian religions is in their belief that God and Jesus Christ are glorified, physical beings and that each member of the Godhead is a separate being.”

Joseph Smith, “God the Eternal Father,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith

“We admit that God is the great source and fountain from whence proceeds all good; that He is perfect intelligence, and that His wisdom is alone sufficient to govern and regulate the mighty creations and worlds which shine and blaze with such magnificence and splendor over our heads, as though touched with His finger and moved by His Almighty word.”

Old Testament, Genesis 1:27

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him.”

Old Testament, Psalm 82:6

“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.”

New Testament, Matthew 5:48

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

New Testament, John 14:6-9

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?”

New Testament, Romans 8:16-17

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Book of Mormon, Mosiah 4:9

“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.”

Doctrine and Covenants 130:22

“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.”

Pearl of Great Price, Moses 1:39

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

Joseph Smith, “God the Eternal Father,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith

“God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret. If the veil were rent today, and the great God who holds this world in its orbit, and who upholds all worlds and all things by His power, was to make Himself visible, —I say, if you were to see Him today, you would see Him like a man in form—like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man.”

Joseph Smith, Discourse, 7 April 1844, as Reported by William Clayton, p. 11, The Joseph Smith Papers

“Going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined that God was God from all eternity. These are incomprehensible to some but are the first principle of the gospel— to know that we may converse with him as one man with another & that he was once as one of us and was on a planet as Jesus was in the flesh.”

“You have got to learn how to be a god yourself in order to save yourself— to be priests & Kings as all Gods has done— by going from a small degree to another from exaltation to exaltation— till they are able to sit in glory as doth those who sit enthroned.”

“I will present to the father & it will exalt his glory and Jesus steps into his tracts to inherit what God did before. This is some of the first principles of the gospel about which so much hath been— You have got to find the beginning of the history & go on till you have learned the last— will be a great while before you learn the last. It is not all to be comprehended in this world.”

“But if I am right then I might be bold to say that God never did have power to create the spirit of man at all. He could not create himself— Intelligence exists upon a self-existent principle— is a spirit from age to age & no creation about it— All the spirits that God ever sent into the world are susceptible of enlargement— That God himself— find himself in the midst of spirit and glory— because he was greater saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself.”

Lorenzo Snow, The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, ed. Clyde J. Williams (1996)

“As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be.”

Gordon B. Hinckley, Don Lattin, “Musings of the Main Mormon,” San Francisco Chronicle, Apr. 13, 1997

“Don Lattin: There are some significant differences in your beliefs. For instance, don’t Mormons believe that God was once a man?”

“Gordon B. Hinckley: I wouldn’t say that. There was a little couplet coined, ‘As man is, God once was. As God is, man may become.’ Now that’s more of a couplet than anything else. That gets into some pretty deep theology that we don’t know very much about.”

Gospel Topics Essays, “Becoming Like God,” Church History, Gospel Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“For some observers, the doctrine that humans should strive for godliness may evoke images of ancient pantheons with competing deities. Such images are incompatible with Latter-day Saint doctrine. Latter-day Saints believe that God’s children will always worship Him. Our progression will never change His identity as our Father and our God.”

Old Testament, Malachi 3:6

“For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

New Testament, James 1:17

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 24:6

“For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

Book of Mormon, Mormon 9:9-11

“For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?

And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles.

But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.”

Book of Mormon, Mormon 9:19

“And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.”

Book of Mormon, Moroni 8:18

“For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.”

Doctrine and Covenants 20:17

“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.”

Doctrine and Covenants 76:2-4

“Great is his wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out. 

His purposes fail not, neither are there any who can stay his hand. 

From eternity to eternity he is the same, and his years never fail.”

Pearl of Great Price, Articles of Faith 1:9

“We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”

Joseph Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 49

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”

John C. Pingree Jr. “Eternal Truth.” General Conference, October 2023

“When seeking truth, it helps to understand the difference between doctrine and policy. Doctrine refers to eternal truths, such as the nature of the Godhead, the plan of salvation, and Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Policy is the application of doctrine based on current circumstances. Policy helps us administer the Church in an orderly way.”

Russell M. Nelson, “Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine, and Pure Revelation,” General Conference, October 2021

“The pure doctrine of Christ is powerful. It changes the life of everyone who understands it and seeks to implement it in his or her life. The doctrine of Christ helps us find and stay on the covenant path.”

Elder Neil L. Andersen, “Trial of Your Faith”, General Conference, October 2012 

“There is an important principle that governs the doctrine of the Church. The doctrine is taught by all 15 members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. It is not hidden in an obscure paragraph of one talk. True principles are taught frequently and by many. Our doctrine is not difficult to find.”

Joseph F. Smith, Correspondence to Lilian Golsan, July 16, 1902, Personal Letterbooks, 93–94 

“No doctrine is a doctrine of this Church until it has been accepted as such by the Church, and not even a revelation from God should be taught to his people until it has first been approved by the presiding authority–the one through whom the Lord makes known His will for the guidance of the saints as a religious body. The spirit of revelation may rest upon any one, and teach him or her many things for personal comfort and instruction. But these are not doctrines of the Church, and, however true, they must not be inculcated until proper permission is given.”

D. Todd Christofferson, “The Doctrine of Christ,” General Conference, April 2012

“God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, visited young Joseph Smith and initiated what would become a virtual flood of revelation linked with divine power and authority. In these revelations we find what might be termed the core doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ reestablished upon the earth.”

“We value scholarship that enhances understanding, but in the Church today, just as anciently, establishing the doctrine of Christ or correcting doctrinal deviations is a matter of divine revelation to those the Lord endows with apostolic authority.”

“How does the Savior reveal His will and doctrine to prophets, seers, and revelators? He may act by messenger or in His own person. He may speak by His own voice or by the voice of the Holy Spirit—a communication of Spirit to spirit that may be expressed in words or in feelings that convey understanding beyond words.”

“The President of the Church may announce or interpret doctrines based on revelation to him. Doctrinal exposition may also come through the combined council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.”

M. Russell Ballard, “Doctrine of Inclusion,” General Conference, October 2001

“If there are issues of concern, let us talk about them. We want to be helpful. Please understand, however, that our doctrines and teachings are set by the Lord, so sometimes we will have to agree to disagree with you, but we can do so without being disagreeable.”

Dallin H. Oaks, “Following Christ,” General Conference, October 2024

“In the Book of Mormon, the Lord gave us the fundamentals in what He called “the doctrine of Christ.” These are faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, enduring to the end, and becoming as a little child, which means to trust the Lord and submit to all He requires of us.”

New Testament, Matthew 15:9

“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 31:20-21

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

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.”

Book of Mormon, Helaman 11:23

“But it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi, and many of their brethren who knew concerning the true points of doctrine, having many revelations daily, therefore they did preach unto the people, insomuch that they did put an end to their strife in that same year.”

Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11:32-33

“And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me. 

And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

Doctrine and Covenants 10:67-68

“Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church. 

Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.”

Doctrine and Covenants 11:16

“Wait a little longer, until you shall have my word, my rock, my church, and my gospel, that you may know of a surety my doctrine.”

Doctrine and Covenants 88:77-80

“And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.

Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;

Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—

That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.”

Doctrine and Covenants 97:14

“That they may be perfected in the understanding of their ministry, in theory, in principle, and in doctrine, in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth, the keys of which kingdom have been conferred upon you.”

Doctrine and Covenants 102:23

“In case of difficulty respecting doctrine or principle, if there is not a sufficiency written to make the case clear to the minds of the council, the president may inquire and obtain the mind of the Lord by revelation.”

Come Unto Christ, “God Speaks to Us Through Prophets,” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“While God’s commandments never change, the world we live in is always changing. Different periods of time have each brought new circumstances and unique challenges. Prophets receive direction from God to help people navigate challenges and situations.”

Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith (1976), 308

“Ordinances instituted in the heavens before the foundation of the world, in the priesthood, for the salvation of men, are not to be altered or changed. All must be saved on the same principles.”

Joseph Smith, “History, 1838–1856, volume C-1,” 2 November 1838 – 31 July 1842, addenda, p. 17, The Joseph Smith Papers

“The ordinances must be kept in the very way God has appointed, otherwise their Priesthood will prove a cursing instead of a blessing.”

Glenn L. Pace, “They’re Not Really Happy,” General Conference, October 1987

“The members of many churches in the world have been putting pressure on their leaders to change doctrine to fit the changing life-style of the members. Many have been successful, and more and more we see churches made up of the doctrines of men. There are absolute truths of eternity. They do not change as a society drifts from them. No popular vote can change an absolute, eternal truth. Legalizing an act does not make it moral.”

Russell M. Nelson, “Constancy amid Change,” General Conference, October 1993

“Through the ages, history attests that contemporary critics have pressed Church leaders to modify a decree of the Lord. But such is eternal law, and it cannot be altered. Not even for His Beloved Son could God change the law that required the Atonement. Divine doctrines cannot be squeezed into compact molds to make them fit fashionable patterns of the day. Nor can they be fully expressed on a bumper sticker.”

“Unchanging principles are so because they come from our unchanging Heavenly Father. Try as they might, no parliament or congress could ever repeal the law of earth’s gravity or amend the Ten Commandments. Those laws are constant. All laws of nature and of God are part of the everlasting gospel. Thus, there are many unchanging principles.”

“Your eventual placement in the celestial, terrestrial, or telestial kingdom will not be determined by chance. The Lord has prescribed unchanging requirements for each. You can know what the scriptures teach, and pattern your lives accordingly.”

“Other unchanging principles include divine commandments—even those that seem to be temporal.”

“Even though one’s understanding of the truth may be fragmentary, truth itself does not change. Everlasting truth and wisdom come from the Lord.”

L. Tom Perry, “Obedience to Law is Liberty,” General Conference, April 2013

“God reveals to His prophets that there are moral absolutes. Sin will always be sin. Disobedience to the Lord’s commandments will always deprive us of His blessings. The world changes constantly and dramatically, but God, His commandments, and promised blessings do not change. They are immutable and unchanging.”

Church Statement, “Church Responds to Church Discipline Questions,” 11 June 2014, Salt Lake City, Newsroom, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“Sometimes members’ actions contradict Church doctrine and lead others astray. While uncommon, some members in effect choose to take themselves out of the Church by actively teaching and publicly attempting to change doctrine to comply with their personal beliefs. This saddens leaders and fellow members. In these rare cases, local leaders have the responsibility to clarify false teachings and prevent other members from being misled.”

Dallin H. Oaks, “The Plan and the Proclamation,” General Conference, October 2017

“Latter-day Saints who understand God’s plan of salvation have a unique worldview that helps them see the reason for God’s commandments, the unchangeable nature of His required ordinances, and the fundamental role of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

“I testify that the proclamation on the family is a statement of eternal truth, the will of the Lord for His children who seek eternal life. It has been the basis of Church teaching and practice for the last 22 years and will continue so for the future.”

Dallin H. Oaks, “Introductory Message,” General Conference, April 2022

“The gospel of Jesus Christ does not change. Gospel doctrine does not change. Our personal covenants do not change.”

John C. Pingree Jr., “Eternal Truth,” General Conference, October 2023

“While doctrine never changes, policy adjusts from time to time. The Lord works through His prophets to uphold His doctrine and to modify Church policies according to the needs of His children.”

Old Testament, Psalm 33:11

“The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”

Old Testament, Isaiah 40:8

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”

New Testament, Hebrews 6:17

“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath.”

Book of Mormon, Mosiah 2:22

“And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.”

Book of Mormon, Alma 41:8

“Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved.”

Doctrine and Covenants 1:15-16

“For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant;

They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world.”

Doctrine and Covenants 1:38

“What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled.”

Doctrine and Covenants 3:1-3

“The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught. 

For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round. 

Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men.”

Doctrine and Covenants 88:66

“My voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.”

Doctrine and Covenants 88:133

“Art thou a brother or brethren? I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant I receive you to fellowship, in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandments of God blameless, in thanksgiving, forever and ever. Amen.”

Dallin H. Oaks, “Following Christ,” General Conference, October 2024

“The Lord’s commandments are of two types: permanent, like the doctrine of Christ, and temporary. Temporary commandments are those necessary for the needs of the Lord’s Church or the faithful in temporary circumstances, but to be set aside when the need has passed.”

John Taylor, “John Taylor revelation,” 1886 September 27, Call Number MS 34928, Church History Catalog

“And how can I revoke an everlasting covenant, for I the Lord am everlasting and my everlasting covenants cannot be abrogated nor done away with, but they stand forever. Have I not given my word in great plainness on this subject?”

“Nevertheless, I the Lord do not change and my word and my covenants and my law do not.”