The Godhead may be further illustrated by a council, consisting of
three men-all possessing equal wisdom, knowledge, and truth, together with
equal qualifications in every other respect. Each person would be a separate
distinct person or substance from the other two, and yet the three would form
but ONE council. Each alone possesses, by supposition, the same wisdom and
truth that the three united or the ONE council possesses. The union of the
three men in one council would not increase the knowledge or wisdom of either.
Each man would be one part of the council when reference is made to his
person; but the wisdom and truth of each man would be the whole wisdom and
truth of the council, and not a part. If it were possible to divide truth, and
other qualities of a similar nature into fractions, so that the Father should
have the third part of truth, the third part of wisdom, the third part of
knowledge, the third part of love, while the Son and the Holy Spirit possessed
the other two-thirds of these qualities or affections, then neither of these
persons could make "one God," “but only a part of a
God." But because the divisibility of wisdom, truth, or love is
impossible, the whole of these qualities dwell in the Father-the whole
dwells in the Son-the whole is possessed by the Holy Spirit. "The Holy
Spirit is one part of the Godhead" in essence; but the whole of God
in wisdom, truth, and other similar qualities. If a truth could become three
truths, distinct from each other, by dwelling in three persons or substances,
then there would be three Gods instead of one. But as it is, the
Trinity is three in essence but one in truth and other similar
principles. The oneness of the Godhead, as described in the Scriptures, never
was intended to apply to the essence, but only to the perfections and other
attributes. (Orson Pratt, Absurdities
of immaterialism : or, A reply to T.W.P. Taylder's pamphlet, entitled,
"The materialism of the Mormons or Latter-day Saints, examined and
exposed" [1849], 30)
