God is real, God is our Heavenly Father, and He wants us to come to Know Him (John 17:3)

Have you ever gone through life with a quiet question that is rarely said out loud: “Is God really there…and does He actually know me?” It is a question that may show up in the middle of the night, in moments of loss and difficulty, or even in those moments of personal reflection and joy. A moment when something deep within us whispers that life has to mean more than survival and routine.

Here is the beautiful part about the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It does not simply answer the question with doctrine – it answers this question with a relationship. God is not some abstract force or a distant creator. He is our divine Heavenly Father. And once you see him this way, everything may change. May change how you pray, how you see yourself, and how you interpret personal struggles. It may even change how you might recognize His hand in your daily life.

Today, we are going to get back to basics and establish the fundamental and foundational doctrine of any Christian faith. Coming to know and understanding who our Heavenly Father is. This chapter from the Gospel Principles Manual opens the door in a simple, and profound conversational way. It is showing how we are to come to know and understand who God is through small, steady, spiritual practices that shape our hearts toward godliness.

In this post, and the attached video, I want to walk you through the core ideas of Chapter One. And I want to do this in a way that is accessible, personal, and grounded in lived discipleship. While the foundation may come from the Church’s official manual, the reflections and applications are my own – shaped by personal years of study and centered on faith-based conversations. My goal here is to help you not merely understand Latter-day Saint doctrine and teaching on God. The purpose is to assist in showing how you are may experience God – to see how knowing our Heavenly Father may bring clarity, peace, and purpose into everyday living.

Reader’s Note: This post, and video, draws from Gospel Principles, Chapter 1: Our Heavenly Father, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The core ideas come from the official manual, but the reflections, explanations, and applications shared here represent my own study and teaching approach. This adaptation is intended to support personal learning and devotional growth and should not be viewed as an official statement of Church doctrine.

A Simple and Yet Profound Question

Where do you personally see evidence that God exists?

Some may answer that they see God revealing himself through creation and nature, experienced revelation and answered prayers, moments of peace and stillness where they hear the still small voice, and even see evidence of God through their relationships with family and friends. 

Alma, a Book of Mormon prophet, teaches that “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). 

One of my many loves growing up was astronomy and because of this, I always enjoyed getting outside and laying down – staring up at the sky. On one occasion, during a boy scout campout, I and other boys were working on our Astronomy merit badge. One of the leaders had brought his telescope. For the first time, I was able to see Saturn and the rings. This was quite breathtaking. And for me, I understood what Alma meant. Today, they have discovered thousands of planets and galaxies, and each one seems to be in perfect order. The marvelous work of our Heavenly Father is witnessed through the heavens and earth – creation itself. All things in the natural world, plants, animals, mountains, rivers, and even our seasons – all testify to the reality that there is a God. 

Ancient and modern prophets and apostles have always taught that God is the Almighty Ruler of the universe and dwells in heaven: 

“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;” (D&C 20:17).

We also know that it is through Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, that all of creation came into existence: 

“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.” (3 Nephi 9:15)

And also; 

“ 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.” (Moses 2:1)

Through Christ, the creation of the moon, stars, and sun became a reality. All things within this world were organized and formed – deriving its motion and life from Christ. Through Christ, the air and water were filled with living things. The hills and plains teamed with animal life as well. He provides us with day and evening, summer and winter, seedtime and harvest. 

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16-17). 

However, the pinnacle of all creation – through Christ, our Heavenly Father created man in His own image to be a ruler over all of creation: 

“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. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28).”

 For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we see our Heavenly Father as 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 human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard”: 

“While one portion of the human race is judging and condemning the other without mercy, the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard; He views them as His offspring, and without any of those contracted feelings that influence the children of men, causes ‘His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. ([Matthew 5:45] Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], p. 39). 

Latter-day Saints hold to the unique view that there is a dynamic and relational reality and truth between us and our Heavenly Father. We do not see ourselves merely as creatures – nor does our Heavenly Father. We are seen as divine sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father who desires for us to experience all that life has to offer us. As previously stated this perspective emphasizes that God is the Supreme and Absolute Being and the “Great Parent of the universe” who views all of the human family with paternal regard and fatherly care. As His offspring, we are created in His own image to have dominion over all the earth. Our relationship with Him is intended to be personal and transformative, as He causes His sun to rise and rain to fall on all people without the contracted feelings that often influence human judgment.

The Nature and Attributes of God

Take a moment and reflect on some of the attributes and characteristics regarding the Nature of God. 

Given that we are made in His divine image and likeness: 

“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. … 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.” (Moses 2:26; 6:9). 

We know that our bodies are in mirror likeness of His body. His eternal spirit is housed in a tangible body of flesh and bones: 

“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.” (D&C 130:22)

The difference is this – God’s body is perfected and glorified, with a glory beyond any description. 

Our Heavenly Father is also perfect because He is a being of complete and perfect righteousness, possessing the attributes of love, mercy, charity, truth, power, faith, knowledge, and judgment. He has all power, knows all things, and is full of goodness and truth: 

• Psalm 33:4-5: “For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” 
• Psalm 34:8: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”
• Psalm 100:5: “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”  
• Exodus 34:6: “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.” 
• James 1:17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” 

These verses highlight the goodness and truth that characterize God’s nature.

And as James 1:17 provides, all good things come for God. Everything He does is to help us become like Him. This is His work and his glory – to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39). 

• How important is it for you to understand the nature of God? 

Coming to Know God – Personally

One of the most profound questions any individual may ask themselves is this: How am I able to come to know God as my Heavenly Father?

This is not a profound and philosophical question – it is a question rooted in the very purpose of coming to know God, and Jesus Christ in order for us to come into understanding how we inherit eternal life: 

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

And given how Christ responded to the question regarding the greatest commandment: 

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

And here is the reality and truth – the more we come to know and understand who our Heavenly Father is, the more we grow in our love toward Him, walking in faithful obedience and keeping the commandments: 

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (1 John 2:3-5). 

It is through our observance and faithfulness in keeping the commandments that we are growing and becoming like Him in all things and in all ways. 

By coming to know who our Heavenly Father is – we are willing to: 

1. Believe that He exists and that He loves each one of us (Mosiah 4:9)
2. We study the scriptures and come to know Him through revelation (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
3. We come to know Him through prayer and fasting, meditation and contemplation (James 1:5)
4. We come to know Him through faithful obedience to His commandments – despite our weaknesses, limitations, and humanity (John 14:21-23). 

As we do these things, we come to know God and eventually inherit eternal life because of who He is – and all because of Jesus Christ and the infinite atonement. 

And here is the kicker for me – we come to know the Father by coming to know who Jesus Christ is. Because, it is through Christ that we come to know who the Father is (John 14:6). 

• What spiritual disciplines help you draw closer to God? 

Spiritual Disciplines for the Purpose of Godliness

As we come to know who our Heavenly Father is, we also learn to walk with Him through spiritual disciplines – simple, daily practices that shape our hearts toward godliness. 

• Scripture Study: Through reading, studying, meditating, and applying the scriptures into our daily lives – we are learning to hear His voice and learn of who He is. 
• Prayer: is where we learn to cultivate a dynamic relationship with our Heavenly Father as we learn to pray with humility, believing in Him, trusting in Him, and learning to listen to the promptings of the Spirit – as well as receiving personal revelation. 
• Worship: Gives us an opportunity to express our reverence, love, and devotion to knowing who God is. 
• Service & Stewardship: Is an opportunity for us to reflect on who God is and take action in showing the love and tender mercies of God toward other people. Being stewards of the blessings He provides us and using them wisely. 
• Fasting, Silence, and Solitude: This is where we create a consecrated and sacred space for us in order to hear Him, to receive revelation, to rest in Him – to experience the stillness and knowing who He is. 
• Journaling & Learning: Every scripture, prayer, moment of service, moment of fasting, practicing silence and solitude, is a moment where we record our moments with God. A place to write our own scriptures. 

This is never about us coming to where we have to earn God’s favor – they’re about us opening up our hearts to His presence. Through these spiritual disciplines, we come to know Him, not just as a creator and Supreme Almighty Being – we come to know Him as a tender caring Father who desires us to receive all goodness and blessings in life. 

And these are not complicated. They are a way for us to make room for God in our everyday – and mundane – life. 

Summary & Invitation

As we wrap up today’s lesson, I want to take this moment to remind you the heart of today’s message. God is very real, He is our Heavenly Father. And He desires a relationship with each one of us.

I know for me, I have come to know Him more and more through simple daily spiritual practices – prayer, scripture study, worship, service, and quiet moments where I allow Him to speak peace into my heart, mind, and spirit. See, for me – I always knew God existed through intellectual understanding. However, I never truly experienced the goodness, tender mercies, and love of Him. For most of my life – I kept God at a distance, I believed in Him – yet never trusted in Him. I confessed the reality and truth of His existence, yet never fully experienced His comfort and guidance in my life. 

Despite all this, I came to know who my Heavenly Father is when I finally had to come to the end of myself and turn to Him. To press into Him, to lean unto Him and no longer unto my own understanding and ways of doing things. And maybe you are in this space today – you have an understanding and intellectual idea of God – yet never fully experienced His grace, peace, tender mercies, or love. 

I want to invite you to consider this: If something in today’s discussion stirred you – if you felt a nudge, a question, or even just a little curiosity – I want to invite you to take the next step. Use the link to visit Come Unto Christ. A website where you are able to explore what it means to follow Jesus Christ as a Latter-day Saint Christian, ask questions, or even connect with missionaries who are available to discuss with you what the Restoration and Gospel of Jesus Christ are all about. And this may be done at your own pace. 

You do not have to have everything figured out. Nor do you have to be perfect. All God wants is a desire and willing heart to take that step toward Him. 

Hopefully this has been a blessing to you – and may you find peace, strength, and experience God’s tender mercies, love, and grace. Keep pressing forward with steadfast faith – because it is through Christ, we are able to come to know who our Heavenly Father is.