Topic: Additional Attributes and Characteristics of God

Exodus 24:10-11 > Doctrine and Covenants 110:2-3 > Exodus 24:17 > Joseph Smith History 1:16-17 > Doctrine and Covenants 76:70 > John 17:3 > 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13 > Mark 3:5 > Doctrine and Covenants 1:13 > Nehemiah 9:32-33 > 2 Nephi 9:17-27 > 2 Nephi 1:15 > Alma 42:15 > John 3:16-17 > John 15:9-10 > Doctrine and Covenants 95:1 > Exodus 20:6 > James 5:11 > Alma 9:26-27 > James 1:17 > 1 Nephi 10:18 > Doctrine and Covenants 62:6 > Job 36:5 > Doctrine and Covenants 76:2

In the previous section, “Attributes and Characteristics of God”, we focused mostly on the physical nature of God, learning more about God by learning what it means that we were created in His likeness and image. In this particular section, we will focus on a few of His other attributes, thus helping us learn more about Him and eventually learning how we can come to know Him. All these descriptions can apply to the Godhead.

In Exodus chapter 24 verses 10 and 11 and Doctrine and Covenants section 110 verses 2 and 3, we read of two incidents where Jehovah, or Jesus Christ, appeared to men on the earth. In their description of Him, we learn that He is a God of magnificent glory. He is described as a, “Body of heaven in his clearness” and that, “His eyes were as a flame of fire, the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun”. In additional encounters with this heavenly Being, in Exodus chapter 24 verse 17 and Joseph Smith History chapter 1 verses 16 and 17 and Doctrine and Covenants section 76 verse 70, we read how God’s countenance is described as a flame of fire or brighter than the sun. God is a God of glory. Also, in these verses we learn that God can be seen by mankind. This is definitely an attribute we should know about.  When man sees God, he can only describe God by what he knows or by what he has experienced. So fire or the brightness of the sun is used by man to describe His radiant glory and the clear nature of the heavens to describe the beauty of His physical body. Stephen of the New Testament and Joseph Smith of our modern day, stated that they saw two personages. Devouring fire, above the brightness of the sun, and clear as the heavens; all these are beautiful descriptions attempting to describe the glory and beauty of God. The Godhead are Gods of glory.

Next, let’s examine a few of the attributes that make up God’s character, or make Him who He is. We call these attributes spiritual gifts.  The reason they are called gifts is because they come to us as gifts by the grace of God as we work to obtain them. If we work diligently to follow Christ’s example and emulate His qualities in our own lives, we will gain these same attributes they will become part of our own character. The process of gaining these attributes helps us come to know God, thus fulfilling the doctrine in John chapter 17 verse 3, which teaches that if we want to gain eternal life, we need to come to know God and Jesus Christ. Paul commanded in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 31 that we should, “Covet earnestly the best gifts”. Paul goes on to teach us in chapter 13 that the greatest of all the gifts that we should seek, the gift that really defines God, is the gift or attribute of charity. Charity is the pure love of Christ and all other Godly or Christ-like attributes that define the character of God and Christ flow from this attribute. We need to learn to love as God and Christ love.

The next attribute, which is very closely tied to charity, is mercy. God’s mercy is probably called upon in scripture more often than any other. Mark chapter 3 verse 5 is a great example of God’s attribute of mercy. Throughout the New Testament gospels, Jesus is found in the service of others; this service is a result of the love and mercy He feels for each of us. Christ is constantly teaching; He performed countless miracles upon those of faith. His love and mercy is unparalleled. We come to know God and Christ as we, through our love and merciful feelings toward others, learn to serve as Christ served, selflessly. Mixed in these verses, we also see evidence of many other attributes: He can be a God of anger, He is just, He keeps His promises and covenants, He knows all things, He is long suffering, quick to hear and answer prayers, forgiver of sins and many others.

Let’s examine these verses more in depth. Returning to Mark, we see His love and mercy manifested through the healing of a withered hand. In the Doctrine and Covenants section 1 verse 13, we learn that we can anger God through our iniquities. Nehemiah chapter 9 verses 32 and 33 teach us that God keeps the covenants that He has made with us, whether to our blessing or our condemnation; He is also perfectly merciful and just. We continue in 2 Nephi chapter 9 verses 17 through 27 and chapter 1 verse 15. From these chapters we learn several things: 1. He is Holy, 2. He keeps His promises to both the righteous and the wicked, 3. He has delivered us from death and hell, 4. His mercy is great, 5. He knows all things, 6. He will save (from hell) all who hearken to His voice, 7. He suffered the pains of all mankind, 8. Through Him, all mankind will be resurrected (saved from death), 9. He is very clear in His requirements for us, 10. He is perfectly just, 11. His mercy will satisfy the demands of justice (see Alma 42:15), 12. We will feel His loving arms around us. John chapter 3 verses 16 and 17 are familiar to many they teach us how incredibly great and how boundless His love is for us, hence the saying that God is a God of love. His greatest love, however, is conditional; John chapter 15 verses 9 and 10, teaches that in order for us to continue in God’s greatest love, we must keep His commandments, just as Jesus kept the Father’s commandments and abides in His love. We learned earlier how God’s love could turn to anger if we turn from our righteousness unto wickedness. In Doctrine and Covenants section 95 verse 1, we learn a very important principle that demonstrates God’s love; just like a good earthly parent, God will chasten those He loves to correct them and to deliver them from the effects of sin. In Exodus chapter 20 verse 6, we learn that God only shows mercy to those who keep His commandments. This is an example of His perfect justice. James chapter 5 verse 11 reinforces God’s merciful nature and calls Him tender. Is there any greater manifestation of love than through tenderness? In the book of Alma chapter 9 verses 26 and 27, we see a string of attributes that Alma personally learned about God through his own serious repentance. He is full of grace, equity and truth; He is full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering. He is quick to hear and answer the prayers of His people. He will redeem only those who repent and are baptized through their faith on Him, Jesus Christ. In James chapter 1 verse 17 and 1 Nephi chapter 10 verse 18, we learn a very important, even critical attribute, an attribute that gives us the ability to exercise perfect faith and trust in God and Jesus Christ. This attribute is: Unchanging. God does not change! If He states the way to salvation, then that is the way it will always be. He does not vary in His word, nor turn about or change His ways. He has laid down the way to salvation, even Eternal life! The way has been shown, it will never change, we can have perfect faith and trust in Him. The way is prepared for all mankind, no one is left out! Doctrine and Covenants section 63 verse 6: God does not lie, but keeps His promises faithfully! Job chapter 36 verse 5: God is mighty in strength and wisdom; in other words, no one is stronger, no one is wiser. He is our strength; He is our source of wisdom. Finally, in Doctrine and Covenants section 76 verse 2, we can summarize our God in these words: He is so wise and so great, that no one in this life will completely and totally understand Him; His progression is far beyond our capability to understand. That is why we must have faith and move forward on His word.

There is not an attribute discussed that we cannot strive to emulate and make a part of our own character. As stated previously, as we strive to emulate Christ and His attributes, we will come to know Him better for we will begin to become like Him in His Christ-like qualities. We can be just and temper that justice with mercy; we can treat all with equity and truth. We can keep our promises and covenants; we can be tender, kind, forgiving and loving. As we do so, we will become more Christ-like in our character.