Joseph Smith wrote an article to a newspaper that asked him the very same question. In what is know known as the Wentworth Letter he writes of his account and the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, up until that time in 1842. At the end of the letter writes 13 statements, later to be known by the Church as the Articles of Faith. In this writing I would like to examine the first:
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
Pretty straightforward. Not much point in having a Church if you don't believe in some sort of deity. In this, there is specific reference to three beings. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit.
"Believe in God; believe that he, 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."
What proof do we have of God's existence? Only what He sees fit to give us. We have limited counts in Scripture of Him actually appearing. We know he appeared to Adam in the Garden of Eden, the prophet Enos, the Apostle Stephen, and to Joseph Smith. Because that of Joseph Smith's is the most recent, it is the most detailed account we have of such a visitation. In it is also proof positive that God has a body of Flesh and Bones, and is a separate being from the Son.
"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."
Here it is more clear that these 3 Holy Beings are actually 3 distinct and separate beings.
In the great Intercessory Prayer offered by Jesus shortly before his death, he prayed "That they may be one; as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they may also be one in us: that the world may believe thou hast sent me."
If someone were to argue that sounded like the Father and the Son were the same being, I would totally understand that confusion based off that verse alone. However, upon closer inspection, Jesus is praying that the disciples be one, even as the Father and Jesus are one. Is he asking that they be of one body, or perhaps, one in heart and mind? Clearly, the latter. And as such, the Father and the Son are two beings, but so united in heart and purpose that they can be considered One.
So what does each one do?
"Everlasting covenant was made between three personages before the organization of this earth and relates to their dispensation of things to men on the earth. These personages … are called God the first, the Creator; God the second, the Redeemer; and God the third, the Witness or Testator."
God the Father, is the Grand Creator. He is our Father, and SHupreme Ruler of the Universe. He is our God, and the God of Jesus Christ. He created a plan whereby man could progress to Perfection and live the Life He lives.
"God found himself in the midst of spirits and glory, and because he was greater, he saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have the privilege of advancing like himself--that they might have one glory upon another and all the knowledge, power, and glory necessary to save the world of spirits."
Next, is God the Redeemer, or Jesus Christ. Jesus is that same Being born to Mary, crucified at Golgatha, and risen from the Empty Tomb. It is He who came to Earth and paid the price for Humanities sins and enables the whole Plan of the Creator to work. He is the Grand Executor of the the Father's Will.
And thirdly, we have God the Testator, the Witness, or the Holy Ghost. He is the only being mentioned of the three to not have a physical body. His job is to testify of Truth, that our Faith maybe validated. If these three beings were compared to the Human Body, the Father would be the Mind, the Son the Arms and Legs and the Holy Ghost would be the Mouth.
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