“Show me where it states they are three persons in one being of one substance.”
well the first thing that comes to mind is “show where it doesn’t”
The writings are taken as a whole.
They obviously worshipped “one” God, and they also worshipped 3 beings, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Yet they claimed these 3 beings were one God.
There certainly isn’t any proof they believed the Father was a human being/become God.
If they had believed in 3 gods, they would have stated they believed in three gods.
But no, it is consistent - they worshipped “one” God, but considered 3 beings worthy of worshipping as God.
The mormon boys informed me that the faith “died out” upon the death of the last apostle. I presumed they were referring to the Apostle John.
I asked them if they knew who Polycarp was? No. they didn’t.
Ignatius? No. Didn’t know him either.
Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle John.
150 AD Polycarp of Smyrna “I praise you for all things, I bless you, I glorify you, along with the everlasting and heavenly Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, with whom, to you and the Holy Spirit, be glory both now and to all coming ages. Amen” (Martyrdom of Polycarp 14).
““Show me where it states they are three persons in one being of one substance.”
well the first thing that comes to mind is “show where it doesn’t””
John 17
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, EVEN AS WE ARE ONE:
Are you going to seriously suggest that Christ was asking the Father to turn all his followers into a single being of one substance having several personages?
“They obviously worshipped “one” God, and they also worshipped 3 beings, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Yet they claimed these 3 beings were one God.”
And this does not conflict with our doctrines either. You are missing the point where our doctrines diverge and that is in HOW they are one, in what sense are they one God.
“The mormon boys informed me that the faith “died out” upon the death of the last apostle. I presumed they were referring to the Apostle John.
I asked them if they knew who Polycarp was? No. they didn’t.
Ignatius? No. Didn’t know him either.
Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle John.”
Apostolic authority was gone when the apostles were gone. Polycarp and those that came after were not apostles and hence had no authority to lead the church or receive revelation for the church. We do not recognize them as authoritative sources of doctrine although what they wrote has historical interest as you can see in their writings over the centuries the gradual changes that took place as the church slowly fell into apostacy.