The statement in Deuteronomy 6:4 is the bedrock of monotheism for Judaism as well as Christianity. An understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity must begin with establishing monotheism.
This foundational statement is generally worded as,
Sh’ma Yisra’el Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad
And is translated as,
Hear, O, Israel! The LORD, our God, the LORD is one
Or,
Hear, O, Israel! The LORD, our God is one LORD
A Latter-Day Saint Commentary on the Old Testament makes the following observations on the Sh’ma in commenting on Deuteronomy 6:1-4,
Moses opens his overview of divine laws with a proclamation: “Hear, O Israel: JEHOVAH is our God; JEHOVAH is one” (Deut. 6:4, translation mine). The first word, hear, is shema in Hebrew, so the whole verse is called the Shema by Jews; they cite it on special occasions, and the deeply religious desire to repeat the verse at the moment of death.
They do not, of course, pronounce the name Jehovah but use a substitute, Abonai, which means “my Lord.” The law of God is for man’s good: “Observe to do it; that it may be well with thee’ (Deut. 6:3).”1
This is very true but appears to miss the point, which is that the Sh’ma is problematic to Mormon theology.
Mormonism claims that God the Father is Elohim and that Jesus is Jehovah.
Firstly, it should be noted that the Hebrew word elohim is not God’s name. Mormon President, Joseph Fielding Smith (1838-1918), referred to Elohim as a, “name-title.”2
This word is variably translated as God, god, gods, goddess, judges, great, mighty, angels. The singular form El is translated as God, god, idol, might, mighty one, power.
In A Sermon Delivered by President Brigham Young, In the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, April 9, 1852 –Journal of Discourses 1:50-51, Brigham Young stated:
It is true that the earth was organized by three distinct characters, namely, Eloheim, Yahovah, and Michael, these three forming a quorum, as in all heavenly bodies, and in organizing element, perfectly represented in the Deity, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost…
Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation.
Secondly, the letters of the Tetragrammaton are yod, hay, vav, hay. Merely by their sound we can tell that YHWH is not quite right and neither is JHVH-but rather, YHVH since there is no “J” nor “W” sounds in Hebrew.
The point however, is that it is a Jewish practice to state Adonai in place of YHVH as it is the practice in English to state The LORD in place of YHVH.
Thirdly, when discussing monotheism and trinitarianism with Mormons they will likely state that God is one in purpose. This is a statement with which we ought to agree-God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit certainly are one in purpose. Yet, this is not the point of monotheism, nor trinitarianism. God is one in purpose and God is one and one single one, there is one single God and no more than one.
Isaiah 43:10-11, 44:8, 45:14, 18, 46:9,
“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior…
You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one”…
Surely God is in you, And there is no other; There is no other God…
I am the Lord, and there is no other…
For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.
The Book of Mormon-Alma 11:28-29 states,
Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? And he [Amulek] answered, No.
In light of the strong witness of the Isaiah passage it may be of interest to consult with A Latter-Day Saint Commentary on the Old Testament. The following quote covers this commentary’s entire statements on Isaiah 43:1-28:
The Creator is also the Redeemer and Savior. He will gather latter-day Israel to resume the mission Abraham and Israel to enlighten the “blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears” in all nations.Those who respond and truly serve the Lord become his “witnesses” (Isa. 43:1-10 and fn.). The Lord (that is, Jehovah) is the only Savior, the Redeemer, the Holy One, the Creator, and King; he will make new ways for peace and end old wars (Isa. 43:11-17).
This vision ends with a fervent call from the Lord to his people to forsake and forget their former sinful ways, fulfill their covenant duties, be relieved of their suffering, and rejoice that the Lord will blot out transgressions for all who turn to him and communicate with him. They can become “justified” (Isa. 43: 18-28).3
In other words, it does not comment on the poignant text of v. 10.
Note the appeal being made in the Isaiah passage, it is the LORD making the statement, a statement that He wants us to know, believe and understand, there is not only one God but there will never be more than one.
Thus, the Sh’ma is telling us that YHVH Eloheinu YHVH echad. Note that while Mormons teach that God the Father is Elohim and that Jesus is Jehovah [or YHVH], the Sh’ma is stating that YHVH is Eloheinu and is one. This statement is being made with regards to one single Person. It is not stating that Jesus is our God the Father and Jesus is one.
Rather, it is stating that YHVH who is our mighty one is YHVH who is one. The Sh’ma is stating that YHVH, who is our Mighty One – our Elohim, this YHVH is one Jews and Christians have understood this for millennia. Therefore, it is hermeneutically inappropriate for Mormonism to seek to read its own preconceived notions into the text of scripture.