Foxnews.com recently published a list of questions that were posed to the Latter Day Saint authorities. I was not pleasantly surprised by the answers. Rather than directly answering the questions, the Mormon spokesperson avoided giving accurate and full-fledged responses. It was almost as if they were embarrassed.For example, when asked "Does the Church believe that God lives on a planet named Kolob?" The response was that this was merely a reference in the ancient documents translated by Joseph Smith and that the matter has very little to do with core LDS doctrines.
Unfortunately, the idea that the God of earth once lived on a planet named Kolob is directly tied to Mormon doctrine. There is an infinite regression of gods who started as men on their own planets and who eventually worked their way to godhood. The Church of Latter Day Saints does not only promote a works-based faith, it also contends that men can become gods.
Foxnews.com also asked, "Does the Mormon Church believe its followers can become 'gods and goddesses' after death?" The LDS responder replied that it is not the goal of the Mormon faithful to equal or achieve parity with God. Mormons merely desire to "imitate and someday acquire their perfect goodness, love and other divine attributes." They sidestepped the question by using terms that almost any Christian would agree with, but if they were speaking clearly, they simply would have said 'Yes.'
The full article may be found at foxnews.com. Mormons should not feel embarrassed about their faith, however, it is getting harder and harder to find a Latter Day Saint who will proclaim that Joseph Smith was a true prophet or that their theology espouses that men can become gods. It is, after all, an election season...
2 comments:
Owen:
Sorry, I didn't note that you asked a question at the end of your last response to my initial post on your site. Yes, I am a member of the LDS Church.
I thought that it was very fair of you to leave the comment with it's reference to the Church's websites.
I do have a couple of comments on this post as well. There are actually millions of Mormons who believe that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. The doctrines of continuing revelation and living prophets are central to Mormon theology.
The belief that we will become gods is not believed by all Mormons and is not a core part of Mormon theology. While there have been Mormon members and leaders that have speculated on exactly what is meant by becoming "joint-heirs with Christ" in Romans 8:17 and similar scriptures, Mormon theology itself requires nothing more on the subject than what is said in the scriptures. I believe that the representative of the LDS Church that you quoted was responding exactly as I and many other Mormons believe on this topic.
Also, there is nowhere in Mormon teaching that states that God lives on a planet named Kolob. There are a few verses of LDS scripture, based on translations of ancient documents, that state that there is a planet named Kolob near to where God lives. I would say that Mormons believe that God lives in Heaven.
My posts are not an effort to convert you or your readers. You seem to be as comfortable in your beliefs as I am in mine.
There are genuine doctrinal differences between LDS Christianity and other Christian denominations that we each believe and hold dear. It just seems to me that the conversation on our respective beliefs would be much more productive if the dialog focused on actual doctrines rather than fringe or supposed ones.
Dear Starting to Learn,
Thank you for your post. I wanted to respond to three of your points. You assert that the aspiration to deity is not among the core LDS doctrines, but Doctrine and Covenants seems to counter this (as well as statements of your apostles and prophets). Let me address your comments point-by-point:
Statement #1 - The belief that we will become gods is not believed by all Mormons and is not a core part of Mormon theology. While there have been Mormon members and leaders that have speculated on exactly what is meant by becoming "joint-heirs with Christ" in Romans 8:17 and similar scriptures, Mormon theology itself requires nothing more on the subject than what is said in the scriptures. I believe that the representative of the LDS Church that you quoted was responding exactly as I and many other Mormons believe on this topic.
Response #1 - Doctrine and Covenants 132:18-22
18 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife, and make a covenant with her for time and for all eternity, if that acovenant is not by me or by my word, which is my law, and is not sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, through him whom I have anointed and appointed unto this power, then it is not valid neither of force when they are out of the world, because they are not joined by me, saith the Lord, neither by my word; when they are out of the world it cannot be received there, because the angels and the gods are appointed there, by whom they cannot pass; they cannot, therefore, inherit my glory; for my house is a house of order, saith the Lord God.
19 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man amarry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and beverlasting covenant, and it is csealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of dpromise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the ekeys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them-Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit fthrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths-then shall it be written in the Lamb's gBook of Life, that he shall commit no hmurder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their jexaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the kseeds forever and ever.
20 Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from aeverlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be bgods, because they have call power, and the angels are subject unto them.
21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my alaw ye cannot attain to this glory.
22 For astrait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the clives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.
It would seem that the potential of men becoming gods is a core doctrine of the LDS church. All of the LDS missionaries I have ever spoken with have been taught this cardinal doctrine.
Statement #2 - Also, there is nowhere in Mormon teaching that states that God lives on a planet named Kolob. There are a few verses of LDS scripture, based on translations of ancient documents, that state that there is a planet named Kolob near to where God lives. I would say that Mormons believe that God lives in Heaven.
Response #2 - The reference to Kolob may be found in Doctrine and Covenants, Abraham 3:2-18. Here, God shows Abraham the heavens and mentions that Kolob is close to his throne in heaven. I can see how you might infer that I was stating that God the Father once lived on Kolob, however, I was only rephrasing the words from the foxnews.com question. Core Mormon doctrine does state that men can become gods. If God was once a man (a clear teaching of the LDS Church), it only stands to reason that mankind is of the same species; like begets like.
From excerpts from the official LDS website:
We understood also that after a period varying from seconds to decades of mortal life we would die, our bodies would go back to Mother Earth from which they had been created, and our spirits would go to the spirit world, where we would further train for our eternal destiny. After a period, there would be a resurrection or a reunion of the body and the spirit, which would render us immortal and make possible our further climb toward perfection and godhood. This resurrection has been made available to us through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator of this earth, who performed this incomparable service for us-a miracle we could not perform for ourselves. Thus the way was opened for our immortality and-if we prove worthy-eventual exaltation in God's kingdom (Prophet, Spencer W. Kimball - http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=da135f74db46c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=9629862384d20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1#footnote7)
"For behold, this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39.)
In other words, the Lord's work is to bring about the resurrection (immortality) of all of his Father's children and to make it possible for them to receive exaltation or godhood (eternal life). When one comes to understand these purposes, one's heart rejoices in the knowledge that the greatest blessing available to man-godhood-may be received by those who desire it with all their hearts.
In a glorious sermon preached by the Prophet Joseph Smith, this same fundamental purpose of earth life was expressed-except that this time the other side of the matter, mankind's responsibility, was emphasized: "You have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Deseret Book Co., 1938, p. 346.) (Roy W. Doxey - http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=6f72fd758096b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1)
Statement #3 - There are actually millions of Mormons who believe that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. The doctrines of continuing revelation and living prophets are central to Mormon theology.
Response #3 - If Joseph Smith is a true prophet, then his teachings must be true teachings. Joseph Smith taught the potential for man to achieve deity (see above quotes).
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