The quote you gave from Moses (thanks for the reference to the Pearle of Great Price) helps explain it...there God the Father himself speaks of the Savior, and yet says that there is one God...who is the Father. Yet the Father speaks of the coming Christ seperately, and we know that Christ is God's son, and also God. Pretty clear in that cripture that there are two of them, seperate.
Your entire chronology graph explains your interpretation of those scriptures...not, IMHO, necessarily what they meant, and there are scriptures apparently on both sides of the issue. But I think there is one interpretation that fits both.
Again, in Genesis:
"And God said, let us form man in our own image." "And God said, the man has become as one of us, to know good from evil."
In the New Testament, as I referenced earlier, the examples of Christ's baptism, of Christ transfiguration, from the martyr Stephen, and others all also indicate what is meant. In each caes, God the Father, JEsus Christ, and the Holy Ghost (in two) are refernced seprately, distinct from one another, indicating the plurality of the Godhead.
Perhaps, most importantly, IMHO, is where Christ Himself explains the dicotomy, in John in words that I believe are very straight forward and easy to understand.
John 17:11 "Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are....and , OBTW, in the next verse, Christ makes some other things clear:
,br> John 17:21 "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.
John 17:22 "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
John 17:23 "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."
"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."
Throughout this entire prayer He is speaking to the Father, God the Father...not to Himself. He indicates clearly that He wants his disciples, and those that would believe on them to be "one", even as He and the Father are "one."
Also, that God the Father has loved Him since bfore the foundation of the world, meaning our premortal existance, just like Moses spoke of.
Clearly, from these versus alone (plus all the others) the interpretation that fits is that the oneness is one of purpose and unity, but that they are seperate and distinct as evidenced by His own words praying to His Father!
Again, the oneness is that they are perfectly united through the plan of salvation and the atonement of Christ to have the same oneness that they have develop in all of us, that we may be like them, as Christ commaded in Matthew (referenced above) and as Paul spoke of in Romans:
"The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the chilkdren of God, and if children, then heirs, and join heir with Jesus Christ (notice he sppeaks of God the Father and jesus Christ seperately and that Christ inherits from the Father), if so be that we suffer with Him, that we migh also be glorified together. ,br>
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us."
Christ prayed to the Father that this might be so, in Matthew He commanded that we do it.
Now, there is clearly a difference in interpretation of these scriptures (BTW, in the which in your own post you included the Book of Mormon...thank you) and I can accept that there is a difference in interpretation. None of that denies or steps in the way, or comes between me (or you for that matter) and the essential truth, the fact that rises above all of the indications of what our eternal glory will specifically be, and that is the atoning blood of Jesus Christ who is the Savior of the world and though whom alone comes salvation, which we both accept and profess.
I do not comdemn you for your differences in this regard. In my opinnion, if someone accepts Christ in their heart sincerely and fully, He will bring them to Himself and all truth in His time...just as He will all of us who do so. For He is mighty to save.
The Bible teaches that no man confesses Jesus Christ but by the power of the Holy Ghost. I so profess Him to you now. Jesus Christ, born of Mary in Bethlehem, raised in Nazareth, worker of great miracles, teacher of His Gospel of Love, Mercy and Atonement, curcified and Him resurected is my Savior and the Atoner of the sins of all mankind.
God bless you both Daimond and MGH for your love of and testimonony of Jesus Christ. May He do much good through you in bringing others closer to Him. I pray, and know that he is doing and has done the same through my own meager efforts and others I have a lot of experience with in my faith.
In my own case, when it has come to difficult and very threatening and mortal health experiences, I urge all to read my experience over the last three years with cancer, particularly my words and prayers for my family before I went into surgery in April of 2010.
I point you to the witnesses given of Christ's miracles through His will in my own life and literally thousands who prayed, in the name of Christ from many different denominations, for me and my family. I thank God for them all...and I profusely thank them for their faith, exerted on our behalf. I can only return the favor in trying to help others, as He would do.
During those difficult days, He let me know, through the whisperings of the Holy Spirit, that one of the purposes for my prolonged life was to witness for His name...which again, I do now...Beautiful, Wonderful, Glorious, Matchless, Counselor, the Mighty God, Savior of the world, Lord and God are all His names.
And now, again, I leave you with that...and am content to cease my own writings and ramblings on this thread. Let others judge as they will.
Jeff, mormonISM DOES NOT teach ONE God.
You WISH!
Everything you DO NOT WANT TO TALK ABOUT says otherwise.
Jeff; just consider that I am channeling Paul Harvey with... "the REST of the story."
Jeff, do you beleive (as taught by mormonISM) that one day you will be god of your own planet?
Do you beleive (as taught by mormonISM) that Joseph Smith who will be the one to determine your salvation?
Jeff, answer the questions asked, not those that “should have been asked”.
What are you fearful off?
These are just simple yes or no answers on your part. Either you as a committed mormon beleive what is taught or you don’t.