Joseph Smith: An Apostle of Jesus Christ

LDS.org ^ | Dennis B. Neuenschwander

[WVKayaker]

THE MORMON VIEW OF
GOD THE FATHER
AND JESUS CHRIST

I was terribly confused about the nature of God. The scriptures as well as teachings of the Church leaders past and present seemed to contradict each other on a very important doctrinal teaching: is God a spirit, is he Adam, the father of all mankind, or is he a man who has attained Godhood?

1) In 1835 The Lectures on Faith were given before the Elders in Kirtland, Ohio at the School of the Prophets, and subsequently printed in the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. In these lectures given by Joseph Smith it was definitely stated that God the Father was a personage of spirit (see D&C, 1835 edition, p. 53). The Lectures also taught that God is omnipresent (present everywhere at the same time) (D&C, 1835 edition, p. 12).

President Joseph Fielding Smith admits that Joseph Smith helped prepare these lectures: “Now the Prophet did know something about these Lectures on Faith, because he helped to prepare them, and he helped also to revise these lectures before they were published” (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p. 195).

The Lectures on Faith have been removed from more recent editions of the D&C because they would now contradict what the Mormon Church teaches concerning the Godhead. In addition, the Book of Mormon never refers to Heavenly Father and Jesus as separate entities, but only as one Eternal God (BOM Alma 11:44).

2) On April 9, 1852, Brigham Young publicly preached the Adam-God Doctrine. The Adam-God Doctrine teaches that Elohim is our spiritual grandfather, while Adam [the arch-angel Michael] and Eve are the parents of our spirits, thus making Adam our Heavenly Father and God. In the 17th and 18th centuries there were beliefs among various non-mainstream sects in Europe and America about Adam being a god, a pre-existent perfect being who participated in the creation of the world, as opposed to not existing until God made him out of the dust of the earth. These beliefs were very similar to what eventually became LDS doctrine, and then later removed from the doctrine of the Mormon Church. Ancestors of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were associated with the sects that taught this doctrine.

During the last two decades of his life, Brigham Young consistently taught that Adam was indeed God, the Father. Many defenders of the faith claim that the critics take his words out of context, yet honest scholars who carefully study his entire discourses attest that Brigham Young believed that Adam was God the Father. The Church teaches that God is unchanging. How could a true prophet in 1852 know that God was Adam, yet a century later another true prophet of the same church know and teach that God is not Adam?
3) The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “First, God himself, who sits in yonder heavens, is a man like unto one of yourselves, that is the great secret... You have got to learn how to become Gods yourselves...” (Times and Seasons, vol. 5, pp. 613-614).

Spencer W. Kimball, the 12th president of the Church, maintained, “In each of us [brethren] is the potentiality to become a God...” (Salt Lake Tribune, October 7, 1974). Speaking to priesthood holders, President Kimball made these comments: “Brethren 225,000 of you are here tonight. I suppose 225,000 of you may become gods. There seems to be plenty of space out there in the universe. And the Lord has proved that he knows how to do it. I think he could make, or probably have us help make, worlds for all of us, for every one of us 225,000.” (Ensign, Nov. 1975, p. 80) ...
- http://www.exmormon.org/journey/journey_b.htm

[Tennessee Nana]

retread much ???

[MHGinTN]

No popcorn, but a hot shower and a warm bed beckon too strongly. Night all ...

[eyedigress]

You folks need to leave Jim alone. Read what he says on the home page. If you disagree, fine. The rest is argumentative.

[NoRedTape]

"Joseph Smith was killed by a mob while he was being held prisoner in Carthage, Illinois."

Joe was a major coward. He was shot whilst escaping from his window. It was a good thing, because the husbands of the wives he defiled would have gotten to him worse.

[restornu]

Resty, in your search, try to find one single Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek scholar that can present to you an ancient document, in one of those three languages, such the LXX, the Septuagint, that has even one complete reference from the BoM (other than that ripped off from a Bible).

These documents ... simply ... do not ... exist.

They never have; they never will.

***

You want to bold face and stand there and telling me those passages do not exist when I showed them to you, find there is a witness and He is watching all of this exchange here on FR.

We will all some day have a chance to explain our version of events!

http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=14&num=2&id=374

Cheers!

[Brown Deer]

two female senior Episcopalian clergy at Boston’s St Paul’s Cathedral on their “historic” lesbian marriage to one another

Obviously, not a marriage. How sad of them to make a mockery of the Episcopalian church.

[Tennessee Nana]

Isa 43 Jehovah was the only God formed
_____________________________________________

originated with Resty in post # 266...

I was answering her post and her words...

[NoRedTape]

You are somehow supporting Joe Smith? You will obtain very little satisfaction, I believe. Choose your battles. Joe Smith and mormonisms aint the way dude.

[Tennessee Nana]

there is a witness and He is watching all of this exchange here on FR.

We will all some day have a chance to explain our version of events!
_______________________________________________

I doubt if we will be asked...

[restornu]

It would appear, Resty, that I’ve studied your religion more than you have, and that I am more familiar with the meaning than apparently you are.

***

Well it is not showing but puff goes the majic dragon...

[NoRedTape]

When Resty says “witness” ........does he mean the other cult the Jahooovahs?

[dagogo redux]

I see your Scientology precursor, and raise you some whole cloth.

[DelphiUser]

CC, tithing is in the Bible. Maybe You should read it before complaining about a Biblical practice...

Just saying

Delph

[Ron H.]

An old saying I seem to recall from way back says that the best way to hide a lie is between two truths.

[Brown Deer]

Here's another prophet. He and most of his wives and children died on April 19, 1993.

[caww]

Here’s a start on what they are to believe concerning Islams Mohammed...from their own website...

How should Mormons view Muhammad?

In short, Muhammad should be viewed as one who received inspiration from God to help raise a major portion of humanity to a higher level of obedience to immutable moral truths. Inevitably, this higher level of understanding and obedience has immeasurably good results for adherents who sincerely strive to live according to the moral principles taught within their faith. Therefore, Muhammad should be seen as God’s instrument to bring these people to a higher level of obedience to his will.

http://www.mormonchurch.com/37/what-do-mormons-think-of-muhammad