Theology • God was actually a man first • All people lived with God as his spirit children. • Lucifer was also once a spirit child or God. • Lucifer responds in chapter 4 of the Book of Moses (found in the Pearl of Great Price) saying, “Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that not one soul shall be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.” • Jesus was a spirit child that came to earth through a physical relationship Mary had with God (returned as a man just for this reason). • The Trinity is 3 separate beings without “oneness.” • One priesthood (both Melchizedekian and Aaronic) is “without beginning of days or end of years.” (Doctrine and Covenants, 84:17) • Church presidents, apostles, high priests, seventies (traveling ministers and special witnesses of Jesus Christ), elders, and the various offices all share specific authorities. • Even this has been “changed” in Doctrine and Covenants 20:65-67 amending from only officers and elders of the Mormon church to now include all groups above in their “priesthood.” • Their “priesthood” is critical to their doctrine due to the fact they believe they can return to or become gods themselves. • John 10:34 - “Ye are gods.” John 10:34 actually says this phrase, but contextually, it is a rebuke from Psalm 82:6 where God rebuked Israel’s unjust judges, calling them gods because they ruled as His representatives and spokesmen. • “In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people in it.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 349) • “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man . . .” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 345) • “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s: the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit . . .” (Doctrine and Covenants, 130:22) • Their view of God being many has not changed. The Holy Spirit is a personage and not a physical being. He is immaterial, which is not actually existent according to their own theology regarding God. • So, when is the Holy Spirit bestowed upon those that believe? Well, even Smith doesn’t really know. (1) baptism occurs first then you get the Holy Spirit with remission of sin (3 Nephi 12:2) or (2) you are forgiven of your sins and given the Holy Spirit before baptism (Moroni 8:11). • Baptism in water is the same as baptism in the Spirit which is necessary to enter into the Kingdom of God. There are various degrees of possessing the Holy Ghost. • The Book of Mormon sums up the creation narrative this way: the gods who created this earth actually planned that Adam, who was to become ruler of this domain, and his wife, Eve, were foreordained to sin so that the race of man who now inhabit this earth might come into being and eventually reach godhood. (VIDEO HERE) • 'Salvation in Mormonism is simple: (1) have faith in Christ, (2) baptism by immersion, (3) obedience to the teaching of the Mormon Church, (4) good works, and (5) “keeping the commands of God (which) will cleanse away the stain of sin” (Journal of Discourse 2:4). • Heaven: three-fold heaven: (1) the telestial heaven - a holding place for all worldly people, (2) the terrestrial heaven - Christians who did not accept the Mormon message along with Mormons that did not live up to the churches requirements as well as other men of good character from other religions that reject the revelation of the Latter Day Saints, and (3) the celestial heaven - three levels here: the lower level is associated with individuals lived honorably and accepted the Mormon testimony of Jesus, but they are unmarried or did not complete all specific temple ordinances. The middle level is not explained well enough in detail. The highest level is for godhood or the possession of one’s own kingdom and family to reign over it. • Hell is temporary post-mortal position most often known as Outer Darkness. You can and will still hear the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the Latter-Day Saints. You can repent and accept baptism in order to leave the Outer Darkness and enter Paradise = Heaven.
