LDS God pre-existed the Universe

[thesunisout]

Mormonism teaches God is a resurrected man from another planet who attained Godhood. The bible teaches that God created the Universe and everything in it:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night He made the stars also

Comments?

 

[Rescued One]

This is what Mormonism teaches:

Perhaps because the concept of father is easy to grasp, or perhaps because the idea that we are the offspring of God is so empowering (see Acts 17:28), we sometimes tend to focus on that personal relationship and forget that our Heavenly Father, through His Son, is also the Creator and Ruler of the universe. To Moses, He declared:

“I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name. …

“And worlds without number have I created; … and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten” (Moses 1:3, 33).
Worlds without Number - Ensign Aug. 2013 - ensign

As for the exalted man-god
The Prophet Joseph Smith said:
“...It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God, and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth” (Teachings, pp. 345-46; italics in original).

President Brigham Young elaborated on this concept: “It must be that God knows something about temporal things, and has a body and been on an earth; were it not so He would not know how to judge men righteously, according to the temptations and sins they have had to contend with” (as cited by Harold B. Lee, in Conference Report, Apr. 1969, p. 130; or Improvement Era, June 1969, p. 104).
(Search These Commandments, Melchizedek Priesthood Personal Study Guide, Copyright 1984, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, p. 151)

On page 158 of the same manual:

Be careful in presenting this material that you don’t bring God down to man’s level. Our objective is to perfect ourselves and raise our level to his exalted place.

Note: They say there are other universes.

 

[Another Lazarus]

Why would a man from another planet choose to live here ? too crowded there ?

 

[Radrook]

Why would a man from another planet choose to live here ? too crowded there ?

Eviction usually motivates a person to seek an alternate habitat.

 

[Jane_Doe]

Actual LDS person here, clarifying actual LDS beliefs:

Mormonism teaches God is a resurrected man from another planet who attained Godhood.

This is a false statement. LDS do indeed believe that the Father has a glorified body like the Son. There are not official doctrinal statements stating anything about the Father's backstory, there are a few unofficial speculative statements in that regard. These speculations are not actively discussed or taught in LDS church, and an LDS person may go decades without even knowing about them. Like with any other speculation, an LDS person is free to agree, disagree, or anything else with these speculations at be 100% in good standing. For example, I don't believe them and I'm 100% in good standing (I'm of the don't-know-don't-care camp).

The bible teaches that God created the Universe and everything in it:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night He made the stars also

LDS do believe this.

 

[Jane_Doe]

This is what Mormonism teaches:

Perhaps because the concept of father is easy to grasp, or perhaps because the idea that we are the offspring of God is so empowering (see Acts 17:28), we sometimes tend to focus on that personal relationship and forget that our Heavenly Father, through His Son, is also the Creator and Ruler of the universe. To Moses, He declared:

“I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name. …

“And worlds without number have I created; … and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten” (Moses 1:3, 33).
Worlds without Number - Ensign Aug. 2013 - ensign

These are true, but doesn't relate to the OP.

As for the exalted man-god
The Prophet Joseph Smith said:
“...It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God, and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth” (Teachings, pp. 345-46; italics in original).

This is one of the two speculative statements I was talking about.

 

[NYCGuy]

Actual LDS person here, clarifying actual LDS beliefs:

This is a false statement. LDS do indeed believe that the Father has a glorified body like the Son. There are not official doctrinal statements stating anything about the Father's backstory, there are a few unofficial speculative statements in that regard. These speculations are not actively discussed or taught in LDS church, and an LDS person may go decades without even knowing about them. Like with any other speculation, an LDS person is free to agree, disagree, or anything else with these speculations at be 100% in good standing. For example, I don't believe them and I'm 100% in good standing (I'm of the don't-know-don't-care camp).

LDS do believe this.

Mormon church manuals, magazines, and leaders have taught that Heavenly Father was once a man who attained Godhood, and that we can follow His example in achieving Godhood. I guess your church is teaching unofficial speculation?

 

[Jane_Doe]

Mormon church manuals, magazines, and leaders have taught that Heavenly Father was once a man who attained Godhood, and that we can follow His example in achieving Godhood. I guess your church is teaching unofficial speculation?

The LDS churches does publish more things that just official scriptures and doctrine. Heck, they even publish coloring books.

 

[frienden thalord]

Jesus Christ died forgiving his enemies
stephen corrected also and then died forgiving his enemies
Joseph smith died, with a gun in his hand.
Let he who has eyes and ears to both see and hear, ponder this today.
Paul once said something very interesting
but though even WE or an ANGEL bring any other gosple to you
than the one we have preached, let him be accursed.
And man those poor settlers that bringham young used the indians to kill.
if the religion is born in blood by leaders, my advice is to do as phoebe ann did. flee.

 

[frienden thalord]

I am curious as to how the mormons see interfaith.

 

[frienden thalord]

Their is a teaching i have heard several young men of the mormon faith say
and was wondering if thier is any truth to its validity.
that JESUS and satan were once brothers. Since i know JESUS is the Word of GOD
and God is his word, how then can satan have been his brother.

 

[Jane_Doe]

Jesus Christ died forgiving his enemies
stephen corrected also and then died forgiving his enemies....
Let he who has eyes and ears to both see and hear, ponder this today.
Paul once said something very interesting
but though even WE or an ANGEL bring any other gosple to you
than the one we have preached, let him be accursed.

LDS believe all of these theological statements.

 

[Jane_Doe]

I am curious as to how the mormons see interfaith.

What about it? (Just asking for clarification cause this is a broad topic)

 

[thesunisout]

Actual LDS person here, clarifying actual LDS beliefs:

This is a false statement. LDS do indeed believe that the Father has a glorified body like the Son. There are not official doctrinal statements stating anything about the Father's backstory, there are a few unofficial speculative statements in that regard. These speculations are not actively discussed or taught in LDS church, and an LDS person may go decades without even knowing about them. Like with any other speculation, an LDS person is free to agree, disagree, or anything else with these speculations at be 100% in good standing. For example, I don't believe them and I'm 100% in good standing (I'm of the don't-know-don't-care camp).

LDS do believe this.

No, this is not a false statement according to your prophet Joseph Smith:

The King Follett Sermon - Ensign Apr. 1971 - ensign

"In order to understand the subject of the dead, for consolation of those who mourn for the loss of their friends, it is necessary we should understand the character and being of God and how He came to be so; for I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see.

These ideas are incomprehensible to some, but they are simple. It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, and to know that we may converse with Him as one man converses with another, and that He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did; and I will show it from the Bible."

Your prophet makes it clear: God the Father was once a man on another earth who lived as we do. Not the eternal God that created all things. Are you saying you don't believe your own prophet?

 

[Jane_Doe]

No, this is not a false statement according to your prophet Joseph Smith:

The King Follett Sermon - Ensign Apr. 1971 - ensign

"In order to understand the subject of the dead, for consolation of those who mourn for the loss of their friends, it is necessary we should understand the character and being of God and how He came to be so; for I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see.

These ideas are incomprehensible to some, but they are simple. It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, and to know that we may converse with Him as one man converses with another, and that He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did; and I will show it from the Bible."

Your prophet makes it clear: God the Father was once a man on another earth who lived as we do. Not the eternal God that created all things. Are you saying you don't believe your own prophet?

It is a common mistake for non-LDS people to assume that LDS think just because an LDS said something that LDS believe that it's infallible or automatically doctrine or scripture. None of those are true. Here is a useful link better explaining how to approach LDS doctrine: Approaching Mormon Doctrine

The section you're quoting is speculation, not doctrine. Nor is is actively discussed or taught in LDS church. As I stated earlier, an LDS person is free to 100% disagree/agree/whatever with them and still be 100% in good standing.

 

[thesunisout]

It is a common mistake for non-LDS people to assume that LDS think just because an LDS said something that LDS believe that it's infallible or automatically doctrine or scripture. None of those are true. Here is a useful link better explaining how to approach LDS doctrine: Approaching Mormon Doctrine

The section you're quoting is speculation, not doctrine. Nor is is actively discussed or taught in LDS church. As I stated earlier, an LDS person is free to 100% disagree/agree/whatever with them and still be 100% in good standing.

You are either stretching the truth or you are ignorant of what your church teaches. This is from the official website of the lds church:

Becoming Like God

"What kind of a being is God?” he asked. Human beings needed to know, he argued, because “if men do not comprehend the character of God they do not comprehend themselves.”36 In that phrase, the Prophet collapsed the gulf that centuries of confusion had created between God and humanity. Human nature was at its core divine. God “was once as one of us” and “all the spirits that God ever sent into the world” were likewise “susceptible of enlargement.” Joseph Smith preached that long before the world was formed, God found “himself in the midst” of these beings and “saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself”37 and be “exalted” with Him."

This belief that God was once a man, of course, is totally incompatible with the bible:

Isaiah 43:10

You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me

So how do you square this circle Jane?

 

[Jane_Doe]

You're either lying or completely ignorant of what your church teaches.

Neither. I'm sorry that you're not understanding LDS believes in this regard- I'll try to help clarify.

This is from the official website of the lds church:

Becoming Like God

"What kind of a being is God?” he asked. Human beings needed to know, he argued, because “if men do not comprehend the character of God they do not comprehend themselves.”36 In that phrase, the Prophet collapsed the gulf that centuries of confusion had created between God and humanity. Human nature was at its core divine. God “was once as one of us” and “all the spirits that God ever sent into the world” were likewise “susceptible of enlargement.” Joseph Smith preached that long before the world was formed, God found “himself in the midst” of these beings and “saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself”37 and be “exalted” with Him."

The quote is not about the possibility of the the Father's past at all. Rather it is about us and our possible future: to become joint-heirs with Christ through His amazing grace. Here are some scripture verses about it:

• man is become as one of us, Gen. 3:22

• Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father, Matt. 5:48 (3 Ne. 12:48).
• we are the offspring of God, Acts 17:29.
  
  
• heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, Rom. 8:17.
  
  
• changed into the same image from glory to glory, 2 Cor. 3:18.
  
  
• if a son, then an heir of God through Christ, Gal. 4:7.
  
  
• Till we all come … unto a perfect man, Eph. 4:13.
  
  
• be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live, Heb. 12:9.
  
  
• when he shall appear, we shall be like him, 1 Jn. 3:2.
  
  
• him that overcometh will … sit with me in my throne, Rev. 3:21.

You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and believe Me And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me

We become ONE with God, not replace Him or anything silly like that. Still only ONE God.

 

[frienden thalord]

How do they square a circle, they bring in four points they think is RIGHT.
but since their angles are not RIGHT , they only think its a square.

 

[frienden thalord]

What about it? (Just asking for clarification cause this is a broad topic)

Do you support the over all idea of interfaith for world peace.

 

[Jane_Doe]

Do you support the over all idea of interfaith for world peace.

I'm not really understanding your question, but will try my best to answer--

Of course LDS are fans of world peace and resolving disagreements peacefully. We are also proponents of the fact that all men have the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience- let them worship how, where, or what they may (see our Articles of Faith #11: Articles of Faith 1). Yes, we do believe there is only one ultimate Truth, but we still openly campaign that everyone may worship how, what, they choose.