LDS teachings on God

[Wryetui]

Could you explain to me the doctrine about God being once a human on another planet and now being God here, please? I'm talking about the LDS teaching.

Thank you.

 

[TasteForTruth]

Thanks for asking.

We LDS understand that Heavenly Father once lived as a mortal. We do not presume to know where, etc. We also understand that Heavenly Father is God—immortal, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, etc. We further understand that God's self-stated purpose is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of" us...His children. (Moses 1:39) In other words, we understand that God's purpose—ie, the reason for all that He does—is to raise us to become like Him.

That's the doctrine in a nutshell. This article on the LDS Church's official website does a wonderful job of addressing the topic, and foundational concepts to it. It's worth a read, if for no other reason than to provide a better frame of reference from which to discuss this doctrine with LDS.

 

[drstevej]

How does Heavenly Mother fit into this ^^^ ???

 

[TasteForTruth]

How does Heavenly Mother fit into this ^^^ ???

To the extent that we know anything about it, it is logical to conclude that Heavenly Mother once lived as a mortal as well.

 

[drstevej]

Three verses down it says:

42 (These words were spoken unto Moses in the mount, the name of which shall not be known among the children of men. And now they are spoken unto you. Show them not unto any except them that believe. Even so. Amen.)

Sure you want to cite that text. I for one do not believe this book is written by Moses. It is error cloaked in King-James-ish lingo. Or perhaps you can provide the Hebrew text.

 

[TasteForTruth]

Three verses down it says:
Sure you want to cite that text. I for one do not believe this book is written by Moses. It is error cloaked in King-James-ish lingo. Or perhaps you can provide the Hebrew text.

Start a new thread if you want to discuss this. (You're a CF staffer, you should know better!)

 

[drstevej]

Thanks for asking.

We LDS understand that Heavenly Father once lived as a mortal. We do not presume to know where, etc. We also understand that Heavenly Father is God—immortal, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, etc. We further understand that God's self-stated purpose is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of" us...His children. (Moses 1:39) In other words, we understand that God's purpose—ie, the reason for all that He does—is to raise us to become like Him.

So in eternity past God was a mortal? Who were his parents?

 

[Wryetui]

What supports the idea of God the Father being once a mortal and living elsewhere, and how do you find it logical, if I may ask?

 

[TasteForTruth]

What supports the idea of God the Father being once a mortal and living elsewhere, and how do you find it logical, if I may ask?

What, to LDS, supports the idea are statements made by our leaders (whom we regard as prophets), which statements we believe to be inspired. That is the short answer.

As far as logic is concerned, I find it as (strictly) logical as I do the idea that a baby grows and becomes a man.

 

[bbbbbbb]

What supports the idea of God the Father being once a mortal and living elsewhere, and how do you find it logical, if I may ask?

I have discovered that logic has little to do with Mormon doctrine. It is prmarily a matter of praying to God and getting a "burning in the bosom" to confirm that these things are really true.

 

[Rescued One]

The LDS church published a priesthood manual in 1984 that has a lot of information. I own a copy but have never found it online(unless you want to buy the paperback).



2 Our Father Advanced and
Progressed Until He Became God

President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “Our Father in heaven, according to the Prophet, had a Father, and since there has been a condition of this kind through all eternity, each Father had a Father” (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:47).


President Joseph F. Smith taught: “I know that God is a being with body, parts and passions.... Man was born of woman; Christ, the Savior, was born of woman; and God, the Father was born of woman” (Church News, 19 Sept. 1936, p. 2).

President Wilford Woodruff explained: “[God] has had his endowments a great many years ago. He has ascended to his thrones, principalities and powers in the eternities. We are his children.....We are here to fill a probation and receive an education” (Deseret News Weekly, 28 Sept. 1881, p. 546).

How does it help us to know that the basic elements of God’s life in a mortal world were the same as ours? President Brigham Young explained:

“He is our Father—the Father of our Spirits—and was once a man in mortal flesh as we are....

“...There never was a time when there were not Gods and worlds and when men were not passing through the same ordeals that we are now passing through....

“It appears ridiculous to the world, under their darkened and erroneous traditions, that God has been a finite being” (Deseret News, 16 Nov. 1859, p. 290).

Search These Commandments, Melchizedek Priesthood Personal Study Guide, Copyright 1984, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, pp. 152-153

 

[drstevej]

Psalm 50: 21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/ps/50,73-83?lang=eng

 

[Rescued One]

Psalm 50: 21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/ps/50,73-83?lang=eng

Thanks!

 

[TheBarrd]

What, to LDS, supports the idea are statements made by our leaders (whom we regard as prophets), which statements we believe to be inspired. That is the short answer.

As far as logic is concerned, I find it as (strictly) logical as I do the idea that a baby grows and becomes a man.

So, wait...you don't see the logic in a child growing up to be a man?
Really?

 

[Rescued One]

So, wait...you don't see the logic in a child growing up to be a man?
Really?

He is saying that a baby grows up to be like his earthly parent and baby's parents become like their heavenly parents.

 

[TheBarrd]

He is saying that a baby grows up to be like his earthly parent and baby's parents become like their heavenly parents.

That would assume that there are "heavenly parents"...

 

[TasteForTruth]

So, wait...you don't see the logic in a child growing up to be a man?
Really?

Uh, no. I said it was logical that a baby grows and becomes a man.

 

[TasteForTruth]

He is saying that a baby grows up to be like his earthly parent and baby's parents become like their heavenly parents.

My comment addressed only the strict logical similarity. Nothing more.

 

[Ironhold]

The LDS church published a priesthood manual in 1984 that has a lot of information. I own a copy but have never found it online(unless you want to buy the paperback).

The church generally updates manuals every 10 - 20 years, both to reflect current teachings and to maintain active copyrights.

Your manual is simply out of date.

 

[TheBarrd]

Uh, no. I said it was logical that a baby grows and becomes a man.

Okay, then you are saying that it is logical that god was once a man who was born on another world and "exalted" to godhood by the god of that world...whom, you have told me, that you do not know, nor have any dealings of any kind with.

Now, you are confusing me again...