Making God In Our Own Image

[Guest]

We have a prophet of God who tells us about things as they really are and as they really will be.  Sometimes, instead of a living prophet's words, we read those of a dead prophet through the scriptures.  We are told in the Doctrine and Covenants that we are to study it out (words of living or dead prophets in this case) in our minds and then ask God if it is right.  The Spirit then confirms the truth of his words to each of us as we open ourselves to His guidance.  This is the pattern we have been given to gain personal revelation.  And we know the truth of things as they really are and as they really will be.

 

Too many times, I see and hear people forego this and trust in their own judgment to determine the truth of things.  I myself have done this more than a few times.  While we are also told that it is a foolish servant who needs to be commanded in all things, there are some weighty matters and deeper things that I believe cannot be reasoned out no matter how much one studies the scriptures.  They can only be gained by personal revelation.

 

Yet I hear statements like:

 

"The God I worship would never do that."

(referring to some act whether in current life or in scripture/history) "If God did ..., such a God would not be worthy of my worship."

"I could never worship a God who would do that."

 

This, to me, sounds like making God in our own image.  There are indeed many things that we can discern for ourselves based on the light and knowledge already given to us.  But too many times, I hear such statements being used to refuse to believe revealed truth.  It may indeed be that many things seem like things that God would not do.  But is that really revealed truth talking?  Or is that the philosophies of men talking?

 

Recently, on the Ask Gramps site, I was reminded of a practice of the Mosaic Law that seemed quite anti-woman.  The philosophies of men would tell me that this is obviously just the input of man rather than divine law.  "The God I worship would never..."  

 

But the author of that article reminded us that God works in mysterious ways.  It turned out that such a practice actually blessed the lives of women more than we'd realize.

 

How many times do we jump to conclusions? "Oh, that was obviously a mistranslation" or "obviously something God did not author."  Do we pray for guidance on it?  For myself, not nearly enough.  For atheists, obviously it is never.  I am impressed by many in our own faith as well as those in other faiths who talk about coming to the truth through prayer.  And it has been known to happen (cough) Joseph Smith.

 

 

[estradling75]

Related to this topic...  How often do we deflect the blame for something we choose not to believe down to the Prophet?  "Oh I can't believe God would do that so it much have been the prophet being 'Human' "

Edited December 21, 2015 by estradling75

[Anddenex]

This relates to the notion specifying the children of God will become a "law" unto themselves. If anything the scriptures speak plainly is that God's knowledge, thoughts, and ways are definitely higher than mine own ways; ergo, never put God in a box.