Becoming Gods? Is this true?

[Malachi7]

Hi:

I read on a website that it's a Mormon belief that you can become Gods and Goddesses.

And that you will have children after you die.

And that your children will later become Gods too...if they take on physical bodies.

Are they making that up about LDS beliefs?

[Flyonthewall]

The short answer is yes. What does this scripture tell you?

Romans 8

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

[Malachi7]

The short answer is yes. What does this scripture tell you?

Romans 8

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

I'll be honest with you. I don't think anyone would get that meaning from that verse. {edit: I don't think anyone would get the LDS meaning from that verse alone without superimposing a preconceived idea upon the text.}

I've been a Christian for a great many years and I've never heard any pastor nor Christian theologian teach such things as Christian doctrine.

May I ask you to tell me the long story?

[skalenfehl]

Psalms 82:6

John 10:34

As you can see, especially in the book of John, if you read chapter 10, the Jews were about to stone Christ for claiming Deity (v. 30). He rebuked them by quoting the law, saying they themselves were gods. The Jews were hard hearted and unbelieving and could not accept what He told them. They couldn't see the forest for the trees.

All mankind are children of God and therefore heirs to His kingdom. For this reason we are exhorted to become perfect, even as our Father in Heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:48

[crytsprospect]

I am going to tell you the simple Terry version

disclaimer-- this is how I see it

This is not the churches stand on it but Terry's as she sees it as a member of the church

WE lived in heaven with God , we wanted to become more like him. We chose to come to this earth to learn and grow and hopefully come back to our heavenly father and be like him (god) . That is simplistic I know but I am sure you will get the long , technical version also. I know I am here on this earth to make right choices , learn , grow and to find my way back I have to choose without remembering the choices I made before I came here. I have the free agency to choose good or evil. I can choose which church to go to. This church is so much more than this one concept I would suggest you start from the beginning. Things you learn sometimes out of context don't make sense without knowing the whole picture. mormon.org could help.

peace and enlightenment---Terry

[Malachi7]

Psalms 82:6

John 10:34

As you can see, especially in the book of John, if you read chapter 10, the Jews were about to stone Christ for claiming Deity (v. 30). He rebuked them by quoting the law, saying they themselves were gods. The Jews were hard hearted and unbelieving and could not accept what He told them. They couldn't see the forest for the trees.

All mankind are children of God and therefore heirs to His kingdom. For this reason we are exhorted to become perfect, even as our Father in Heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:48

Psalm 82 speaks of human judges. Not deified men. The judges died like men, after all.

Does "becoming perfect" mean achieving the ability to have children after we die and that those children will go on to become Gods?

I've never heard that from any Christian teacher.

As I read Matt 5 I see that the text is about love, not about becoming eligible to become a God.

Do you also believe in the LDS idea that you'll have children after you die and that they'll become Gods too?

I also read that Mormons believe that God is a man of flesh and bone and that he became "exalted" and that Mormons think they're following that same path.

I hope you'll forgive me for saying that Christians won't accept this line of thinking as representative of Christian theology. (But what am I thinking? You're probably plenty aware of that.)

[skalenfehl]

I understand where you're coming from. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. Therefore the further teachings and revelations that we receive are from modern day revelation, as was the case in the Bible. Every generation had a modern day prophet until all was lost after Christ resurrected and the apostles were killed off.

[Malachi7]

I am going to tell you the simple Terry version

disclaimer-- this is how I see it

This is not the churches stand on it but Terry's as she sees it as a member of the church

WE lived in heaven with God , we wanted to become more like him. We chose to come to this earth to learn and grow and hopefully come back to our heavenly father and be like him (god) . That is simplistic I know but I am sure you will get the long , technical version also. I know I am here on this earth to make right choices , learn , grow and to find my way back I have to choose without remembering the choices I made before I came here. I have the free agency to choose good or evil. I can choose which church to go to. This church is so much more than this one concept I would suggest you start from the beginning. Things you learn sometimes out of context don't make sense without knowing the whole picture. mormon.org could help.

peace and enlightenment---Terry

Could you point me to a place on Mormon.org that will explain more about this Mormon concept?

[skalenfehl]

Yes, but those judges were children of God as were the Jews who wanted to stone Christ. Those Jews were not judges but as all mankind were called gods by Christ. As I said before, we have a prophet today as the people did in the Bible, led by revelation.

Christian teachers rely on the bible as far as it is translated correctly to teach the gospel of Christ whereas we rely on a living prophet who receives revelation concerning the Lord's people and all of man in today's world.

[Flyonthewall]

Well to start with, we believe we are all literal spirit children of our Father in Heaven, and as literal spirit children, we can become like our Father.

We grew, and progressed in knowledge as far as we could, and then there came a point where we needed more experience than we can get as spirits, to progress further.

A great council in heaven was assembled to present plans on how to allow us to proceed.

This will have to be in installments since I keep logging out for some reason....

[MorningStar]

We may become gods thanks to the Atonement, but we will always worship our Father in Heaven. When His children become perfect like Him, He is glorified.

[Malachi7]

I understand where you're coming from. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. Therefore the further teachings and revelations that we receive are from modern day revelation, as was the case in the Bible. Every generation had a modern day prophet until all was lost after Christ resurrected and the apostles were killed off.

Sir, if you're telling me that it is by revelation that I should believe you when my Bible tells me nothing of men becoming Gods and then having children that hope to become Gods, I hope you'll understand that my Christian upbringing cause me to question your sense of revelation.

I mean no disrespect.

It's just that what you're telling me goes directly against what our Bible state.

We are creation of God and only God is God. We're not nor will we ever be.

I hope you'll understand when I say that, based on what you've told me, I understand why I've found so many websites written by Christians about your religion. What you're telling me here is very different from the message of Christian pastors, teachers, theologians, etc. Very different.

[crytsprospect]

Mormon.org is the place to go to start. I suggested you start at the beginning.

[Flyonthewall]

Could you point me to a place on Mormon.org that will explain more about this Mormon concept?

Here is a link that could help:

LDS.org - Liahona Article - Truth Restored

[skalenfehl]

No disrespect taken. I don't believe that what I have told you goes against the bible. For the very reason that we have differing interpretations of scripture are prophets and apostles necessary as was in the Bible. We have to proceed on the assumption that it is translated correctly and unmodified by scribes and clergymen through time.

For this reason did the Lord prepare another testament to come forth as the Book of Mormon. If this book is true, then Joseph Smith, who translated it (only one translation) was indeed called of God to restore His church with apostles and prophets to lead the church as they did in the times of the Bible. Our entire faith hinges on these facts. That is the challenge that we issue to the world and our evangelical mission to share that message.

[Malachi7]

Mormon.org is the place to go to start. I suggested you start at the beginning.

Wouldn't that be kind of like you asking about the Cathecism and a Catholic telling you to start at Genesis?

That wouldn't be a very polite Catholic, now would it.

[Snow]

Hi:

I read on a website that it's a Mormon belief that you can become Gods and Goddesses.

And that you will have children after you die.

And that your children will later become Gods too...if they take on physical bodies.

Are they making that up about LDS beliefs?

It is a belief that has been taught by some of the worlds great thinkers:

C.S Lewis

Sanatayana

Feuerbach

William Ellery Channing

Theodore Parker

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Margaret Fuller

Ralph Cudworth

Catherine of Genoa

etc

Before them can the medieval thinkers and theologians, like

Thomas Aquinas

Pseudo-Dionysius

Maximus the Confessor

etc

Before them came the early Patristic or Church Fathers. The doctrine was taught by most everyone:

St. Augustine

Appollinaris

Gregory of Nazianus

Basil of Caesaria

Athanasius

Origen

Clement of Alexandria

Irenaeus

...and on and on and on.

Where did they get it from?

From the Bible, both the New and Old Testament

[Flyonthewall]

Sir, if you're telling me that it is by revelation that I should believe you when my Bible tells me nothing of men becoming Gods and then having children that hope to become Gods, I hope you'll understand that my Christian upbringing cause me to question your sense of revelation.

I mean no disrespect.

It's just that what you're telling me goes directly against what our Bible state.

We are creation of God and only God is God. We're not nor will we ever be.

I hope you'll understand when I say that, based on what you've told me, I understand why I've found so many websites written by Christians about your religion. What you're telling me here is very different from the message of Christian pastors, teachers, theologians, etc. Very different.

Your reaction is common. The thing you have to see past, is being a literal spirit child of our Father in Heaven, rather than just a creation. We have a potential to be just like our Father in Heaven, just as Romans 8:16, 17 states.

Our teachings do not go against what the Bible says, it just goes counter to how you read and interpret the Bible.

As your mortal father is your father, and will always be your father, even tho you grow up and become a father yourself, so will G_d be our G_d, and will always be our G_d.

We will be the first to state that our teachings are different from mainstream Christianity, but we will also tell you they are restored truths.

[MorningStar]

I really hope this won't turn into a Bible bashing session. I just wanted to point out that there are many different interpretations of many Biblical verses.

What does it mean to you in Genesis 3:22?

22 ¶ And the Lord God asaid, Behold, the bman is become as one of cus, to dknow good and eevil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

I understand if you don't agree with our beliefs, but it bothers me when others insist we accept their Biblical interpretations.

[Malachi7]

It is a belief that has been taught by some of the worlds great thinkers:

C.S Lewis

Sanatayana

Feuerbach

William Ellery Channing

Theodore Parker

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Margaret Fuller

Ralph Cudworth

Catherine of Genoa

etc

Before them can the medieval thinkers and theologians, like

Thomas Aquinas

Pseudo-Dionysius

Maximus the Confessor

etc

Before them came the early Patristic or Church Fathers. The doctrine was taught by most everyone:

St. Augustine

Appollinaris

Gregory of Nazianus

Basil of Caesaria

Athanasius

Origen

Clement of Alexandria

Irenaeus

...and on and on and on.

Where did they get it from?

From the Bible, both the New and Old Testament

I'm not aware that any of these people taught that men could become Gods and have spirit-children that will later become Gods when they get physical bodies.

In fact, one website I read states that the concept isn't even found in the Book of Mormon.

[crytsprospect]

"Wouldn't that be kind of like you asking about the Cathecism and a Catholic telling you to start at Genesis?

That wouldn't be a very polite Catholic, now would it."

Wow I should never have tried to help you. Mormon.org is a great place to go to learn the basics . Your statement has nothing to do with my suggestion.

I didn't suggest you go read the Book of Mormon I suggested you go to a site that will help you understand everything . It starts with the basics and goes from there.

I thought you had pure honest intentions and I was just trying to help. I am so very saddened I even answered your post.

To the other members on this site I apologize.

[skalenfehl]

The concept is not stated, to my recollection anywhere in the Book of Mormon, but many modern day revelations are also not found in the Book of Mormon. That book serves very powerfully to testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

It is through Joseph Smith and the prophets that succeeded him that we have received new revelations such as the one in question.

[Malachi7]

"Wouldn't that be kind of like you asking about the Cathecism and a Catholic telling you to start at Genesis?

That wouldn't be a very polite Catholic, now would it."

Wow I should never have tried to help you. Mormon.org is a great place to go to learn the basics . Your statement has nothing to do with my suggestion.

I didn't suggest you go read the Book of Mormon I suggested you go to a site that will help you understand everything . It starts with the basics and goes from there.

I thought you had pure honest intentions and I was just trying to help. I am so very saddened I even answered your post.

To the other members on this site I apologize.

Sir, I'm asking about a specific topic regarding your religion. I'm a guest in your house asking questions about your beliefs.

Do you personally believe that you'll become a God and have spirit-children (I assume with a Goddess wife) and that these spirit-children will later take on physical bodies and become Gods themselves? That's what I read on a site critical of the Mormon religion.

For what it's worth, I think it's a legitimate criticism to say that the Mormon religion believes things very different from Christianity.

If I start at Mormon.org, how long will I have to read before I get to my specific topic of interest? One person in this thread linked me to an article at LDS.org, but there was no mention of the topic at hand in that article.

[Malachi7]

The concept is not stated, to my recollection anywhere in the Book of Mormon, but many modern day revelations are also not found in the Book of Mormon. That book serves very powerfully to testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

It is through Joseph Smith and the prophets that succeeded him that we have received new revelations such as the one in question.

Oh, okay. It's not in the Book of Mormon.

Thanks.

[Malachi7]

Your reaction is common. The thing you have to see past, is being a literal spirit child of our Father in Heaven, rather than just a creation. We have a potential to be just like our Father in Heaven, just as Romans 8:16, 17 states.

Our teachings do not go against what the Bible says, it just goes counter to how you read and interpret the Bible.

As your mortal father is your father, and will always be your father, even tho you grow up and become a father yourself, so will G_d be our G_d, and will always be our G_d.

We will be the first to state that our teachings are different from mainstream Christianity, but we will also tell you they are restored truths.

Sir, this concept isn't just different from mainstream Christianity. It's just different...period.

As far as I can tell it's uniquely Mormon.