So are these: and just as brainwashed...
Posted on 02/22/2013 11:57:31 AM PST by Colofornian
Over the years I have repeatedly discussed with LDS members Mormonism’s teaching about persons being able to become a god. The reactions have been varied. Some readily admit that this is LDS teaching and they wholeheartedly accept it. Most, however, try to qualify it and downplay it. They have done this in two different ways.
The first is by saying that Mormonism teaches that they can become like God. They claim that even though LDS Scripture clearly says that people can become gods. The classic passage is D&C 132:20: “Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power and the angels are subject to them.”
That passage clearly states, in a number of different ways, that people can become gods. And over the years many LDS leaders have pointed to this passage to teach this doctrine. That, I feel, is proof enough that Mormonism teaches that people can become gods, or that when it talks about becoming like god – that is what it means.
The other way that Mormons have sometimes tried to downplay this teaching is saying that they would never become a capital G God. Instead they say that they would be small g gods, thus implying a difference between the two. But again, the question is: Is that what Mormonism teaches? In the student manual on the Pearl of Great Price, a manual in current use, we find this quote: “Man is the child of God, formed in the divine image and endowed with divine attributes, and even as the infant son of an earthly father and mother is capable in due time of becoming a man, so the undeveloped offspring of celestial parentage is capable, by experience through ages and aeons, of evolving into a God.” (p. 4) Note especially the use of the capital G – “evolving into a God”.
This quote is notable for two reasons. One is that it is used in an official LDS Church manual. Although all Mormons do not agree on the weight that such manuals carry, the LDS Church has repeatedly said that church manuals carry a lot of weight. They state that they present the official teaching of the church. That is only to be expected. The normal practice is to consider official anything that is officially published by an organization. It would be, for example, the silliest of arguments if an NFL player argued that the rulebook published by the NFL did not represent the official rules of the NFL and thus what he did wasn’t against NFL policy.
But this quote is significant for another reason as well. It was given by the First Presidency of the LDS. The First Presidency is the prophet and his two counselors. It is the most authoritative body in the LDS Church. Even though it was given in 1909 it is still pertinent as evidenced by it being quoted in a manual published in 2000. Without a doubt we can say that Mormonism teaches that people can become a God.
Why am I making such a big point of this? One is because it is denied by many LDS members today and thus it needs to be stressed to get an accurate picture of Mormonism. Two is because it is another demonstration of the great gap that exists between Mormonism and the Bible. But most importantly of all, I am pointing this out to illustrate the stark difference between the comfort given by Mormonism and the Bible. Look again at that quote. “Through ages and aeons” it says they evolve into a God. That reminds me of one LDS man telling me that it would take him 10,000 eternities to become a god.
Compare that to the wonderful comfort the Bible gives. As soon as believers die, they enter the mind-boggling bliss of God’s presence. Instantaneously all pain and sorrow is replaced with perfect peace and joy. There are no eternities of evolving and work. Instead, instantaneously, there is absolute perfection and wonderful glory.
And the best part of it all is that Jesus accomplished all this for us. He did everything to make us acceptable to God. In him, right now, we are perfect and worthy in God’s sight. This heavenly bliss is his gift to us. To him, and to him alone, be all praise and glory!
And let’s not forget the Sabbateans, the followers of Sabbatai Zevi in the 17the century. He was a nutcase Kabbalist who claimed to be the Messiah. It caused sharp division in Judaism, most believing his claims, a minority vehemently opposing them. Doctrinally united Judaism, right.
By the way, almost the whole of Judaism at that time fell for Sabbatai. The Muslims captured him, brought him before their authorities, and demanded of him, “you say your the Messiah, lets see you work a miracle to prove it.” He couldn’t, they told him, convert to Islam or we kill you. He converted to Islam.
Along comes Brent castigating Christians for believing in Jesus as Messiah. He proved his Messiahship beyond question by all his miracles. And, unlike the false Messiah of the vast majority of Jews in the 17th century, when brought to trial over his claims of Messiahship, he chose death.
Judaism has had a number of false Messiah’s, Rabbi Schneerson of the Chabad is one of the latest. Seems they’ll fall for just about any nutcase than comes along, rather than believe in the true one, Jesus Christ. Go figure.
(More Judaic "unity," eh Brent???)
Thanks for posting the list of rules for LDS Missionaries. Here’s my favorite and it’s good to remember that these young men and women are volunteers, as in they don’t get paid, but have to put up with a lot of hate and crap from mean-spirited folks.
“146.Evaluate your funds a few months before the end of your mission. If you have more than you need, ask that less be sent so that you can return home without excess money.”
District13, here I my fave rules from Elz' list:
Rule #72: 72. Do not arise before your companion.
(one lds missionary to the other, "We will now rise in unison like robotic clones...1...2...3!")
Rule #60: Never be alone.
(Evidentiary item #1 as to how controlling the Lds church can be: "Don't be alone. Ever. For two years straight! You can't even go to the bathroom alone!")
Rule #75: Never be alone with anyone of the opposite sex.
("But missionary president. Honest. I was trying to obey Rule #60 perfectly when my missionary companion stepped out for a few moments...and she was the only one around...and so I had this huge moral dilemma...Do I obey rule #60 or rule #75????")
Rule #41: Do not listen to unauthorized audiocassettes or CD’s.
(Evidentiary item #2 as to how controlling the Lds church is!)
Rule #133: Do not spend more than your companion.
Ya know, if you give 9.95% of your income to the Mormon church, you have broken the law of consecration by not tithing and are ineligible for temple access. By .05% you can...miss your daughter's wedding and be kept out of God's presence forever! (Not to mention flunk becoming a full-grown god!)
Well, likewise here, what happens if you spend five cents more than your companion? Haven't you just broken rule #133? And isn't this a rule bound to be broken? So, rather than tempt their Lds missionaries into breaking #133 whenever they buy something, why don't they just make a new rule to ensure it doesn't get broken. Change rule #133 to: "Buy identical items in the same quantity." (Simple, eh?)
Rule 109: Provide community service.
Rule 111: Do not provide more than 4 hours a week of community service.
Likewise, if you obey Rule 109, but go 3 minutes over rule 111, you have just obeyed rule 109, but simultaneously have disobeyed rule 111! (Boy, a legalistic minefield!)
So are these: and just as brainwashed...
AWWww...
...they know what will face them going in!
Well; guess who started it...
(Didja miss reply #10?)
Then there are the 'good' folks who pat them on the head and politely say they do not want to listen and send then only their way.
Acts 8:30
And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
SURELY; as CHRISTIANS, it is our DUTY to bring UNDERSTANDING to those who are VERY mis-informed by what they are reading (and hearing and being taught) on their own.
"Study to show thyself approved..."
...send theM ONly their way.
Re: Messiah and [OT]:
1 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.
Classic Jewish (ie, orthodox) Judaism views the ‘spirit of G-d...hovering...’ as the (light of the) Messiah, waiting to be revealed... not much longer we hope.
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