I looked into this some while commuting, and found this entry at Wiki:
>Though not mentioned in canonical LDS scripture, some Latter Day Saints infer the possible existence of other gods and goddesses. However, they aren’t known, acknowledged, and have no relevance to this Earth or humanity
So LDS scripture (which includes the Bible) does clearly state that there are more than the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (with all subject to the Father). But one could infer such.
Note that the Catholic church is also noted as possibly falling into the definition. I also read that Islam criticizes Christianity for claiming that the Father has a Son as it is clear evidence of two gods and thus polytheistic.
You might recall that I noted this issue in pointing out the cause of the creation of the trinity theory hundreds of years after revelation had been “closed” and restricted to the accepted writ in the Bible.
Oops. That should have read that LDS scripture does NOT specifically claim that there are gods other than the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost (who are one with the Father over all).
I’d be loathe to accept Wikipedia as an authority on my own Church.
Even to admit to the possibility of other gods is to be polytheistic, in that one does not accept the fundamental claim of monotheism, that there is only One God, that there are no other beings with a divine nature, and He is the uncreated Lord and creator ex nihilo of all that exists other than Himself.
Here’s the deal. Here are some questions where the differences, I think, differ between Christianity and the LDS:
What’s the deal with the LDS god?
Is he the creator ex nihilo of all that exists?
Did he exist from all eternity as God?
Was he once - prior to his godhood - like us?
Was he once - prior to his godhood - a non-divine being?
Whether it’s relevant or not, does he have a god?
About Jesus - in the LDS imagining, is he the co-eternal Word, of one in being with the Father, or is he a being created or organized by the LDS father god?
Was there once a time when he was not god?
Was there once a time when he was not, at least, not as Jesus?
We won’t even get into questions about the Holy Spirit.
These questions, I think, yield different answers between Christian belief and LDS belief, and they go to the ontological nature of God, meaning - the god whom you identify is not the Christian God.
“Note that the Catholic church is also noted as possibly falling into the definition. I also read that Islam criticizes Christianity for claiming that the Father has a Son as it is clear evidence of two gods and thus polytheistic.”
I don’t much care what is said by a religion that springs forth from the satanic revelation of Lucifer to Mohammed.
I will note that there are non-trinitarian Christians who are not polytheistic.
Finally, I'm not trying to persuade you to stop being a member of the LDS. I'm not trying to persuade you that I'm right and you're wrong.
I'm not really trying to persuade you of anything at all.
Rather, I'm trying to point out why the Catholic Church does not accept the notion that the LDS organization is Christian or that the LDS god is God.
And the reasons set forth are pretty much accepted by nearly all other Christians churches and communities.
You don't have to accept or believe what we think, only understand that it's what we think, and why we think it.
What you DO need to accept is that the religious Churches, ecclesial communities, and organizations representing upwards of 90+% of Christians do not accept that the LDS god is God, or that the LDS organization is part of Christianity.
Whether you agree with us or not.
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