Interesting Facts of the 3-in-1, pt. 4

12 January

Interesting Facts of the 3 – in – 1 Part 4

 Alpha and Omega – Jesus is God

     One of the biggest shocks for me when I left the Church was finding out that Jesus is God.  I felt very small for a very long time afterwards, wondering how I had never known this big piece of theological information.

     Fifteen years later I’ve come to know how easy enough it is for all of us to become “immune” to the true meaning of every day vocabulary.  However, when you’re LDS this is compounded by not knowing that dictionaries can also be used for help when reading our Bibles to find out things like Jesus is God.

     Recently while doing research for another article I found that the use of Alpha and Omega was used so frequently in the D&C it’d be a good idea to stop and think about the meaning of this phrase. Here is how the Holman Bible Dictionary describes Alpha and Omega;

 “ALPHA – ALPHA AND OMEGA are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and are used in Revelation to describe God or Christ (Rev. 1:8, 17; 21:6; 22:13.) “Alpha and omega” refers to God’s sovereignty and eternal nature. God and Christ are “the beginning and the end, the first and last.” (Rev. 22:13). Thus they control all history and all humans of all generations.

OMEGA  (oh mee’ guh) Last letter in the Greek alphabet. Together with the first letter, alpha, omega designates God and Christ as the all-encompassing Reality (Rev. 1:8; 21:6; 22:13).

      The idea that God and Christ control everything is simply mind boggling to me!  This God that we worship has created everything, yet knows me intimately and loves me too…there are no words to describe the comfort this brings.  Our prayer for the Mormon people is for them to know the inexpressible peace this God can bring to them as well.  I just can’t imagine Smith proclaiming this joy to the people when we read his works.  So the questions are as follows:

 Is Jesus God or not?

If He isn’t then why do several verses in D&C say that He is?

Was Joseph mistaken or was he purposefully trying to confuse members of the Church?

If God hates liars why would He allow only part of His word to be truth?

     The following list gives 22 examples of how the Mormon Church lies.  D&C 130:22 alone contradicts the examples below and does not support that Jesus is God.  There were verses in my little study I didn’t include on this list and I’m sure there are still others I’ve accidentally missed.

D&C 10:70; And now, remember the words of him who is the life and light of the world, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Amen.

D&C 17:9; And I, Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it unto you, that I might bring about my righteous purposes unto the children of men. Amen.

D&C 18:31; And I, Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it.

D&C 19:1; I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world.

D&C 20:28; Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.

D&C 27:1; Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Lord, your God, and your Redeemer, whose word is quick and powerful.

D&C 29:1; Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I AM, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins.

D&C 34:1; My son Orson, hearken and hear and behold what I, the Lord God, shall say unto you, even Jesus Christ your Redeemer.

D&C 35:1-2; Listen to the voice of the Lord your God, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, whose course is one eternal round, the same today as yesterday, and forever.2 I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world…

D&C 36:1, 8; Thus saith the Lord God, the Mighty One of Israel: Behold, I say unto you, my servant Edward, that you are blessed, and your sins are forgiven you, and you are called to preach my gospel as with the voice of a trump. 8 I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God; wherefore, gird up your loins and I will suddenly come to my temple. Even so. Amen.

D&C 38:1; Thus saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, the Great I AM, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the same which looked upon the wide expanse of eternity, and all the seraphic hosts of heaven, before the world was made.

D&C 39:1; Hearken and listen to the voice of him who is from all eternity to all eternity, the Great I AM, even Jesus Christ

D&C 51:1, 20; Hearken unto me, saith the Lord your God, and I will speak unto my servant Edward Partridge… 20 Verily, I say unto you, I am Jesus Christ, who cometh quickly, in an hour you think not. Even so. Amen.

D&C 53:1-2; Behold, I say unto you, my servant Sidney Gilbert, that I have heard your prayers; and you have called upon me that it should be made known unto you, of the Lord your God, concerning your calling and election in the church, which I, the Lord, have raised up in these last days. 2 Behold, I, the Lord, who was crucified for the sins of the world

D&C 62:1; Behold, and hearken, O ye elders of my church, saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, your advocate, who knoweth the weakness of man and how to succor them who are tempted.

D&C 63:59-60; Behold, I am from above, and my power lieth beneath. I am over all, and in all, and through all, and search all things, and the day cometh that all things shall be subject unto me.60 Behold, I am Alpha and Omega, even Jesus Christ.

D&C 66:13; Verily, thus saith the Lord your God, your Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

D&C 76:1; Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Savior.

D&C 81:7; Behold, and lo, these are the words of Alpha and Omega, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

D&C 130:22; The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.

 Gal. 6:7; Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

 Dead People Repent

      The following is interesting.

 D&C 138:58-59;The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God,  59 And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation.

 How can dead people repent?

How can dead people pay a penalty for their transgressions?

What about Jesus?

Didn’t the vicarious service of baptism for the dead settle their account?

Gnashing of Teeth

Alma 14:21; And many such things did they say unto them, gnashing their teeth upon them, and spitting upon them, and saying: How shall we look when we are damned?

 Questions:

 How exactly does one go about gnashing teeth upon someone?

Does this sound inspired of God?

 Strange Acts of God

     The indwelling of the Holy Spirit into the adopted children of God has to be one of the best miracles God has ever performed.  I sit in awe each time I dwell upon His love for me and for the way He is ever faithful.  Nothing about His works has ever been to demean or abuse us.  And knowing He is always there to provide for me will always be a comfort to me.  I wouldn’t pretend to know what lies ahead for me personally in this life, but I know I will always be humbled and safe.  That is why I find it offensive when I discovered this verse in the Doctrine and Covenants.

 D&C 95:4; For the preparation wherewith I design to prepare mine apostles to prune my vineyard for the last time, that I may bring to pass my strange act, that I may pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.

John 14:16-18; And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

 No Polygamy!

     Ugh, this is one of my most dreaded subjects that we deal with concerning Mormonism.  The demoralization of this vulgar practice knows no bounds. Those who are caught in its snares are affected in one way or another for life; men, women and children alike.  The warnings from Moses down to Paul weren’t meant solely for their day, but for ours as well.  It makes me think that maybe God knew what He was talking about!

 D&C 42:22, 26; Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else.  But if he doeth it again, he shall not be forgiven, but shall be cast out.

Deut. 17:17; Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

 8 Months Later…Another Prophecy on Polygamy and Temptation

D&C 66:10-11; Seek not to be cumbered. Forsake all unrighteousness. Commit not adultery—a temptation with which thou hast been troubled.  11 Keep these sayings, for they are true and faithful; and thou shalt magnify thine office, and push many people to Zion with songs of everlasting joy upon their heads.

Ex. 20:14; Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Save Yourselves

     Just about everyone I’ve met tells me the same thing; “If the Mormon really believes all this then why are they so nice?”

     I do admit on the outside they do seem amiable enough, but being friendly doesn’t get you into heaven any faster than saving yourself can.  And this is what breaks my heart for the Mormon people.  They are nice, but they also believe they are their own Saviors.  Try as I might I cannot convince my mother that being a doormat for the Relief Society doesn’t gain her Brownie points with God.  Yet this is the only message the Mormons ever preach.

 D&C 38:40-42; And again, I say unto you, I give unto you a commandment, that every man, both elder, priest, teacher, and also member, go to with his might, with the labor of his hands, to prepare and accomplish the things which I have commanded.  41 And let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness and in meekness.  42 And go ye out from among the wicked. Save yourselves. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Even so. Amen.

Gal. 2:16-17; Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.  17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

 Odd Reactions

     Whenever I see things like this I have to wonder…

 Is this really inspired?

      The Holman Bible dictionary says this about the inspiration of scripture; “As indicated in the biblical explanation, inspiration is a divine-human encounter whereby God reveals truth. It is a message from God and of God, as well as through persons and for persons.”  From this understanding we can therefore ask ourselves if it is an inspired work of God.

 Is the “scripture” below a message from God and of God?

Is it for people like you, me or even my mother?

How is this “scripture” beneficial for your spiritual growth?

 Alma 14:8-11; And they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire.  9 And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire.  10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.  11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.

      Questions:

 If these holy men had the opportunity to save righteous people from the fire why didn’t they do it? 

How was watching these people burn so that others would go to hell be the proper thing to do?

 From a Christian who wrote in asking the following question and providing the verses below: 

 “Would you say there is a correlation here?”

 3 Nephi 17:23-24;And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.  24 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.

Lev. 18:21; And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

      As always we are praying the LDS will stop for just a moment and contemplate a few of these scenarios.  I personally know what it means to be overwhelmed with it all, but when that scenario was taking place for me fifteen years ago, the one thing I knew I had to do was listen to Jesus’ voice more above my family’s heritage.

 With Love in Christ;

Michelle Grim

1 Cor. 1:18

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  1. Book of Mormon Inspired of God? « Life After Ministry - April 21, 2011

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