Visiting Teaching Message December 2013

07 December

Visiting Teaching MessagesThe Visiting Teaching message for December 2013 is the first part of a series on the life of the Jesus of Mormonism. This month’s lesson is titled “The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: The Only Begotten Son”.

In my October message I talked about the origins of the Mormon Jesus, this month I want to take a look at what Mormons say about the Father of Jesus Christ.

One of the fundamental teachings Mormons have about God, and probably the main thing that sets them apart from Christianity is their doctrine regarding the origin of God. A common teaching in Mormonism is that God was once a mortal man and lived on a world similar to earth. In regards to their god’s physical form the Doctrine and Covenants, section130 verse 22 says:

“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.”

Joseph Smith who was the founder and a prophet of the Mormon Church taught “God Himself as once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! That is the great secret.” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 2007, pg. 40)

Another common belief Mormons have about God is that he’s constantly learning and progressing. In the Journal of Discourses Wilford Woodruff states:

“God himself is increasing and progressing in knowledge, power, and dominion, and will do so, worlds without end. It is just so with us.” – Journal of Discourses 6:120Wilford Woodruff, Salt Lake City, December 6, 1857

What makes their belief in God so heart wrenching and dare I say blasphemous is that God isn’t unique. Many Mormons today still believe that they too will one day become a god over their own world like God the Father is today. This simple statement by Lorenzo Snow says it all:

 ”As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may become.”

Joseph Fielding Smith said:

“THE STRAITNESS OF THE WAY. Mortality is the testing or proving ground for exaltation to find out who among the children of God are worthy to become Gods themselves, and the Lord has informed us that “few there be that find it.” ( Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.1, p.69 – p.70:)

In the Doctrine and Covenants 132:19-22 Mormons are told that their ultimate goal is to achieve godhood and then continue to procreate throughout eternity.

All of these teachings are a far cry from what God has said about Himself.

He is the God, there is no other – Isaiah 44:6 –  Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Isaiah 45:6 – I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me

God has always existed. – 1 Timothy 1:17 – Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus said God is a spirit – John 4:24 – God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

If God isn’t unique, if he’s just one in a plethora of gods out there why do we only have to worship him? What would set him apart, making him special and worthy of our love and worship? Furthermore if we can become our own god, through our acts of obedience why do we even need God?

These are just some of the questions I think about as I consider the differences between the god of Mormonism and the one true God of the universe. I would love for Mormons to come to know and love the one true God, but I fear for them. I’m afraid they’ll never get it, and never understand or care to understand how vastly different the one true God is from the one they cling too.

But I will continue to pray for them, and hope they will forgo their devotion to the false teachings of Mormonism and embrace the truth of who God really is.

 In Christ,

Melissa Grimes

Additional Information and References:

http://lifeafterministry.com/2012/09/09/mormon-dilemma-370/

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/12/the-divine-mission-of-jesus-christ-the-only-begotten-son?lang=eng

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