WikiChristian - User contributions [en]

User:Graham grove/About WikiChristian

2013-08-07T11:36:19Z

Muser:

Impact of Vatican I (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:26:56Z

Muser:

Atonement in Romans (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:26:24Z

Muser:

Bible Study: Grace (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:25:45Z

Muser:

Mormonism (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:25:01Z

Muser:

Elements of DL Moody's revivalism (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:24:19Z

Muser:

Echmiadzin: Extracts from a personal travellogue (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:23:57Z

Muser:

Does Prayer Affect How God Acts? (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:23:12Z

Muser:

What is the Church? (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:22:52Z

Muser:

Conversion of Cornelius (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:22:22Z

Muser:

Messages in Joseph (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:22:03Z

Muser:

Matthew 27 - Passionate Forgiveness (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:21:45Z

Muser:

Colossian Heresy (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:21:28Z

Muser:

John 11 - Our response to Jesus (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:20:41Z

Muser:

Christianity or Islam in Russian History (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:20:17Z

Muser:

Christological Controversies and the Chalcedon Definition (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:19:20Z

Muser:

Luke 15 - What is God like? (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:18:50Z

Muser:

Luke 10 and John 6 - The Work of Jesus (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:18:17Z

Muser:

The "Kingdom's" of God's Big Picture (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:16:23Z

Muser:

Jehovah's Witnesses and John 1:1 (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:16:10Z

Muser:

Bible Study: Out-Of-Africa Hypothesis (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:15:45Z

Muser:

Islam (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:15:23Z

Muser:

Some problems with pluralism and the belief that all religions lead to God (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:14:59Z

Muser:

Run the Race (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:14:46Z

Muser:

Righteousness in Romans (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:14:32Z

Muser:

Problems with pluralism (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:14:12Z

Muser:

Problems with Purgatory, prayers for the dead and indulgences (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:13:55Z

Muser:

An Introduction to the Old Testament (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:13:40Z

Muser:

Genesis 1 - Purpose (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:13:19Z

Muser:

Eternal life in John's Gospel (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:13:00Z

Muser:

1 Corinthians 11 - Remembrance and Communion (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:12:43Z

Muser:

Travelogue: Salt Lake City (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:10:13Z

Muser:

Peter and the Papacy (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:09:30Z

Muser:

Modern-day apparations and visions (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:09:17Z

Muser:

Creation science and evolution (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:08:54Z

Muser:

Baptism (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:08:37Z

Muser:

Speaking in tongues (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:07:29Z

Muser:

Justification by faith alone (G.G.)

2013-08-07T11:04:11Z

Muser: Minor removal / edit

Mormon Beliefs

2010-05-08T00:19:28Z

Muser:

{{Infobox_Contents|
topic_name=Mormon Beliefs|
subtopics=[[Mormonism:Polygamy|Polygamy]]
*[[Articles of Faith (Mormonism)]]|
opinion_pieces={{short_opinions}}
}}
Historically Mormonism strongly emphazised theological distinctives from Christian churches. For example, in Mormon doctrine, [[God the Father|the Father]], [[Jesus Christ|Son]] and [[Holy Ghost]] are three separate gods. Today however, Mormon churches tend to focus on similarities with those from Christian backgrounds. However, although Christian terminology is often used in Mormonism, the meaning can be quite different.

===Holy Books===

The following books are considered as Holy and from [[God]] by Mormons
*The [[Bible]] - [[King James Version]] (or the Joseph Smith Translation which is recognised by Community of Christ)
*[[Book of Mormon]]
*Doctrine and Covenants
*The Pearl of Great Price which includes the [[Articles of Faith (Mormonism)]]

===Miscellaneous Beliefs and Issues===

====[[Mormonism: Polygamy]]====

Although in popular culture, Mormonism is often associated with polygamy, its largest denomination, [[The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints]], does not support [[polygamy]]. Some other Mormon sects do however promote polygamy. In recent years in [[Utah]], the main stronghold of the Mormon religion, there have been numerous high profile cases of prosecution of polygamists.

{{stub}}

==Quotes==

==Links==
*[http://mormonwiki.org/Doctrine Mormonwiki MormonWiki - Doctrine]
*[http://fairmormon.org/Joseph_Smith_and_moonmen Early Mormon belief that the moon is inhabitated - (FAIR) Wiki]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith_Translation_of_the_Bible Wikipedia - Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Abraham Wikipedia - Book of Abraham - Part of The Pearl of Great Price]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Moses Wikipedia - Book of Moses - Part of The Pearl of Great Price]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolob Wikipedia - Kolob - Planet according to Mormon theology that is closest to the throne of God]

{{returnto}} [[Other religions]] -> [[Mormonism]]

[[Category:Mormonism]]

Mormon Beliefs

2010-05-08T00:19:07Z

Muser: Corrected link

{{Infobox_Contents|
topic_name=Mormon Beliefs|
subtopics=[[Mormonism:Polygamy|Polygamy]]
*[[Articles of Faith (Mormonism)]]|
opinion_pieces={{short_opinions}}
}}
Historically Mormonism strongly emphazised theological distinctives from Christian churches. For example, in Mormon doctrine, [[God the Father|the Father]], [[Jesus Christ|Son]] and [[Holy Ghost]] are three separate gods. Today however, Mormon churches tend to focus on similarities with those from Christian backgrounds. However, although Christian terminology is often used in Mormonism, the meaning can be quite different.

===Holy Books===

The following books are considered as Holy and from [[God]] by Mormons
*The [[Bible]] - [[King James Version]] (or the Joseph Smith Translation which is recognised by Community of Christ)
*[[Book of Mormon]]
*Doctrine and Covenants
*The Pearl of Great Price which includes the [[Articles of Faith (Mormonism)]]

===Miscellaneous Beliefs and Issues===

===[[Mormonism: Polygamy]]===

Although in popular culture, Mormonism is often associated with polygamy, its largest denomination, [[The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints]], does not support [[polygamy]]. Some other Mormon sects do however promote polygamy. In recent years in [[Utah]], the main stronghold of the Mormon religion, there have been numerous high profile cases of prosecution of polygamists.

{{stub}}

==Quotes==

==Links==
*[http://mormonwiki.org/Doctrine Mormonwiki MormonWiki - Doctrine]
*[http://fairmormon.org/Joseph_Smith_and_moonmen Early Mormon belief that the moon is inhabitated - (FAIR) Wiki]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith_Translation_of_the_Bible Wikipedia - Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Abraham Wikipedia - Book of Abraham - Part of The Pearl of Great Price]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Moses Wikipedia - Book of Moses - Part of The Pearl of Great Price]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolob Wikipedia - Kolob - Planet according to Mormon theology that is closest to the throne of God]

{{returnto}} [[Other religions]] -> [[Mormonism]]

[[Category:Mormonism]]

Mormonism

2010-05-08T00:17:48Z

Muser:

{{Infobox_Contents |
topic_name = Mormonism
[[Image:Salt_lake_temple.jpeg|thumb|center|The temple at [[Salt Lake City]].]] |
subtopics = [[History of Mormonism]], [[Joseph Smith]]
* [[Divisions of Mormonism]] - [[The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints]], [[Community of Christ]], [[Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)|Bickertonite]], [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)|Strangite]], [[Church of Christ (Temple Lot)|Temple Lot]], [[Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints]], [[Church of Christ with the Elijah Message|Elijah Message]]
* [[Mormon Beliefs]] - [[Book of Mormon]], [[Mormonism: Polygamy|Polygamy]], [[Mormonism: God|God]]
* [[Mormonism Today]] |
opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}}
* [[Mormonism (G.G.)]] |
}}

Mormonism is a [[religion]] originating in the early 1800s as a product of the teaching of [[Joseph Smith]] and the Latter Day Saint movement. The term Mormonism is also often used to refer specifically to [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], which is by far the most numerous and well-known sects claiming derivation from Joseph Smith. Mormons believe that the original teaching of [[Jesus Christ]] was lost after his death and that Christ's teaching and church was restored by Joseph Smith and his followers. It has an uneasy relationships with mainstream Christianity.

===[[History of Mormonism]]===

[[Image:joseph_smith_picture.jpg|thumb|right|Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism]]
The '''Mormonism''' movement began in 1820 near Palmyra, New York. [[Joseph Smith]], the founder of Mormonism, claimed to have received a series of visions in which he was told by God that all the churches were "wrong", their "creeds were an abomination in his sight", and all their "professors were corrupt". He was told that God would restore the true New Testament church using him as a mouthpiece. Consequently, Mormons consider Joseph Smith the first prophet of a new dispensation. Despite Smith's clear affirmations, Mormons generally minimize statements about other churches being false. They prefer to say that all churches contain some truth, but that all truth may be found only within Mormonism.

In the course of his visions, an angel named Moroni is said to have visited Smith to disclose the location of a book "written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this [American] continent, and the source from whence they sprang". Moroni also said that "the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants". Joseph Smith was instructed to retrieve the plates and translate them with God's assistance. The result, called the ''Book of Mormon'', was first published on March 26, 1830. Smith referred to the ''Book of Mormon'' as "the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion". Following these first visions came a series of additional revelations that were later published in two books, the ''Doctrine and Covenants'' and the ''Pearl of Great Price''.

Today there are many churches that claim to be the true successor of the church Joseph Smith founded. The largest of these is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

===[[Divisions of Mormonism]]===

There are a number of denominations or sects within the Mormon religion, the main one being the [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]. A second well known sect, the [[Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] is a division that continues to practice polygamy.

====[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]====

The LDS is the largest Mormon denomination.

====[[Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]====

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a conservative branch that continues to practice polygamy.

====[[Community of Christ]]====

====[[Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)|Bickertonite]]====

====[[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)|Strangite]]====

====[[Church of Christ (Temple Lot)|Temple Lot]]====

====[[Church of Christ with the Elijah Message|Elijah Message]]====

===[[Mormon Beliefs]]===

====[[Mormonism: Polygamy|Polygamy]]====

It has been widely known that Mormonism has a history where polygamy has been accepted, although today most mainstream Mormon denominations do not advocate polygamy.

====[[Mormonism: God|God]]====

Mormons believe in the existence of multiple gods. This is rooted in the denial that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit share the same being and substance. This stems from the normal Mormon assumption that a person necessarily has his own, unshared being. The baptism of Jesus, for example, is seen as an interaction between three god-beings, not just three persons<ref>Smith, The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 346-7; Abraham 4:1, Pearl of Great Price; and Gospel Principles, 290</ref>.

===[[Mormonism Today]]===

===References===

{{reflist}}

==Quotes==

==Links==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latter_Day_Saint_movement Wikipedia - Latter Day Saint movement]
* [http://www.lds.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]
* [http://www.josephlied.com/index.html JosephLied.com]
* [http://www.carm.org/mormon.htm Information about Mormonism at www.carm.org]
* [http://www.mormonwiki.com/mormonism/Main_Page Free encyclopedia about Mormons from the perspective of faithful members]
* [http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Encyclopedia_of_Mormonism Encyclopedia of Mormonism from Brigham Young University (Wiki, but Copyrighted)]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide_Australia_Temple Mormon Temple in Adelaide]
* [http://www.mormonwiki.org Mormonwiki.org An Evangelical wiki directed at dealing and exposing Mormon theology]

{{returnto}} [[Religions]] -> [[Christian cults]]

[[Category:Christian cults]]
[[Category:Religions]]
[[Category:Mormonism]]

Mormonism

2010-05-08T00:14:38Z

Muser: Minor adjustment

{{Infobox_Contents |
topic_name = Mormonism
[[Image:Salt_lake_temple.jpeg|thumb|center|The temple at [[Salt Lake City]].]] |
subtopics = [[History of Mormonism]], [[Joseph Smith]]
* [[Divisions of Mormonism]] - [[The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints]], [[Community of Christ]], [[Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)|Bickertonite]], [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)|Strangite]], [[Church of Christ (Temple Lot)|Temple Lot]], [[Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints]], [[Church of Christ with the Elijah Message|Elijah Message]]
* [[Mormon Beliefs]] - [[Book of Mormon]], [[Mormonism: Polygamy|Polygamy]], [[Mormonism: God|God]]
* [[Mormonism Today]] |
opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}}
* [[Mormonism (G.G.)]] |
}}

Mormonism is a [[religion]] originating in the early 1800s as a product of the teaching of [[Joseph Smith]] and the Latter Day Saint movement. The term Mormonism is also often used to refer specifically to [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], which is by far the most numerous and well-known sects claiming derivation from Joseph Smith. Mormons believe that the original teaching of [[Jesus Christ]] was lost after his death and that Christ's teaching and church was restored by Joseph Smith and his followers. It has an uneasy relationships with mainstream Christianity.

===[[History of Mormonism]]===

[[Image:joseph_smith_picture.jpg|thumb|right|Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism]]
The '''Mormonism''' movement began in 1820 near Palmyra, New York. [[Joseph Smith]], the founder of Mormonism, claimed to have received a series of visions in which he was told by God that all the churches were "wrong", their "creeds were an abomination in his sight", and all their "professors were corrupt". He was told that God would restore the true New Testament church using him as a mouthpiece. Consequently, Mormons consider Joseph Smith the first prophet of a new dispensation. Despite Smith's clear affirmations, Mormons generally minimize statements about other churches being false. They prefer to say that all churches contain some truth, but that all truth may be found only within Mormonism.

In the course of his visions, an angel named Moroni is said to have visited Smith to disclose the location of a book "written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this [American] continent, and the source from whence they sprang". Moroni also said that "the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants". Joseph Smith was instructed to retrieve the plates and translate them with God's assistance. The result, called the ''Book of Mormon'', was first published on March 26, 1830. Smith referred to the ''Book of Mormon'' as "the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion". Following these first visions came a series of additional revelations that were later published in two books, the ''Doctrine and Covenants'' and the ''Pearl of Great Price''.

Today there are many churches that claim to be the true successor of the church Joseph Smith founded. The largest of these is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

===[[Divisions of Mormonism]]===

There are a number of denominations or sects within the Mormon religion, the main one being the [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]. A second well known sect, the [[Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] is a division that continues to practice polygamy.

====[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]====

The LDS is the largest Mormon denomination.

====[[Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]====

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a conservative branch that continues to practice polygamy.

====[[Community of Christ]]====

====[[Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)|Bickertonite]]====

====[[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)|Strangite]]====

====[[Church of Christ (Temple Lot)|Temple Lot]]====

====[[Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints]]====

====[[Church of Christ with the Elijah Message|Elijah Message]]====

===[[Mormon Beliefs]]===

====[[Mormonism: Polygamy|Polygamy]]====

====[[Mormonism: God|God]]====

Mormons believe in the existence of multiple gods. This is rooted in the denial that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit share the same being and substance. This stems from the normal Mormon assumption that a person necessarily has his own, unshared being. The baptism of Jesus, for example, is seen as an interaction between three god-beings, not just three persons<ref>Smith, The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 346-7; Abraham 4:1, Pearl of Great Price; and Gospel Principles, 290</ref>.

===[[Mormonism Today]]===

===References===

{{reflist}}

==Quotes==

==Links==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latter_Day_Saint_movement Wikipedia - Latter Day Saint movement]
* [http://www.lds.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]
* [http://www.josephlied.com/index.html JosephLied.com]
* [http://www.carm.org/mormon.htm Information about Mormonism at www.carm.org]
* [http://www.mormonwiki.com/mormonism/Main_Page Free encyclopedia about Mormons from the perspective of faithful members]
* [http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Encyclopedia_of_Mormonism Encyclopedia of Mormonism from Brigham Young University (Wiki, but Copyrighted)]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide_Australia_Temple Mormon Temple in Adelaide]
* [http://www.mormonwiki.org Mormonwiki.org An Evangelical wiki directed at dealing and exposing Mormon theology]

{{returnto}} [[Religions]] -> [[Christian cults]]

[[Category:Christian cults]]
[[Category:Religions]]
[[Category:Mormonism]]

Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

2010-05-08T00:10:51Z

Muser:

{{Infobox_Contents |
topic_name = Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
subtopics = [[History of Mormonism]], [[Joseph Smith]], [[Divisions of Mormonism]] |
opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}} |
}}

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church) is one of the largest [[Mormon]] fundamentalist denominations and one of United States' largest practitioners of polygamy where a man has more than one wife. The FLDS Church emerged in the early twentieth century when its founding members left [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] ([[LDS]] Church). The split occurred largely because of the LDS Church's renunciation of polygamy and its decision to excommunicate practitioners of plural marriage, who would not discontinue the practice.

===Members===

The FLDS Church is estimated to have 10,000 members residing in the sister cities of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona; Eldorado, Texas; Westcliffe, Colorado; Mancos, Colorado; Creston and Bountiful, British Columbia; and Pringle, South Dakota.

===Leadership===

The FLDS Church headquarters were originally located in what was then known as Short Creek, Arizona, on the southern border of Utah. The settlement eventually expanded into Utah and became incorporated as the twin municipalities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona. Since 2004, however, news reports have suggested a possible shift of the church's headquarters to Eldorado, Texas, where a temple has been built by FLDS Church members.

The leader of the FLDS Church is currently unclear. On November 20, 2007, after the conviction of Warren Jeffs, attorneys for Jeffs released the following statement: "Mr. Jeffs resigned as President of the Corporation of the President of The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Inc." This statement does not address his position as prophet of the church, but merely addressed his resignation from his fiduciary post as president of the corporation belonging to the FLDS Church. According to a Salt Lake Tribune telephone transcript, there is evidence that, when incarcerated, Warren Jeffs made statements naming William E. Jessop, a former first counselor, as his successor or, alternately, that Jeffs had told Jessop on January 24, 2007 that he had never been the rightful leader of the FLDS. Many press accounts have suggested that Merril Jessop, who has been leading the Eldorado, Texas compound, is the de facto leader of the church. Additionally on January 9, 2010 documents filed with the Utah Department of Commerce name Wendell L. Nielsen as the president of the sect. The FLDS incorporation charter does not require the church president to be its Prophet. However, traditionally the President of the FLDS church was also the religious head. FLDS leaders have refused to clarify who is considered the Prophet of the FLDS church.

Prior to November 20, 2007, the church was being led by Warren Jeffs, who succeeded his father, Rulon Jeffs, in 2002. For nearly two years, Warren Jeffs had been wanted on sex-crimes charges. From May 2006 until his arrest in August 2006, he was on the FBI's Ten Most-Wanted List. On September 25, 2007, Jeffs was found guilty of two counts of being an accomplice to rape and was sentenced to ten years to life in prison.

{{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Other religions]] -> [[Mormonism]]

[[Category:Mormonism]]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

2010-05-08T00:09:08Z

Muser: Added content to clarify. Stub page

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest denomination of the Latter Day Saint (or [[Mormonism|Mormon]]) movement started by Joseph Smith in the United States of America in the early nineteenth century.

{{stub}}

{{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Other religions]] -> [[Mormonism]]

LDS

2010-05-08T00:07:00Z

Muser: Redirected page to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

#REDIRECT [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]

Mormonism: God

2010-05-08T00:05:15Z

Muser: Minor

{{Infobox_Contents |
topic_name = Mormonism
[[Image:Salt_lake_temple.jpeg|thumb|center|The temple at [[Salt Lake City]].]] |
subtopics = [[God]]
* [[Mormonism: Jesus]] |
opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}} |
}}

The Mormon doctrine of God is not the same as the historic Christian view. It holds that God and man are essentially of the same species, and that God the Father has a body of flesh and bones. He is not uniquely self-existent, transcendent, or eternal. Neither is he truly the creator of all things, for he is one among potentially billions of Gods, and does not even have the ability to create matter. As BYU professor David Paulson once put it, "God does not have absolute power... but rather the power to maximally utilize natural laws to bring about His purposes."

===The god of Mormonism is one of many gods===

Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, stated, "I wish to declare I have always and in all congregations when I have preached on the subject of the Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods" (History of the Church 6:474).

Brigham Young, the second prophet and president of the LDS Church, said, "How many Gods there are, I do not know. But there never was a time when there were not Gods..." (Journal of Discourses 7:333).
The god of Mormonism is not self-existent.

Mormon Apostle Orson Pratt taught, "We were begotten by our Father in Heaven; the person of our Father in Heaven was begotten on a previous heavenly world by His Father; and again, He was begotten by a still more ancient Father, and so one, from one generation to generation" (The Seer, pg. 132).
The god of Mormonism is not transcendent.

While the God of the Bible makes it clear that He is not like man, Mormon leaders have insisted that their God is an exalted human being.

Joseph Smith declared, "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 345).

Mormon Apostle John Widtsoe stated, "God and man are of the same race, differing only in their degrees of advancement" (Gospel Through the Ages, pg. 107).

This concurs with Mormon Apostle Parley P. Pratt's comment which states, "God, angels, and men are all of the same species, one race, one great family..." (Key to the Science of Theology, 1978 ed., pg. 21).
The god of Mormonism is not immutable.

Whereas God's perfection makes it never necessary for Him to change, the God of Mormonism changes both in his physical person and moral attributes. This is demonstrated by the fact that he evolved from a man into a God and that he has changed decrees which are theoretically "unalterable." Examples of this would include the abandonment of polygamy in 1890, the reversal of the ban which withheld the LDS Priesthood from Blacks in 1978, and the changes in the LDS temple ceremony in 1980.

===The god of Mormonism is not eternally God===

Joseph Smith taught that God was not always God when he stated, "We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see" (Teachings, pg. 345).
The god of Mormonism is not incorporeal.

Unlike the God of the Bible who is a God of Spirit (John 4:24), Joseph Smith taught, "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's" (D&C 130:22).

===The god of Mormonism is not omnipresent===

Because the LDS God is limited to a physical body, he is not omnipresent. Brigham Young said, "Some would have us believe that God is present everywhere. It is not so" (Journal of Discourses 6:345).

LDS Apostle James Talmage stated that neither God the Father, nor "any actual person of any one member of the Godhead can be physically present in more than one place at one time" (The Articles of Faith, pg. 39). The Mormon God's "omnipresence" is fulfilled through the Holy Spirit which, according to Mormon Apostle John Widtsoe, is not to be confused with the Holy Ghost (Evidences and Reconciliations, pp. 76-77).

===The god of Mormonism cannot dwell in the believer===

According to Joseph Smith, "The idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man's heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false" (D&C 130:3. Oddly enough, the Book of Mormon teaches the Lord does dwell in the hearts of the righteous. See Alma 34:36).

===The god of Mormonism is not omnipotent===

As Mormons believe they will always be subservient to their God, so too it would make sense that their God is subservient to his God as well. It would also makes sense that if the LDS God is the offspring of another God, then his God must be more advanced in his eternal progression than the God whom Mormons claim to serve.

Mormon author W. Cleon Skousen stated that God is God only because another force sustains him as such. He wrote, "Through modern revelation we learn that the universe is filled with vast numbers of intelligences, and we further learn that Elohim is God simply because all of these intelligences honor and sustain Him as such...since God 'acquired' the honor and sustaining influence of 'all things' it follows as a corollary that if He should ever do anything to violate the confidence or 'sense of justice' of these intelligences, they would promptly withdraw their support, and the 'power' of God would disintegrate...'He would cease to be God'" (The First 2,000 Years, pp. 355-356).

That the LDS God would have to answer to anyone clearly shows he is not omnipotent. Some Mormons insist his omnipotence lies in the fact that he has unlimited power, not all power. This too is inconsistent with Mormon thought since the God of Mormonism has no ability to create ex-nihilo, or out of nothing. The God of Mormonism is limited to only being able to reorganize matter.

===The god of Mormonism does not forgive completely===

Another major difference between the God of the LDS Church and that of historical Christianity lies in the fact that the God of the Bible forgives completely. In Isaiah 43:25 we read, "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." In Jeremiah 31:34 it says God "will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." Hebrews 8:12 states, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." How comforting to know that the God of the Bible wills not to remember the believer's past sins!

The God of Mormonism, however, must keep in remembrance past transgressions for D&C 82:7 warns, "And now, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge; go your ways and sin no more; but unto the soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God." There is no possible way that these two beings can be the same.

==Quotes==

{{Q|God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. That is the great secret... [Y]ou have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you...|Joseph Smith}}

{{Q|If Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and John discovered that God the Father of Jesus Christ had a Father, you may suppose that He had a Father also. Where was there ever a son without a father? And where was there ever a father without first being a son? Whenever did a tree or anything spring into existence without a progenitor? And everything comes in this way. Paul says that which is earthly is in the likeness of that which is heavenly, Hence if Jesus had a Father, can we not believe that He had a Father also? I despise the idea of being scared to death at such a doctrine, for the Bible is full of it.|Joseph Smith}}

{{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Other religions]] -> [[Mormonism]] -> [[Mormon Beliefs]]

[[Category:Mormonism]]

Mormonism: God

2010-05-08T00:04:29Z

Muser: Modified layout slightly to fit closer to standard page layout

{{Infobox_Contents |
topic_name = Mormonism
[[Image:Salt_lake_temple.jpeg|thumb|center|The temple at [[Salt Lake City]].]] |
subtopics = [[God]]
* [[Mormonism: Jesus]] |
opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}} |
}}

The Mormon doctrine of God is not the same as the historic Christian view. It holds that God and man are essentially of the same species, and that God the Father has a body of flesh and bones. He is not uniquely self-existent, transcendent, or eternal. Neither is he truly the creator of all things, for he is one among potentially billions of Gods, and does not even have the ability to create matter. As BYU professor David Paulson once put it, "God does not have absolute power... but rather the power to maximally utilize natural laws to bring about His purposes."

===The god of Mormonism is one of many gods===

Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, stated, "I wish to declare I have always and in all congregations when I have preached on the subject of the Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods" (History of the Church 6:474).

Brigham Young, the second prophet and president of the LDS Church, said, "How many Gods there are, I do not know. But there never was a time when there were not Gods..." (Journal of Discourses 7:333).
The god of Mormonism is not self-existent.

Mormon Apostle Orson Pratt taught, "We were begotten by our Father in Heaven; the person of our Father in Heaven was begotten on a previous heavenly world by His Father; and again, He was begotten by a still more ancient Father, and so one, from one generation to generation" (The Seer, pg. 132).
The god of Mormonism is not transcendent.

While the God of the Bible makes it clear that He is not like man, Mormon leaders have insisted that their God is an exalted human being.

Joseph Smith declared, "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 345).

Mormon Apostle John Widtsoe stated, "God and man are of the same race, differing only in their degrees of advancement" (Gospel Through the Ages, pg. 107).

This concurs with Mormon Apostle Parley P. Pratt's comment which states, "God, angels, and men are all of the same species, one race, one great family..." (Key to the Science of Theology, 1978 ed., pg. 21).
The god of Mormonism is not immutable.

Whereas God's perfection makes it never necessary for Him to change, the God of Mormonism changes both in his physical person and moral attributes. This is demonstrated by the fact that he evolved from a man into a God and that he has changed decrees which are theoretically "unalterable." Examples of this would include the abandonment of polygamy in 1890, the reversal of the ban which withheld the LDS Priesthood from Blacks in 1978, and the changes in the LDS temple ceremony in 1980.

===The god of Mormonism is not eternally God===

Joseph Smith taught that God was not always God when he stated, "We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see" (Teachings, pg. 345).
The god of Mormonism is not incorporeal.

Unlike the God of the Bible who is a God of Spirit (John 4:24), Joseph Smith taught, "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's" (D&C 130:22).
==The god of Mormonism is not omnipresent.==

Because the LDS God is limited to a physical body, he is not omnipresent. Brigham Young said, "Some would have us believe that God is present everywhere. It is not so" (Journal of Discourses 6:345).

LDS Apostle James Talmage stated that neither God the Father, nor "any actual person of any one member of the Godhead can be physically present in more than one place at one time" (The Articles of Faith, pg. 39). The Mormon God's "omnipresence" is fulfilled through the Holy Spirit which, according to Mormon Apostle John Widtsoe, is not to be confused with the Holy Ghost (Evidences and Reconciliations, pp. 76-77).
==The god of Mormonism cannot dwell in the believer.==

According to Joseph Smith, "The idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man's heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false" (D&C 130:3. Oddly enough, the Book of Mormon teaches the Lord does dwell in the hearts of the righteous. See Alma 34:36).

===The god of Mormonism is not omnipotent===

As Mormons believe they will always be subservient to their God, so too it would make sense that their God is subservient to his God as well. It would also makes sense that if the LDS God is the offspring of another God, then his God must be more advanced in his eternal progression than the God whom Mormons claim to serve.

Mormon author W. Cleon Skousen stated that God is God only because another force sustains him as such. He wrote, "Through modern revelation we learn that the universe is filled with vast numbers of intelligences, and we further learn that Elohim is God simply because all of these intelligences honor and sustain Him as such...since God 'acquired' the honor and sustaining influence of 'all things' it follows as a corollary that if He should ever do anything to violate the confidence or 'sense of justice' of these intelligences, they would promptly withdraw their support, and the 'power' of God would disintegrate...'He would cease to be God'" (The First 2,000 Years, pp. 355-356).

That the LDS God would have to answer to anyone clearly shows he is not omnipotent. Some Mormons insist his omnipotence lies in the fact that he has unlimited power, not all power. This too is inconsistent with Mormon thought since the God of Mormonism has no ability to create ex-nihilo, or out of nothing. The God of Mormonism is limited to only being able to reorganize matter.

===The god of Mormonism does not forgive completely===

Another major difference between the God of the LDS Church and that of historical Christianity lies in the fact that the God of the Bible forgives completely. In Isaiah 43:25 we read, "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." In Jeremiah 31:34 it says God "will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." Hebrews 8:12 states, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." How comforting to know that the God of the Bible wills not to remember the believer's past sins!

The God of Mormonism, however, must keep in remembrance past transgressions for D&C 82:7 warns, "And now, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge; go your ways and sin no more; but unto the soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God." There is no possible way that these two beings can be the same.

==Quotes==

{{Q|God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens. That is the great secret... [Y]ou have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you...|Joseph Smith}}

{{Q|If Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and John discovered that God the Father of Jesus Christ had a Father, you may suppose that He had a Father also. Where was there ever a son without a father? And where was there ever a father without first being a son? Whenever did a tree or anything spring into existence without a progenitor? And everything comes in this way. Paul says that which is earthly is in the likeness of that which is heavenly, Hence if Jesus had a Father, can we not believe that He had a Father also? I despise the idea of being scared to death at such a doctrine, for the Bible is full of it.|Joseph Smith}}

{{returnto}} [[Christianity]] -> [[Other religions]] -> [[Mormonism]] -> [[Mormon Beliefs]]

[[Category:Mormonism]]

God

2008-11-06T16:37:08Z

Muser: Added a few sentences and fixed a few grammar errors

{{quote | text={{Bible verse|Genesis|1|1|lang=WEB}} [[Genesis 1:1]]}}
{{Infobox_Contents |
topic_name = God |
subtopics = [[Character of God]] - [[God is the creator]], [[God is love]], [[God is holy]], [[God is forgiving]]
* [[Trinity]] - [[God the Father]], [[Jesus Christ]], [[Holy Spirit]]
* [[Names of God]] |
opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}}
* {{ebd}}
* Sermon: [[Luke 15 - What is God like? (G.G.)]]
}}

God is the central being of all existence. He is eternal in that he has no beginning and no end. In the [[Genesis 1|first chapter of the first book]] of [[Bible]] an account is given of God creating the universe and the earth and creating people in his own image. The Bible also reveals that God is full of [[God is forgiving|mercy]] and [[God is love|love]] (for example [[1 John 4:8]]. Millions of people in the world trust in God as their master and Lord and also their saviour. He is a personal being, who is three in one - [[God the Father|Father]], [[Jesus Christ|Son]] and [[Holy Spirit]]. the Bible also reveals that God stands ready to come into any person's life when that person acknowledges him and repents of having not lived his way - this is when a person is [[born again]].

===[[Character of God]]===

Although the mere existence of God can be deduced by natural reason his nature is beyond our understanding. He gives life to all and he is the author of love and forgiveness. [[John 1:4]] describes this beautifully:
: ''{{Bible verse|John|1|4|lang=WEB}}''

God is also completely [[holy]] and without any evil. At the same time God is forgiving and merciful and full of love.

{{sectionstub}}

===[[Trinity]]===

The Trinity is the Christian [[doctrine]] (or teaching) that describes the three-in-one (triune) nature of God. Although impossible to fully grasp, the Bible reveals that there is one and only one God, and also that the [[God the Father|Father]] is God, and yet [[Jesus]] the Son is God, and also the [[Holy Spirit]] is God. That is, there is one God who eternally exists in three distinct persons.

{{sectionstub}}

==Quotes==

Sri Aurobindo, in ''Thoughts and Aphorisms''
: A God who cannot smile could not have created this humorous universe.

Robertson Davies in ''Conversations''
: A man who recognizes no God is probably placing an inordinate value on himself.

Albert Einstein
: Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish

Benjamin Franklin
: God heals, and the doctor takes the fee.

[[C.S. Lewis]]
: God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
: God will look to every soul like its first love because He is its first love.
: If God thinks this state of war in the universe a price worth paying for free will...then we may take it it is worth paying.

Galileo Galilei (1564 ~ 1642)
: I do not think it is necessary to believe that the same God who has given us our senses, reason, and intelligence wished us to abandon their use, giving us by some other means the information that we could gain through them.

Yiddish proverb,
: If God lived on earth, people would break his windows.

J.R.R. Tolkien
: If you do not believe in a personal God the question: `What is the purpose of life?' is unaskable and unanswerable.

Thomas Jefferson
: It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.

Immanuel Kant
: Reason can never prove the existence of God.

Emily Dickinson
: They say that God is everywhere, and yet we always think of Him as somewhat of a recluse.

Catherine Doherty
: With God, every moment is the moment of beginning again.

Unknown source
: You can live without God, but you better not die without him.

[[Romans 5]]:7-8
: {{Bible verse|Romans|5|7|lang=WEB}} {{Bible verse|Romans|5|8|lang=WEB}}

[[1 John 4:16]]
: God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

[[1 John 1:5]]
: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

[[Exodus 3:14]] (King James Version)
: God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

[[Isaiah 45]]:5-7 (King James Version)
: I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Spike Milligan
: And God said, 'Let there be light' and there was light, but the Electricity Board said he would have to wait until Thursday to be connected.

Woody Allen
: If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name in a Swiss bank.
: How can I believe in God when just last week I got my tongue caught in the roller of an electric typewriter?

==Links==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God Wikipedia - God]
* [http://www.theopedia.com/God Theopedia - God]

{{returnto}} [[Christianity]]
[[Category:Christian doctrine and debates]]

Wikichristian:Opinion articles

2008-07-16T20:24:38Z

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WikiChristian:Beliefs

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#REDIRECT [[Statement of Faith]]