|
Preface 1
What Motivated the Writing of This Book? xvi
Computer Tools Made an Important Difference xvii
Written with a Latter-day Saint Perspective xvii
Differences with “Trinitarian” Doctrines Will Be Identified xviii
Methodologies Used in Writing This Book xix
“You Have Got to Learn How to Be Gods Yourselves” xxi
Part One
The Broad Array of Christian Beliefs about God
1. The Importance of Knowing God 3
It Is Life Eternal to Know the Godhead and Associate with Them Eternally 3
Eternal Life: The Greatest of All the Gifts of God 3
Be Ye Perfect, Like the Father and the Son! 4
Latter-day Saints Believe in “the Godhead,” Not “the Trinity” 5
God Expects and Intends to Be Known and Acknowledged throughout the Earth 6
The Lord Wants Man to Both Know and Understand Him 6
Key Passages on Knowing and Understanding God 7
The Higher Priesthood Holds the Key of the Knowledge of God 9
Personal Unrighteousness Robs Man of His Knowledge and Understanding of God 10
Summary 12
2. What the Churches of Today Teach about God 31
A Comparison of Major Denominations’ Beliefs Concerning the Nature of God 13
Varying Levels of Acceptance or Rejection of the Trinitarian Formula 20
A Comparison of Beliefs Concerning Deity of Non-Christian Faiths 22
Beware of the Implications of the Term “Trinity” 24
Summary 26
Part Two
Attributes and Physical Natures of Godhead Members
3. Attributes of Members of the Godhead 31
The Approaches Used in This Chapter 31
Defining God from the Scriptures: Trinitarian Approaches 32
Some Concerns on the “Most Basic of Definitions” Cited Above 32
Some Latter-day Saint Foundations 34
1. Members of the Godhead are Three Separate Beings 34
2. The Three Members of the Godhead Are All Spirit Beings 35
3. Members of the Godhead are Personal, Living, Active Beings 36
4. Members of the Godhead Are Eternal Beings 37
5. Members of the Godhead Are Unchanging in Their Natures, Desires, and Purposes 37
6. Members of the Godhead Are Perfect Beings 38
7. Members of the Godhead Are Exalted Above Their Mortal Creations 40
8. Members of the Godhead Are “in” Man 41
9. Members of the Godhead Have All Power 43
10. Members of the Godhead Have All Knowledge 45
11. Members of the Godhead Are Wise 47
12. Members of the Godhead Are Holy 47
13. Members of the Godhead Are Gods of Truth and Integrity 48
14. Members of the Godhead Function in a Patriarchal, Family-oriented Environment 49
15. Members of the Godhead Are Filled with Love 51
16. Members of the Godhead Grant Their Grace to Repentant Mankind 52
17. Members of the Godhead Treat All Mankind Impartially 53
18. Members of the Godhead Follow a Premortal Plan of Redemption for Mankind 55
19. Members of the Godhead Govern Man with Justice, Mercy and Probation 56
20. Members of the Godhead Take Pleasure in Righteousness, Feel Anger Towards Wickedness 59
21. Members of the Godhead Control Length of Life and Time of Death of All Mankind 61
22. Members of the Godhead Regard Man’s Mortal Life as a Probationary State 62
Summary 65
4. Is God Only an “Incorporeal,” “Invisible,” Spirit? 67
God As Spirit 67
Interpreting John 4:24: “God is a spirit” 67
Interpreting Luke 24:39: “flesh and bones, as ye see me have” 68
Biblical Passages Teach the Nature of Man’s Spirit 69
Latter-day Saint Scriptures Teach about “Spirit” and “Spirit Beings” 70
Challenging Torrey’s Interpretation of “Image” in Genesis 1:27 73
Is God the Father “Invisible”? 75
What of John 1:18: “No man hath seen God”? 77
Can Man See God? Numerous Bible Passages Say Yes! 80
Are the Manifestations of God Not God Himself? 82
Man, Not God, Is Changed when “Eyes Are Opened” 83
Conflicting “Nature of God” Statements Found in Theological Treatises 85
Summary 86
5. The “Threeness” and the “Oneness” of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit 87
How Many Gods Do Christians Worship? 87
Deuteronomists’ Efforts to Assert Monotheism by Restructuring Old Testament Scriptures 88
Understanding “Only One God” Passages 91
The Savior’s Statements of His Unity and “Oneness” with God the Father 95
The Pivotal Doctrinal Choice: One in “Substance,” or One in “Unity of Purpose”? 97
“Three-in-One” Definitions Found in Ancient Creedal Statements 97
The Doctrine of the “Oneness of God and the Saints” in Other Latter-day Saint Scriptures 99
Examples of Biblical Passages Where “One” Means “Unity,” Not “Substance” 101
Early Christian Fathers: Unum—A Unity of Harmony and Disposition 103
A Priesthood Quorum: Basis for the Unity and “Oneness” of the Godhead 103
A Larger Quorum: The Body of the Church 104
One Fold and One Shepherd 106
God the Father in the Son, and the Son in the Father 106
God in Man, and Man United with Members of the Godhead 108
Other Insights About Oneness with God, from Beyond the Veil 111
Grammar-School First Grade: A Review of Basic Addition 113
Summary 114
6. The Physical Attributes of Godhead Members 117
A Landmark Revelation: The Appearance of Jesus Christ to the Brother of Jared 117
Lessons Learned from the History of Hermeneutics 118
Allegorical Interpretation Before the Time of Christ 119
Allegorical Interpretation Was Embraced by the Jews in Alexandria 120
The Impact of Allegorical Interpretation on the Jewish Concept of God 121
The Influence of Greek Philosophy on the Septuagint 122
Aristobulus and Philo: Pre-Christ Proponents of Allegorical Interpretation 123
Allegorical Interpretation in and Following the New Testament Era 127
The “Authority of Tradition” Concept Advanced by the School of Antioch 127
How “Allegorical Interpretation” Was Applied Concerning the Nature of God 130
Using “Allegorical Interpretation” as an Instrument of Ancient Church Policy:
The Copernicus/Galileo Incident 130
A Caution Concerning “Loaded Terminology” Used by Theologians 132
The Use of “Anthropomorphic,” “Theophanies,” and “Metaphors” as Discrediting Labels 137
The Intended Plainness and Clarity of the Scriptures 138
Most Scriptural Descriptions of the Physical Nature of God Are Forthright Statements, Not Metaphorical Allusions 139
An Example: Separating Scriptural Realities from “Spiritualized,” “Metaphorical” Interpretations 140
Two Levels of Scriptural Evidence and 419 Passages Asserting the Physical Nature of God 143
Group A: Male Beings 144
Group B: God’s Face and Countenance, Head and Hair 146
Group C: God’s Mind and Soul 149
Group D: God’s Facial Features, Smelling, and Breathing 149
Group E: God’s Shoulders, Arms, Hands and Fingers 153
Group F: God’s Bosom, Heart and Bowels 157
Group G: God’s Waist, Thighs, and Back Parts 159
Group H: God’s Walking, Standing, and Feet 161
How Many Scriptural Passages Does It Take to Show God Actually Means What He Says? 162
Summary 163
Part Three
Premortal Events and the Creation of Planet Earth
7. “In the Beginning”: Events Prior to the Creation of This Planet Earth 169
“In the Beginning . . .” of What? 169
In the Beginning . . . Was God 170
How God the Father and Jesus Christ Attained Godhood: Joseph Smith’s Explanation 170
Intelligences and Spirit Beings Existed “In the Beginning” 173
God the Father Is the Father of All Spirit Beings Who Come to This Earth 174
Jehovah/Jesus Christ Is the Firstborn Child and Son of God the Father in the Premortal Spirit World 175
The Loving Premortal Relationship of God the Father and His Firstborn Son 175
The Premortal Jehovah/Jesus Grew, Grace by Grace, until He Received a Fulness 176
God the Father Mentored His Son Jehovah/Jesus Christ 176
Worlds Without Number Created by God the Father and Jehovah/Jesus Christ 177
The Astronomy of Many of God’s Creations 180
Summary 182
8. Jehovah/Jesus Christ Attained Godhood in Premortality 184
Differing Views Concerning the Nature of Godhood 184
Was Jehovah/Jesus Christ Ready and Worthy to Be Granted Godhood? 186
Scriptural Allusions to Priesthood Ordinances and Procedures Concerning the Elevation to Godhood of Jehovah/Jesus Christ 187
Specific Powers and Blessings Conveyed to Jehovah/Jesus Christ 189
Scriptural References to Jehovah/Jesus Christ Being a God in Premortality 194
Summary 195
9. Premortal Preparations and the Creation of This Planet Earth 197
Many Leaders Were Chosen in the Premortal Era 197
Laying the Foundation: Strategic Planning for This Earth’s Creation 199
Specific Instructions Concerning This Earth Were Given by God the Father to His Son Jehovah/Jesus Christ 201
The Spirit Creation of This Planet: Earth 204
The Transformation of This Planet Earth into a Physical Entity 205
Where Was This Earth Created? 205
Who Is the Specific Creator of This Earth? 206
Passages that Identify Jehovah as the Creator of This Earth 206
Passages that Identify God the Son, Jesus Christ, as the Creator of This Earth 210
Passages that Assert God the Father’s Creation Role through the Labors of Jesus Christ 211
Other Passages that Describe “God” (Not Clearly Identified) as Creating This Earth 211
The Premortal and New-Earth Councils in Heaven 212
God the Father Gave the Mortal Inhabitants of This Earth to His Son Jehovah/Jesus Christ for His Care and Responsibility 216
Jesus Christ Was Designated as the “Father” of Those Who Would Abide in His Gospel 216
Summary 218
Part Four
Jesus the Christ as Jehovah and as the Father
10. Jehovah Is Jesus the Christ 221
The Name “Jehovah” in the Scriptures 221
How Jesus Is Shown to Be Jehovah in Modern Latter-day Saint Scriptures 223
The Challenge: Assembling Sufficient Evidence to Show that Jehovah is Jesus Christ, Not God the Father 225
Comparisons of (LORD) Jehovah and Jesus Passages 225
1. The Great I AM 225
2. The First and the Last 226
3. The Beginning and the End, and Alpha and Omega 227
4. The Savior 227
5. The Redeemer 228
6. The Holy One of Israel 229
7. The Mighty God of Jacob 229
8. The Rock 230
9. The Stone of Israel 230
10. The Creator (See also Chapter 9) 231
11. The King 232
12. Salvation 233
13. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob 234
14. Has Power, Is Omnipotent, Is Mighty 235
15. Everlasting 236
16. Light 236
17. Truth 237
18. Grace and Graciousness 238
19. Mercy 238
20. Makes and Fulfills Covenants 239
21. Shepherd 240
22. The Unblemished Sacrificial Lamb / the Lamb of God 241
Summary 242
11. Jesus Christ as the Father 243
The Father and the Son: A Doctrinal Exposition by The First Presidency and The Twelve 243
“Father” as Literal Parent 274
“Father” as Creator 274
Jesus Christ the “Father” of Those Who Abide in His Gospel 275
Jesus Christ the “Father” by Divine Investiture of Authority 278
Examples of Jesus Speaking as God the Father 280
Interpretational Clues Concerning Who Is Speaking in the Book of Moses 283
Summary 284
Part Five
Individual Insights on God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, and God the Father
12. God the Son: Jehovah – Jesus Christ 257
Jehovah/Jesus Christ Is the God of This Earth and All Its Inhabitants 257
Scriptural Witnesses that Jehovah/Jesus Christ Is the God of This Earth 258
Jehovah/Jesus Christ “Owns” All Things 265
Three “Births” with Major “Nature of God” Implications 267
Jehovah/Jesus Christ’s Premortal Birth: the Firstborn Child of God the Father 268
Jehovah/Jesus Christ’s Mortal Birth: The Only Begotten Son of God the Father 269
Jehovah/Jesus Christ as the First Begotten of the Dead: His Resurrection “Birth” 271
The Gospel of Jesus Christ Defined by the Savior 273
Jesus Christ Is the Mediator between Man and God and the Only Name whereby Man Can Be Saved 275
Aids for Studying and Understanding Christ’s Mortal Ministry 277
Insights Concerning the Mortal Birth of Jesus Christ 278
Bethlehem and Its Inn at the Time of Christ’s Birth 278
The Meridian-of-time Size and Previous History of Nazareth 279
Not Necessarily a Carpenter: Christ’s Mortal Occupation Is Uncertain 279
Christ’s “Mission Statements” 280
Testimonies with Sure Knowledge: Devils Acknowledge Jesus Is the Son of God 280
Passovers during Christ’s Mortal Ministry 282
A Correlation of the Periods of the Life of Christ, as Found in the Four Gospels 282
The Major Discourses of Jesus Christ 283
Summary 285
13. God the Holy Ghost 287
The Holy Ghost: A Member of the Godhead 287
A Male Being 287
A Personage of Spirit 288
Some Questions Concerning the Holy Ghost without Present Answers 290
The “Power” and the “Gift” of the Holy Ghost 290
The Holy Ghost in Old Testament Times 291
The Old Testament Names of the Holy Ghost 292
New Testament Names for the Holy Ghost 293
Did the Holy Ghost Function on Earth During Christ’s Mortal Ministry? 295
The Responsibilities and Blessings of the Holy Ghost 296
Symbolic Representations of the Presence or Manifestations of the Holy Ghost 301
The Holy Spirit Transports Man 304
Summary 306
14. God the Father 309
God the Father Is the God of Jesus Christ and a God of All This Earth’s Mankind 309
God the Father Made Covenants and Established Procedures Before This Earth Was Created 311
God The Father Conferred the Fulness of His Power and Glory upon Jesus 313
God the Father Entrusted His Spirit Children to the Care of Jesus Christ 314
God the Father Sent Jesus Christ to This Earth 315
God the Father Implements His Will Through Jesus Christ on This Earth 315
God the Father Gives Commandments to His Children on This Earth through Christ 315
The Influence of God the Father Is Exerted and Felt in Church Activities 317
Man Is Commanded to Worship God the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ 317
Mankind Is Commanded to Give Glory to God the Father 318
God the Father Has Infinite Love for His Children 319
God the Father Observes Men’s Actions and Knows Their Needs 319
Man Is to Pray to God the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ 320
Both God the Father and God the Son Send the Holy Ghost to Man 322
The Great Schism and the Filioque Clause 322
The Holy Ghost Can Be Sent by God the Father 323
The Holy Ghost Can Be Sent by God the Son 323
The Holy Ghost Can Come upon People by His Own Volition 324
God the Father Actively Participates in Missionary Work 324
The Father and the Son as Missionary Companions 325
God the Father Controls Last-days Events 327
God the Father Will Preside and Judge at the Final Judgment Day 328
God the Father Grants Eternal Rewards 330
Summary 332
Part Six
The Ultimate Objectives of Divinity
15. My Work and My Glory 337
Definitions of Glory 338
Godhead Members Increase Their Individual Glories 342
Blessings that He Granted to Man Have Added to Christ’s Glory 344
Man Is to Function with His Eye Single to God’s Glory 345
The Lord Withholds His Glory from Evil Doers 347
Christ’s Glory Seen Prior to His Mortal Ministry 348
Christ’s Glory Seen in the Meridian of Time 348
Christ’s Glory Seen in These Last Days 350
Christ Will Return to the Earth in Glory 350
The Eventual Gloriy and Reign of Jesus Christ 351
Righteous Sons and Daughters of Christ Will Receive Eternal Glory 352
Summary 354
16. Christ Rules among the Gods, and Mankind Can Attain Godhood 357
Jehovah/Jesus Christ Is a God of Gods and Lord of Lords 357
Guidelines for Discerning between “Good” and “Evil” Gods 357
Many Scriptural Passages Speak of Multiple Gods Who Are Not False Gods 359
Those Who Believe in Christ Can Attain Eternal Life 363
The Riches of Eternity Are Christ’s to Give to the Righteous 363
Eternal Life Is the Greatest of All Divine Gifts 363
All Mortals Are Potential Gods, But Few Will Achieve Godhood 364
Divine Sonship an Essential Aspect of Attaining Godhood 364
Christ Shall Rule Over the Exalted Righteous of This Earth as Both God and Father 365
The Blessings of Exaltation and Eternal Life 365
A Listing of Many of the Blessings of Exaltation and Godhood 368
Summary 370
Appendix, Bibliography, Index, About the Author
Appendix: The Scriptural Name of the Godhead Members in the Bible 373
The Primary Names of God in the Old Testament Explained 373
Capitalization of the Names of God in the King James Version of the Bible 377
Explanations About the Name “Jehovah” and the Tetragrammaton 378
Explanations About the Name “Jesus” 380
Explanations About the Terms “Messiah” and “Christ” 381
Less-used Names of God from the Old Testament 383
Compound Names of God (El, Elohim, and Elohe) 385
Compound Names of the Lord God (Jehovah El and Jehovah Elohim) 386
Bibliography 387
Index 395
About the Author 408
|
