A Mormon belief...

[CatintheHat]

If Mormon males can be exalted after they die, does that mean Jesus is now a god on a different planet now?

Also, I know Mormons view of the Trinity is different from most of the rest of Christianity, but do they believe Jesus is God (of our planet, of course )?

These are honest questions, btw.

 

[LDSGuy]

Jesus has always been God. LDS believe that the Godhead is comprised of three separate personages: God the Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. We believe that Jesus Christ will always be our Savior, and exaltation is made possible by Christ.

 

[Jash]

Jesus is our God and father because he spiritually begets us through his atonement and our receiving of baptism and his holy spirit. We are still children of God the father but also become children of his son. In this way, Christ is able to take our sins upon him and thus the purpose of his atonement is fulfilled.

btw I believe it is Mormon families that are exalted not “males.”

While salvation is an individual matter, exaltation is a family matter. Only those who are married in the temple and whose marriage is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise will continue as spouses after death and receive the highest degree of celestial glory, or exaltation.

-Celestial Marriage; Elder Russell M. Nelson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

 

[CatintheHat]

btw I believe it is Mormon families that are exalted not “males.”

-Celestial Marriage; Elder Russell M. Nelson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

So if a Mormon couple has a child that dies before being of age to be married, is that child exalted with the family when the rest of them die?

 

[Jash]

So if a Mormon couple has a child that dies before being of age to be married, is that child exalted with the family when the rest of them die?

First, according to LDS doctrine exaltation does not happen upon death. There is a period of time between death the resurrection and judgement that must be waited out. Just as an unbaptized child under eight years of age will obtain salvation, I believe a child who dies before they turn eight will also be able to be exalted. At eight they reach the age of accountability and salvation and exaltation will be dependent upon their righteousness after that point.

 

[PaulDupre]

Jesus has always been God.

Please explain how that is possible in Mormon theology. If, as the Mormons teach, Jesus was at some time born as a “spirit baby” to Elohim and one of his wives and raised by them to maturity, then at some point Jesus was “not-as-yet-born” and therefore did not exist as Jesus (or Jehovah). Therefore Jesus could not “always” have been God in Mormonism.

By the same token, the Mormon Heavenly Father was not always God either, but “became God” by following the Mormon gospel. Joseph Smith taught that and it is still Mormon doctrine. If Jesus’ father was at some time growing up on an earth somewhere and was not yet God, then how could Jesus have always been God?

I know the Mormons have redefined words like “eternal” and “always”, but i would be interested to hear your explanation.

 

[zerinus]

Please explain how that is possible in Mormon theology. If, as the Mormons teach, Jesus was at some time born as a “spirit baby” to Elohim and one of his wives and raised by them to maturity, then at some point Jesus was “not-as-yet-born” and therefore did not exist as Jesus (or Jehovah). Therefore Jesus could not “always” have been God in Mormonism.

Mormon theology is determined by Mormon scripture, and Mormon scripture teaches that Jesus is God, eternal, and always been God (e.g. Book of Mormon Title page; Mosiah 3:5). It says nothing about Jesus being born as a spirit baby.

zerinus

 

[Mike_Reed]

If Mormon males can be exalted after they die, does that mean Jesus is now a god on a different planet now?

Also, I know Mormons view of the Trinity is different from most of the rest of Christianity, but do they believe Jesus is God (of our planet, of course )?

These are honest questions, btw.

Mormons believe that Jesus is god and savior, not only of our world, but of other populated worlds in our universe. Joseph Smith’s views were quite similar to Emanuel Swedenborg’s in this respect:

“[Swedenborg] stated flatly–and almost in passing, as if everyone already knew it–that the Incarnation was a unique event, occurring only on this earth, even though the earth is not the center of the universe. It happened here because, in effect, this was the worst place in the universe, where divine intervention was most urgently needed. In spite of its local occurrences, however, its saving consequences were equally effective for the populations of every planet in every galaxy.” Robert H. Kirven, “Swedenborg’s Contributions to the History of Ideas,” ed. Robin Larson, *Emmanuel Swedenborg: A Continuing Vision *(New York: Swedenborg Foundation, 1988), 368.

Compare this to Joseph Smith’s teaching: “And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations… [A]mong all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren [on this earth].” Moses 7: 30, 36. The other earths in our universe “are saved by the very same Savior of ours.” Times and Seasons, Feb. 1, 1843, pp. 82–85.

 

[PaulDupre]

Mormon theology is determined by Mormon scripture, and Mormon scripture teaches that Jesus is God, eternal, and always been God (e.g. Book of Mormon Title page; Mosiah 3:5). It says nothing about Jesus being born as a spirit baby.

zerinus

So Joseph Smith was wrong then? So if a “living prophet” teaches something in General Conference that is not already in scripture, it is only his opinion and can be disregarded?

Then what’s the use of having a “living prophet”? If all that matters is scripture, then you can just read the scriptures and forget about the church altogether.

Zerinus, you are a sola scriptura Protestant.