Catholic praying to Mormon Heavenly Father permitted?

[Kaliaa]

Here is a link to what What the Catholic Church says about the practices and beliefs of Mormonism.

Actually the Jesus of Mormanism is not the Jesus of which we usually think and speak.

1. He was once as we are. (Meaning he worked his way up to Godhood.)
2. He and the Father are one in purpose etc. but not in essence. (Two individual beings, not one being.
3. Jesus is the god of planet earth not the entirety of creation. Other humans can aspire to godhood if they fulfill certain requirements.

These are are just a few of the many major differences.

Here is another link. The gods of the Mormon church

 

[Horton]

When I’ve been in a group with LDS and a prayer is said I make the sign of the cross and silently pray my own intention followed by the sign of the cross. Went to the LDS funeral of a woman who worked with a good friend of mine, also Catholic, and when a prayer was offered we both did the above. I don’t believe it’s wrong to join LDS in prayer as long as we pray to the one true God and not the LDS god.

Just for the record, when I join my non-Catholic Christian family in prayer I still make the sign of the cross even though we are praying to the same God.

 

[pianistclare]

They are obviously trying to convert you.
Don’t get love bombed.
Pray to the ONE true God not a “Mormon” god.

Glad you parted ways.

 

[Catholic_Nation]

They are obviously trying to convert you.
Don’t get love bombed.
Pray to the ONE true God not a “Mormon” god.

Glad you parted ways.

Well, they are missionaries, I made it clear to them I couldn’t pray to Heavenly Father because it would be a sin. I did enjoy their company its not every day you can talk about faith these days face to face.

 

[andrewstx]

When I’m with my Mormon family and they pray, I’m respectful but not praying with them. I don’t believe we are praying to the same God, and do feel it would be at the least, disrespectful to God to pray with others to another God. I just can’t do it.

The Mormon “heavenly father” is very different from the Christian God the father. The Mormon version is human male, complete with body. As they with a body. This HF was conceived as we all are. Every male if he is “worthy” is capable of such godhood eventually.

 

[Z_Ninja]

When I’m with my Mormon family and they pray, I’m respectful but not praying with them. I don’t believe we are praying to the same God, and do feel it would be at the least, disrespectful to God to pray with others to another God. I just can’t do it.

This… I also make the sign of the cross before the prayer and offer my own intentions, then wait until whoever is saying the prayer is done, then make the sign of the cross again to end.

 

[Z_Ninja]

IOW, Mormons deny the Trinity.

The difference is in what we believe to be the nature of God and Jesus. My father-in-law (LDS) once used the word “demigod” for Jesus. We were all watching the Percy Jackson movie, so it seems he likened Jesus to Persius or Hercules, being half-god and half-human. Where as Catholics, He is fully human AND fully divine.

 

[dcana]

You believe that God was once a man who lived on another planet. Isn’t that true?

What, no quick and easy answer for this question, Jane?

 

[jane_doe]

What, no quick and easy answer for this question, Jane?

Lol! I’ve been swamped at work the last couple days and hence haven’t been on the forums as much.

The question was “You believe that God was once a man who lived on another planet. Isn’t that true?”

The uber quick answer (because I’m still swamped) is that it’s a gray area. It’s not something actively taught, is not in canonize scripture, but there is high level speculation on the matter. You can be a Mormon an actively not believe it, actively do believe it, or anywhere in between. I’m personally of the “I don’t know and I don’t care” camp.

 

[dcana]

Lol! I’ve been swamped at work the last couple days and hence haven’t been on the forums as much.

The question was “You believe that God was once a man who lived on another planet. Isn’t that true?”

The uber quick answer (because I’m still swamped) is that it’s a gray area. It’s not something actively taught, is not in canonize scripture, but there is high level speculation on the matter. You can be a Mormon an actively not believe it, actively do believe it, or anywhere in between. I’m personally of the “I don’t know and I don’t care” camp.

But it was once believed and actively taught, correct? Didn’t your prophet, who claims to talk directly to God face-to-face, say that God told him so? Then how can it now be a “gray area”, something that is not “actively taught”, and “you can be a Mormon an actively not believe it”?

Do you believe Heavenly Father was once a man?

 

[jane_doe]

Again, uber-quick answers because I’m swamped at work.

But it was once believed and actively taught, correct?

Always been a grey area.

Didn’t your prophet, who claims to talk directly to God face-to-face, say that God told him so? Then how can it now be a “gray area”, something that is not “actively taught”, and “you can be a Mormon an actively not believe it”?

Mormons believe that a prophet is a man of God. Stress on the MAN part-- not everything that comes out of their mouth is automatically infallible scripture. Rather the person has to be speaking specifically in the office as a prophet (somewhat similar to ex cathedra), and then there is a whole process before something becomes ratified as scripture.

None of the passages on this topic have some through that process.

Do you believe Heavenly Father was once a man?

As I said earlier, I’m of the “I don’t know and I don’t care” camp.

 

[dcana]

Ok. So it is no longer claimed that the mormon prophet talks to God face-to-face? Is that what you’re saying?

I asked you if you believed that Heavenly Father was once a man. You responded:

I said earlier, I’m of the “I don’t know and I don’t care” camp.

Well, that is really something new. I think you might be a mormon heretic.

So if he wasn’t a man, what was he? Or has he been Heavenly Father from all eternity, never changing?

I mean, the Mormon church claims to be the “One True Church” and you can’t even answer these basic questions about the nature of God? That doesn’t sound quite right to me.

If you don’t know or don’t care if Heavenly Father was once a man, then that means you aren’t sure that men can become gods like Heavenly Father after death, isn’t that correct? I mean, if you’re not sure about Heavenly Father, then what does that say about some male member of the current LDS church?

Maybe I should ask you, then, does the Mormon church, irrespective of what you believe or “don’t care” about, teach that Heavenly Father was once a man? If so, then why do you not know or care about it?

Thank you

 

[jane_doe]

Ok. So it is no longer claimed that the mormon prophet talks to God face-to-face? Is that what you’re saying?

No.

Well, that is really something new. I think you might be a mormon heretic.

Nope, perfectly good standing temple recommend holding.

So if he wasn’t a man, what was he? Or has he been Heavenly Father from all eternity, never changing?

Are you asking my personal thoughts, or official LDS answers?

My personal thoughts: I don’t know.

Official LDS response: we don’t know.

I mean, the Mormon church claims to be the “One True Church” and you can’t even answer these basic questions about the nature of God? That doesn’t sound quite right to me.

We don’t claim to know everything- in fact we claim quite the opposite (see Article of Faith #9).

These questions you are asking aren’t about the nature of God, but address the speculations to the Father’s history. Questions related to God’s nature would be “is He Perfect”? Is He 100% justice? Is He 100% merciful? Those are easily answered.

Maybe I should ask you, then, does the Mormon church, irrespective of what you believe or “don’t care about”, teach that Heavenly Father was once a man?

Seeking clarification: are you asking about my personal thoughts/feelings here, or official answers?

 

[dcana]

“Ok. So it is no longer claimed that the mormon prophet talks to God face-to-face? Is that what you’re saying?”

No.

Just to be clear, do you mean to say:

1. “Yes, it is true that we no longer believe that the mormon prophet talks to Heavenly Father face-to-face” or
2. “You’re supposition is incorrect. We still believe that the mormon prophet talks to Heavenly Father face-to-face”

“So if he wasn’t a man, what was he? Or has he been Heavenly Father from all eternity, never changing?”

Are you asking my personal thoughts, or official LDS answers?

My personal thoughts: I don’t know.

Official LDS response: we don’t know.

It seems the two coincide. Well, that certainly is a big change in mormon theology!

We don’t claim to know everything

If you don’t know what you believe about the basic nature of God, then what, if anything, do you claim to know?

These questions you are asking aren’t about the nature of God, but address the speculations to the Father’s history.

Of course they are. Is it in the nature of God that He was once a man, with a body, who was “exalted” to become a god or is He in no way like a man, being immaterial, infinite, and fully God from all eternity to all eternity? That doesn’t treat on the nature of God?

But you have given your answers, so there’s really nothing else to discuss on that question. You personally “don’t know and don’t care” and the mormon church “doesn’t know.” Ok, I’ll accept that.

Seeking clarification: are you asking about my personal thoughts/feelings here, or official answers?

You have said that your personal thoughts/feelings and the official answers are the same: “we don’t know.”

All I can say is, keep searching after truth, Jane. If you do, He’ll find you!

God bless and have a nice day.

 

[jane_doe]

“Ok. So it is no longer claimed that the mormon prophet talks to God face-to-face? Is that what you’re saying?”

Just to be clear, do you mean to say:

1. “Yes, it is true that we no longer believe that the mormon prophet talks to Heavenly Father face-to-face” or
   2. "You’re supposition is incorrect. We still believe that the mormon prophet talks to Heavenly Father face-to-face"

The bolded #2.

If you don’t know what you believe about the basic nature of God, then what, if anything, do you claim to know?

We do claim knowledge of the basic nature of God, and many other subjects.

Of course they are. Is it in the nature of God that He was once a man, with a body, who was “exalted” to become a god or is He in no way like a man, being immaterial, infinite, and fully God from all eternity to all eternity? That doesn’t treat on the nature of God?

He was once a man – not a nature question, but a history one. Answer is unknown.
With a body, – is a nature question. Answer is yes, God has a Perfect body.
who was “exalted” to become a god – not a nature question, but a history one. Answer is unknown.
He in no way like a man – is a nature question. Answer is that He is Perfect, not like us sinful men.
being immaterial, – is a nature question. Answer is no.
infinite, , – is a nature question. Answer is yes.

God bless and have a nice day.

To you as well

 

[dcana]

The bolded #2.

We do claim knowledge of the basic nature of God, and many other subjects.

He was once a man – not a nature question, but a history one. Answer is unknown.
With a body, – is a nature question. Answer is yes, God has a Perfect body.
who was “exalted” to become a god – not a nature question, but a history one. Answer is unknown.
He in no way like a man – is a nature question. Answer is that He is Perfect, not like us sinful men.
being immaterial, – is a nature question. Answer is no.
infinite, , – is a nature question. Answer is yes.

To you as well

Infinite yet confined. I see.​

Here’s another one: where is “Heavenly Father” right now?

BTW, do you ever call God “The Heavenly Father” or only “Heavenly Father”?

 

[jane_doe]

Infinite yet confined. I see.

Incorrect. Infinite and not confined-- His reach/presence is everywhere.

Here’s another one: where is “Heavenly Father” right now?

You want a GPS coordinate??? What the???

BTW, do you ever call God “The Heavenly Father” or only “Heavenly Father”?

“Heavenly Father” is more personal. After all He’s MY Heavenly Father (and yours and everyone else’s).

 

[dcana]

You want a GPS coordinate??? What the???

Ha, ha! Sorry. To be more specific, do you believe he is within this universe or outside of it?

“Heavenly Father” is more personal. After all He’s MY Heavenly Father (and yours and everyone else’s).

That really doesn’t answer the question. When you speak of him in the third person, do you ever say, “the Heavenly Father”?

For example, would you ever say, “The Heavenly Father loves all people” or only “Heavenly Father loves all people?”

 

[zaffiroborant]

The bolded #2.

We do claim knowledge of the basic nature of God, and many other subjects.

He was once a man – not a nature question, but a history one. Answer is unknown.
With a body, – is a nature question. Answer is yes, God has a Perfect body.
who was “exalted” to become a god – not a nature question, but a history one. Answer is unknown.
He in no way like a man – is a nature question. Answer is that He is Perfect, not like us sinful men.
being immaterial, – is a nature question. Answer is no.
infinite, , – is a nature question. Answer is yes.

To you as well

Of course it a question about nature, is the nature of god something eternal or is it an achievement, a position earned through effort and accomplishment. Is “godhood” an intrinsic quality or is an office/position.

 

[IgnatianPhilo]

It sets up a false principle. Prayer is not a means of testing God to determine if he is true. It is a means of expressing sincere faith in the God who has revealed himself to that individual. On principle praying to a lesser entity like the Mormon God as opposed to the Christian God who is eternally, loving, powerful, intelligent and glorious, makes no sense to me. Prayer isn’t a toy.