I
iwonder
Guest
Good heavens, how extraordinary. Spirit brothers. And what in the world is eternal progression?
- Status
I
iwonder
Guest
Okay I read this blog. It is not helpful.Could someone please explain eternal progression? And could someone please tell me, see my previous posts, was Joseph Smith baptized in any Christian religion using a Trinitarian formula before he had all of these visions? I kind of think I know what the answer is here, but I would like to be sure.
Once when I was a teenager we drove across country. We stayed in a motel on the Utah border which had of course the Book of Mormon in the drawer. (In Utah, you don’t get a gideon bible in the drawer). I started reading it and got as far as I did in the third paragraph of this blog. I have never read anything that made so little sense to me I found it alarming. And is this blog itself for real?
I
itsjustdave1988
Guest
Paul G:
I don’t understand your question. The intent of the blog was to provide source texts in support of the Mormon doctrine of eternal progression, which is often denied by LDS today, but was part of LDS doctrine years ago, starting with Joseph Smith.
I work with an LDS bishop who confirms that my understanding of eternal progression is not incorrect.
Eternal progression, as I understand it and he confirmed as taught by LDS is that …
Do you know of an LDS source which better explains eternal progression than the BYU FAQ website? Surely there’s been much written about Joseph Smith’s “King Follet’s Discourse” which can succinctly explain the official LDS view of this teaching, no?
Paul,
I don’t understand your question. The intent of the blog was to provide source texts in support of the Mormon doctrine of eternal progression, which is often denied by LDS today, but was part of LDS doctrine years ago, starting with Joseph Smith.
I work with an LDS bishop who confirms that my understanding of eternal progression is not incorrect.
Eternal progression, as I understand it and he confirmed as taught by LDS is that …
- God the Father was once a man of flesh and bones just like us.
- God the Father became a god (an exalted man)
- God the Father has a god of his own that he worships
- God the Father is still an exalted man of flesh and bones living on a planet near the celestial body called “Kolob,” where he rules our world.
- Mormons can become exalted men, just like God the Father, ruling their own world, be being good Mormons, to include pious participation in all the Mormon ordinances, including marriage to another pious Mormon spouse
- It is unknown how many exalted men-turned-gods there have been prior to God the Father
Do you know of an LDS source which better explains eternal progression than the BYU FAQ website? Surely there’s been much written about Joseph Smith’s “King Follet’s Discourse” which can succinctly explain the official LDS view of this teaching, no?
I
iwonder
Guest
You could go to the offical lds website in Salt Lake City and click on Doctrines and Convenants. Everything you posted as faith based is there as well. So I don’t understand why the Mormons on this forum are rejecting these things as articles of their faith.
B
BJ_Colbert
Guest
Iwonder and itsjustdave,
It is like the Bishop said the words are a bit different than we would use. We are not taught these things as everyday classwork and Kolob has hardly ever been mentioned except as a distant star near where the Father dwells, I believe it is mentioned once in the Pearl of Great Price. There are so many more important things to learn than that. It really has no bearing on anything.
As far as being our articles of faith, you know our articles of faith they are printed in the thread by one of your own called This is really scary, or something like that. Take a look, that is what we belief and the other things like gods, are just like your saints. Some may become gods(little g) most will not. You may become saints if you follow Jesus Christ to the best of your ability.
I learned about Kolob from one of your Catholic posters, as we do not make a big deal out of it and I had never heard of it in 62 years until I came to this forum, so that is how little we hear of it. Kind of like your Marian Doctrines or the book I quoted which was written by Christopher West the helper of the Archbishop of Denver. All of you jumped up and said what he said had no place in Catholic beliefs even though it was sanctioned by the Archbishop.
The view of God the Father is a little twisted, as is most of what you wrote. I have never heard the word pious used describing people who live the commandments of God. You know it is all in the wording, and your wording is made to look ridiculous and put emphasis on little things that we do not know for sure and do not speculate on.
I’m sorry, but you will not find many if any Mormons who know much about the things you are saying are our main beliefs, just because they aren’t. Now quote for me some of your Marian doctrine and tell me more about the Mary who walks around on the roof of the Cathedral in Egypt and has been seen by thousands of people. Tell me more about the comatose girl in New Hampshire that has blood and oil pouring or dripping off all the statues in her house. Tell me about the Mary under the freeway seen in the waterstain in Chicago and then tell me our beliefs are strange. Come on kids this is strange and bizarre to me and my beliefs are strange to you. That is why I am LDS and you are Catholic.
Just be happy and belief your own strange beliefs and let us believe our own strange beliefs. We are all children of God, and that is what is important. He has told us to love one another as He has loved us. These are the important things. The other things are just things that some people who have learned everything else there is to know about God, like to speculate on.
I myself have too many other things to learn before I start thinking about becoming a goddess or in your vernacular a saint? I am still concentrating on saying my prayers 2 or 3 times a day, on my knees and not just thinking in my mind as I drive. I am still trying to find time to read my scriptures at least once a day for a half hour or so. I am still trying to keep the Sabbath Day holy and not run in for a quart of milk or go to a restaurant with my family . I am still trying to live the commandments and follow Jesus Christ’s example to the best of my ability. When I have mastered all of those things and others, if I ever do, then maybe I will check out those other things that seem to worry all the Catholics. I really haven’t heard very much about those things except on your website. So they don’t concern me like they do you.
BJ
P
Paul_G
Guest
There is a difference between
Canon: which for us is the King James Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.
Official Proclamation: These hold almost as much authority as canon does. A recent proclamation is that on the family
Finally, there are those words or writings which are inspired, but not necessarily established as canonical doctrine. The King Follett discourse falls into this category and may indeed express opinions on some things which the Lord has not fully revealed the complete information on. These things are referred at times while teaching, but not the focus of things taught.
As to your comment, I will revisit the quoted site to evaluate if my opinions were in error. I will also comment on your list of statements when time permits.
Paul
I
itsjustdave1988
Guest
I disagree. What one teaches about God has much to do with everything. For me, theology is important. The tabernacle choir might sound great but if the theology is flawed, it’s not my cup of tea.
I’m a student of world religions and find other beliefs, variant as they are, rather facinating. To study religions comparatively, it’s important to understand how differing religions view God, the Godhead, their soteriology and ecclesiology. In studying other religions, its important to be clear about what is taught as official religious doctrine. That can be rather challenging in most world religions, as unlike Catholicism, there’s often not a source of sacerdotal unity that one can turn to to find out the official doctrine.
It appears to me that LDS and Catholics authentically differ with regard to who God is. That may not matter to you, but it will probably matter to many others. For a Catholic, God the Father was never a man of flesh and bones. He was never a created being. He is Eternal and unchanging Spirit. For Catholics, God the Father never worshipped another god, as he is the ONLY TRUE GOD. Ontologically speaking, there can be no other perfect omnipotent being who exists without potentiality.
With regard to the question in this thread, either LDS doctrine really profess these things, or it doesn’t. From my studies, it seems LDS really holds that God the Father was once a man who became exalted by his pious worship of HIS god, and is still literally flesh and bones living on another planet near Kolob where he reigns over our world. Futhermore, LDS doctrine professes that good Mormons can become as God the Father is, an exalted man ruling a word of their own. Those who study LDS theology ought to be aware these things, otherwise they lack a clear understanding of who the LDS god is, as well as the details of LDS soteriology.
I
itsjustdave1988
Guest
I’m less concerned about what the taught church recognizes as LDS doctrine, and more concerned about what your official LDS doctrines are, as presented by the teaching office of the LDS Chruch. For example,
Bringham Young:
“He [God] is our Father–the Father of our spirits, and was once a man in mortal flesh as we are, and is now an exalted being. It appears ridiculous to the world, under their darkened and erroneous traditions, that God has once been a finite being;” (Brigham Young in the Journal of Discourses, v. 7, p. 333)
Gordon B. Hinckley:
***On the other hand, the whole design of the gospel is to lead us onward and upward to greater achievement, even, eventually, to godhood. This great possibility was enunciated by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the King Follet sermon (see Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 342-62) and emphasized by President Lorenzo Snow. It is this grand and incomparable concept: As God now is, man may become! (See The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, comp. Clyde J. Williams, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1984, p. 1) Our enemies have criticized us for believing in this. Our reply is that this lofty concept in no way diminishes God the Eternal Father. *** (Conference Report, Oct. 1994)
I
itsjustdave1988
Guest
I understand. But, theology matters to me. “***It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God” ***(Joseph Smith).
According to Joseph Smith, “***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” ***(King Follet’s Discourse)
On the contrary, according to Joseph Smith, “I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity” (Moroni 8:18);
“For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today and forever and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing? And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles” (Mormon 9:9-10).
When I inquire into the character of God, either God is unchageable from all eternity to all eternity, or he was once a man and NOT God from all eternity. I believe the former, not the latter.
I
iwonder
Guest
Chris-WA said:
Specifics here: Catholics believe angels are pure spirit.
I
iwonder
Guest
I have a question. If God began as man, who created him? For if the Divine creator was not God at first but man, and became God later, he would be a completely non existent god and man. For he would have no creator, right?
F
flameburns623
Guest
The first question has been addressed. The second might be more clear if you look at what LDS Scriptures teach about the fall of Lucifer:
http://scriptures.lds.org/themes/graphics/spacer.gif
Hope this helps!
M
marcadam
Guest
I assume you were joking, but for those who missed the sarcasm: no. Note that I wrote it isn’t appropriately called sex, “if they are not pursued to or with the intention of achieving orgasm.” The evidence is that that was precisely Bill’s intention and act.
Even if it wasn’t, that kind of intimacy is highly inappropriate for an unmarried couple. Still, Bill would have only been evasive rather than perjurous in the aforementioned statement had orgasm not been his intention or act.
This discussion would be better in the moral theology forum, anyway.
I
itsjustdave1988
Guest
As I understand it, LDS doctrine is that God the Father was created by the Father and Mother of His Spirit.
When I asked the LDS bishop what started the whole process of eternal progression, he indicated that had yet to be revealed.
P
Paul_G
Guest
There has been much speculation by both LDS and others in regards to President Smith and Snows remarks. However, we do not know anything substantial about our Father in Heavens origins beyond the time of this creation. None of their remarks are part of official LDS doctrines. These remarks were presented as part of a eulogy for a friend, the other as an answerer to a sincere prayer
I’m not saying that what they said is not how it actually is. Paul said in 1 Corinthians “we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”
We don’t know everything, it is not expedient that we know every thing, but a time is coming when we shall know the truth of all things. Some things I’m willing to allow and not discard out of hand just yet.
Paul
I
iwonder
Guest
So these would be two gods or two humans? If they are two gods, then they must be of the infinite and eternal quality, right? And if two humans- we are back where we started which happens a lot to Catholics trying to understand this: how does a finite being produce an infinite God? the Mormon site definately states that God was man first, (which would be finite) then became God. So when the Father and Mother of his spirit created him, did they create him first as spirit or as man? Wow, I’m sorry, this is so incredibly opposite everything Catholics believe- it’s almost as if someone sat down with 2000 years of the Catholic Church and wrote it deliberately in opposite terms. It’s just wierd to me. I’m not trying to insult anyone here. It’s just that, I’ve had several people here in town since I got on the forum tell me the same thing- they tried to read the Book of Mormon given to them at the door and it was impossible. It was to anti to all they knew.
M
marcadam
Guest
BJ, I appreciate your sincerity and zeal, you truly seem to have a great capacity for faith, but there are some misconceptions that we must clear up.
BJ Colbert:
Would any random Catholic be able to spout info like that? Not necessarily, but that isn’t the point. The point is that the clear, consistent teaching of the Church exists and is available to anyone that wants to study it further, Catholic and non-Catholic alike.
But these miracles and apparations which add nothing to the teaching of the Church cannot be equated to the revelations of Joseph Smith which are in fact binding on faithful Mormons, and do add materially to the teachings of the Mormon church. They are essentially different things.
You seem like a good person who is really trying to live a good life, BJ. Please believe that I don’t want to discourage you in that in any way. My goal, the goal of everyone here is to point you deeper into your faith, maybe get you to question what is there. Most of us Catholics here have gone through that, and our continuing study leaves us only more convicted. You and other Mormons I talk to seem to disparage study, almost as if you are afraid of what you will find, and instead you search for esoteric and subjective experiences of faith that in the end show you nothing if you have nothing against which to judge them.
You have only the Truth to discover. Why are you so afraid to look for it?
BJ Colbert:
The problem is that it does. It must: if it didn’t, why would it be promulgated? The fact is, these things all affect the largest questions of man about the nature of the universe in which we live, the reason for our existence.
I understand your frustration with this discussion, but please do not drop to the level of pretending to understand something you do not. Let me state this clearly: there is no relationship whatsoever between Mormon godship and Christian (Catholic) sainthood. Neither in how they are acheived, nor in their state, and most especially not in meaning.
If they did, they did so in error. As I wrote here, what West wrote was completely orthodox.
But this is just the problem. This is the kind of runaround people with sincere questions get. Look around this forum at all the folks who left the LDS because they couldn’t get a straight answer to their questions. They dug deeper into their faith out of a sincere desire to know it as well as they could and hit a rock that said “none shall pass.” That should be troubling to anyone.
She was immaculately conceived, and she was assumed into heaven (though some differ as to whether she died or only “fell asleep” beforehand). She is the mediatrix of all grace (which, by the way, subtracts nothing from Christ as the source of all grace).
Would any random Catholic be able to spout info like that? Not necessarily, but that isn’t the point. The point is that the clear, consistent teaching of the Church exists and is available to anyone that wants to study it further, Catholic and non-Catholic alike.
That private revelations such as thes eare not binding on the faithful. There have been thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of Marian apparitions over the last 150 years. The Church has only definitively declared a relative handful (e.g., Fatima, Guadalupe, Lourdes) to be miracles, but even so belief in those is not binding on the faithful.
But these miracles and apparations which add nothing to the teaching of the Church cannot be equated to the revelations of Joseph Smith which are in fact binding on faithful Mormons, and do add materially to the teachings of the Mormon church. They are essentially different things.
We’re not looking for strangeness, only Truth. For all out strangeness, you can’t beat the Incarnation itself. But in the end “strangeness” is purely subjective. What we’re after is the objective truth.
But all these things inform each other. Your teleology informs your Christology which informs your moral theology, etc., etc., etc. If you’re in error about one, how can you be sure that you’ve interpreted “loving one another as he has loved us” correctly, that we’re living it out in a way that is pleasing to HIm?
Again for emphasis, Not the Same Thing.
You seem like a good person who is really trying to live a good life, BJ. Please believe that I don’t want to discourage you in that in any way. My goal, the goal of everyone here is to point you deeper into your faith, maybe get you to question what is there. Most of us Catholics here have gone through that, and our continuing study leaves us only more convicted. You and other Mormons I talk to seem to disparage study, almost as if you are afraid of what you will find, and instead you search for esoteric and subjective experiences of faith that in the end show you nothing if you have nothing against which to judge them.
You have only the Truth to discover. Why are you so afraid to look for it?
B
BJ_Colbert
Guest
Marc, You have a very good thought process, and I appreciate your study on these things. But, I just think that of all the 4 basic works of our church, to pick one sentence in one book that mentions a star very near to heaven where God dwells, is picking one minute detail out of so many more important points to learn about. There is nothing more to say about Kolob. Pick any star and say all you can about it. I for one could not give any more detail than it is a star. A star is like our sun a ball of fire, no one can dwell on it. But, we can dwell near it, and since the universe is so huge, and there are many universes just like ours, who is to say where Kolob is and where God dwells? I just don’t see the point in making such a big deal out of it, anymore than you make a huge deal out of certain things in your religion. Each individual puts their own spin on things and I am speaking from my mind’s understanding, not from books or official church teachings. To my knowledge the LDS church has never expounded any more on Kolob and I do not understand the fascination that it holds for Catholics or anti-Mormons. There are so many more important things to dwell on.
To me the meat is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and his commandments. The rest is just speculation and I do not have time to speculate, as I barely have time to do my daily scripture reading, and study the standard works. Kolob is just not anything important to me.
If I wanted to pick out things in your Church that are inconsistant with your belief, I definitely could do it, but I prefer to believe that your faith in God is the important thing in the whole scheme of things and this nit picking of one sentence in 4 books is pretty strange to me. BJ
To me the meat is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and his commandments. The rest is just speculation and I do not have time to speculate, as I barely have time to do my daily scripture reading, and study the standard works. Kolob is just not anything important to me.
If I wanted to pick out things in your Church that are inconsistant with your belief, I definitely could do it, but I prefer to believe that your faith in God is the important thing in the whole scheme of things and this nit picking of one sentence in 4 books is pretty strange to me.
BJ
C
Casen
Guest
RE: But this is just the problem. This is the kind of runaround people with sincere questions get. Look around this forum at all the folks who left the LDS because they couldn’t get a straight answer to their questions. They dug deeper into their faith out of a sincere desire to know it as well as they could and hit a rock that said “none shall pass.” That should be troubling to anyone.
Marc,
I don’t agree with this statement. Our canonized scriptures tell us we can become “like” God and D&C section 76 says the following:
50 And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—
51 They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—
52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
53 And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.
54 They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.
55 They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—
56 They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;
57 And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.
58 Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—
59 Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
60 And they shall overcome all things.
61 Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet.
62 These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.
63 These are they whom he shall bring with him, when he shall come in the clouds of heaven to reign on the earth over his people.
64 These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection.
65 These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just.
66 These are they who are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all.
67 These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn.
68 These are they whose names are written in heaven, where God and Christ are the judge of all.
69 These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood.
70 These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:50 - 70)
This is our official doctrine and considered a revelation from God through his prophet. But there are many questions that members have regarding these verses and men in church leadership have shared their thoughts and opinions, speculated, and pondered upon these verses, but their writings are not official doctrine; they are not considered “revelations” from God.
The fact that some of their writings and thoughts on what it means to become a god (little g) have worked their way into the LDS culture and belief system doesn’t change the fact that God hasn’t chosen to reveal more about these things to us and leadership speculation, even if believed by many or even most members is not recognized as official doctrine. We believe the heavens are open and God could send our prophet another revelation on this topic at any time to clarify these things, but to date He has chosen not to.
I don’t understand why you find it troubling that we don’t have all the answers. If I ask ten Catholics what heaven will be like I will likely get ten answers. Should I find that troubling? I don’t think so. It only means that God has not chosen to reveal to us all the details and people form their own opinions to fill in the holes.
Does LDS doctrine say righteous people will be given a planet to run when they die?
NO
Have some speculated that that could be the case?
Yes
Have I EVER in my whole life ever heard a church sermon, conference talk or lesson on this topic?
NO!
But I have heard countless talks, lessons and sermons regarding Christ and his wonderful Atonement and how we should live our lives as Christians. We really don’t spend much time at all worrying about the next life.
Marc,
I don’t agree with this statement. Our canonized scriptures tell us we can become “like” God and D&C section 76 says the following:
50 And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—
51 They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—
52 That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
53 And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.
54 They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.
55 They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—
56 They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;
57 And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.
58 Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God—
59 Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
60 And they shall overcome all things.
61 Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet.
62 These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.
63 These are they whom he shall bring with him, when he shall come in the clouds of heaven to reign on the earth over his people.
64 These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection.
65 These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just.
66 These are they who are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all.
67 These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn.
68 These are they whose names are written in heaven, where God and Christ are the judge of all.
69 These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood.
70 These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 76:50 - 70)
This is our official doctrine and considered a revelation from God through his prophet. But there are many questions that members have regarding these verses and men in church leadership have shared their thoughts and opinions, speculated, and pondered upon these verses, but their writings are not official doctrine; they are not considered “revelations” from God.
The fact that some of their writings and thoughts on what it means to become a god (little g) have worked their way into the LDS culture and belief system doesn’t change the fact that God hasn’t chosen to reveal more about these things to us and leadership speculation, even if believed by many or even most members is not recognized as official doctrine. We believe the heavens are open and God could send our prophet another revelation on this topic at any time to clarify these things, but to date He has chosen not to.
I don’t understand why you find it troubling that we don’t have all the answers. If I ask ten Catholics what heaven will be like I will likely get ten answers. Should I find that troubling? I don’t think so. It only means that God has not chosen to reveal to us all the details and people form their own opinions to fill in the holes.
Does LDS doctrine say righteous people will be given a planet to run when they die?
NO
Have some speculated that that could be the case?
Yes
Have I EVER in my whole life ever heard a church sermon, conference talk or lesson on this topic?
NO!
But I have heard countless talks, lessons and sermons regarding Christ and his wonderful Atonement and how we should live our lives as Christians. We really don’t spend much time at all worrying about the next life.
B
BJ_Colbert
Guest
Code:
agree it is anti- to all you know, but to me it is a lot like the Bible and the story is very fascinating about how Lehi and his sons and family came from Jerusalem to the New World, somewhere around Guatemala or at least Central America, we believe. They settled and came acrossed other tribes who had come from the asian continent(we know now)as they explored and moved about. The other group came across later and settled in South America somewhere. Since I have explored the ruins and lived in Central America off and on since 1980, it is incredible to me to picture it all as I know it. My grandchildren find the stories just as exciting as their bible stories, and have some of the characters memorized, just as they do Moses and David and the prophets of the Bible.As far as your interpretation of who we think God is, it is very much like the Catholic interpretation which is that part of it is a mystery and has not been revealed yet. Some have speculated and said if we have a Father in Heaven, it stands to reason there must be a Mother, but as far as I know it is not known as fact.
As you know by now, I speak from what I personally know, and that is not to say that other LDS do not understand it differently than I do. Just as all Catholics do not interpret or understand things in the same way. It really has no effect on the total picture which is that the God we worship is the only God, so He has to be the same as the God you worship. There is no other God in existence. It is just different understanding of who He is and how He manifests Himself. Your church took 400 years of study to come to what they believe is who God is. Don’t you think that leaves something to wonder, if their interpretation is correct then why did it take so long to come to the conclusion they came to? We must allow all people to worship how, what and where they may. It only stands to reason billions of people are not going to ever come to the same conclusions and beliefs. So just discuss with good humor and do not hold your views as the only view possible.
BJ- Status