However, the intelligence that was Christ was greater than the intelligence that was you or I. We, LDS, have numerous statements referencing Christ as eternal and as Alpha and Omega. I think that we, LDS, should not jump to statements of Christ having a point of not existing, per se.
The intelligence of Christ being greater than all other intelligences still does not demonstrate that the Godhead has eternally existed as the eternal unity of 3 Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. I don’t believe anyone ever claimed that in LDS belief there was a point where Jesus completely did not exist in any sense (I always referenced the intelligences). However, the very clear difference between the orthodox Trinity and the LDS Godhead is that there indeed
was a time where Christ, the Holy Ghost, Lucifer, and all of us had to be spiritually begotten of the Father and Heavenly Mother, with Jehovah/Christ being the literal firstborn Son. Both Jehovah and Lucifer wanted to be the Savior, with Jehovah ultimately being chosen and Lucifer being cast out after the war in Heaven. They then came together and entered into an everlasting covenant,
forming the Godhead, as Joseph Smith taught. So again, this clearly diverges from the orthodox understanding of the Trinity being an eternal unity of three distinct Persons, who have always existed in this unity, and that it is the nature of God to eternally exist as three distinct Persons. I’m sorry, but this simply is not the LDS belief, whether or not we accept that Christ, as we all have, existed eternally in some sense (which is not understood) as an intelligence, prior to being begotten by the Father and Mother, as we all were.
Also, I’m not sure if LDS and orthodox Christians understand “alpha and omega” in the same way:
lds.org/scriptures/gs/alpha-and-omega?lang=eng
**
Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet; Omega is the last. They are also names given to Jesus Christ and are used as symbols to show that Christ is both the beginning and the end of all creation (Rev. 1:8; D&C 19:1).**
eom.byu.edu/index.php/Jesus_Christ,_Names_and_Titles_of
ALPHA AND OMEGA. Equivalent to the Old Testament term “the first and the last” (e.g., Isa. 44:6), alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Just as no letters stand before alpha or after omega, so there are no other gods in this creation other than that represented in Jesus Christ. He encompasses all, from beginning to end; he extends beyond all extremities and categories.
(what does it mean that there are no other gods in
this creation other than that “represented” in Jesus Christ?)
en.fairmormon.org/Jesus_Christ/Alpha_and_Omega
**Jesus Christ is the beginning because he created the earth; he is the end because he is our advocate with the Father at the final judgment.
Modern Christians—who have inherited the Greek worldview as interpreted by the Protestant reformers—use a select set of Bible verses to enforce this interpretation. To them, the “Alpha and Omega” passages in Revelation indicate that Jesus was uncreated and existing from all eternity in a triune form (three persons, but one God).**
(seems as if the FAIR LDS apologists also reject the orthodox understanding of “alpha and omega” as meaning Christ was uncreated and existed from all eternity. This goes along with what I’ve been saying, that in some sense, Christ, as we all were, was spiritually created (noting that LDS believe that creation occurs from pre-existing matter, not ex nihilo, and in this case the matter would include the pre-existing, uncreated intelligence))
Yes, there are clear differences, but there are also clear similarities between the two concepts IMO. I think that LDS are so indoctrinated in denying the Trinity that too often we do not look at the similarities. Trinitarianism has origins in great Christian theologians, who studied the scriptures and the ECF’s deeply. While we may not agree with the conclusions reached, and even be at odds with the final statement thereof, we should respect their position and try to learn what we can from it.
Really the only similarity I see is that both believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not each other. Modalism is rejected.
But I do think that both sides could understand each other better. Far too often, I see that LDS confuse the orthodox Trinity with Modalism. I have many LDS apologetic books, you know, the kind attempting to prove LDS belief by referencing the Early Church Fathers, or “Biblical Mormonism”, attempting to prove the apostasy and restoration of true beliefs and practices. 9/10, when talking about the Godhead vs Trinity, will ask the usual questions like “did Christ pray to Himself?”, “Christ’s baptism clearly shows that they are separate and distinct beings”, etc. This even happens in General Conference. Elder Holland, from what I remember, in the past few years gave a talk, I think it was called “The Only True God and the Son He Sent” or something like that, where he clearly misunderstands the Trinity, and confuses it with Modalism. In this very thread, we see a LDS poster doing the same thing, attempting to use proof texts to prove the LDS view, when orthodox Christians would use the same verses to show that they really are distinct persons who are not each other. So, I think there definitely needs to be more understanding, especially of the specific definitions and understandings used in the Trinity doctrine, as well as clearly understanding LDS thought on the Godhead, and that’s what I’ve attempted to give in this thread.