LDS: Satan says "I am also a son of God"?

[Catholic_Dude]

The idea that Satan is a brother of Christ (and our brother) seems to me to be overemphasized by non-Mormons. Mormons believe that all of us always existed as intelligence. A process occurred in which these intelligences became spirits (most Mormons seem to believe this involved some sort of co-creation by a Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother of these spirits). Many Mormons seem to believe that Christ was already a God even as an intelligence. All of this Mormon theology seems to be highly speculative and even Mormon authorities seem to have different interpretations of it. See for example:

search.ldslibrary.com/1109730

Mormons simply do not see the difference between angels and humans except for the fact that some angels who followed Satan did not get to have the physical body we have. So it is entirely possible in Mormon theology that Christ could have existed as a God prior to receiving a spirit body while at the same time becoming a pre-existing human at a later point almost as if he had two incarnations – one as a Spirit body and one as a human body even though he always existed as a God as an eternal intelligence. It all gets really confusing and is unsettled in Mormon doctrine. There is no ontological difference between Gods and humans in Mormon doctrine – Gods have only progressed further than we humans have.

Our Catholic understanding of God is much more settled than the Mormon understanding of God and makes much more sense than the Mormon understanding of God. Their attempt to answer questions about God have only confused them more.

Its hard not to emphasize it because its in direct conflict with the Christian understanding of God. I understand the way they answer the question is by claiming the “pre-existing intelligence” doctrine, but as has already be shown in this thread this doctrine leads to more complexity/confusion instead of resolving the issue.
In the lds link you provided:The word “intelligences” (plural) occurs frequently in LDS literature, having reference to the period of the premortal existence of mankind. The term has received two interpretations by writers within the Church: as the literal spirit children of Heavenly Parents and as individual entities existing prior to their spirit birth. Because latter-day revelation has not clarified the meaning of the term, a more precise interpretation is not possible at present.
Given the above two definitions I see some major problems:
-First definition means Jesus and Satan literally are brothers, Jesus is simply a child of a higher rank or something (eldest?). In regards to Jesus being A god while the other brothers/children (eg Satan) are not I dont know how you explain.
-Second definition is even more confusing, if they believe in “spirit birth” how can something/someone exist PRIOR to “spirit birth”?
The next quote I saw:The Prophet Joseph Smith spoke of intelligences as follows: "God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself.
I dont see how they resolve any definitions here, especially what “intelligence” means…is “intelligence” a state of existance (as opposed to “spirit” existance or human exisitance) or is it a quality of a “spirit”? It says God saw “spirits” around him but was “more intelligent” than them, from this quote I assume “intelligence” corresponds to a quality in a spirit and/or level or glorification of a spirit.

I agree with what you said this is unresolved and very confusing.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

Mormon theology has never been what led me to believe Mormonism was false. If I believed the Mormon scriptures were truly inspired by God I would believe Mormon theology. Once I came to understand the Book of Mormon was completely false and that other Mormon scriptures couldn’t hold water, I had to abandon Mormon theology.

The THEOLOGY wasnt the critical factor??? How can you determine the BoM is false apart from theology?

 

[christianley]

The THEOLOGY wasnt the critical factor??? How can you determine the BoM is false apart from theology?

First of all, the Book of Mormon is generally in agreement with traditional Christianity. The only really big difference is that it is against infant baptism.

You determine the Book of Mormon is false simply by comparing it to what we know about ancient American history. The Book of Mormon claims that Hebrews settled America and created this huge American Hebrew civilization which followed Jesus. It claims that America was set apart as a special land for those who followed Christ. Unfortunately for Mormons, there is no evidence that any Hebrews ever came to America. None, zip, nada. All of the evidence shows that Ancient Americans are descendents of Siberians. Lately, DNA studies have confirmed what scientists already had determined through archaeology. So we can determine the Book of Mormon is false because it has no relation to anything in the ground.

Now let’s say scientists had determined that indeed the Ancient Americans descended from a Hebrew population. Then I would have to take the Book of Mormon more seriously. mtDNA studies on an African tribe proved their claim they were descendents of Hebrews, and the state of Israel has accepted this African tribe as having a claim to settle in Israel. The same will never be shown for ancient Americans so the Book of Mormon is a proven fraud.

If the Book of Mormon had verified Joseph’s claims to be a prophet, I would be inclined to believe his theology. It hasn’t.