Mother God?

[rafaelcatolico]

I recently had an fruitful conversation with a mormon friend of mine about hte differences and similirities of our abismally different religions. With the hope to better understand each other and bridge gaps between us.
We started discussing the trinity and I explained to her what Catholics believe and she in turn explained the differences of the Mormon beliefs. In any event we took turn explaining ourselves to each other and I was actually feeling I could finally understand (not accept) but understand the mormon faith, until she started to metion “The Heavenly Mother” She said that the God of this earth is MARRIED and the female God is our Heavenly mother, however she is so sacred she cannot be even spoken of!!! this spurred on some questions which i hope are clearified for me on this forum!

1.do mormorns believe God is married?
2. do mormons believe in a heavenly mother?
3.do mormons believe they will once be gods themselves?
4.if #3 is true do mormons concider themselves higher beings than the rest of us or even Christ for that matter!?
5.If mormons are working to become Gods, why do they need salvation?
6. will they be worshiped as gods? if so where?
7.isn’t the belief in multiple gods prohibited in the Holy Bible?
8. was the god of this earth once a common mormon man?
9. Why is Christ fundamental in the LDS church ?

These questions are not ment to offend anyone, this is just what i have been told by friends. All I want is documented clarification.

Thanks.

 

[Lion_of_Narnia]

1.do mormorns believe God is married?
2. do mormons believe in a heavenly mother?
3.do mormons believe they will once be gods themselves?
4.if #3 is true do mormons concider themselves higher beings than the rest of us or even Christ for that matter!?
5.If mormons are working to become Gods, why do they need salvation?
6. will they be worshiped as gods? if so where?
7.isn’t the belief in multiple gods prohibited in the Holy Bible?
8. was the god of this earth once a common mormon man?
9. Why is Christ fundamental in the LDS church ?

Thanks.

1. Yes: to multiple (thousands?) of wives
2. Yes, but they’re forbidden to pray to her
3. Yes, if they are devout, “temple recomnd” mormons

…more

 

[Lion_of_Narnia]

4.if #3 is true do mormons concider themselves higher beings than the rest of us or even Christ for that matter!?
5.If mormons are working to become Gods, why do they need salvation?
6. will they be worshiped as gods? if so where?
7.isn’t the belief in multiple gods prohibited in the Holy Bible?
8. was the god of this earth once a common mormon man?
9. Why is Christ fundamental in the LDS church ?

quote]
4) Most Mormons are better people than their theology–however the “promise” of godhood to devout,faithfull, and obedient mormons can be a powerful incentive against rationally examning the tenants and history of their religion
5) Mormon salvation theory (sotierology?) is weak–essentiually its a “salvation by works” with little examination of Christ’s Sacrifice (they actually say the Redemption occured at Gethseneme NOT at Calvary–hence one reason they do not use the cross in their iconography)
6) If they make the grade, Mormons with in the highest heaven gain the power to create worlds of their own, to engender (through godly sex) spirit children through their MANY goddess wives, who will later be incarnated into physical bodies to start the entire process all over again
7) Yep
8) Also yes–a man who sinned, repented, lived the “mormon gospel” on his world faithfuly, and eventually was promoted (“exaulted”) to godhood
9) very good question–I don’t have a good answer for that because by the scheme of mormon theology, they don’t either

 

[JessicaCeleste]

1.Absolutely! We don’t hear much about Heavenly Mother because, well, it’s a very pagan belief. I didn’t find out until AFTER I left the church that they believed about HM

1. The ones I know do.

3.If they are true and faithful Mormons, do the temple rituals, fast, tithe, do good works, follow all the “rules”, then yes.

4.Hmm…I don’t think so. When I was LDS I understood it to be more of a “Partnership” with Jesus and other “gods in the making”

5.Lion of Narnia is right - their salvation theory is very weak. According to the Mormons, the Atonement in the Garden of Gethsemene took care of everything.

1. Again, Lion’s got it right. They must have reached the highest level of heaven, the Celestial Kingdom, where they will have multiple wives (men as many as they want, women 2 husbands), and have lots of Spirit Children. They will become the recipient of their own world to rule over and be worshipped by it’s inhabitants.

7.YES!

1. The Mormons don’t know for sure, but it is generally thought that perhaps that is the case. At least in my experience in the Church. There is a quote by Lorenzo Snow that every LDS knows…“As Man is, God once was. As God is, Man shall become.”
2. Some would argue that it is not Jesus Christ that is the focus of the church, but rather Joseph Smith. It was amazing being LDS, every Christmas and Easter practically all we talked about was Smith and his Adventures In Mormonism, as opposed to Christ. How sad.

The topic of Mormonism is one that gets discussed often here. I recommend doing a topic search if you have more questions.

Jess

 

[Allweather]

1. Some would argue that it is not Jesus Christ that is the focus of the church, but rather Joseph Smith. It was amazing being LDS, every Christmas and Easter practically all we talked about was Smith and his Adventures In Mormonism, as opposed to Christ. How sad.
   Jess

I’ve just started reading *An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins *by Grant H. Palmer. Before I started, I googled Mr. Palmer to get a feel for where he’s coming from. One link I found was to a rather lengthy radio interview he did. I read most of the transcript, and in it, he said several times that he regrets that the LDS church doesn’t focus on Jesus.

While I am no expert, I have been to Mormon church a handful of times, and this has been my almost immediate impression, each time I attended. I can’t say I ever heard the name Jesus, but did often hear the names Joseph Smith and Gordon B. Hinckley.

This has an ominous meaning for me, since I came out from a Protestant tradition in which Jesus is never far from the lips of every believer, and now, the Catholic liturgy, which positively oozes Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There’s something about that name!

 

[Auriel]

1. Most Mormons are better people than their theology–however the “promise” of godhood to devout,faithfull, and obedient mormons can be a powerful incentive against rationally examning the tenants and history of their religion
2. Mormon salvation theory (sotierology?) is weak–essentiually its a “salvation by works” with little examination of Christ’s Sacrifice (they actually say the Redemption occured at Gethseneme NOT at Calvary–hence one reason they do not use the cross in their iconography)
3. If they make the grade, Mormons with in the highest heaven gain the power to create worlds of their own, to engender (through godly sex) spirit children through their MANY goddess wives, who will later be incarnated into physical bodies to start the entire process all over again
4. Yep
5. Also yes–a man who sinned, repented, lived the “mormon gospel” on his world faithfuly, and eventually was promoted (“exaulted”) to godhood
6. very good question–I don’t have a good answer for that because by the scheme of mormon theology, they don’t either

WOW, I did not know that! Number 6 is wild to me. Sounds very much like The "moon child " concept.

 

[PaulDupre]

I’d like to expand on number 5 a bit. As an ex-Mormon who as a missionary taught the ‘I’ discussion many times, I recall the LDS understanding of Jesus’ role in Mormonism. To the Mormons, Jesus performed three important functions as savior:

1. He took on himself the punishment for our sins. As a god, and as one who never sinned and could have chosen to be immortal, he was able to satisfy the Father’s demand for justice and enable the Father to extend mercy on condition of our sincere repentance. Without Jesus, repentance would be worthless. The Mormons believe this atonement took place not on the cross, but in the Garden of Gethsemene. It is true that Mormons believe that works (as obedience to the Mormon church) are necessary for salvation, but they acknowledge that without Jesus’ atonement, their works would be of no avail.
2. He chose to die on the cross and was resurrected, thereby destroying death and making our resurrection possible (and also inevitable).
3. He left us his teachings and an example of perfect humility, charity and obedience.

Most devout Mormons, if you ask them about Jesus as their savior, will tell you these things. If you ask them why they rarely speak of him in their meetings (except ending their prayers in his name) or in their literature, they will likely not be able to give you an answer. I find that many Mormons are uncomfortable talking about Jesus or saying his name…

As others have said, they focus much more on Joseph Smith than on Jesus. I believe the reason for this is that most of their most important beliefs were “revealed” not by Jesus, but by Joseph Smith. Without the teachings exclusive to Joseph Smith, Mormonism is just a rehash of Protestantism. To Mormons, Jesus is their literal elder brother who did them a profound and unique favor but is, after all, just their brother and not their God.

God bless,
Paul

 

[PeterL]

Having been a protestant converted to Mormonism 35 years ago I can tell you that Mormons see the world much differently than mainstream Christianity. However, they see absolutely no discrepancy between their doctrine and what they feel is the intent of the bible.

If you understand what kind of glasses Mormons see the world through, you may understand why they think that way.

Mormons believe that we all lived as litteral spirit children of a loving father in heaven before the earth was created. We believe that God provided this earthlife as a way to become more like him. Satan was one of those spirit children who rebelled and was cast out with many who followed after him. They now reside in the spirit world here upon this earth and will never receive physical bodies. Their rebellion is so complete that they will never repent and therefore choose not to return to God.

This earth and all of it’s associations is patterened after heaven. Values and organizations such as family, work, love, faith, hope, sacrifice, service, honesty, freedom of choice, joy, etc. are all patterened after the kind of life God lives. However, his life is perfect. Earthlife provides opportunity to grow in an environment that causes us to grow in strength of character as we progress to becoming like God.

Eternity is a long time and those who follow Christ will continue to grow and progress beyond the grave. Those who do not accept the responsibilites placed upon us will be limited in their progress after this life.

Mormons assume that since family can be eternal that God must also be married. SInce God is our father, he also has a body of flesh and bone but in a perfected state. Jesus Christ was his first born and is so perfectly obdient to Gods will that he is considered one with God. Christ prayed that we may become one as they are.

Mormons believe that all things and power were given to the son. Christ therefore was the creator of the earth, and as Jehovah, was the God of the old testament. He worked out the atonement and will be our judge. No one comes to the father accept they go through Christ. He is considered a God.

God wants all of this children to return and has a plan to accomplish that if we choose. This plan involves preaching the gospel in it’s fulness in the spirit world to those who have died without learning of the gospel or not understanding it sufficiently to make a choice. Essential ordinances such as baptism will be performed on this earth by proxy.

Mormons do not believe that God is magical but infinitely intelligent and works within certain natural bounds. The earth was organized out of existing matter. Also, the nature of God is such that he cannot sin. He cannot lie. He can be trusted. Not like us who live in a fallen world and whose natures are fallen. Justice will be served but because of the atonement, God can be infinitely merciful also.