mmmcounts Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Aside from God the Father (Heavenly Father), what deities are there to talk about?
LDS Guy 1986 Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Aside from God the Father (Heavenly Father), what deities are there to talk about?None, God the Father is the the one true God. We believe that there is other gods, we even believe that Heavenly Father has a Heavenly Father (who is unnamed). But for our worship there is only one God, our Heavenly Father.
mmmcounts Posted February 9, 2011 Author Posted February 9, 2011 None, God the Father is the the one true God. We believe that there is other gods, we even believe that Heavenly Father has a Heavenly Father (who is unnamed). But for our worship there is only one God, our Heavenly Father.My intention was to ask what deities there are to talk about, not what deities are worshiped.
mmmcounts Posted February 9, 2011 Author Posted February 9, 2011 It'd be a reeeeaaaal short thread if the only thing I wanted to ask was which deities you worship.
thesometimesaint Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 mmmcounts:We are monotheistic in beliefs. Not as strict as Muslims or the modern Jews. We are like Paul described. 1 Corinthian 8:5-65. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
todd520 Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 It'd be a reeeeaaaal short thread if the only thing I wanted to ask was which deities you worship.As explained we worship God the FatherWe also believe in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as separate beings.Then, when you consider the teachings of Exaltation or Theosis, the number of possible deities rises astronomically for all Christians.Well, at least for Catholics and other denominations that believe in Theosis.
mmmcounts Posted February 9, 2011 Author Posted February 9, 2011 mmmcounts:We are monotheistic in beliefs. Not as strict as Muslims or the modern Jews. We are like Paul described. 1 Corinthian 8:5-65. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.Many people (including a few of the LDS missionaries I've talked to on mormon.org) cite the LDS description of the Godhead as henotheistic, along with the perpetual line of God-Fathers and Mothers where each begets the next. Why shouldn't the LDS description of the Trinity be regarded as henotheistic, and why shouldn't Heavenly Father's heavenly father and mother count as deities? Notice I was careful to say "deity" rather than "god."
Questing Beast Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Yep, the Paternoster concept: THREE manifestations of the ONE God. The RCC theology is the closest to recognizing the infinite nature of God. God has manifested as the Trinity to illustrate the reality of God's infinity. That revelation is sufficient for the Church, for doctrine. But it is NOT the final word on the subject. Catholic mystics have sought for thousands of years to understand God's FULL/TOTAL nature; which, of course, is impossible for a finite mind. But you can't fault a mystic for wanting to try ....
thesometimesaint Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 mmmcounts:Henotheism comes pretty close, but not in actual practice. We don't pick and chose which deity to worship. While recognizing that other deities MAY exist. We worship God the Father, through Jesus the Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
mmmcounts Posted February 9, 2011 Author Posted February 9, 2011 mmmcounts:Henotheism comes pretty close, but not in actual practice. We don't pick and chose which deity to worship. While recognizing that other deities MAY exist. We worship God the Father, through Jesus the Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost.Henotheism covers a bit of ground, though, and monolatrism is typically regarded as a sub-type of henotheism that seems to fit the description pretty well."Monolatrism- Belief in multiple deities but worship of only one."I probably should have mentioned the sub-type of monolatrism right upfront. Sorry about that.
cion Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Jesus is a God too, if I'm not mistaken. So far, we have two Gods.It could be that Abraham and some other stalwarts out there have approached god-hood, but we can't know for sure until we meet them (assuming we are worthy enough to meet them).
LDS Guy 1986 Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 mmmcounts:We are monotheistic in beliefs. Not as strict as Muslims or the modern Jews. We are like Paul described. 1 Corinthian 8:5-65. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.We can't be monotheist if be believe there is more than one God, we are not polytheist either because we only worship one God. We are henotheist, we believe in the existence of many God's but only worship one.
LDS Guy 1986 Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 . While recognizing that other deities MAY exist.Have you every read the teachings of any of the early prophets or D&C 132?We don't believe that there may be other deities, we know there is other deities and know that we too will become a god if we receive exaltation. The tracings of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young especially speaks continuously about the gods.
CV75 Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Aside from God the Father (Heavenly Father), what deities are there to talk about?Is this in terms of talking about them behind their backs?
mmmcounts Posted February 9, 2011 Author Posted February 9, 2011 Is this in terms of talking about them behind their backs?This is in terms of you talking about them with me on an LDS discussion board.
LDS Guy 1986 Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 My intention was to ask what deities there are to talk about, not what deities are worshiped.There is the name of the Idols found in the Bible but they are not real gods, but strange gods made by men. As far as I know the only god we know of by name besides God the Father, is Jehovah (Jesus Christ). There is also the Holy Ghost who is a god but we only know his title not his name, (unless his name is Holy Ghost which I doubt).
thesometimesaint Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 LDS Guy 1986:That is why I said we are not strict Monotheist like the Muslims, and modern Jews. Typically in Henotheism they pick and chose which God(s) to worship. We don't. To us there is but one God(in the Christian concept of Godhead) whom we worship. But we do recognize others MAY exist.Ps. In looking at your screen name I notice a date. Is that the date you joined the Church?
Jeff K. Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 As long as BYU is winning you could count Jimmers Fredette
cion Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Why all the beating around the bush?The answer is 2 Gods. There are 2 LDS deities - HF and JC.
mmmcounts Posted February 9, 2011 Author Posted February 9, 2011 There is the name of the Idols found in the Bible but they are not real gods, but strange gods made by men. As far as I know the only god we know of by name besides God the Father, is Jehovah (Jesus Christ). There is also the Holy Ghost who is a god but we only know his title not his name, (unless his name is Holy Ghost which I doubt).Can you think of any candidates besides Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the father and mother of Heavenly Father, and....Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, maybe, or anyone else who attained the highest state of theosis? (Divinization, exaltation, I'm not sure of the exact term). Do you know of any brothers and sisters that Heavenly Father had, even if you don't know their names? If so, would they count as deities as well?
mmmcounts Posted February 9, 2011 Author Posted February 9, 2011 As long as BYU is winning you could count Jimmers FredetteHee hee!
cion Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Can you think of any candidates besides Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the father and mother of Heavenly Father, and....Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, maybe, or anyone else who attained the highest state of theosis? (Divinization, exaltation, I'm not sure of the exact term). Do you know of any brothers and sisters that Heavenly Father had, even if you don't know their names? If so, would they count as deities as well?Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are excellent candidates (bold emphasis is mine):D&C 132:37 Abraham received aconcubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also andbJacob did none other things than that which they were commanded; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into theircexaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods.
thesometimesaint Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 cion:I thought I answered your question. Sorry if I wasn't more clear. The LDS recognize(believe in) three members of the Godhead. God(The Father), God(The Son), and God(The Holy Ghost).Ps. We don't worship Abraham, or any other Prophets. We do say that other deities MAY exist. John 17:20-23Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;Jhn 17:21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. Jhn 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:Jhn 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
cion Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 cion:I thought I answered your question. Sorry if I wasn't more clear. The LDS recognize(believe in) three members of the Godhead. God(The Father), God(The Son), and God(The Holy Ghost).When you say "3 members of the Godhead" it still is not very clear. You could just say "3 deities: HF, JC, and HG" But then we have to wonder about the HG because we don't think he is a God (deity). That is why I'm sticking with 2 Gods.
Pahoran Posted February 9, 2011 Posted February 9, 2011 Can you think of any candidates besides Jesus, the Holy Spirit,No. No others.the father and mother of Heavenly Father,Nope. The speculation that such may exist is merely one strand of LDS thought, and does not rise to the level of LDS belief.and....Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, maybe,Ummmm -- no.Is there a point to any of these questions?Regards,Pahoran
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.