inquiringmind Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 I think there's at least one passage in D&C, that says that something (matter or element?) is co-eternal with "The Lord" (Jesus? The Father?), but do the standard works say that anything is co-eternal with "God"?I ask because it would seem (to me) to make more sense to say that matter, energy, spirit, and intelligence are part of "God," than it does to say that they're co-eternal with "God" (and I'm curious as to what the standard works actually say about this.)
Kenngo1969 Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 (edited) I think there's at least one passage in D&C, that says that something (matter or element?) is co-eternal with "The Lord" (Jesus? The Father?), but do the standard works say that anything is co-eternal with "God"?I ask because it would seem (to me) to make more sense to say that matter, energy, spirit, and intelligence are part of "God," than it does to say that they're co-eternal with "God" (and I'm curious as to what the standard works actually say about this.)Doctrine & Covenants 93:2929 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. Edited February 7, 2012 by Kenngo1969
inquiringmind Posted February 7, 2012 Author Posted February 7, 2012 (edited) Doctrine & Covenants 93:2929 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.Would intelligence (or the Light of Truth) not be part of God? Edited February 7, 2012 by inquiringmind
CV75 Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 Would intelligence (or the Light of Truth) not be part of God?I take the term "co-eternal" to involve a sense of belonging and never being alone, with the relationship(s) involving any preposition. We are part of God in the many ways that we are part of a family.
Nofear Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 The term "co-eternal" never shows up in the scriptures. It was a phrase used in the King Follett Discourse.
LeSellers Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 The term "co-eternal" never shows up in the scriptures. It was a phrase used in the King Follett Discourse.Not even there, as I recall. Joseph used the word "co-equal", meaning, however, "co-eternal", not of equivalent quality (according to Joseph Fielding Smith).Lehi
Nofear Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 Not even there, as I recall. Joseph used the word "co-equal", meaning, however, "co-eternal", not of equivalent quality (according to Joseph Fielding Smith).Yep. Unfortunately the Church had not yet adopted linguistic conventions allowing for the kind of precision and clarity we'd like and expect today.
CV75 Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 Yep. Unfortunately the Church had not yet adopted linguistic conventions allowing for the kind of precision and clarity we'd like and expect today.Could it be that we have become "past feeling" to an extent that it cannot compete with our critical thinking? Both have their place, of course.
zerinus Posted February 7, 2012 Posted February 7, 2012 I think there's at least one passage in D&C, that says that something (matter or element?) is co-eternal with "The Lord" (Jesus? The Father?), but do the standard works say that anything is co-eternal with "God"?The scriptures teach that the elements are “eternal,” not “co-eternal:”D&C 93:33 For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;34 And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy.35 The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; . . .I ask because it would seem (to me) to make more sense to say that matter, energy, spirit, and intelligence are part of "God," than it does to say that they're co-eternal with "God" (and I'm curious as to what the standard works actually say about this.)Those are obviously different things; and their precise nature and constitution is not made clear in the scriptures. We don’t know precisely what “element” is, or what “spirit” is, or what “intelligence” is. We can only accept the truth to the extent that it has been revealed. All that has been revealed is that “intelligence” or “light of truth” has not been “created or made;” and that “the elements” are “eternal”. Beyond that it is hard to know much without further revelation.
inquiringmind Posted February 8, 2012 Author Posted February 8, 2012 Thank you (all) for your replies here.
altersteve Posted February 8, 2012 Posted February 8, 2012 In addition to what others have said, when the scriptures mention "the Lord," it doesn't matter whether it's the Father or the Son who is being referred to. When the Son is speaks or is spoken to, the Father speaks or is spoken to also. They are God ("the Lord"), both collectively and individually.
Nofear Posted February 8, 2012 Posted February 8, 2012 (edited) Could it be that we have become "past feeling" to an extent that it cannot compete with our critical thinking? Both have their place, of course.Personally I don't mind all that much. The truth is evident for those that have eyes to see and ears to hear. A lack of linguistic precision is only an issue when trying to help others understand a particular viewpoint. But ultimately, spiritual things can only be understood through the spirit and so even that endeavor (helping others understand through reason/talking/etc.) is kind of moot unless the spirit is present (which can then "translate"). Edited February 8, 2012 by Nofear
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