Intelligences Organized

[HappyJackWagon]

In most discussions surrounding SSM, it is often taught/suggested that it is impossible for SSM to be an eternal union because clearly two individuals of the same gender would not be able to procreate. This, of course, presumes that creation of spirits in the next world will be similar to creation of human bodies in this world.

Yet, in Abraham we learn that intelligences are eternal and that God "organized" the intelligences

Quote

 Abraham 3:18 Howbeit that he made the greater star; as, also, if there be two spirits, and one shall be more intelligent than the other, yet these two spirits, notwithstanding one is more intelligent than the other, have no beginning; they existed before, they shall have no end, they shall exist after, for they are gnolaum, or eternal.

22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones;

 

I'm not familiar with the "organization" process. Are there any good sources that describe the godly process of organizing intelligences? Is there reason to believe sxual procreation would be required for organization? If there is, I'd like to hear them. Otherwise, I see no reason to believe that a SSM could not be just as valid as a traditional marriage.

*Bonus Question*

Quote

Abraham 3:24 And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;

Jesus was "like unto God" in the pre-mortal world. Many Christians reject Mormons on the basis of a low-Christology because we often portray Jesus as growing into godhood. So my question is, was Jesus God in the pre-mortal world or did he later become God?

[Traela]

The creation of spirit bodies may not in fact require sexual procreation.  However, that does not preclude male and female both being necessary for the process.  Actually, what I object to most regarding gay marriage, especially in a gospel setting, is that people not only think it's acceptable to deny a child an earthly mother or father, but a spirit one as well.  It is the ultimate sexism.

 

 

[HappyJackWagon]

4 minutes ago, Traela said:

The creation of spirit bodies may not in fact require sexual procreation.  However, that does not preclude male and female both being necessary for the process.  Actually, what I object to most regarding gay marriage, especially in a gospel setting, is that people not only think it's acceptable to deny a child an earthly mother or father, but a spirit one as well.  It is the ultimate sexism.

 

Do you have any sources that would suggest that both male and female are necessary for the process?

I think your argument about sexism is interesting. I've thought about that as well. Would 2 female God's be sexist towards males? I don't know. Do we even know for sure that a marriage partnership of any kind is needed for the purpose of creation?

I'm not looking for scriptures or proclamations claiming eternal marriage. I know those exist. I'm looking for explanations and descriptions of the creation process, particularly in regards to organizing spirits.

[JAHS]

15 minutes ago, HappyJackWagon said:

Are there any good sources that describe the godly process of organizing intelligences?

No. The process has not been revealed

 Joseph Fielding Smith said about this:
"Some of our writers have endeavored to explain what an intelligence is, but to do so is futile, for we have never been given any insight into this matter beyond what the Lord has fragmentarily revealed. We know, however, that there is something called intelligence which always existed. It is the real eternal part of man, which was not created nor made. This intelligence combined [even that is speculation] with the spirit constitutes a spiritual identity or individual." (Progress of Man, p. 11) 

16 minutes ago, HappyJackWagon said:

Is there reason to believe sxual procreation would be required for organization?

No.

16 minutes ago, HappyJackWagon said:

Otherwise, I see no reason to believe that a SSM could not be just as valid as a traditional marriage

It's not valid because God said it is not valid.

[stemelbow]

19 minutes ago, HappyJackWagon said:

In most discussions surrounding SSM, it is often taught/suggested that it is impossible for SSM to be an eternal union because clearly two individuals of the same gender would not be able to procreate. This, of course, presumes that creation of spirits in the next world will be similar to creation of human bodies in this world.

Yet, in Abraham we learn that intelligences are eternal and that God "organized" the intelligences

I'm not familiar with the "organization" process. Are there any good sources that describe the godly process of organizing intelligences? Is there reason to believe sxual procreation would be required for organization? If there is, I'd like to hear them. Otherwise, I see no reason to believe that a SSM could not be just as valid as a traditional marriage.

*Bonus Question*

Jesus was "like unto God" in the pre-mortal world. Many Christians reject Mormons on the basis of a low-Christology because we often portray Jesus as growing into godhood. So my question is, was Jesus God in the pre-mortal world or did he later become God?

Good post.  I agree.  There isn't much here but questions and yet we want to denounce a bunch of people because we assume we know so much?  Ahhh...whatever.  I ain't buying it.  I maintain we'll all be surprised in many ways when our lives our over and we start to see things as it pertains to eternity. 

[TheSkepticChristian]

37 minutes ago, HappyJackWagon said:

In most discussions surrounding SSM, it is often taught/suggested that it is impossible for SSM to be an eternal union because clearly two individuals of the same gender would not be able to procreate. This, of course, presumes that creation of spirits in the next world will be similar to creation of human bodies in this world.

Just ask the scientists when they create life in the Lab! It's going to happen. 

[HappyJackWagon]

13 minutes ago, stemelbow said:

Good post.  I agree.  There isn't much here but questions and yet we want to denounce a bunch of people because we assume we know so much?  Ahhh...whatever.  I ain't buying it.  I maintain we'll all be surprised in many ways when our lives our over and we start to see things as it pertains to eternity. 

I struggle with this because on one hand I have to acknowledge that there are so many things I don't know (and that the church doesn't claim to know), or even have much of a clue about, yet in the face of such uncertainty there is pervasive dogma presented as if the church has all the answers. It can't be both. Greater humility is needed. The dogma needs to be dialed down. With that, the judgment will naturally be dialed down as well.

[stemelbow]

2 minutes ago, HappyJackWagon said:

I struggle with this because on one hand I have to acknowledge that there are so many things I don't know (and that the church doesn't claim to know), or even have much of a clue about, yet in the face of such uncertainty there is pervasive dogma presented as if the church has all the answers. It can't be both. Greater humility is needed. The dogma needs to be dialed down. With that, the judgment will naturally be dialed down as well.

So far everything you say on this topic has resonated with me quite well. Keep it up.

I've formulated it this way:

Inspiration/revelation comes to someone

Inspiration/revelation is determined to be meant for others

Person who receives inspiration/revelation and makes determination puts it into words

As soon as inspiration/revelation is put into words, there are limits put on it, assumptions made and it becomes something less

People who view the results of all this inspiration/revelation fill in wholes and blanks with more assumptions

Assumptions become doctrine and regarded as from God

I'm convinced our individual job is to sort through the records of presumed inspiration, whether it be scripture or other, identify assumptions, question any assumptions and seek more inspiration/revelation.  The added problem is, of course, we can question anything, determine anything to be assumption and run off in weird directions.  Of coruse it's like the Church has led us in weird directions already. 

Ah well, get busy living or get busy dying I guess. 

[longview]

Jesus (Jehovah) was the most intelligent of all the Intelligences.  I believe God the Father (Elohim) chose and set apart Jesus to be leader of this particular group of Intelligences (organization).  This group the Father chose and prepared to become spirit children.  Vast majority of Intelligences are not ready to become spirit children and have to wait their turn in LATER creative generations (see scriptural references for "Eternal Round").  But those chosen number in the hundreds of billions (hence requiring "uncountable" worlds to be organized from materials and fragments of dead planets) in this current generation (all undergoing the "Fall" from terrestrial to telestial).

Jesus became the "First Born" spirit child of Elohim.  When the Father sent Jesus and brother Michael to organize a world, I believe Jesus was already a member of the Godhead.  When Jesus was born into the world to become the "mortal Messiah", He was the ONLY begotten Son of the Father in the Flesh.  (Thus negating the Adam/God theory proposed by Brigham Young, instead, Adam and Eve were actually organized in their "clay tabernacles" therefore NOT begotten physically by anyone).

I do not know how the "birthing" process works for "transforming" Intelligences into spirit children.  But I do believe it requires both male and female Gods with Their different attributes.  Those attributes multiply each other, thus making the whole greater than the sum of the parts.  Two same gender beings with their similar attributes would merely be redundant, their "whole" would NOT be better than just one.  I do not believe any spirit children (or Intelligences) had SSA.  Nor sexual feelings, either.  I consider homosexuality to be a feature only of mortality with its many perverse and chaotic confusion.

[JLHPROF]

Here we go again speculating on celestial test tubes and ignoring the admittedly vague but easily applied scriptures on the subject.

Eternally married heterosexual couples are the only ones promised eternal increase of seed.  There must be a reason for that.
Or how about the fact that we know the earthly pattern is in the image of the heavenly pattern.

And don't get me started on the teachings of Brigham Young, John Taylor and others on the subject.
 

[HappyJackWagon]

5 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

Here we go again speculating on celestial test tubes and ignoring the admittedly vague but easily applied scriptures on the subject.

Eternally married heterosexual couples are the only ones promised eternal increase of seed.  There must be a reason for that.
Or how about the fact that we know the earthly pattern is in the image of the heavenly pattern.

And don't get me started on the teachings of Brigham Young, John Taylor and others on the subject.
 

But without knowledge of how it works it seems like we're filling in a lot of gaps with assumptions of leaders/prophets based on their time, culture, understanding.

[rodheadlee]

2 hours ago, HappyJackWagon said:

In most discussions surrounding SSM, it is often taught/suggested that it is impossible for SSM to be an eternal union because clearly two individuals of the same gender would not be able to procreate. This, of course, presumes that creation of spirits in the next world will be similar to creation of human bodies in this world.

Yet, in Abraham we learn that intelligences are eternal and that God "organized" the intelligences

I'm not familiar with the "organization" process. Are there any good sources that describe the godly process of organizing intelligences? Is there reason to believe sxual procreation would be required for organization? If there is, I'd like to hear them. Otherwise, I see no reason to believe that a SSM could not be just as valid as a traditional marriage.

*Bonus Question*

Jesus was "like unto God" in the pre-mortal world. Many Christians reject Mormons on the basis of a low-Christology because we often portray Jesus as growing into godhood. So my question is, was Jesus God in the pre-mortal world or did he later become God?

26 ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

  27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

[JLHPROF]

Just now, HappyJackWagon said:

But without knowledge of how it works it seems like we're filling in a lot of gaps with assumptions of leaders/prophets based on their time, culture, understanding.

No, it's "come, let us reason together".

Speculating on notions that are non-existence in God's word is a big difference from speculating on the meaning of God's word.
Where SSM is concerned there are scriptures that directly relate to eternal families, eternal increase, and that tell us that the patterns God reveals to us through revelation are in the image of the patterns of the eternities.

There is not a single scrap of evidence in the entire revealed word of God that allows for SS relationships in a family context.

[stemelbow]

5 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

Here we go again speculating on celestial test tubes and ignoring the admittedly vague but easily applied scriptures on the subject.

Eternally married heterosexual couples are the only ones promised eternal increase of seed.  There must be a reason for that.
Or how about the fact that we know the earthly pattern is in the image of the heavenly pattern.

And don't get me started on the teachings of Brigham Young, John Taylor and others on the subject.
 

Well we could just assume as you have above, or we could say, "well I honestly don't know.  So why can't I reserve judgment until I do?"

Maybe the reason for that is as simply as saying recorders of scripture, leaders of the Church were products of their time and assumed homosexuality was so bad so they recorded it as such.  It is possible. 

[HappyJackWagon]

46 minutes ago, longview said:

Jesus (Jehovah) was the most intelligent of all the Intelligences.  I believe God the Father (Elohim) chose and set apart Jesus to be leader of this particular group of Intelligences (organization).  This group the Father chose and prepared to become spirit children.  Vast majority of Intelligences are not ready to become spirit children and have to wait their turn in LATER creative generations (see scriptural references for "Eternal Round").  But those chosen number in the hundreds of billions (hence requiring "uncountable" worlds to be organized from materials and fragments of dead planets) in this current generation (all undergoing the "Fall" from terrestrial to telestial).

Jesus became the "First Born" spirit child of Elohim.  When the Father sent Jesus and brother Michael to organize a world, I believe Jesus was already a member of the Godhead.  When Jesus was born into the world to become the "mortal Messiah", He was the ONLY begotten Son of the Father in the Flesh.  (Thus negating the Adam/God theory proposed by Brigham Young, instead, Adam and Eve were actually organized in their "clay tabernacles" therefore NOT begotten physically by anyone).

I do not know how the "birthing" process works for "transforming" Intelligences into spirit children.  But I do believe it requires both male and female Gods with Their different attributes.  Those attributes multiply each other, thus making the whole greater than the sum of the parts.  Two same gender beings with their similar attributes would merely be redundant, their "whole" would NOT be better than just one.  I do not believe any spirit children (or Intelligences) had SSA.  Nor sexual feelings, either.  I consider homosexuality to be a feature only of mortality with its many perverse and chaotic confusion.

I think much of what you say is reasonable, however it seems to be based on assumptions. We all make assumptions and it's necessary when we don't have facts.

I disagree a bit with the underlined section because I think this is based on assumptions not in evidence. We could talk about male and female attributes as both being good and needful, and I agree with that, but I don't think it's correct to assume that a hetero couple will have the whole of attributes any more than a SSM couple would. Just because an attribute is typically male doesn't mean all males have it or that females won't. Same with female attributes. Applying those attributes only to gender is a fallacy.

As far as SSA intelligences, we can all have our own opinions but that's all they are. There's no evidence that SSA is not part of the basic intelligence just as there's no evidence that there were no SSA spirits. It's all based on assumptions because the issue is never addressed in scripture or by modern revelation. We have statements from apostles/prophets but without prophesy or scripture I take it as their opinion.

It's troubling that the church makes harmful policies and declares doctrine which is really just opinion based on assumptions.

[HappyJackWagon]

8 minutes ago, rodheadlee said:

26 ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

  27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

What's your point?

Are you simply pointing out that two men created man in their image?

[JLHPROF]

7 minutes ago, stemelbow said:

Well we could just assume as you have above, or we could say, "well I honestly don't know.  So why can't I reserve judgment until I do?"

 

2 minutes ago, HappyJackWagon said:

We all make assumptions and it's necessary when we don't have facts.

Of course we don't have ALL the facts.
But if we choose to speculate we should speculate based only around the facts we do have.
Otherwise we end up with no semblance of truth.

Again, there is zero scriptural evidence of eternal SS relationships but there is some scriptural reference to eternal heterosexual relationship.
This makes speculation on the first 100% imagination, and speculation on the second hypothesis (educated guess).

[stemelbow]

2 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

 

Of course we don't have ALL the facts.
But if we choose to speculate we should speculate based only around the facts we do have.
Otherwise we end up with no semblance of truth.

Again, there is zero scriptural evidence of eternal SS relationships but there is some scriptural reference to eternal heterosexual relationship.
This makes speculation on the first 100% imagination, and speculation on the second hypothesis (educated guess).

But there are always exceptions. 

[ALarson]

11 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

Of course we don't have ALL the facts.
But if we choose to speculate we should speculate based only around the facts we do have.

What are the actual "facts" that we have?  As far as I can see, the only fact regarding our creation is that we know that we exist.  All the rest is speculation since we really do not know how we were created and we do not really know who created us.  It may not even involve a married couple for eternity (same sex or heterosexual).  We can believe in someone else's words or teachings and have faith that they spoke or wrote the truth, but bottom line is that none of us really know what the creation process is.

.

Edited June 8, 2016 by ALarson

[Bernard Gui]

Double post. Sorry.

Edited June 8, 2016 by Bernard Gui

[rodheadlee]

30 minutes ago, HappyJackWagon said:

What's your point?

Are you simply pointing out that two men created man in their image?

No, sorry, life interrupted. I believe it was Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother that created us. If we were created in their image, it must have been so, otherwise they would have created Adam and Steve, not Adam and Eve. Each kind were created male and female. I know there are anomalies but for the most part it takes 2 of the opposite sex to Tango. If we were created in their image that would also include the reproductive process, IMHO.

Edited June 8, 2016 by rodheadlee

[ALarson]

6 minutes ago, rodheadlee said:

I believe it was Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother that created us. If we were created in their image, it must have been so, otherwise they would have created Adam and Steve, not Adam and Eve.

The part I put in bold is not correct.  There is no "must". Two (or more) men could have created all.  Two (or more) women could have created all.  Or any other grouping or combination.   Again, we simply do not know how we were created.  

We are all just speculating here (even those quoting past leaders and scriptures).  But, it's an interesting topic.  

.

Edited June 8, 2016 by ALarson

[rodheadlee]

3 minutes ago, ALarson said:

The part I put in bold is not correct.  There is no "must". Two (or more) men could have created all.  Two (or more) women could have created all.  Or any other grouping or combination.   Again, we simply do not know how we were created.  

We are all just speculating here (even those quoting past leaders and scriptures).  But, it's an interesting topic.  

.

Then it would not be in their image.

[Bernard Gui]

2 hours ago, HappyJackWagon said:

In most discussions surrounding SSM, it is often taught/suggested that it is impossible for SSM to be an eternal union because clearly two individuals of the same gender would not be able to procreate. This, of course, presumes that creation of spirits in the next world will be similar to creation of human bodies in this world.

Yet, in Abraham we learn that intelligences are eternal and that God "organized" the intelligences

I'm not familiar with the "organization" process. Are there any good sources that describe the godly process of organizing intelligences? Is there reason to believe sxual procreation would be required for organization? If there is, I'd like to hear them. Otherwise, I see no reason to believe that a SSM could not be just as valid as a traditional marriage.

*Bonus Question*

Jesus was "like unto God" in the pre-mortal world. Many Christians reject Mormons on the basis of a low-Christology because we often portray Jesus as growing into godhood. So my question is, was Jesus God in the pre-mortal world or did he later become God?

ENSIGN

FEBRUARY 2002

 

The Origin of Man

By the First Presidency of the Church

Inquiries arise from time to time respecting the attitude of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints upon questions which, though not vital from a doctrinal standpoint, are closely connected with the fundamental principles of salvation. The latest inquiry of this kind that has reached us is in relation to the origin of man. It is believed that a statement of the position held by the Church upon this subject will be timely and productive of good.

In presenting the statement that follows we are not conscious of putting forth anything essentially new; neither is it our desire so to do. Truth is what we wish to present, and truth—eternal truth—is fundamentally old. A restatement of the original attitude of the Church relative to this matter is all that will be attempted here. To tell the truth as God has revealed it, and commend it to the acceptance of those who need to conform their opinions thereto, is the sole purpose of this presentation.

“God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” In these plain and pointed words the inspired author of the book of Genesis made known to the world the truth concerning the origin of the human family. Moses, the prophet-historian—“learned,” as we are told, “in all the wisdom of the Egyptians”—when making this important announcement was not voicing a mere opinion, a theory derived from his researches into the occult lore of that ancient people. He was speaking as the mouthpiece of God, and his solemn declaration was for all time and for all people. No subsequent revelator of the truth has contradicted the great leader and lawgiver of Israel. All who have since spoken by divine authority upon this theme have confirmed his simple and sublime proclamation. Nor could it be otherwise. Truth has but one source, and all revelations from heaven are harmonious with each other. The omnipotent Creator, the maker of heaven and earth, had shown unto Moses everything pertaining to this planet, including the facts relating to man’s origin, and the authoritative pronouncement of that mighty prophet and seer to the house of Israel, and through Israel to the whole world, is couched in the simple clause: “God created man in his own image” (Gen. 1:27; see Moses 1:27–41).

The creation was twofold—first spiritual, secondly temporal. This truth, also, Moses plainly taught—much more plainly than it has come down to us in the imperfect translations of the Bible that are now in use. Therein the fact of a spiritual creation, antedating the temporal creation, is strongly implied, but the proof of it is not so clear and conclusive as in other records held by the Latter-day Saints to be of equal authority with the Jewish scriptures. The partial obscurity of the latter upon the point in question is owing, no doubt, to the loss of those “plain and precious” parts of sacred writ, which, as the Book of Mormon informs us, have been taken away from the Bible during its passage down the centuries (see 1 Ne. 13:24–29). Some of these missing parts the Prophet Joseph Smith undertook to restore when he revised those scriptures by the spirit of revelation, the result being that more complete account of the Creation which is found in the book of Moses, previously cited. Note the following passages:

“And now, behold, I say unto you, that these are the generations of the heaven and of the earth, when they were created, in the day that I, the Lord God, made the heaven and the earth,

“And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. For I, the Lord God, had not caused it to rain upon the face of the earth. And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ground; for in heaven created I them, and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air;

“But, I, the Lord God, spake, and there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

“And I, the Lord God, formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul, the first flesh upon the earth, the first man also; nevertheless, all things were before created; but spiritually were they created and made according to my word” (Moses 3:4–7; see also Moses 1 and Moses 2, and compare with Gen. 1 and Gen. 2).

These two points being established, namely, the creation of man in the image of God, and the twofold character of the Creation, let us now inquire: What was the form of man, in the spirit and in the body, as originally created? In a general way the answer is given in the words chosen as the text of this treatise. “God created man in his own image.” It is more explicitly rendered in the Book of Mormon thus: “All men were created in the beginning after mine own image” (Ether 3:15). … If, therefore, we can ascertain the form of the “Father of spirits,” “The God of the spirits of all flesh,” we shall be able to discover the form of the original man.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is “the express image” of His Father’s person (Heb. 1:3). He walked the earth as a human being, as a perfect man, and said, in answer to a question put to Him: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). This alone ought to solve the problem to the satisfaction of every thoughtful, reverent mind. The conclusion is irresistible, that if the Son of God be the express image (that is, likeness) of His Father’s person, then His Father is in the form of a man; for that was the form of the Son of God, not only during His mortal life, but before His mortal birth, and after His Resurrection. It was in this form that the Father and the Son, as two personages, appeared to Joseph Smith, when, as a boy of 14 years, he received his first vision. Then if God made man—the first man—in His own image and likeness, He must have made him like unto Christ, and consequently like unto men of Christ’s time and of the present day. That man was made in the image of Christ is positively stated in the book of Moses: “And I, God, said unto mine Only Begotten, which was with me from the beginning, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and it was so. …

“And I, God, created man in mine own image, in the image of mine Only Begotten created I him; male and female created I them” (Moses 2:26–27).

The Father of Jesus is our Father also. Jesus Himself taught this truth when He instructed His disciples how to pray: “Our Father which art in heaven,” etc. Jesus, however, is the firstborn among all the sons of God—the first begotten in the spirit, and the only begotten in the flesh. He is our elder brother, and we, like Him, are in the image of God. All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity.

“God created man in His own image.” This is just as true of the spirit as it is of the body, which is only the clothing of the spirit, its complement—the two together constituting the soul. The spirit of man is in the form of man, and the spirits of all creatures are in the likeness of their bodies. This was plainly taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith (see D&C 77:2).

Here is further evidence of the fact. More than 700 years before Moses was shown the things pertaining to this earth, another great prophet, known to us as the brother of Jared, was similarly favored by the Lord. He was even permitted to behold the spirit-body of the foreordained Savior, prior to His incarnation; and so like the body of a man was gazing upon a being of flesh and blood. He first saw the finger and then the entire body of the Lord—all in the spirit. The Book of Mormon says of this wonderful manifestation:

“And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear.

“And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said to him: Arise, why hast thou fallen?

“And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood.

“And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this?

“And he answered: Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me.

“And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak?

“And he answered, Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.

“And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.

“Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.

“And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image.

“Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh” (Ether 3:6–16).

What more is needed to convince us that man, both in spirit and in body, is the image and likeness of God and that God Himself is in the form of a man?

When the divine Being whose spirit-body the brother of Jared beheld took upon Him flesh and blood, He appeared as a man, having “body, parts and passions,” like other men, though vastly superior to all others, because He was God, even the Son of God, the Word made flesh: in Him “dwelt the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” And why should He not appear as a man? That was the form of His spirit, and it must needs have an appropriate covering, a suitable tabernacle. He came into the world as He had promised to come (see 3 Ne. 1:13), taking an infant tabernacle and developing it gradually to the fulness of His spirit stature. He came as man had been coming for ages and as man has continued to come ever since. Jesus, however, as shown, was the Only Begotten of God in the flesh.

Adam, our first progenitor, “the first man,” was, like Christ, a preexistent spirit, and like Christ he took upon him an appropriate body, the body of a man, and so became a “living soul.” The doctrine of the preexistence—revealed so plainly, particularly in latter days—pours a wonderful flood of light upon the otherwise mysterious problem of man’s origin. It shows that man, as a spirit, was begotten and born of heavenly parents and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father, prior to coming upon the earth in a temporal body to undergo an experience in mortality. It teaches that all men existed in the spirit before any man existed in the flesh and that all who have inhabited the earth since Adam have taken bodies and become souls in like manner.

It is held by some that Adam was not the first man upon this earth and that the original human being was a development from lower orders of the animal creation. These, however, are the theories of men. The word of the Lord declared that Adam was “the first man of all men” (Moses 1:34), and we are therefore in duty bound to regard him as the primal parent of our race. It was shown to the brother of Jared that all men were created in the beginning after the image of God; whether we take this to mean the spirit or the body, or both, it commits us to the same conclusion: Man began life as a human being, in the likeness of our Heavenly Father.

True it is that the body of man enters upon its career as a tiny germ embryo, which becomes an infant, quickened at a certain stage by the spirit whose tabernacle it is, and the child, after being born, develops into a man. There is nothing in this, however, to indicate that the original man, the first of our race, began life as anything less than a man, or less than the human germ or embryo that becomes a man.

Man, by searching, cannot find out God. Never, unaided, will he discover the truth about the beginning of human life. The Lord must reveal Himself or remain unrevealed; and the same is true of the facts relating to the origin of Adam’s race—God alone can reveal them. Some of these facts, however, are already known, and what has been made known it is our duty to receive and retain.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, basing its belief on divine revelation, ancient and modern, proclaims man to be the direct and lineal offspring of Deity. God Himself is an exalted man, perfected, enthroned, and supreme. By His almighty power He organized the earth and all that it contains, from spirit and element, which exist coeternally with Himself. He formed every plant that grows and every animal that breathes, each after its own kind, spiritually and temporally—“that which is spiritual being in the likeness of that which is temporal, and that which is temporal in the likeness of that which is spiritual.” He made the tadpole and the ape, the lion and the elephant, but He did not make them in His own image, nor endow them with godlike reason and intelligence. Nevertheless, the whole animal creation will be perfected and perpetuated in the Hereafter, each class in its “distinct order or sphere,” and will enjoy “eternal felicity.” That fact has been made plain in this dispensation (see D&C 77:3).

Man is the child of God, formed in the divine image and endowed with divine attributes, and even as the infant son of an earthly father and mother is capable in due time of becoming a man, so the undeveloped offspring of celestial parentage is capable, by experience through ages and aeons, of evolving into a God.

Joseph F. Smith

John R. Winder

Anthon H. Lund

First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

[ALarson]

5 minutes ago, rodheadlee said:

Then it would not be in their image.

Sure it would.  Just because there may be both male and female creators does not mean that they have to be eternally married to each other in order to create or organize intelligence in their own image.

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Edited June 8, 2016 by ALarson