Recently, I've had someone pose a question to me about Isaiah:43:10 where it reads:
"10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me."
Some interpret this to mean that there is no one else in the GodHead or that the Godhead is not plural. Or that somehow this disqualifies the standard, Biblical teachings that indeed there IS a Godhead made up of God The Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost as explained in the Doctrine and Covenants.
(D&C 20:28, the Father and the Son have bodies of flesh and bone, the Holy Ghost is personage of spirit, D&C 130:22)
THIS may be a bit lengthy but it's food for good thought. At least you'll know why we believe what we do and that at least it's plausible based on these Bible Passages...
We believe in the Godhead, as taught in the Bible and other evidences as found in the Bible to support the belief. It is also important to read scriptures in context. They are, after all, more than just words written on pages that take on certain meanings as they are read properly.
Genesis 1:26-27, 2:22
26 ¶And God said, Let US make man in OUR image, after our likeness: (Paraphrased...)
(If it was truly only one being up in heaven, then reading it like this with a few words changed is:
"And God said I will make man in my image and after MY likeness..."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Ch 3: ¶And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of US, to know good and evil... (paraphrased)
We claim that we are literally sons and daughters of God as if He and heavenly parents would have trillions of Spirit Children as we know that we are.
(See also Job 38:4-7, Hebrews 12:9 and is fairly clear on who the Spirit Children of God is and who the father could be too. Even more so than Romans 8:15-18)
Also in Hebrews 1:2, we learn that "Jesus Christ" was appointed as an "Heir of All Things"
The usage of the word "Heir" makes sense that the Father has handed him all rights and powers as an Heir would be. This same "Heir" relationship between Us and the Father is spoken of in Revelations 1:5-6, 30:19-21) So who handed the "Father" all things? Can this chain be as old as eons and eternities without end. Who knows yet. It's not our worry to know all things yet. Just to be faithful in a FEW things...
Isaiah was referring to the "Law" and that only THROUGH the One True God and not the other Gods which may have been formed both in the minds or by the hands of other men. The Bible talks about those also.
Exodus 20:
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
(Again, Gods' that are formed by the hands or imaginations of men.)
and also how it agrees with Joshua 24:15 were we ALSO see...
"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Before the God of Israel manifested himself again to a prophet, Moses, he YET existed as also the God of Adam, of Enoch, Noah, Abraham and so forth, are we on the same page still?
We do not interpret Isaiah 43:10 as to contradiction to Genesis or Exodus or Joshua or EVEN itself if not read in its entirety. Isaiah goes on to say, speaking for the Lord Jehovah, who we know to be Jesus Christ, the member of the Godhead mentioned in the Old Testament:
11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.
12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.
So we know that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between man and the father and only in and through him can mankind be saved and return to the presence of the Father...
As Jesus Said himself, we return home to that God who gave us life...
Jesus also is talking to the Father as if he were a different person than himself...
"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. - John 17:21 - and later mentions this, just to clarify, that he and the Father are two distinct beings, as he says to Mary,
"Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." John 20:17 -
It wasn't until the New Testament came along where we learn that there are two other members of the Godhead not completely talked about in the Old Testament or not in much detail, anyhow.
(See Also Gen. 11:5–17; Ps. 110:1; Dan. 4:8; Dan. 5:14)
These things aren't HIDING... now you may interpret these verses differently than me but in the reading of them, surely you could see why we believe the Bible on this wise, correct?
Many people are only kept from the truth because the know not where to find it. Some are kept from the truth because of traditions or what others tell them the truth should be.
But don't take my word for it! Pray to learn for yourself the true nature of the Godhead and clarify what we are taught in the Bible. That's all I ask you to do, brother. (See James 1:5-6, 1 John 5:9)
The scriptures affirm that there is "One God" consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. A great debate in Christian history has been the nature of this oneness.
Main article: Godhead and the Trinity
Protestant critics do not like the fact that Latter-day Saints reject the nonbiblical Nicene Creed, which teaches a oneness of substance. Latter-day Saints believe that God is one, but accept the Biblical witness that this is a oneness of purpose, intent, mind, will, and love, into which believers are invited to participate (see John 17:22-23). Thus, it is proper to speak of "God" in a singular sense, but Latter-day Saints also recognize that there is more than one divine person—for example, the Father and the Son.
This is not a contradiction; it merely demonstrates that the Latter-day Saints do not accept Nicene trinitarianism.
http://en.fairmormon.org/Latter-day_Saint_scripture/Supposed_contradictions/Multiple_versus_single_creators
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Message From Scott Gordon, President of FAIR LDS
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
-----------------------------------
When most members of the Church think of anti-Mormonism, they
immediately flash on sign-carrying protestors outside of Temple
Square, or they visualize a debate on whether faith or works leads
to salvation. The problem with those visualizations is that those
types of protests and discussions aren't the kind of anti-Mormonism
that has any real impact on members of the church. Some are lulled
into a false sense of security believing that their testimonies are
unshakable. It is with that attitude they venture onto the Internet
to read what others have to say about our beliefs. They may soon
discover that the Church and its history is often conveyed in a
fashion that is totally foreign to what they have learned.
Emails to FAIR have included phrases such as, "I recently became
aware of some things from church history I have never heard before,
"or "Joseph Smith doesn't appear to be the person I learned he was
in Primary."
There are things written in books and on the Internet that sound
very damaging to Joseph Smith and others in Church history. Some
members get very upset when they read it and realize they have not
heard it before. They sometimes come to believe that the items have
been hidden from them through some grand conspiracy of deception and
find their testimony shaken.
The truth is that many of the allegations are taken out of context,
are presented with a negative spin, come from less reliable sources,
or are simply false. While some feel they "should' know about it,
there really should be no expectation for the Church to teach things
about Joseph Smith that aren't true, simply so people are familiar
with those claims. False allegations remain false, even if they are
from a long time ago.
For example, perhaps you will read the common claim that there was
no record of the First Vision prior to 1870. The claim is usually
made with absolute certainty and bravado. The average reader doesn't
know that there are over 62 recorded instances of the First Vision
stretching from 1840 to 1870.
http://en.fairmormon.org/First_Vision/Seldom_mentioned_in_LDS_publications_before_1877_(long)
Perhaps you may read that Brigham Young said that he lives "above
the law." What the average reader doesn't know is that Brigham was
talking about living better than the law, not escaping from it.
http://en.fairmormon.org/Quote_mining/Journal_of_Discourses/JoD_1:361:Analysis
There are numerous other examples that can be cited. But, know that
the arguments and negative treatment put forward by the various
books and anti-Mormon websites have been examined and found to be
unconvincing and often dishonest. FAIR exists to continue to expose
those dishonest claims and to help members of the Church find
answers without having to become research specialists.
I hope that you continue to support us in our efforts by spreading
the word about FAIR and letting people know where they can find the
truth about disturbing claims they may hear.
--Scott Gordon
President of FAIR
-----------------------------------
When most members of the Church think of anti-Mormonism, they
immediately flash on sign-carrying protestors outside of Temple
Square, or they visualize a debate on whether faith or works leads
to salvation. The problem with those visualizations is that those
types of protests and discussions aren't the kind of anti-Mormonism
that has any real impact on members of the church. Some are lulled
into a false sense of security believing that their testimonies are
unshakable. It is with that attitude they venture onto the Internet
to read what others have to say about our beliefs. They may soon
discover that the Church and its history is often conveyed in a
fashion that is totally foreign to what they have learned.
Emails to FAIR have included phrases such as, "I recently became
aware of some things from church history I have never heard before,
"or "Joseph Smith doesn't appear to be the person I learned he was
in Primary."
There are things written in books and on the Internet that sound
very damaging to Joseph Smith and others in Church history. Some
members get very upset when they read it and realize they have not
heard it before. They sometimes come to believe that the items have
been hidden from them through some grand conspiracy of deception and
find their testimony shaken.
The truth is that many of the allegations are taken out of context,
are presented with a negative spin, come from less reliable sources,
or are simply false. While some feel they "should' know about it,
there really should be no expectation for the Church to teach things
about Joseph Smith that aren't true, simply so people are familiar
with those claims. False allegations remain false, even if they are
from a long time ago.
For example, perhaps you will read the common claim that there was
no record of the First Vision prior to 1870. The claim is usually
made with absolute certainty and bravado. The average reader doesn't
know that there are over 62 recorded instances of the First Vision
stretching from 1840 to 1870.
http://en.fairmormon.org/First_Vision/Seldom_mentioned_in_LDS_publications_before_1877_(long)
Perhaps you may read that Brigham Young said that he lives "above
the law." What the average reader doesn't know is that Brigham was
talking about living better than the law, not escaping from it.
http://en.fairmormon.org/Quote_mining/Journal_of_Discourses/JoD_1:361:Analysis
There are numerous other examples that can be cited. But, know that
the arguments and negative treatment put forward by the various
books and anti-Mormon websites have been examined and found to be
unconvincing and often dishonest. FAIR exists to continue to expose
those dishonest claims and to help members of the Church find
answers without having to become research specialists.
I hope that you continue to support us in our efforts by spreading
the word about FAIR and letting people know where they can find the
truth about disturbing claims they may hear.
--Scott Gordon
President of FAIR
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)