What do you want to know about LDS beliefs? (Jesus Christ, priests)

[Squirt]

Originally Posted by thomas89

What then distinguishes between God, and a man who has become as God is?

C.S. Lewis said it much better than I could ever hope to:

"The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were “gods” and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him – for we can prevent Him, if we choose – He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) He own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful: but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said."

[barnabus]

I once read Mormon theology teaches that god used to be a man on another planet, that he became a god by following the laws and ordinances of that god on that world, and that he brought one of his wives to this world with whom he produces spirit children who then inhabit human bodies at birth. The first spirit child to be born was Jesus. Second was Satan, and then we all followed. Is this true or not? Explain.

[Squirt]

Originally Posted by barnabus

I once read Mormon theology teaches that god used to be a man on another planet, that he became a god by following the laws and ordinances of that god on that world, and that he brought one of his wives to this world with whom he produces spirit children who then inhabit human bodies at birth. The first spirit child to be born was Jesus. Second was Satan, and then we all followed. Is this true or not? Explain.

There is no official LDS doctrine that speaks of God's beginnings. We believe that all of God's children had a pre-mortal existence, that we lived in His presence prior to coming to earth. Romans 8:29 refers to Jesus Christ as "the firstborn among many brethren." Since He obviously wasn't the first of God's children to be born on this earth, His status as "firstborn" obviously refers to His spirit state. Acts 17:28 and Hebrews 12:9 respectively, explain that we are all not only God's creations, but His own "offspring," and that He is, in fact, the "father of [our] spirits." We are all sons and daughters of God. Jesus Christ has a unique place among all of God's children, however, because He is the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh. He was with His Father in the beginning and created worlds without number under His Father's direction. Satan (known pre-mortally as Lucifer) was at one time one of God's highly favored spirit offspring. However, when he rebelled against God and was cast out of Heaven, he forfeited the right to ever be known as a son of God again.

[barnabus]

If the Book of Mormon is true, why do Indians fail to turn white when they become Mormons? (2 Nephi 30:6, prior to the 1981 revision). Explain, if you will.

[barnabus]

If Moroni devoutly practiced the Mormon Gospel, why is he an angel now rather than a God? (Doc. & Cov. 132:17,37) Explain, if you will.

[barnabus]

If Moroni devoutly practiced the Mormon Gospel, why is he an angel now rather than a God? (Doc. & Cov. 132:17,37) Explain, if you will.

[SoyLeche]

Originally Posted by barnabus

If Moroni devoutly practiced the Mormon Gospel, why is he an angel now rather than a God? (Doc. & Cov. 132:17,37) Explain, if you will.

Because the Final Judgement hasn't happened yet. That was easy.

[SoyLeche]

Originally Posted by barnabus

If the Book of Mormon is true, why do Indians fail to turn white when they become Mormons? (2 Nephi 30:6, prior to the 1981 revision). Explain, if you will.

Even if that verse meant what you are wanting it to mean, it says nothing about a change happening when someone converts. It says specifically that it will happen after a few ("not many" is the words that it uses) generations. The LARGE majority of the "Lamanites" that are members of the church are converts. There aren't a whole lot of 3rd and 4th generation Mormons in Latin America - so we are still waiting for the full fulfillment of the prophecies concerning them.

That said, while many have hypothesised that skin color has something to do with it, that isn't necesarily the case.

[nutshell]

Any other questions, anyone?

[Revasser]

Hi nutshell!

I have a question, though it's not strictly about LDS beliefs.

Could you please explain to me the function of the Relief Society? I've never really had it explained in detail, and I'm curious!