Mormonism not polytheistic? Do Mormons know that?

[_Fionn]

As restorationists, Mormons fall outside the normal timeline. Yes, the church was founded in the early 19th century. But it is allegedly a restoration of Christ's original church, which places its theology somewhere between the polytheism of the egyptians/greeks/romans and the monotheism of the jews.

My question is do triune gods (be they 3 separate personages or 1 personage with 3 aspects) qualify as polytheism? I'm not sure if polytheism really captures that idea. If it does, than all Christianity is polytheistic.

And, to be fair, I don't think henotheism captures the essence of LDS theology either. It's just as close as I can get. Another concept related to both heno- and poly-theism is monarchical polytheism, which also seems to capture some of what Mormon theology claims about its god(s).

But really it's the plurality of gods which I have difficulty putting my finger on. There is a god of this world, worshipped by Mormons of this world, but there are also worlds without number, each of which has its own god/Jesus/holy ghost. I really don't believe there's a word which captures that.

[_Yoda]

I was always taught that Christ's sacrifice covered the sins of all beings on all worlds. That the reason he was crucified here on this earth was because this earth contained the most wicked and yet the most righteous of all worlds.

Jesus has always been identified as the one and only Savior. That there wasn't a need for any others to exist, even if we someday become Gods ourselves. He was the First Born and made the ultimate sacrifice.

Now who knows how much of what I was taught was a mixture of Mormon folklore and what is actual doctrine.

Anyone who wants to further clarify is welcome to.

[_Fionn]

Exactly, Liz. In mainstream Christianity, God/Jesus rules the entire universe. One atonement was all that was necessary for the infinity of space. There really isn't any other group out there that has gods/worlds without number which fall outside the earthly sacrifice/atonement of Jesus.

[_Yoda]

Exactly, Liz. In mainstream Christianity, God/Jesus rules the entire universe. One atonement was all that was necessary for the infinity of space. There really isn't any other group out there that has gods/worlds without number which fall outside the earthly sacrifice/atonement of Jesus.

I grew up LDS, and my beliefs have always mirrored mainstream Christianity in the concept of only Christ needing to make the ultimate sacrifice. His atonement covered the sins of all men throughout all time and inhabitants of all worlds past and present.

As far as I am aware, this is what is taught in the LDS Church of today. Gaz? Bob? Jason? Abman? Any other part time apologists care to comment?

[_KimberlyAnn]

First, welcome, Fionn! I like your avatar.

Second, Liz, I grew up believing there were other "Christs" of other worlds, though I'd heard the theory that Christ's sacrifice was for all time and for all people, including those children of other gods on other planets.

I'd even heard the theory that God the Father was once a Christ, or Son/Jesus figure of another planet before he progressed to full Godhood. When I was a little girl, one of my mother's friends was chatting in our living room and wondered out loud if all people destined for godhood would have to suffer as Christ suffered. I couldn't sleep that night worrying that I'd one day be nailed to a cross, too.

KA

[Anonymous]

Clearly LDS believe Jesus was God before he was born and one with the Father but not one the way traditional Christianity does. Just read the Book of Mormon title page, the Book of Mormon and the Book of Moses.

If Jesus was God before He was born, then why did Elder Holland say he died a spiritual death this past conference?

How can a God lose the Spirit?

"None were with Him" by Elder Holland

With all the conviction of my soul I testify that He did please His Father perfectly and that a perfect Father did not forsake His Son in that hour. Indeed, it is my personal belief that in all of Christ’s mortal ministry the Father may never have been closer to His Son than in these agonizing final moments of suffering. Nevertheless, that the supreme sacrifice of His Son might be as complete as it was voluntary and solitary, the Father briefly withdrew from Jesus the comfort of His Spirit, the support of His personal presence. It was required; indeed it was central to the significance of the Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill nor done wrong nor touched an unclean thing had to know how the rest of humankind—us, all of us—would feel when we did commit such sins. For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly, hopelessly alone.

Aside from the obvious paradox contained within Elder Holland's talk (of God leaving us alone) that would be interesting to discuss in another thread, I really am interested in understanding how Jesus, the divine person and God whose spirit is to be with us, could have died a "spiritual death."

[_Seven]

First, welcome, Fionn! I like your avatar.

Second, Liz, I grew up believing there were other "Christs" of other worlds, though I'd heard the theory that Christ's sacrifice was for all time and for all people, including those children of other gods on other planets.

I'd even heard the theory that God the Father was once a Christ, or Son/Jesus figure of another planet before he progressed to full Godhood. When I was a little girl, one of my mother's friends was chatting in our living room and wondered out loud if all people destined for godhood would have to suffer as Christ suffered. I couldn't sleep that night worrying that I'd one day be nailed to a cross, too.

KA

Kimberly, I've heard the exact same things from other Mormons when we would discuss Godhood.

[_bcspace]

Kimberly, I've heard the exact same things from other Mormons when we would discuss Godhood.

The real question is do any of those qualify as doctrine?

[_Mercury]

Kimberly, I've heard the exact same things from other Mormons when we would discuss Godhood.

The real question is do any of those qualify as doctrine?

Tilting at windmills again?

[_Fionn]

The real question is do any of those qualify as doctrine?

I'm sorry, but what does this actually mean? And what IS "doctrine" in this instance?