Is the LDS version of "God" worth your worshipping?

[toon]

I think this is only a worthwhile exercise if you assume that the Mormon god actually exists. If he doesn't, then I see no point in worshiping a fiction. And I recognize that there's a spectrum in belief that we're dealing with, with various probabilities, So one one hand, it may be whether it is likely or likely-ish that he exists to likely or likely-ish that it's all fiction. So maybe the question is whether he's worth of worship assuming that he's in the "likely to exist" range of the spectrum.

Assuming he exists, my answer is yes, he's worth of worship. But then there's another question of whether I can feign worship. Say my dad's an extremely wealthy but abusive asshole. And all I have to do to remain in the will is to attend his birthday party and play nice for the last few years of his life, then I'd probably play the game. Sure, I could remain true to feelings and lose my inheritance, but I'm too materialistic for that. Likewise, the Mormon god is an asshole. The worst parent you could imagine, even if you believe in tough love.

Of course, in Mormonism, the wayward kids who hate dad have an out, as we still get the telestial kingdom, which sounds so less boring than the celestial kingdom.

[Markk]

Gospel Principles (a current teaching manual) teaches that all worthy men will have everything that your HF and Christ have…all “Power, Glory, Knowledge, and Dominion”…so, if a worthy male is 100% equal in all those attributes, where is there a need or room for worship of a God, when you are a God, equal in attributes with all other Gods?

Sorry? Unless you have a little useless crippled Y chromosome (in place of a second useful X chromosome as a backup), you can't get any of that stuff?

That's a ridiculous religion, clearly produced by a mind in thrall to the obsessions of patriarchy, which are produced by the need to keep intelligent and capable women in a subordinate place, for fear that some poor man's mediocrity might be challenged, and then he might cry ...

So what do women get to do to pass their time in the never-ending expanse of eternity? Let me guess ...

I’ll break the origins down even more, at least in my opinion. Mormonism started out as a way for Joseph to eke out a living, and being the opportunist he was, as the “religion” and nature of his concept of God unfolded, he just took it as it came, and ran with it…always one step in front of the “hang man.” His main weapon or “confidence” of choice to make this happen was “revelations from God.” Revelations got him in trouble, but equally got him out of trouble.

Three things which are a common denominator with these types of persons/leaders, whether religious or political in nature …money, power, and sex. I believe with Joseph Smith it was first money, he didn’t want to work for a living so he was always looking for “ a easier way.” Then he figured out he could by the power he was establishing by not only making money, but feeding his sexual needs.

If one wants to truly understand core LDS theology, and to be able to “listen between the lines” when the brethren speak today…study the early growth and inception of the “Everlasting Covenant” (ELC). Understanding section 132, and how it relates to Joseph, Emma…and William and Jane Law, is critical of the mindset that Joseph Smith and even Emma had during the last year of Joseph’s life, and how the ELC shaped and shapes Mormonism.

Joseph would actually promise Godhood to the family members of potential “brides,” for permission to marry (have sex with) their daughters. The Temples today, while masked in secrecy, basically champion Josephs original promise to his prospective “brides.” One can have a family forever, become a God …equal with in all power, knowledge, glory and dominion…if you submit to this “Everlasting Promise”…which Joseph invented in order to man whore around.

This is from GP…chapter 47…in regards to the fullness of the ELC… (Exaltation)

“They will have everything that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have—all power, glory, dominion, and knowledge (see D&C 132:19–20).”…

This is the Core of all LDS theology…everything else is a means to this end…and as BRM wrote; ”anything less is damnation”

[Doctor Steuss]

I have a hard time parsing out exactly what “worship” entails, or maybe I have an overly simplified concept of it.

Within the LDS framework (at least how I believed/understood it), God was literally a father. There wasn’t the separation of an unknowable incomprehensible otherness of deity found within most theism and deism. God was knowable, and relatable, and the relationship was mirrored inferiorly in our own familial relationships.

I “worship” my dad. He’s worth my worship. I adore him, I honor him (as best as I can), I give him gifts (sacrifices?) to show my appreciation, etc. The God of Mormonism was similarly a “Dad.”

It’s likely an incredibly heretical way of viewing the various aspects of deity within any type of Abrahamic tradition, but within Mormonism, the “father” honorific to me was literal -- at the very least as far as relationship structure went. Overly romanticized, and simplified, and probably even a bit naïve and intellectually lazy… but, it worked as a keystone of sorts in reconciling a lot of different stuff (problem of evil, King Follet, eternal nature of family, sealings, pre-existence teachings, “priesthood,” monotheistic and monarchal polytheistic teachings, etc.).

In those moments where I find myself wandering outside of my agnosticism, and feeling the pull of a pantheistic deism of sorts, I admittedly miss that feeling of familiarity with the divine that Mormonism provided me.

[KevinSim]

Given the LDS canon and the interactions with "God" of the Restoration of the 1820s, 30s and 40s, is the LDS god worthy of your worship?

Absolutely! The biggest problem with faiths that worship Jesus is that they believe God is literally omnipotent. The God that Latter-day Saints worship is not. Are there any other faiths that believe God is not? Anyhow, a deity that has the power to literally do anything, and still lets some souls suffer forever in extreme agony strikes me as morally deficient; I can't worship someone like that. But a deity who is limited by eternal laws but still accomplishes great things, I can bring myself to worship.

[Rivendale]

Given the LDS canon and the interactions with "God" of the Restoration of the 1820s, 30s and 40s, is the LDS god worthy of your worship?

Absolutely! The biggest problem with faiths that worship Jesus is that they believe God is literally omnipotent. The God that Latter-day Saints worship is not. Are there any other faiths that believe God is not? Anyhow, a deity that has the power to literally do anything, and still lets some souls suffer forever in extreme agony strikes me as morally deficient; I can't worship someone like that. But a deity who is limited by eternal laws but still accomplishes great things, I can bring myself to worship.

Even if the lack of omnipotents could involve a higher law or rule that Mormon god is violating?

[KevinSim]

Absolutely! The biggest problem with faiths that worship Jesus is that they believe God is literally omnipotent. The God that Latter-day Saints worship is not. Are there any other faiths that believe God is not? Anyhow, a deity that has the power to literally do anything, and still lets some souls suffer forever in extreme agony strikes me as morally deficient; I can't worship someone like that. But a deity who is limited by eternal laws but still accomplishes great things, I can bring myself to worship.

Even if the lack of omnipotents could involve a higher law or rule that Mormon god is violating?

Mormon God didn't become God without fully understanding all laws, and doesn't violate any of them. That God works toward the greatest welfare possible for each human being, taking all those laws into consideration.

[doubtingthomas]

Mormon God didn't become God without fully understanding all laws

Is that official doctrine?

[Doctor Steuss]

Even if the lack of omnipotents could involve a higher law or rule that Mormon god is violating?

Mormon God** didn't become God without fully understanding all laws, and doesn't violate any of them. That God works toward the greatest welfare possible for each human being, taking all those laws into consideration.

**Your conception of Mormon God.

Once you weed out GA pet theories, and folk doctrines that are mistakenly perpetuated as more than they are, we're not exactly left with a whole lot regarding "Mormon God." It's all just a decorative tapestry woven from snippets that is draped over philosophically vapid pablum.

[Rivendale]

Even if the lack of omnipotents could involve a higher law or rule that Mormon god is violating?

Mormon God didn't become God without fully understanding all laws, and doesn't violate any of them. That God works toward the greatest welfare possible for each human being, taking all those laws into consideration.

Are you a transhumanist? This sounds like their general theological stance.

[Markk]

Even if the lack of omnipotents could involve a higher law or rule that Mormon god is violating?

Mormon God didn't become God without fully understanding all laws, and doesn't violate any of them. That God works toward the greatest welfare possible for each human being, taking all those laws into consideration.

To clarify, according to the Melk. PH teaching manual “Gospel Through The Ages” (Hunter)…paraphrasing…I believe it is safe to say that “no God, can become a God” unless they master all the eternal laws, by the power of the eternal law of the priesthood. Understanding is one thing, but fulfilling is another. The Articles of faith reflect this…that man “may” be saved, by full obedience to the “laws of the Gospel”…and of course “true salvation” to the saint is exaltation, eternal life, and Godhood.

If you were raised in the church you are basically haunted by the the “W” word…which is being found “worthy.” And full worthiness, or in simple LDS terms…“eternal life” means full obedience to th eternal laws of the gospel.

It is not, in my opinion, violating the eternal laws, but mastering them. All Mormons violate them, but by obedience to these eternal laws, one can be “Exalted!!!!”

I’ll leave you with this quote from the said teaching manual, on “how God became a God”… which by the way…DCP told me years ago that he had never heard of this doctrine or manual, until his in-laws gave him a copy of it…which shows the ignorance of maybe the most recognized LDS “apologist” of our generations, given this manual was written under the supervision of the likes of GA’s and future prophets like Talmage, JFS, Widstoe, Ezra Taft Benson, and others…

HOW HE BECAME GOD Yet, if we accept the great law of eternal progression, we must accept the fact that there was a time when Deity was much less powerful than He is today. Then how did He become glorified and exalted and attain His present status of Godhood? In the first place, aeons ago God undoubtedly took advantage of every opportunity to learn the laws of truth and as He became acquainted with each new verity He righteously obeyed it. From day to day He exerted His will vigorously, and as a result became thoroughly acquainted with the forces lying about Him. As he gained more knowledge through persistent effort and continuous industry, as well as through absolute obedience, His understanding of the universal laws continued to become more complete. Thus He grew in experience and continued to grow until He attained the status of Godhood. In other words, He became God by absolute obedience to all the eternal laws of the Gospel—by conforming His actions to all truth, and thereby became the author of eternal truth. Therefore, the road that the Eternal Father followed to Godhood was one of living at all times a dynamic, industrious, and completely righteous life. There is no other way to exaltation.


Remember how most of us here were offended by the “God Makers?” ….Before we came out of the cult…say what you will about whether or not Decker embellished and was overly dramatic in the book…his premise was spot on. Mormonism id a faith that makes God a man, and man a God…equal in nature, being and power….and “the church” through th e power of the PH and the temple…can make you a God!!!!