Did GOD create E V E R Y T H I N G according to Mormonism?

[LittleNipper]

So, as a Bible Believing Christian ---- I understand the reality that GOD created everything, and that everything that exists apart from GOD was created by GOD. Is this what LDS believe?

[Shulem]

Mormons teach that the God of this universe (Heavenly Father/Elohim) is responsible for everything created and contained in our universe but He is not the creator outside His own universe. The King Follett Discourse makes it absolutely clear that God has a Father who created him. Heavenly Father has brothers and sisters who are also gods and create their own universes.

In the sermon, Joseph taught about divine nature and eternal progression. He countered the long-standing theological tradition that treated God as wholly different than humanity. He explained that “if men do not comprehend the character of God they do not comprehend themselves.” He taught that God “was once as one of us” and that “all the spirits that God ever sent into the world” were “susceptible of enlargement,” having the capacity to become like God in the eternities.

So, technically speaking, Mormon God is not the creator of all things outside his own domain. He bows his knees to his own Heavenly Parents who created him and in turn made him a god. But prior to that, one may speculate that Heavenly Father was a thief, robber, and perhaps even a rapist, but was forgiven of his sins and was made a god.

I hope that helps answer your question about Mormon God.

[Shulem]

everything that exists apart from GOD was created by GOD.

What of things made by the hands of man? God doesn't make everything. Right?

[Limnor]

So, as a Bible Believing Christian ---- I understand the reality that GOD created everything, and that everything that exists apart from GOD was created by GOD. Is this what LDS believe?

No.

In fact, according to D&C 93:29: Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.

Which means you were eternal before, as an intelligence, but god made a way for you to be embodied in a glorified body.

All of that is caveated, of course, with the understanding that a current prophet could reinterpret that revelation.

[LittleNipper]

everything that exists apart from GOD was created by GOD.

What of things made by the hands of man? God doesn't make everything. Right?

Man manufactures things from preexisting ingredients. GOD made all the ingredients and also necessary math and formulations. I mean GOD allowed Adam to name the various animals, however, GOD made the animals. Man makes glass out of GOD's silica --- the same could be said of computer chips.

[LittleNipper]

So, as a Bible Believing Christian ---- I understand the reality that GOD created everything, and that everything that exists apart from GOD was created by GOD. Is this what LDS believe?

No.

In fact, according to D&C 93:29: Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.

Which means you were eternal before, as an intelligence, but god made a way for you to be embodied in a glorified body.

All of that is caveated, of course, with the understanding that a current prophet could reinterpret that revelation.

GOD is LOVE. Which came first GOD or LOVE? I don't believe man existed with GOD. And the Bible indicates what D&C 93:29 States is contrary to what the Bible has to say. GOD the FATHER is SPIRIT according to the Bible.

[Shulem]

GOD is LOVE.

Yes. I agree with that.

Which came first GOD or LOVE?

?

Please tell, Bible Chapter and verse: _____________

I don't believe man existed with GOD.

I assume you base that on a Genesis evangelical Christian reading/interpretation. Are there any other words of God that predate the Genesis account? How about while angels were rejoicing in the presence of God prior to the creation of planet earth? Are you familiar with those records, Nipper? Have you read them?



Do tell.

[Limnor]

No.

In fact, according to D&C 93:29: Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.

Which means you were eternal before, as an intelligence, but god made a way for you to be embodied in a glorified body.

All of that is caveated, of course, with the understanding that a current prophet could reinterpret that revelation.

GOD is LOVE. Which came first GOD or LOVE? I don't believe man existed with GOD. And the Bible indicates what D&C 93:29 States is contrary to what the Bible has to say. GOD the FATHER is SPIRIT according to the Bible.

Fair enough. You asked if LDS believe in creation ex nihilo, essentially. The answer is no, they don’t.

A follow on question might be whether the canon is considered closed and authoritative. For example, if a prophet can clarify but not contradict previous revelation, what is the criteria to distinguish clarification from contradiction?

[Shulem]

A follow on question might be whether the canon is considered closed and authoritative.

It can’t be closed so long as prophets/witnesses are opening their mouths and speaking in the name of God:

And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

Perhaps Bible expert LittleNipper would like to tell us exactly what those guys are going to say?

Tell us, LittleNipper. Do you know exactly what they are going to say?

Quote it here:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

[huckelberry]

Mormons teach that the God of this universe (Heavenly Father/Elohim) is responsible for everything created and contained in our universe but He is not the creator outside His own universe. The King Follett Discourse makes it absolutely clear that God has a Father who created him. Heavenly Father has brothers and sisters who are also gods and create their own universes.

In the sermon, Joseph taught about divine nature and eternal progression. He countered the long-standing theological tradition that treated God as wholly different than humanity. He explained that “if men do not comprehend the character of God they do not comprehend themselves.” He taught that God “was once as one of us” and that “all the spirits that God ever sent into the world” were “susceptible of enlargement,” having the capacity to become like God in the eternities.

So, technically speaking, Mormon God is not the creator of all things outside his own domain. He bows his knees to his own Heavenly Parents who created him and in turn made him a god. But prior to that, one may speculate that Heavenly Father was a thief, robber, and perhaps even a rapist, but was forgiven of his sins and was made a god.

I hope that helps answer your question about Mormon God.

The idea that God created the whole universe in LDS view is a bit new to me but the limits of his creation was not clear to me. Come to think of it the limits of "this universe" is not at clear to me either.

I am not sure that the idea of making from some eternal material is clearly unbiblical .creation exnilo is very traditional teaching and is perhaps correct but I do not know of clear biblical teaching.

Augustine speculated that matter being created from nothing was a source of defect or deficiency for matter. Maybe it is better to think of matter as eternal. A sort of shadow of the eternal God.

I am pulling the Augustine clip from a very old memory from my reading. I cannot remember the location so feel free to consider it a Huckelberry thing if you don't like it