Eternal Increase
First Presidency—Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, Charles W. Nibley; “Man is the child of God, formed in the divine image and endowed with divine attributes, and even as the infant son of an earthly father and mother is capable in due time of becoming a man, so that undeveloped offspring of celestial parentage is capable, by experience through ages and aeons, of evolving into a God” (in Clark, Messages of the First Presidency, 5:244).” – Also see The Origin of Man
Isaiah 43:10-11; “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. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.”
It seems I use this passage from the Bible a lot! I still remember seeing it for the first time not long after I left Mormonism and its impact some twenty years later is still felt every day!
How can this Mormon god who doesn’t hold enough power to create the universe out of nothing extend godhood to men? Where is the rationale in this?
And undeveloped offspring – really? That term sounds like a bad Star Trek episode… Where is God’s glory in this? How does this lead us into a closer relationship with Jesus or prompt us to hit our knees and worship Him?
As to your comment that these doctrine do no enhance our faith, the same could be said about much of the scripture.
Would you please cite where any GA has said that Father is not powerful enough to create the universe out of nothing. (Not that He chose to create it out of something, but that he is incapable of doing so.)
Spawnorion
“Through modern revelation we learn that the universe is filled with vast numbers of intelligences, and we further learn that Elohim is God simply because all of these intelligences honor and sustain Him as such… since God “acquired” the honor and sustaining influence of all things it follows as a corollary that if He should ever do anything to violate the confidence or “sense of justice” of these intelligences, He would cease to be God”.
(The First 2,000 Years, W. Cleon Skousen – Pages 355-356)
“To create is to organize. It is an utterly false and uninspired notion to believe that the world or any other thing was created out of nothing… (Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie – Page 169).
“That matter or element is self-existent and eternal in nature, creation being merely the organization and reorganization of that substance which “was not created or made, neither indeed can be”. (D&C 93:29) Mormon Doctrine – Page 589.
(Referring to the Creation) “Michael or Adam was one of these. Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Peter, James, and John, Joseph Smith, and many other “noble and great” ones played a part in the creative enterprise”.
(Doctrines of Salvation, Brigham Young – Volume I, Pages 74-75)
“In his creation of this earth he was assisted by Michael and other noble and great spirits”. (Abraham 3:22-24, Pearl of Great Price, as quoted from Mormon Doctrine – Page 170)
“Those who gain exaltation, having thus enjoyed the fullness of eternal progression, become like God. It should be realized that God is not progressing in knowledge, truth, virtue, wisdom, or any other of the attributes of godliness. But he is progressing in the sense that his creations increase, his dominions expand, his spirit offspring multiply, and more kingdoms are added to his domains”. (Doctrines of Salvation – Volume I, Pages 5-10).
Contrast
“God himself is increasing and progressing in knowledge, power, and dominion, and will do so, worlds without end. It is just so with us”. (Journal of Discourses, Wilford Wooddruff – 6:120).
“Through modern revelation we learn that the universe is filled with vast numbers of intelligences, and we further learn that Elohim is God simply because all of these intelligences honor and sustain Him as such… since God “acquired” the honor and sustaining influence of all things it follows as a corollary that if He should ever do anything to violate the confidence or “sense of justice” of these intelligences, He would cease to be God”.
(The First 2,000 Years, W. Cleon Skousen – Pages 355-356)
“That matter or element is self-existent and eternal in nature, creation being merely the organization and reorganization of that substance which “was not created or made, neither indeed can be”. (D&C 93:29) Mormon Doctrine – Page 589.
“To create is to organize. It is an utterly false and uninspired notion to believe that the world or any other thing was created out of nothing… (Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie – Page 169).
(Referring to the Creation) “Michael or Adam was one of these. Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Peter, James, and John, Joseph Smith, and many other “noble and great” ones played a part in the creative enterprise”.
(Doctrines of Salvation, Brigham Young – Volume I, Pages 74-75)
“In his creation of this earth he was assisted by Michael and other noble and great spirits”. (Abraham 3:22-24, Pearl of Great Price, as quoted from Mormon Doctrine – Page 170)
“God himself is increasing and progressing in knowledge, power, and dominion, and will do so, worlds without end. It is just so with us”. (Journal of Discourses, Wilford Wooddruff – 6:120).