God is Our Literal Father, Brigham Makes Scripture…
We all know how it is with Mormonism. After studying it for any length of time the shock value wears itself thin and then every once in awhile something I’ve not seen before comes slithering across my desk – such is the case with the speech given here by Mr. Brigham Young.
The Essential Brigham Young, “I Propose to Speak Upon a Subject that does not Immediately Concern Yours or My Welfare” A Sermon Delivered on 8 October 1854, pgs 89-90; “I feel prepared to take my text; it is the words of Jesus Christ, but where they are in the Bible I cannot tell you now, for I have not taken pains to look at them. I have had so much to do, that I have not read the Bible for many years. I used to be a Bible student; I used to read and study it, but did not understand the spirit and meaning of it…My clerks know how much time I have to read, it is difficult for me to snatch time enough even to eat my breakfast and supper, to say nothing of reading.”
It sounds like Mr. Young had his priorities out of sync. While there are indeed more responsibilities when you’re in a leadership position – the first thing you must do is read His word and be on your knees.
His words are rather telling…he’s a prophet of God yet he hadn’t read the Bible in many years?
“I tell you my text is in the Bible and reads as follows. “And this is Life Eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.””
Well that verse is from Jesus’ own mouth in the Lord’s Prayer. He prayed this prayer for the disciples after taking communion and partaking of the Passover supper.
John 17:3; “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
“I will now put another text with this and then offer a few remarks, it is one of the sayings of the Apostle Paul. “For though there be that are called gods, whether in Heaven, or in Earth (as there be gods many and lords many) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”
The scripture he quotes here is from Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians to abstain from the vanity of idols.
1 Corinthians 8:5-6; “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”
We must remember the Ten Commandments at all times. Living in the age of grace doesn’t exclude us from being obedient to His word!
Exodus 20:3; “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
While the Mormons may tell you they only worship the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4 is a good verse to point out), the whole idea they believe another god existed before the One and Only God of the Bible is indeed breaking the 2nd Commandment!
In Paul’s exhortation he wanted to make it clear that God doesn’t want us to worship any other thing or god other than Him. He’s invited us into His spiritual presence to partake of His blessings and goodness. Working to become a god yourself is turning your back on Him.
We’re called to come into His presence through the workings of the Holy Spirit. How can God impart His Spirit to us when we’re busy working to build our own kingdoms for a future event? Our focus is then shifted from Him to us (me).
Remember Mark 12:29 – Hear O Israel our God is One!
“This God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Father of our spirits. I feel inclined here to make a little scripture. (Were I under the necessity of making scripture extensively I should get Brother Heber C. Kimball to make it, and then I would quote it. I have seen him do this when any of the Elders have been pressed by their opponents, and were a little at a loss…”
Wow – alarm bells, red flags and blow horns should all be going off in your head at about this point!
He’s going to make a little scripture? And when he doesn’t do this then Kimball does? Did God tell them to write more scripture? If Young hadn’t read the Bible in years and didn’t know the location of the scripture he was quoting how would he know if the scripture he’s coming up with is from the Lord?
“This God is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ precisely as He is our Father varying from mortality to immortality, from corruptible to incorruptible, and that is all the difference. He is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, both body and spirit; and He is the Father of our spirits, and the Father of our flesh in the beginning.”
Again the red flags, blow horns and loud screeching noises should be going off all around you!!!
How exactly is God the father of our flesh?
“You will not dispute the words of the Apostle, that He is actually the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Father of our spirits[.] You may add these words to it, or let it alone, it is all the same to me, that He is not only the Father of our spirits, but also of our flesh, He being the founder of that natural machinery through which we have all obtained our bodies.”
And this is scripture? What machinery is he talking about?
God is the Father of our spirits through adoption as Paul told us in Romans 8:14-16; “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
If we’re children through the physical act of man then what did the Apostle John mean in his gospel when he was explaining the nature of Jesus’ existence before His birth? John 1:12-13?
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
“Do you wish me to simplify it?”
Oh dear…
“Could you have a father without having a grandfather; or a grandfather without having a great grandfather? I never heard of [but] one circumstance that varied from this rule, and that was a son of the Emerald Isle who said he was born of one of his aunts.”
Let’s forego the whole Emerald Isle thing and look at what he’s implying here since he told us this is now scripture.
So God must’ve come here to earth to impregnate a female to get the whole human family off and running. This teaching is alluding to the false teaching of Adam being God. By this time Young had already introduced this teaching two years prior (See Journal of Discourses 1:51). Today the Church denounces this theory and has cautioned members from believing the teachings of Young in regards to this.
“Does this unlock to your understandings how the Lord Almighty is our natural Father; He set the great machine to working. If you cannot see this truth now, you will if you are faithful, and patient.”
What is clear now is that Mr. Young is a false prophet and because of that we aren’t to trust anything he has to say – ever.
And he’s saying, Timothy, you be an example. Timothy’s preaching, his authoritative preaching, is to be preceded by a life that exhibits the fruits of that authoritative preaching. He is to practice what he preaches. And my friends, all true Christian profession shows itself in how we live. And so if Timothy is to be an example to us as believers in these five areas, then we ought to be examples to one another in these five areas. Are you praying that the Lord would grow you in those five areas? Are you praying for your brothers and sisters in Christ here at First Presbyterian Church that they would grow in these areas and be an encouragement to you? And that we collectively would be a witness to the world that God has done a work in our hearts, and therefore in us there is appropriate godly speech and conduct, and love and faith and purity? That’s a good prayer to pray for one another, and it’s certainly something for us all to aspire to, whether we’re ministers or not.
It amazing how little people actually know about Mormans and how quick people will make up stuff to make Mormons look bad, but I guess that’s what has always happened to true prophets on the earth just read the bible and you will see how there were people that said Christ was a false prophet too. I guess Mormans are in good company and by their fruits you will know them, they help more non Mormans in this world than the world will ever know