Mormon Doctrine, p. 230; “Every man who reigns in celestial glory is a god to his dominions.” – Bruce R. McConkie (Note: this is also found on p. 322 in non-electronic format.)
Matthew 23:12; “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
This obviously defies what Jesus said in Matthew, and what God has consistently declared all throughout the Bible. Isaiah 43:10-11
It also contradicts Smith’s prophecy that only Satan would try to take God’s place. Does this mean Smith’s doctrine of eternal marriage is from Satan?
D&C 76:26-28; “And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning. 27 And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning! 28 And while we were yet in the Spirit, the Lord commanded us that we should write the vision; for we beheld Satan, that old serpent, even the devil, who rebelled against God, and sought to take the kingdom of our God and his Christ—”
Theosis (or the ability of man to become as God) is one of the most pure and remarkable doctrines of Mormonism and the Eastern Orthodox churches, not to mention first century Christianity. It’s built on the belief that we’re the children of God and are in his image.
As Father Kallistos Ware noted in his book, THE ORTHODOX WAY, “God became Man, so that Man could become God.”
The idea that there is only one God numerically is a myth, readily demonstrable from the scriptures. If not so there could be no Son or the Holy Spirit — only the Father. So how are the Father, Son and Holy Spirit ONE? Jesus answers it from his own lips. When praying to the Father concerning the Twelve, he said, “that they may be ONE, even as WE are ONE.” This means that in the same way the Twelve are ONE, Jesus and the Father are ONE. Not numerically, but one in purpose! Even the term “God” (Elohim) in Genesis is plural. Thus, let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness.
Even the apostle John states that it doth not yet appear what we shall be in the resurrection. But this he knew: “that when we see God, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) And if Jesus was resurrected with a flesh and bones body, and if our resurrection is like his, then the Father also must have a similar body of flesh and bones.
If we are coinheritors of “all that the Father has” with Christ, then we become ONE with the Father and the Son. That’s theosis.
See: http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_theosis.shtml for the true doctrine on this. It was an early Christian doctrine and was restored through Joseph Smith.
‘ Father Kallistos Ware’ is not God, nor is his God’s word. So what he has said makes no difference. We’re not automatically born God’s children, we being part is His family through adoption.
John 1:12 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:
Ephesians 1:5-6 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Other false teachings of Mormonism include:that we will become a God/god, and that God, the Father has a body of flesh and bone.
God is a spirit. John 3:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
There is no biblical support for their teaches.Mormonism has to go outside of what was written to say the bible supports their teachings.
1 John 3:2 is referring to when Jesus comes He will conform every believer to His image, His nature, without sin, without becoming a deity- Melissa Grimes