Polytheism (Exaltation Doctrine)

Mormonism — Claim Examined

What Mormonism Claims

LDS teaches faithful men become gods of their own planets.

The Claim — In Their Own Framing

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) teaches a doctrine of progressive exaltation, wherein God the Father was once a mortal man who advanced to godhood, and faithful Latter-day Saints, particularly men, can follow a similar path to become gods of their own worlds. This concept is often summarized by the Lorenzo Snow couplet: "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become." This theological framework posits the existence of innumerable gods, with the Father of Jesus Christ being one among them, albeit the God of this specific world and its inhabitants. The ultimate goal for faithful LDS adherents is to achieve this divine status, which includes the ability to create and govern spirit children and their own planets. This stands in contrast to historic Christian monotheism, which affirms one eternal, uncreated, and unchanging God.

Where This Fails

This doctrine contravenes biblical monotheism.

The foundational texts of the Hebrew Bible unequivocally declare the singular nature of God. Deuteronomy 6:4 states, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." Isaiah reiterates this, asserting in 43:10, "Before me there was no God formed, nor shall there be any after me," and in 44:6, "I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no God." These declarations present a concept of God as utterly unique, uncreated, and without equals or predecessors, directly conflicting with the LDS assertion of God's prior mortality and the existence of other gods before and alongside Him.

LDS theology redefines God's immutable nature.

Classical Christian theology, informed by both Scripture and early church councils, consistently affirms God's immutability – His unchangeable nature and perfections. Malachi 3:6 states, "For I the Lord do not change." James 1:17 speaks of the Father of lights, "with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." The LDS doctrine of God progressing from mortality to godhood fundamentally contradicts this attribute, depicting a God who undergoes significant transformation and development rather than one who is eternally perfect and complete as the sole divine being. This divergence impacts the very essence of divine character.

The King Follett Discourse introduces novel doctrines.

Joseph Smith's King Follett Discourse, delivered in 1844, introduced the concept that "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!" (Discourses of Joseph Smith, 1956, p. 345). This teaching, foundational to LDS exaltation doctrine, lacks precedent in earlier Christian or even early Restorationist thought. It represents a significant theological innovation, presenting a deity who ascended to godhood rather than an eternally existing, uncreated being. This shift directly challenges the historical understanding of divine ontology within Abrahamic faiths, introducing a progressive, rather than inherent, divinity.

Exaltation to godhood lacks scriptural support.

The concept of humans becoming gods of their own worlds, with the power to create and populate them, is not found in the biblical canon. While passages like Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34 refer to mortals as "gods" or "sons of the Most High," contextually, these refer to judges or those to whom the word of God came, not to an ontological transformation into deity with sovereign power over creation. The New Testament emphasizes adoption as children of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17), but never equates this with becoming a god in the sense of an independent, creative divine being like the Creator.

Primary Source Evidence

The King Follett Discourse, delivered by Joseph Smith on April 7, 1844, is a seminal text for understanding the LDS doctrine of exaltation. In this discourse, Smith declared, "God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!" He continued, asserting that "we have imagined that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see." This teaching fundamentally redefines the nature of God the Father, positing Him as a being who progressed to His current divine status from a previous mortal existence, thereby establishing a precedent for human ascent to godhood. Smith further explained that "you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you" (Discourses of Joseph Smith, 1956, p. 345).

The Lorenzo Snow couplet, "As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become," encapsulates the essence of the LDS doctrine of exaltation. This statement, often quoted, underscores the belief in a cyclical progression of divine beings, where God the Father was once a mortal, and faithful Latter-day Saints can eventually achieve a similar state of godhood. Elder Stephen L Richards of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speaking in the October 1950 General Conference, stated, "We believe in this magnificent concept, that we may become like our Father in Heaven" (Conference Report, October 1950, p. 115). This doctrine is not merely an allegorical aspiration but a literal theological progression, wherein individuals, through obedience to LDS covenants and ordinances, can attain divine attributes and powers, including the ability to create worlds and govern spirit children.

The doctrine of plural gods is integral to the LDS understanding of exaltation. Joseph Smith taught in the King Follett Discourse that "there are Lords many and Gods many, but to us there is but one God" (Discourses of Joseph Smith, 1956, p. 346). This distinction implies the existence of numerous divine beings, with the God of this world being one among a multitude. Brigham Young, second President of the Church, further elaborated on this in his Discourses of Brigham Young, stating "How many gods there are, I do not know. But there never was a time when there were not gods" (Discourses of Brigham Young, 1941, p. 301). This concept differs significantly from traditional monotheistic faiths, which affirm the singular, uncreated, and eternal nature of the one true God without any preceding or co-existing deities.

LDS scripture supports the concept of progressive godhood through passages such as Doctrine and Covenants 132:19-20. This section outlines the blessings promised to those who enter into and abide by the new and everlasting covenant of marriage, stating they "shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set to guard the way to their exaltation; and then shall they be exalted in glory, and shall be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue and their children after them, even unto all generations." This passage explicitly links eternal marriage to the attainment of godhood and eternal increase, signifying a literal transformation into divine beings with capabilities for endless procreation and dominion, extending beyond the status of mere spiritual heirs.

The official Declaration on the Family, issued by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1995, states, "All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny." While not directly detailing the exaltation process, this declaration, widely considered a guiding document for LDS doctrine, underscores the belief in a pre-mortal existence with heavenly parents and a divine potential inherent in all individuals. This implies a lineage of godhood and a destiny that includes achieving a similar state, providing a framework for the concept of human deification within the family unit.

The Church's official essays, such as "Becoming Like God," published on LDS.org in 2014, explicitly address and affirm the doctrine of exaltation. The essay states, "The doctrine that humans can become like God is found in the Bible," referencing passages such as Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34, which, while interpreted differently by other traditions, are understood within LDS theology to support the idea of human deification. It further elaborates, "The belief that men and women can become like God is central to the gospel of Jesus Christ." This official publication unequivocally reinforces the core tenets of progressive exaltation, presenting it as a foundational and biblically supported doctrine within the LDS faith, clarifying the path to divine attainment.

Citations

  1. Smith, Joseph. History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Deseret Book Company (1978), Vol. 6, p. 302.
  2. Smith, Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Deseret Book Company (1976), p. 345-347 (King Follett Discourse).
  3. Snow, Lorenzo. The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow. Bookcraft (1984), p. 1.
  4. Young, Brigham. Discourses of Brigham Young. Deseret Book Company (1941), p. 301.
  5. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Doctrine and Covenants. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2013), Section 132:19-20.
  6. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The Family: A Proclamation to the World. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1995), Paragraph 2.
  7. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Gospel Topics: Becoming Like God. LDS.org (2014), Online Essay, Accessed 2023.
  8. McConkie, Bruce R.. Mormon Doctrine. Bookcraft (1966), p. 321 (Exaltation).
  9. Talmage, James E.. Articles of Faith. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1987), p. 430.

Related Reading

Key Scripture References

ReProof.AI Verdict

Isaiah explicitly says no other gods will ever exist.