If the Mormon Scripture reveals that God the Father has a tangible body of flesh and that He cannot dwell in a man's heart. (D&C 130:3,22,23). Then the Holy Bible says.
John 4:24.
God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth."
2007-06-13 02:20:12 · 5 answers · asked by C R 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
God is Spirit, through Himself and the Holy Ghost. It is the Holy Ghost, acting upon divine investiture of God the Father and His essence that may dwell in a man's heart. It is the Holy Ghost that attests to the reality of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
We worship God in Spirit and in truth through the Son and the Holy Ghost.
All of us are spirits currently encased in a mortal tabernacle. Our spirits are touched by the Spirit of God and the Holy Ghost, attesting to the truthfulness of Diety.
The translation of John 4: 24 is better defined by Joseph Smith: "For unto such hath God promised his Spirit. And they who worship him, must worship in spirit and in truth."
2007-06-13 02:27:40 · answer #1 · answered by Guitarpicker 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because the Father and Son have tangible bodies, it is the purpose of the Holy Spirit, who does not have a body, to "dwell in man's heart." That is what D&C 130 says.
On John 4:24--God is Spirit in the same way that we are spirit---we are a spirit housed in a tabernacle of flesh. How else are we to worship him in Spirit if we are not the same type of spirit?
This verse should be compared to and taken the same way as scriptures like 1 John 1:5, "God is light," and 1 John 4:8, "God is love." God is not just "a" Spirit, the way that he is not literally just light or love, but those things are a part of Him.
2007-06-13 09:41:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It is important to look at as many verses as possible when trying to understand the scriptures. In some instances, there may only be one scripture on a certain topic. However, if more are available, then to look at only one scripture may be misleading, as it is in this instance.
For example:
God created man in his own image and likeness (Gen 1:27;5:1).
Moses saw God face to face (Gen 32:30).
In exodus, it mentions many of God's body parts: his feet (Ex 24:10), his finger (Ex 31:18), his face (Ex 33:11), and his back parts (Ex 33:23).
From the new testament, we learn that if we have seen Christ, we have seen the Father (John 14:9).
Chrst testified that after his resurrection he had flesh and bones, as his disciples had witnessed (Luke 24:39).
Many other scriptures testify that man and Christ are in the express image of God (2 Cor. 4:4, Philip. 2:6 & 3:21, Heb. 1:3, James 3:9).
The scriptures are clear that Christ had a body of flesh and bone both before and after the resurrection. We know that we too will be resurrected. It is also clear that Chirst is in the express image of God, as are we. The scriptures then tell us that "when he shall appear, we shall be like him."
All of this comes from the Bible. The Doctrine and Covenants and Joseph Smith's first vision merely support the testimony that has already been given in the bible. God does indeed live. Both He and our resurrected Savior have perfect, glorified and immortal bodies. I know this to be true as well.
I hope that this has helped. Please let me know if you have other questions.
2007-06-13 20:16:57 · answer #3 · answered by whapingmon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's talking about worshipping in spirit or spiritual.
We worship him in spirit. The Father, The Son and Holy Ghost are three personages who make up the Godhead.
2007-06-13 14:05:58 · answer #4 · answered by Brother G 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
See? God doesn't need to do anything, the Big Invisible Assistant does all the body infestation.
To be honest, most mormon teachings do NOT come from the Book of Mormon (or the Bible), but from the Doctrine of Covenants, which gives the nod to polygamy, every male a priesthood bearer, women get to be nothing except pregnant...
2007-06-13 12:19:50 · answer #5 · answered by Dances with Poultry 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋