Mormons (LSD)! Why do you sacrifice your true essence to appear more Orthodoxy?

Question

This is the Mormonism I love...

Joseph Smith said, "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, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power... Intelligent beings are organized to become Gods, even the Sons of God, to dwell in the presence of the Gods, and become associated with the highest intelligences that dwell in eternity. We are now in the school, and must practice upon what we receive."

Orthodoxy and Catholicism is greatly corrupted by editing, Nicea Assembly, other councils, and reformers. Why try to be like them? And why don't you accept the Thomas Gospel, its not like it contains things that isn't in Mormonism. Or do you?

I'm not saying Mormonism is perfect, but it has aspects which the church edited out the theology. ""As man is, God once was; as God is, man may be."

Stop attempting to be Orthodoxy and appease to their error! Be true to your essence, a lot of it is Gold.

RJ - lol no I'm not a Mormon, but I recognize the truth that exist within it.

imasis - Yeshua not only told man to, "Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect," (Mat 5:48) which puts man in a view that they can become perfect as God is perfect, or as it is translated further to become COMPLETE. But he also says in John 10, "Ye are gods." If Yeshua said it, how can it be blasphemy.

What that Mormon quote conveys is that "God" become complete, so much we become complete as well.

ellarosa - I agree, most of what people pray to is often a God created in the image of man, they pray and worship their constructs and are bound by their filter of beliefs. What most recognize as God in the universe are impersonal laws/forces which govern things. But God you must prove within yourself, as you have the capacity to and duty to.

Yeah that was a mistake in the question, Sunnyanna. However having such principles makes it impossible for you or any Mormon to be orthodox. It is impossible, because Orthodoxy views the interaction between God and man like a Monarchy system, where the king and his royal family we have nothing to do with. That we aren't children of God, but more like subjects to a king that we must worship.

Answer 1

OK. First off LDS (Latter-day Saints) - not LSD the hallucinogenic drug.

Secondly, the LDS religion has often been spoken of, including inside the church, as a people apart, unique in their beliefs and practices, - so I can't see where we are "trying to be like" anyone else, let alone everyone else - which in itself is an impossibility as most religious factions can't agree on more than a couple of points.

Third: Webster defines aspiration as the desire to achieve something high and great. I see nothing inconsistent with a genuine ambition to improve the existent self and eventually, our society.

The word aspire seems to carry, at times, a negative connotation. It is true that if one aspires to a position merely for self-gratification, with no ambition to serve his fellow beings, he is doing himself and his fellowmen a great disservice. I consider it worthwhile to aspire to something better than we are if it is done with the proper motives and purposes in mind.

It is certainly healthy to want to make something useful of your life. It is the object and design of the gospel for us as God’s children to become more like him. The Lord has admonished us to “be ye therefore perfect.” We are expected, then, to act upon and strive to obtain that objective.

The oft-quoted couplet, “As man is, God once was—as God is, man may become,” suggests that we develop a desire to achieve something high and great. I do not consider this wrong. In fact, it is our prime purpose in life. The various organizations and programs of the LDS Church are designed and aimed at the realization and fulfillment of that divine injuncture.

Obviously, if we are aspiring to improve ourselves or a program, either in or out of the Church, we must prepare to be a leader. There is a principle in life that suggests “there is no all at once.” We should recognize and endeavor to develop good characteristics and qualities that are evident in our leaders today. I would hope that all young people would want to emulate the example of a wonderful parent, stimulating teacher, motivating missionary, spiritual stake patriarch, capable stake president, good bishop, or warm, wonderful home teacher - or better yet, the most perfect and divine - God. We should all shoot for the stars.

and fourth, should revelation be put forth to accept the Gospel of Thomas as scripture, it would be so and we would. However, until such time, it is just another finding and may or may not hold some truth, which might possibly be gleened for the individual, and not be recognized as a scripture holding gospel truth and doctrine.

Answer 2

You mean "More orthodox". "Orthodoxy" is the noun.

Your question basically is about why the LDS church does not widely or openly preach doctrines such as this - that we may potentially becomes Gods - in order to appear orthodox. Firstly, it does. The missionaries do teach investigators that we believe that we are God's children and have the potential to become like Him. However we don't see that as a major doctrine so it doesn't get a lot of "pulpit time". Basically that possiblity of acheiving that is such a long way off that right now we just need to learn to love God and follow Jesus as best we can.

I do not accept that we are unorthodox in preaching this doctrine. CS Lewis believed it (see Mere Chrsitianity, pages 174-175) and he is accepted as Christian and orthodox.

I can't comment on the Thomas gospel as I know nothing about it.

Answer 3

To come off as more acceptable-not the lunatic fringe. Ironically, Orthodox can be pretty loony but god forbid any Orthodox Christian see it for his/herself.
To phrog-bettering ones' self and becoming God are different.
I totally agree with the monarchy thing-I've noted that before but never thought of it exactly in those terms. Thanks!

Answer 4

Contrary to what you are implying, our Church or Church Leaders or Prophet has made no indication of becoming like the other churches.
If we are, they would have accept us as one of them.

Answer 5

to the guy above me- CHirst did say " be ye perfect... " He did not say "be ye Gods". There is a big difference you know.

The idea of man becoming a God is blasphemy. There is one God and only one and there will remain only one God.

Edit: you are taking the verse that says "ye are gods" out of context, as most mormons do. Christ refers in this instance to a verse in psalms that talks about men being made judges over others, as representatives of God. Speaking to the Pharisees, he was making the point that as their position made them "gods" (judges, leaders etc...) that they should have known He was the Son of God based on their knowlege of OT prophesy.

Answer 6

in many religions this would be heresy, insubordination to god, putting yourself on the same level with god, hubris, in a word. when you think about it, any attempt to explain "god" or to speak for him/it, has always struck me as hubris, desperate arrogant guessing--that pretty much sums up all religion for me.

yeah, you guessed it. i'm agnostic.

Answer 7

I think it was Jesus who said "Be ye, therefore, perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect."

Could it be that what He said had a deeper meaning?

Answer 8

What is my true essence if it is not a child of God?

Answer 9

What the hell are you talking about? Are you Mormon?