LDS Question: Are Jehovah and Elohim seperate Gods?

Question

LDS theology teaches that Jehovah is the preincarnate Jesus Christ, while Elohim is the formal name for the Heavenly Father. LDS theology also teaches that they are not the same God, which is blasphemous, but two distinct Gods who both comprise two Holy Personages of the Godhead.

In the King James Version of the Bible, the word Jehovah is the Elizabethan approximation of the actual Hebrew word YHWH, which is also translated as LORD. The word "God" is almost always a translation of the word "Elohim" from Hebrew. How does the average Latter-day Saint reconcile the verse Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel! The LORD (Jehovah) is our God (Elohim), the LORD is one!" with his or her LDS understanding of the meaning of those words? Is Jehovah actually God, or is the Bible incorrect and not to be trusted? Note, also, that the phrase "the LORD (Jehovah) our God (Elohim)" occurs numerous times throughout the Bible.

EDIT, I did not post that Jesus sits at the right hand of power because it does not pertain to the verse in Deuteronomy, nor how LDS understand it. If you would like to email me on this particular matter, my email is listed in my information.

Answer 1

No it is the same god - as is Allah.

Answer 2

Jehovah is an English translation and Elohim probably is as well. Semetic languages range and it's funny how we ask these stupid questions. Most Aramaic Languages and Semetic Languages are tribal and regional and only became dominate when used in trade or religious text which usually ment those people were supplying some type of need that people could use. Much of the theology comes from upper or lower Eygpt and is reproduce and revised through other people or dialects. The first bible was not produce until 300 hundred years after Jesus so how can we know for sure that much of it is not revised. Not to be technical but I believe in a Higher Being but I think we should read for moral guidance and not technical stuff like what was God and Jesus name. I am not a religious person but I do believe in striving for a spiritual and moral life which is not easy. Check out the link it's interesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Asiatic_languages

Answer 3

My answer goes with the majority. It is certain fact that Jehovah is the God of the Old Testament, otherwise known as Jesus Christ.

Elohim is the sacred name of God the Father, the Eternal Heavenly Father.

That makes Them two distinct, s e p a r a t e Holy Entities.

Accept it because it is the truth as manifested by the Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead.

Answer 4

Probably no one will read this, since after 5 minutes on R&S even good questions get lost, but perhaps you will read it, Ryan. My problem with questions like this (and I'm not LDS and often criticise that church) is when you take your own beliefs and interpretations of ambiguous Bible passages and then proceed to make a huge intuitive, and illogical, leap to say that anyone who doesn't believe precisely as you do is utterly wrong or blasphemous. That's what turns off most non-christians btw to christians on R&S: the I'm-totally-right-and-everyone-else-is-wrong attitude. It shows a lack of maturity.

Brother G, Fotomama, Robert, and especially Kerry have explained how Mormons interpret those passages where there certainly and clearly seems to be two personages talking or being prayed to.

Just don't be too quick to blow that off because it's not as clear cut as you may think it is.

Answer 5

Jehovah, Ahman, El, and Elohim are titles and could mean many things as far as LDS doctrine goes. I believe Jehovah to be Christ as well as Adam's direct Father-maybe adopter, just as we will be adopted into Christ's family eventually.

Mormons believe in multiple Gods, so this isn't really a problem for them to accept. The Earth was created by Elohim, Jehovah, and Michael. Old doctrine taught that this is a Godhead. Right now, it's changed into the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. It's a changing and reverting constant Godhead. The economy of heaven is confusing and still most of it is hidden. This is how I've understood it to work, anyway.

Just noted that we're assuming Lord=Jehovah and Elohim=God the Father. Look at Bruce R. McConkie's deal he calls, "Divine investiture of authority". He says that Christ is able to speak as God because of his complete faithfullness and like-mindedness. But I also think that the word, "Lord" is also a title.

Answer 6

Yes and No.

Jehovah is the personal name of the God.

Where Elohim is a generic term for a god. Such as the most high God Jehovah or when a being represents Jehovah in his place.

Exd 7:1 "And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god (Elohim) to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet."

Answer 7

Jesus Christ is Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament. God, the Father is the Father of all spirits, and a separate personage from Jesus Christ.
That is stated repeatedly in the Bible, particularly in the New Testament. And to use your phraseology, it might be considered "blasphemous" to contradict the Bible.

Here are to examples you "conveniently" seem to be ignoring.

First, the Old Testament:
Genesis 1:26 ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Notice it does not say, "Let ME make man in MY image, but US in OUR image....

Genesus 3:22 ¶ And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Again, note that the word is US..."man is become one of US, and not man has become like ME." That is plural, indicating Jehovah and God the Father are two beings.

Turning to the New Testament:
Matthew 3: 16-17
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

When Christ was baptized, a voice from heaven decalred gratitude that HIS SON was baptized. Why would God be pleased with himself if they were the same person? Would be very strange. It makes perfect sense with them being two beings.

Lastly, and there are many many more,
John 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

Christ is describing the events after the crucifixion, where he will return to heaven and meet God the Father. They are two beings. If they were the same, why would Christ go meet himself and say that he was greater than himself?

Answer 8

Christ is the God of the old testament. He created the earth under the direction of the Father. Have you ever considered the limitations of language, especially after several different translations? Maybe that is your point, but my point is that I have received a confirmation of the truth of the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel through the Holy Ghost, and that living prophets, who have not had to deal with the language constraints of translation, have testified of this doctrine and Joseph Smith indeed saw God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Answer 9

Short answer to your question, yes we believe this.

Sorry, I still don't see where the blasphemy of this comes in.

We believe that they are one in purpose (to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of mankind) and one in mind...not LITERALLY one being. If you recall at the baptism of Jesus Christ, God the Father (Elohim, if you will) spoke from Heaven saying "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased". So if they were the same being, then was Jesus a ventriloquist? Who else would utter these words?

Answer 10

holy God! jesus the Son! saviour and redeemer.
Joseph Smith taught plainly that jesus and God the Father were two separate persons.

if anyone reads the bible they will find that jesus prays to God, not to himself.

Answer 11

I have heard that the pope purposely changed the bible and that only the Mormons have the true translation. not saying that's what I believe but what I've heard. I'd like a Mormon response