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Author Topic: Brother Card: A Question
Lanfear
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(First off, yes i am mormon, and for some reason the whole "Mr. Card" thing didn't quite flow well for me)

I am currently in my sophomore year in highschool and attend seminary everyday. My seminary teacher is a really smart guy, and i value his opinion alot but it differs from that of my father. I was just curious what your opinion on the issue is.

The issue: Some Mormons believe that all those scriptures about "becoming like unto god" actually mean becoming a god, and in essence ruling your own planet. My seminary teacher avidly believes this and teaches it to the class as mormon doctrine. My dad hates the idea and says its completely wrong. So my questions to you are
1) DOes the church have an official stance on this issue
2) What is your personal opinion regarding it

Any Help would be appreciated

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calaban
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Sorry I know I'm not OSC. but I am LDS.

1. The LDS church does not particularly have an official stance on this subject. It is not a question you will be find an answer for in your sunday school manual. There is very little scriptual reference to this concept either.

2. My opinion is irrelevant as you don't know me from Adam. However I do offer this advice, study the teaching of Joseph Smith, he has some interesting things to say about the nature of God and the potential inherent within each of us.

One last bit of advice, however well meaning or fervent a person may be in stating thier percieved truth it doesn't mean that it is truth. Listen to people and then find the truth for yourself through study and the Spirit.

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tern
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Yeah, as an Latter-Day Saint, I'd say he's treading perilously close to apostasy - specifically, he's teaching unofficial doctrines as if they were canon. Is it true? Possibly, but as it hasn't been revealed clearly from the Prophet, it isn't official doctrine. You may wish to bring it up with him or if he isn't receptive, the bishop (as it's his responsibility) that are unsure of the validity of the doctrine.
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Taalcon
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quote:
Some Mormons believe that all those scriptures about "becoming like unto god" actually mean becoming a god, and in essence ruling your own planet. My seminary teacher avidly believes this and teaches it to the class as mormon doctrine
I'm wondering how your teacher puts it. Since you say 'in essence', I wonder how much is quotes, and how much is inference.

We are taught that, being LITERAL children of God, we do have the divine potential to grow up to be like him - we are told in Scripture that the faithful are to be "joint-heirs with Christ" of the Kingdom of God.

We are also taught that those who attain the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom will be able to continue to have Spirit offspring.

We are also taught, "As man is now, God once was. As God is now, we may become"

Put whatever labels on it you want, but this is the teaching.

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macnewbold
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As another Latter-Day Saint, I'd say that both ways are something to prayerfully study and ponder, if you're really interested in learning more about it. Moroni 10:3-5 definitely applies here, as does James 1:5. Talking to your bishop about it is also very good counsel, and should go along with the prayer and study.

Another way to look at it is that this is one of those doctrines that isn't critical to our salvation or exaltation. Not worrying about it wouldn't be a bad course of action if it is something that bothers you. Knowing the "mysteries" isn't very important in the grand scheme of things, but knowing and obeying the laws of God definitely is.

Secondly, speaking as someone who agrees with your seminary teacher, from what you've said, I'm curious to know the way you or your father understand those scriptures. I don't remember hearing them explained any other way. Perhaps the most well-known quote that expresses the way I feel about it is "As man is now, God once was. As God is now, man may become." What are your thoughts about this issue?

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Taalcon
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quote:
1. The LDS church does not particularly have an official stance on this subject. It is not a question you will be find an answer for in your sunday school manual. There is very little scriptual reference to this concept either.
Yes it certainly does, and yes it IS in the Sunday School Manual.

Here's a link to the whole chapter on the doctrine of Exaltation.

This is in GOSPEL PRINCIPLES, the Sunday School manual for investigators and New Converts.

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Catseye1979
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My advice would be to ask your Bishop, that's what bishops are for. When ever you have questions about doctrine like that, bishops are the best to ask. The other option is to pray and ask god. He dosen't like confusion so he'll most certainly help you out.
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TomDavidson
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quote:

Another way to look at it is that this is one of those doctrines that isn't critical to our salvation or exaltation.

Um....Isn't it? In fact, isn't it what you take "exaltation" to mean?
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Lanfear
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My father is just spouting what his father says.. Sad but true.

I came to understand the scriptures "Like unto god" to just mean that we would become godlike.

But the seminary teacher says that we'll be abl eto have our own planets. But even here, the opinion is split. So i guess i'll just have to pray about it.

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archon
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You'll be able to have your own planets in the upcoming video game SPORE, too!!!
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Sid Meier
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heh, sorry to make a crack at this but.... "in essence ruling your own planet" sounds like a game of risk to me. [Smile]
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Taalcon
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quote:
But the seminary teacher says that we'll be abl eto have our own planets.
I don't think you'll find that particular thing in canon - that's speculation. But responsibility over Spirit Children IS doctrine.
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King of Men
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Well, Sid, considering the history of our own planet, who's to say we aren't pawns in a giant game of Risk?
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Occasional
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I have to agree with everything that Taalcon has said. The exact teaching of "ruling your own planet" is speculation and hyperbole, but it is based on implications. The teaching isn't that we will become gods (as in an all powerful Divine manifestation of an omniscient being). Rather, it is that we will become Fathers and Mothers of Spirit Children as our own Heavenly Parents are to us. The teaching is about becoming part of a Heavenly Family, and not about becoming a Heavenly Power. For Latter-day Saints the expression "with great power comes great responsibility" is amplified megafold.

I think it comes down to this:

When Latter-day Saints think of "God" they think Parents.

When others think of "God" they think Dictator.

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TomDavidson
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Perhaps you'd like to use the phrase "some others" instead of "others," just to be more charitable?
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Occasional
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Perhaps . . . But, then look who is suggesting. Mr. Charitable himself. [Roll Eyes]
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Shan
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Oh heck, Tom - a little all-encompassing judgement never hurt anyone. (snort)

Myself - I was going to ask what the difference was. Having been raised by Mormon parents and all. Although, to be fair, perhaps my father's parenting style had more to do with his job as a vice cop, wherein all us'n's were automatically presumed guilty and afforded little opportunity to prove otherwise . . .

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Occasional
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Admit it, how many think of "Father and Mother" in its basic meaning when they think of "God" (if they think of Mother at all)? Not many, and perhaps not even LDS at all times. But, for LDS, "Parents" is thought of as more than a conceptual symbol when talking about God.
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Shan
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Well, let's see - there are many other religions out there (the more tribal sort) that have regarded God as "mother" for a long time.

I was raised to pray to my "Heavenly Father", and to a degree that gives me a certain amount of comfort, especially since I also pray to a Heavenly Mother.

However, my parents (and their parents) were really rather dictatorial, in many ways. And I am not talking about things like curfews, dating age, permission for overnights with friends, etc. Pretty much, if I were told the sky was blue on a gloomy day, I was expected to deny the reality and go along with the "sky is blue." There was NO room for differing opinions, tastes, likes, dislikes - hell, you could even agree with whatever had been said, and still be flat-out wrong five seconds later. Anyway - linking a "mormon" belief of parent to a benevolent God twanged on my nerves, especially when contrasted with a blanket statement that all others believed in a "dictator" God.

That is all.

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