MORMONISM (LDS)

 

 

Apotheosis, or simply “theosis,” is the belief that humans can become gods. This belief is found in many forms throughout the religions of the world. In much Eastern thought, we are already God, the universal consciousness. We just have to realize it. Meanwhile, panentheism claims that everything is God, even the physical world, while pantheism maintains that God is in all things.

 

Mormon (LDS) doctrine claims that as both God and Jesus had become Gods through their labors, we too can become Gods. One popular Mormon quote, which is often attributed to the early Mormon leader Lorenzo Snow (1837), reads, “As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be.”

 

This is consistent with other Mormon writings:

 

·       God undoubtedly took every opportunity to learn the laws of truth and as He became acquainted with each new verity He righteously obeyed it…As He gained more knowledge through persistent effort and continuous industry, as well as absolute obedience, His understanding of universal laws continued to become more complete…until He attained the status of Godhood…He became God by absolute obedience to all the eternal laws of the Gospel. (The Gospel Through the Ages)

 

According to Mormonism, if god was able to become God through His great diligence, so should we. However, this will prove humbling as we see ourselves as we truly are. In response, we will feel coerced to suppress the ungodly aspects of ourselves and to continually experience this battle.

 

More importantly, Scripture does not support apotheosis. The saints in heaven are not seen worshipping each other but God alone (Revelation 6:10; 7:10, 15-17). These portraits demonstrate that we will not be equal with God but dependent upon Him.

 

Nor should we worship those who seem to be further along the road to God-ness. Instead, we are a brotherhood. Consequently, we mutually love and submit to one another:

 

·       giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:20–21)

 

Nor should our elders demand submission:

·       So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:1–3)

 

There are no Gods among us. Instead, we are all one in Christ:

 

·       There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

 

This is consistent with other verses which consistently claim that we were all created in the likeness of Him (Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6) but not identical with Him. We are also emerging from our fallen-ness to become more like Him:

 

·       …be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:23-24)

 

Meanwhile, He is working everything for the good of each of us. This is a process:

 

·       …He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:4; 2 Cor. 3:18; Romans 8:29)

 

However, we become partakers of our Lord and not co-equals. However, this process of being conformed into Godlike-ness will not be completed until He returns for us:

 

·       Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)

 

·       Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:49, 51; Phil. 3:21)

 

The Biblical promise is not that we shall be gods but God-like. Therefore, in heaven, we shall not be worshipping one another but God alone. This is why Jesus prayed:

 

·       “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24; Revelation 21:22-23)

 

Instead of becoming God, we are weak and dependent upon God:

 

·       Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God. (2 Corinthians 3:5)

 

·       “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4–5)

 

 Besides, God does not change. He always is  God:

·       Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Knowing these things should dash any false expectations that we can work our way up to God-hood. Therefore, we should be seeking to glorify our Savior rather than our own glorification.