Quote Originally Posted by James Banta View Post
Is it not true, even in mormonism, that Jesus created (formed) this world? Does that not make Him God (Elohim)? And yet the Father is God (Elohim), as is the Holy Spirit. Three persons all called God.. And yet Moses by the Holy Spirit clearly states that YHWH, our ELOHIM is one YHWH (Deut 6:4).. How can this be? The LDS like you chose to ignore The teaching given through Moses in Deut 6:4 and hold Gen 1:26 "Then God [Elohim] said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness." Also given through Moses.

Can't there be a way to believe both scriptures? That would bring the doctrine of the Trinity up as the only way this can be done.. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three persons, yet are one God.. So the US, the OUR in Gen 1:26 are the three persons of God and yet their singularity is shouted in Deut 6:4.. Must we go through the fact and the supportive verses again that prove that each member of the Godhead is God? Even in that Jesus confirms the doctrine Moses was given that the YHWH our Elohim is one YHWH..

What did Joseph Smith teach as to the meaning of the words Elohim? Ye said "we have three Gods, at least they are plural.. Either he was right and we should all believe in him. Or he was wrong and only those who have allowed his half truth of God's nature fill their mind can believe him.. The rest of us believe God as He explains His nature that He YHWH, our Lord our God Elohim, is one YHWH.. Since it was taught and repeated by Jesus that is His truth. Since Elohim is a plural noun does that reflect three or more Gods. No It can't and keep the whole of the Bible true. So if you believe Smith you must believe in his teaching and hold that there are three Gods.. You either do so or admit that you are not a TBM but only one that will follow the prophets but not all the way..

You asked "does LDS doctrine teach that Jesus Christ was part of the Godhead prior to coming to earth?" The answer "it does part of the time but there was a time that he was not so".. So you can believe the half truth of mormonism again on this point and teach that He was divine in that state.. Never mind that He could skip all the required steps to receive exaltation, He just did..

Since there was no preexistence for any being that would p*** through a mortal state, other than Jesus, my first answer was correct: "The God of the Bible is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. He is not three Gods But one.. He is the God that has BEEN GOD from everlasting and will remain the only God to everlasting."

Have you not seen what the BofM teaches in 2 Nephi 31:21? There is no "In purpose" in that statement. It is clear that Smith taught that the three Persons of the Trinity are one God.. It is even used in the witness statement of the three witnesses (that Smith wrote and had them sign) Look for yourself it says "And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen." Again there is no "In purpose" stated or implied in that statement.. Then in Moroni 7:22 It is clearly stated that God is from everlasting to everlasting. And yet Smith taught that God became God.. That we have to learn how to become Gods ourselves (History of the Church Vol 6, Http://www.boap.org/LDS/History/History_of_the_Church/ search "learn how" to read the full context of Smith sermon..

Smith definitely teaches a different God than is written of in the BofM.. The God there is Triune. The God there has been God from everlasting and will continue to be the Only God to everlasting.. Smith reinvented his God and as the Armenians would say fell from grace. He walked away from the true and living God into the arms of false gods (Abra 4:1).. IHS jim
As you say I "confess" believing in three Gods, please just cut and paste where I said it. I am still waiting.