AboutMichael Kelley Expertise For a different viewpoint on Mormonism for your questions, try me. I am a staunch believer in the Book of Mormon and belong to another church (the Church of Christ)that is set up identically to the Biblical church. If there are things about traditional Mormonism that trouble you or you have questions about, just ask and you might find the answers from the Book of Mormon to be quite surprising. I have been studying the scriptures diligently for 16 years under the school of hard knocks... I may not have all of the answers but will sure go find them if I don`t. I`m strongest on Biblical and Book of Mormon doctrines, and am also somewhat familiar with Mormon history and archaeology.
Question Does God exist in a physical body? A body of flesh and bone? Did God start with a mortal body (like mine) and develop into being God (as he is now)?
I have just recently started reading the Book of Mormon after living a life as a Lutheran
Answer Hi Charlie,
I will be happy to answer your question. Please note that I am ex-LDS and belong to the Church of Christ that believes in the Book of Mormon.
I know that originally God did not have a physical body because of the following scriptures:
Ether 3:9 And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this?
1 Corr. 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
These and other scriptures indicate that God (which is comprised of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost) did not have flesh before the birth of Christ. The scriptures also teach that corruptable humans such as we who have physical bodies that die cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven.
However, once Jesus was resurrected and given an incorruptable perfect body... does this mean he can enter heaven with a perfected physical body? Perhaps so... there is not much written about it. The Bible says he ate fish and was touched by others after his resurrection so we know he had a physical body. I believe it is possible that perfected physical bodies can enter heaven. Those who are innocent and the righteous shall also be resurrected and given perfected bodies that cannot die and they shall also enter heaven.
You will find as you read the Book of Mormon that it teaches the very same gospel as the Bible does. Unfortunately, the largest Restoration faction... the Utah LDS Mormons, have many teachings that are not mentioned in either the Bible nor BoM (Book of Mormon). In many ways the Bible and Book of Mormon condemn these doctrines, sometimes harshly so. What are some of these doctrines?
1. The past practice of polygamy which they do not practice today but used to and still justify their past leaders who did. The BoM bitterly condemns this practice calling it a whoredom and abomination, no exceptions.
2. Racial discrimnation against African blacks. The BoM teaches all are equal in God's eyes. The LDS recently renounced that practice.
3. The 1st President. A single man with papal like powers who can teach doctrines opposite of Christian doctrines, who can alter scripture etc. The BoM terms this as a priestcraft and abomination to God. It teaches, like the Bible, that Jesus is the head of the church, and that God chose 12 Apostles to be overseers or servants to the church... not Lords or idols.
4. Celestial Marriage... LDS believe those who are sealed in their temples will inherit the 3rd degree of glory and become Gods eternally procreating spirit children as heavenly fathers and heavenly mothers. The BoM teaches no such thing and teaches there is only One God who is unchanging.
5. A Changing God who evolved to His status through Celestial Marriage. Again both Bible and BoM teach one unchanging God.
6. Baptism for the Dead... they vicariously baptize for the dead to give them a chance for slavation. The BoM strongly opposes this teaching that only in this life can you repent and be baptized. It teaches that the innocent such as infants and ignorant adults are saved by grace and need no baptism, and it is a solemn mockery to God to baptize innocents who don't know the law. It also teaches that those who know the truth and willfully rebel and refuse to repent and be baptized are damned and cannot change or repent in the afterlife... their fate is sealed.
There are also many other lesser doctrines that the LDS espouse that are not in the Bible nor BoM. I am assuming you obtained the BoM through them and are researching them. Please take note of their core doctrines and while you read the BoM compare it's teachings to theirs and see the glaring differences. They have cleverly devised fables to offer to explanations to excuse these contradictions but when you get down to brass tacks... they don't care about these contradictions because they trust their 1st President (prophet) and obey him no matter how unscriptural or outrageous their doctrines are. Today there are some 100 other churches that believe in the Bible and BoM. A few are pretty kooky and practice polygamy and what not but most are much closer to the BoM teachings than the Utah LDS are.
Feel free to ask other questions or for specific scripture quotes as you wish. I like to always say... don't trust what I say, trust the teachings and examples of Christ.
