Godhead of the Restoration
At the beginning of the LDS Church the revealed knowledge about the Godhead was very different than it is today. I believe it's important to recognize the truth, that a Church built on false revelation, must itself be false. It is important to note that the "corrected" doctrines of today still deny the words of the Savior.
“Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;” Isaiah 44:24
"...President Young explained to the School of the Prophets that "Elohim, Yahova & Michael, were Father, Son and Grandson. They made this earth and Michael became Adam." -Joseph F. Smith Journal, June 17, 1871
"Thus, this Yahova in the creation of this earth was in reality our "Grandfather" in heaven. These terms are applied to different persons in different councils, just as the term "God" has been." - Ogden Kraut, Mysteries of Creation, p.81
"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." Isaiah 44:6
"The Son: Jesus Christ, the son of Jehovah’s son; the Only Begotten of Michael the Archangel in mortality.
The Holy Ghost: 1.The light of truth — the power of the Gods. 2. An office held by at least two of the sons of Michael while "personages of spirit".
Michael: Adam; God’s "son" (Luke 3:38) in ‘disguise’ as the Archangel (until revealed in this dispensation).
Gabriel: Noah; Michael’s spirit son in ‘disguise’ as an angel."
Richards and Little wrote a Compendium of the Faith and Doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1882. This was a volume originally written by Richards in 1857 and published by Orson Pratt in England. Both editions contain a list of 45 "Names, Titles, and Characters Given to Jesus". Interestingly, the name Jehovah is not on the list.
-attained Godhood
"the Father, after He had once been in the flesh, and lived as we live, obtained His exaltation, attained to thrones, gained the ascendancy over principalities and powers, and had the knowledge and power to create-to bring forth and organize the elements upon natural principles." - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol.4, pg.218
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8
- he came from another planet.
"Mankind are here because they are the offspring of parents who were first brought here from another planet, and power was given them to propagate their species, and they were commanded to multiply and replenish the earth." -Brigham Young , Journal of Discourses, 26 vols., 7:, p.286
“For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.” Psalm 86:10
- he sinned, died and was resurrected
"the Father, after He had once been in the flesh, and lived as we live, obtained His exaltation, attained to thrones, gained the ascendancy over principalities and powers, and had the knowledge and power to create-to bring forth and organize the elements upon natural principles. This He did after His ascension, or His glory, or His eternity, and was actually classed with the Gods, with the beings who create, with those who have kept the celestial law while in the flesh, and again obtained their bodies. Then He was prepared to commence the work of creation, as the Scriptures teach. It is all here in the Bible; I am not telling you a word but what is contained in that book." - Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol.4, pg.218
"Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears." 2 Samuel 7:22
- was reincarnated. God lived as an "Adam" and a "Savior" in other lives.
"And a difference there is between our Father and us consists in that He has gained His exaltation, and has obtained eternal lives. The principle of eternal lives is an eternal existence, eternal duration, eternal exaltation. Endless are His kingdoms, endless His thrones and His dominions, and endless are His posterity; they never will cease to multiply from this time henceforth and forever." -Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol.4
- is part of a council of Gods
"Everlasting covenant was made between three personages" the Prophet said, "before the organization of this earth, and relates to their dispensation of things to men on the earth; these personages according to Abraham's record, are called God the first, the Creator; God the second, the Redeemer; and God the third, the witness or Testator." -Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 190.
"In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it. When we begin to learn in this way, we begin to learn the only true God and what kind of a being we have got to worship. Having a knowledge of God, we begin to know how to approach him and how to ask so as to receive an answer." -Joseph Smith Jr., Journal of Discourses, Vol.6, pg.5
- Error in Canonized LDS Scripture
This is the prophet Joseph Smith Jr. dedicating the Kirtland Temple. This is important because it's canonized scripture. In the prayer which he claims was revealed to him, he has a different view of the Godhead than the current LDS Church. He says that Jesus is Jehovah's son. The current LDS view of the Godhead has Elohim as the Heavenly Father of Jehovah/Jesus. Jesus is Jehovah by their current doctrines. Their prophets teach that "a prophet can't lead you astray, God wouldn't let him" yet here in canonized scripture they have this huge contradiction.
Section 109
Prayer offered at the dedication of the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, 27 March 1836 (see History of the Church, 2:420–26). According to the Prophet’s written statement, this prayer was given to him by revelation.
1 a be to thy name, O Lord God of Israel, who keepest b and showest mercy unto thy servants who walk uprightly before thee, with all their hearts—
2 Thou who hast commanded thy servants to a a house to thy name in this place [Kirtland].
3 And now thou beholdest, O Lord, that thy servants have done according to thy commandment.
4 And now we ask thee, Holy Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of thy bosom, in whose name alone salvation can be administered to the children of men, we ask thee, O Lord, to accept of this a, the b of the hands of us, thy servants, which thou didst command us to build.
5 For thou knowest that we have done this work through great tribulation; and out of our poverty we have a of our substance to build a b to thy name, that the Son of Man might have a place to c
6 And as thou hast said in a a, given to us, calling us thy friends, saying—Call your solemn assembly, as I have commanded you;
7 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best a words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith;
8 Organize yourselves; a every needful thing, and establish a house, even a b of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of c, a d of God;
9 That your a may be in the name of the Lord, that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord, that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High—
10 And now, Holy Father, we ask thee to assist us, thy people, with thy grace, in calling our a assembly, that it may be done to thine honor and to thy divine acceptance;
11 And in a manner that we may be found worthy, in thy sight, to secure a fulfilment of the a which thou hast made unto us, thy people, in the revelations given unto us;
12 That thy a may rest down upon thy people, and upon this thy house, which we now dedicate to thee, that it may be sanctified and consecrated to be holy, and that thy holy presence may be continually in this house;
13 And that all people who shall enter upon the threshold of the Lord’s house may feel thy power, and feel constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it, and that it is thy house, a a of thy holiness.
14 And do thou grant, Holy Father, that all those who shall worship in this house may be taught words of wisdom out of the best a, and that they may seek learning even by study, and also by faith, as thou hast said;
15 And that they may grow up in thee, and receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost, and be organized according to thy laws, and be prepared to obtain every needful thing;
16 And that this house may be a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of glory and of God, even thy house;
17 That all the incomings of thy people, into this house, may be in the name of the Lord;
18 That all their outgoings from this house may be in the name of the Lord;
19 And that all their salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with holy hands, uplifted to the Most High;
20 And that no a thing shall be permitted to come into thy house to b it;
21 And when thy people a, any of them, they may speedily repent and return unto thee, and find favor in thy sight, and be restored to the blessings which thou hast ordained to be poured out upon those who shall b thee in thy house.
22 And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy a may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine b have charge over them;
23 And from this place they may bear exceedingly great and glorious tidings, in truth, unto the a of the earth, that they may know that this is thy work, and that thou hast put forth thy hand, to fulfil that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of the prophets, concerning the last days.
24 We ask thee, Holy Father, to establish the people that shall worship, and honorably hold a name and standing in this thy house, to all generations and for eternity;
25 That no weapon a against them shall prosper; that he who diggeth a b for them shall fall into the same himself;
26 That no combination of wickedness shall have power to rise up and a over thy people upon whom thy b shall be put in this house;
27 And if any people shall rise against this people, that thine anger be kindled against them;
28And if they shall smite this people thou wilt smite them; thou wilt a for thy people as thou didst in the day of battle, that they may be delivered from the hands of all their enemies.
29 We ask thee, Holy Father, to confound, and astonish, and to bring to a and confusion, all those who have spread b reports abroad, over the world, against thy servant or servants, if they will not repent, when the everlasting gospel shall be proclaimed in their ears;
30 And that all their works may be brought to naught, and be swept away by the a, and by the judgments which thou wilt send upon them in thine anger, that there may be an end to b and slanders against thy people.
31 For thou knowest, O Lord, that thy servants have been innocent before thee in a record of thy name, for which they have suffered these things.
32 Therefore we plead before thee for a full and complete a from under this b;
33 Break it off, O Lord; break it off from the necks of thy servants, by thy power, that we may rise up in the midst of this generation and do thy work.
34 O Jehovah, have mercy upon this people, and as all men a forgive the transgressions of thy people, and let them be blotted out forever.
35 Let the a of thy ministers be sealed upon them with power from on high.
36 Let it be fulfilled upon them, as upon those on the day of Pentecost; let the gift of a be poured out upon thy people, even b tongues as of fire, and the interpretation thereof.
37 And let thy house be filled, as with a rushing mighty a, with thy b.
38 Put upon thy servants the a of the covenant, that when they go out and proclaim thy word they may b up the law, and prepare the hearts of thy saints for all those judgments thou art about to send, in thy wrath, upon the inhabitants of the c, because of their transgressions, that thy people may not faint in the day of trouble.
39 And whatsoever city thy servants shall enter, and the people of that city a their testimony, let thy peace and thy salvation be upon that city; that they may gather out of that city the righteous, that they may come forth to b, or to her stakes, the places of thine appointment, with songs of everlasting joy;
40 And until this be accomplished, let not thy judgments fall upon that city.
41 And whatsoever city thy servants shall enter, and the people of that city receive not the testimony of thy servants, and thy servants warn them to save themselves from this untoward generation, let it be upon that city according to that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of thy prophets.
42 But deliver thou, O Jehovah, we beseech thee, thy servants from their hands, and a them from their blood.
43 O Lord, we delight not in the destruction of our fellow men; their a are precious before thee;
44 But thy word must be fulfilled. Help thy servants to say, with thy a assisting them: Thy will be done, O Lord, and not ours.
45 We know that thou hast spoken by the mouth of thy prophets terrible things concerning the a, in the last days—that thou wilt pour out thy judgments, without measure;
46 Therefore, O Lord, deliver thy people from the calamity of the wicked; enable thy servants to seal up the law, and a up the testimony, that they may be prepared against the day of burning.
47 We ask thee, Holy Father, to remember those who have been a by the inhabitants of Jackson county, Missouri, from the lands of their inheritance, and break off, O Lord, this b of affliction that has been put upon them.
48 Thou knowest, O Lord, that they have been greatly a and afflicted by wicked men; and our b flow out with sorrow because of their grievous c.
49 O Lord, a long wilt thou suffer this people to bear this affliction, and the b of their innocent ones to ascend up in thine ears, and their c come up in testimony before thee, and not make a display of thy testimony in their behalf?
50 Have a, O Lord, upon the wicked mob, who have driven thy people, that they may cease to spoil, that they may repent of their sins if repentance is to be found;
51 But if they will not, make bare thine arm, O Lord, and a that which thou didst appoint a Zion unto thy people.
52 And if it cannot be otherwise, that the cause of thy people may not fail before thee may thine anger be kindled, and thine a fall upon them, that they may be wasted away, both root and branch, from under heaven;
53 But inasmuch as they will repent, thou art a and merciful, and wilt turn away thy wrath when thou lookest upon the face of thine Anointed.
54 Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the a of the earth; have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the b of our land, by our fathers, be established forever.
55 a the kings, the princes, the nobles, and the great ones of the earth, and all people, and the churches, all the poor, the needy, and afflicted ones of the earth;
56 That their hearts may be softened when thy servants shall go out from thy house, O Jehovah, to bear testimony of thy name; that their prejudices may give way before the a, and thy people may obtain favor in the sight of all;
57 That all the ends of the earth may know that we, thy servants, have a thy voice, and that thou hast sent us;
58 That from among all these, thy servants, the sons of Jacob, may gather out the righteous to build a holy a to thy name, as thou hast commanded them.
59 We ask thee to appoint unto Zion other a besides this one which thou hast appointed, that the gathering of thy b may roll on in great power and majesty, that thy work may be cut c in righteousness.
60 Now these words, O Lord, we have spoken before thee, concerning the revelations and commandments which thou hast given unto us, who are identified with the a.
61 But thou knowest that thou hast a great love for the children of Jacob, who have been a upon the b for a long time, in a c and dark day.
62 We therefore ask thee to have mercy upon the children of Jacob, that a, from this hour, may begin to be redeemed;
63 And the yoke of bondage may begin to be broken off from the house of a;
64 And the children of a may begin to return to the b which thou didst give to Abraham, their father.
65 And cause that the a of Jacob, who have been cursed and smitten because of their transgression, be b from their wild and savage condition to the fulness of the everlasting gospel;
66 That they may lay down their weapons of bloodshed, and cease their rebellions.
67 And may all the scattered remnants of a, who have been driven to the ends of the earth, come to a knowledge of the truth, believe in the Messiah, and be redeemed from b, and rejoice before thee.
68 O Lord, remember thy servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., and all his afflictions and persecutions—how he has a with b, and vowed to thee, O Mighty God of Jacob—and the commandments which thou hast given unto him, and that he hath sincerely striven to do thy will.
69 Have mercy, O Lord, upon his a and children, that they may be exalted in thy presence, and preserved by thy fostering hand.
70 Have mercy upon all their a connections, that their prejudices may be broken up and swept away as with a flood; that they may be b and redeemed with Israel, and know that thou art God.
71 Remember, O Lord, the presidents, even all the presidents of thy church, that thy right hand may exalt them, with all their families, and their immediate connections, that their names may be perpetuated and had in everlasting remembrance from generation to generation.
72 Remember all thy church, O Lord, with all their families, and all their immediate connections, with all their sick and afflicted ones, with all the poor and meek of the earth; that the a, which thou hast set up without hands, may become a great mountain and fill the whole earth;
73 That thy a may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the b, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners;
74 And be adorned as a bride for that day when thou shalt unveil the heavens, and cause the mountains to a down at thy presence, and the b to be exalted, the rough places made smooth; that thy glory may fill the earth;
75T hat when the trump shall sound for the dead, we shall be a up in the cloud to meet thee, that we may ever be with the Lord;
76 That our garments may be pure, that we may be clothed upon with a of b, with palms in our hands, and c of glory upon our heads, and reap eternal d for all our e.
77 O Lord God Almighty, hear us in these our petitions, and answer us from heaven, thy holy habitation, where thou sittest enthroned, with a, honor, power, majesty, might, dominion, truth, justice, judgment, mercy, and an infinity of fulness, from everlasting to everlasting.
78 O hear, O hear, O hear us, O Lord! And answer these petitions, and accept the a of this house unto thee, the b of our hands, which we have built unto thy name;
79 And also this church, to put upon it thy a. And help us by the power of thy Spirit, that we may b our voices with those bright, shining c around thy throne, with acclamations of d, singing Hosanna to God and the e!
80 And let these, thine a ones, be clothed with salvation, and thy saints b aloud for joy. Amen, and Amen.
“And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.” 2 Kings 19:15
“Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.” Neh 9:6
“Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.” Job 9:8
"Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour." Isaiah 43:10-11
"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." Isaiah 44:6
"Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears." 2 Samuel 7:22
"Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour." Isaiah 43:10-11
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