The god of Mormonism

When dialoguing with Mormons, one may be lulled into believing that the Mormon faith really isn’t that different than the evangelical Christian’s. After all, these folks claim to believe in God – Father, Son and Holy Ghost. They claim to believe in the Bible, the Gospel and the resurrection of believers. What could be more orthodox sounding than that? The problem is, as Dr. Walter Martin pointed out years ago, one of terminology. When the Mormon uses the terms, God, Jesus, Holy Ghost, Gospel, etc. he has something totally different in mind than does the typical evangelical Christian. This short article is intended to examine the differences between the biblical and Mormon concept of God, and to show clearly the deficiency of the latter.

The Mormon Concept of God

Mormons say they believe in God, but what do they really mean? Mormons believe that the Being we call God is really one of an infinite number of “gods” (polytheism). Furthermore, Mormons maintain that each of these “gods” began as a man on a planet, similar to us, and by obedience to an “eternal law of progression”, they achieved their “god-hood.” Each of us, therefore, has been given the same opportunity to achieve godhood for ourselves, if only we will be obedient to the ordinances mandated by the Mormon Church.

To the evangelical Christian the whole story appears, on the face of it, both bizarre and blasphemous. Finding a particular idea strange or distasteful however, is inadequate to show it incorrect.  To show the Mormon concept of God incorrect, the Christian must appeal to the Holy Scriptures.  Here we find numerous verse passages that lay polytheism to rest. Isaiah 43:10-11 is perhaps the clearest:

"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."

In response, the Mormons often refer to 1 Corinthians 8:5

“For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)...”

Taken in isolation the verse seems to support polytheism. Placed in its proper context between verses 4 and 6 a different picture emerges:

“As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

Notice that the “gods” referred to in the passage are nominal, not actual. That is, they are beings that are called gods. They are not gods by nature but by name only. We see this spelled out to us in Galatians 4:8:

“Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.”

The other verse that Mormons turn to in defence of their polytheism is John 10:34-36:

“Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?  If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;  Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?”

Again, in is proper context this passage cannot possibly be used in support of Mormon polytheism. Jesus is quoting from Psalm 82, which reads:

“God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.  How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.  Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.  Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.  I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.   Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.”

To begin with, it must be noted that the “gods” in this passage are the objects of scathing rebuke. Mormons wishing to defend their polytheism in this passage must therefore be prepared to substitute the term “Mormon(s)” at all places where the term ”god(s) appear in the text. Their unwillingness to entertain such an idea surely reveals a marked inconsistency within their faith-system. Secondly, remember that Jesus said that the “gods” in the text were those unto whom the scripture came. According to Romans 3:2, the scriptures were given to the Jewish nation. We must conclude therefore that the “gods” in this passage are purely human, unrighteous Israelite judges.

The Philosophical Case Against Mormon Theology

Mormon theology affirms that there are an innumerable number of gods, all of which began as humans on planets placed there by gods that preceded them.  The Mormon argues that the entire process of men evolving into gods and placing people on planets, who in turn evolve into gods, stretches back in time infinitely.  The average Mormon fails to recognize that such a claim is philosophically untenable.

First, we note that actual infinite sets of finites are impossible. Consider two sets of numbers. One set contains only odd numbers (1,3,5,7...) stretching to infinity. The other set contains both odd and even numbers (1,2,3,4,...) also stretching to infinity. Because both sets are infinite, they should be equal, right? But wait a minute. One set also contains twice as many members as the other, so they cannot possibly be equal. Can we have two sets that contain an equal and non-equal amount of members at the same time? No, because this would be a violation of the law of non-contradiction. With this in mind, we turn our attention to the concept of time.

Time is made up of finite moments. As we noted above, an actual infinite set of finite things is impossible. Furthermore, it is impossible to cross an infinite number of finite things. Consider this analogy. In order to move from point A to point B one would have to first cross the halfway point between them. But order to reach the halfway point, one would have to reach the halfway point between A and the halfway point between A and B, and so on. One begins to see the problem. There are an infinite number of potential points between A and B. Before one could move to cross even a single potential point, he would have to cross the halfway point between A and that point.  One could never traverse these points and reach B precisely because the process could never begin.

When we begin placing actual points between A and B (as opposed to theoretical or potential points) we see that the number of these points is not – in fact, cannot - be infinite. Therefore, traversing these points and moving from A to B is certainly possible. All agree that the universe is aging. It is traversing moments in time. Moment by moment, the future becomes the present, and the present becomes the past. We are traversing moments in time, the same way we must traverse points to reach B from A. Again, if the universe was infinitely old (as Mormons maintain) we could never reach the present moment precisely because the process would never have gotten started. Obviously we have reached the present moment. We must conclude therefore that the universe is not infinitely old, but indeed had a beginning. This inescapable fact cuts Mormon theology down at the root.

What caused the universe?

Whatever begins to exist has a cause. Since the universe began to exist, we conclude that the universe too had a cause. But what was it? We note that the universe is composed of space, time and matter. Therefore whatever caused the universe must be greater than space, time and matter. By definition the cause of the universe must be omnipresent, infinite, and omnipotent. The God of the Bible certainly fits the bill. He is described as possessing all of these attributes.
Mormon theology on the other hand, presents their gods as possessing material bodies (as opposed to the God of the Bible, Whom Jesus referred to as Spirit (John 4:24). If the Mormon gods are made of matter, then we are forced to conclude that assuming they exist at all (which I do not), they are infinitely lesser in their nature than the true God of the Bible. For instance, the God of the Bible, being immaterial, actually created space. The material gods of Mormonism on the other hand, would necessarily be limited by this created entity. Obviously the God of the Bible is infinitely greater than any of the fictitious Mormon deities.

The absurdity of Polytheism

The first cause of our universe must by definition be eternal, unlimited, omnipresent and omnipotent. This being would be the ultimate ground of all the finite beings that exist. This would be the One Being whose existence would not be contingent, but necessary.  It would be logically impossible to have more than one such Being. Why? Because the ground of all the limited beings must Itself be unlimited. If more than one such being existed the very existence of one would limit the other. Being limited beings, these “gods” would still require a God above them to ground their limited existence. We are trapped in infinite regress, which we noted earlier was impossible, unless we posit a single, unlimited, infinite, necessary Being. This Being is the Blessed Triune God of the Holy Bible.

Conclusion

Mormon theology is unsupported, in fact refuted, by clear biblical declarations. Secondly, Mormon polytheism is logically untenable, requiring an infinite universe which we’ve seen is impossible. If any Mormon “gods” exist at all, they a certainly infinitely beneath the Blessed God of the Bible, to Whom all praise and worship is richly due.  On this view, Mormon theology is not only incorrect, but utterly blasphemous. My prayer is that many Mormons will choose to exercise their God-given intellect and come to a correct (and saving) understanding of Who the true and awesome God really is.