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Mormonism and the nature of God/Early teachings
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Contents
Early teachings about God in the Book of Mormon, from Joseph Smith, and among Church members
Topics
Early teachings about God in the Book of Mormon, from Joseph Smith, and among Church members
- Joseph Smith's early conception of God—
Brief Summary: It is claimed that Joseph Smith initially taught standard Nicene trinitarianism. The early documents tell a different story, however. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Modalism in the Book of Mormon?—
Brief Summary: It is claimed that the Book of Mormon teaches the trinitarian heresy of modalism or Sabellianism. This reading misinterprets some Book of Mormon verses, and ignores Book of Mormon texts which clearly contradict this reading. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Lecture on Faith 5 and the nature of God the Father—
Brief Summary: Lectures on Faith, which used to be part of the Doctrine and Covenants, teach that God is a spirit. Joseph Smith's later teachings contradict this. More generally, critics argue that Joseph Smith taught an essentially "trinitarian" view of the Godhead until the mid 1830s, thus proving the Joseph was "making it up" as he went along. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗ - Early LDS beliefs about God—
Brief Summary: Some evangelical Christians attempt to show that the LDS idea of deification is unbiblical, unchristian and untrue. They seem to think that this doctrine is the main reason why the LDS reject the Psychological Trinity. (Click here for full article)∗ ∗ ∗
- Joseph Smith's early conception of God—