The
TRUTH
About
“The God Makers”
Gilbert W. Scharffs
A response to an inaccurate
portrayal of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Copyright © Gilbert W. Scharffs 1986 and
1989
All Rights Reserved
The views and interpretation of LDS doctrine and history in this book reflect the
understanding of the author and are not necessarily the official views of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In a society where the degradation of man was (and is still) being proclaimed, humans defined in lowly terms, and Deity described as an impersonal, abstract concept, the heavens were opened and God and his Son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and taught him eternal truths. This led to the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
These restored principles included a positive perception that the nature of man is good rather than evil, and that all human beings are of God’s species and are literally God’s sons and daughters, created in his image with an unlimited potential of achieving growth, joy, eternal families and perfection. God further revealed to the first Latter-day Saint prophet that this goal was made possible only through his Son Jesus Christ’s sinless life, suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection, and by following his commandments and teachings.
What a profound contribution to the edification and uplifting of the human race! These revealed ideas were not new but were part of an eternal plan and were taught in holy writ since the creation of the world. Somehow over the centuries these godly concepts became lost and misinterpreted.
The Savior himself taught this doctrine of the nature of man when he was about to be stoned for claiming to be the Son of God. Christ said to his tormentors, quoting their own scripture, “Is it not written in your law, I said. Ye are gods?” The Lord then proclaimed this concept to be true (John 10:34-35). The psalmist had centuries earlier declared, “I have said. Ye are gods and all of you are children of the most high” (Psalms 82:6). Paul also testified: “We are the offspring of God” (Acts 17:29). The scriptures also say: “For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords” (Dent. 10:17). The Apostle Peter declared, “Be partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4). And the Apostle John added, “We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him” (I John 3:1-2). The psalmist also proclaimed, “Thou Lord art high above the earth; thou art exalted far above all gods” (Psalms 97:9).
Numerous Christian leaders throughout the centuries have supported this idea, including Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine, and C. S. Lewis, who said, “We live in a society of possible gods and goddesses.” Yet some, including the authors of two anti-Mormon movies called “Temple of the God Makers” and “The God Makers,” and a book by the same title, accuse Latter-day Saints of being non-Christian and satanic for maintaining this and other basic biblical beliefs.
My book is a response to the hundreds of inaccurate and unfair statements made about my church—a church that proclaims the divinity of God and his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, and man and woman’s noble birthright with its ultimate eternal possibilities.
-G. W. S.
