Nature of God / Progression
LDS Summary:
The LDS (Lorenzo Snow and Brigham Young) initiated a doctrine of progression / exhaltation in 1852 and that Adam was God. The LDS denied the Adam-God theory in 1966 (114 years after it was initiated) and currently is de-emphasizing the doctrine of progression / exaltation.
RLDS Summary:
The RLDS denied any doctrine of progression, exaltation, or Adam-God theory
 RLDS never endorsed Exaltation and ProgressionExaltation and progression was not a topic of discussion in the RLDS | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
| Note: The RLDS makes no mention of exaltation or progression in their General Conference Resolutions, 1852-1915 | |
God was NOT AdamBoth the LDS and RLDS scriptures agree that God was not Adam, and mentioned that He existed before Adam existed in the flesh | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Book of Moses, Chapter 6 50 But God hath made known unto our fathers that all men must repent. 51 And he called upon our father Adam by his own voice, saying: I am God; I made the world, and men before they were in the flesh. 52 And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you. |
Inspired Version, Genesis 6 51 But God hath made known unto our fathers that all men must repent. 52 And he called upon our father Adam by his own voice, saying, I am God; I made the world and men before they were in the flesh. 53 And he also said unto him, If thou wilt, turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name; and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you. |
God can become a physical bodyBoth the LDS and RLDS agree that God can manifest himself with a physical body | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
King James Version, Genesis, Chapter 32 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. |
Inspired Version, Genesis, Chapter 32 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Penuel, for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. |
Scriptures agree that there is only one GodBoth the KJV and IV agree that God is singular and there is nothing like Him | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
King James Version, Isaiah 46 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, |
Inspired Version, Isaiah 46 9 Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, |
The Doctrine and Covenants agree that God is unchangeableBoth the LDS and RLDS Doctrine and Covenants agree that God is unchangeable | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
LDS D&C Section 20 17 By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them; 18 And that he created man, male and female, after his own image and in his own likeness, created he them; 19 And gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship. |
RLDS D&C Section 17 4a By these things we know that there is a God in heaven who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth and all things which are in them, and that he created man male and female; 4b after his own image and in his own likeness created he them, and gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship. |
The Doctrine and Covenants agree that God is unchangeableBoth the LDS and RLDS scriptures define God as endless, without beginning or end | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Book of Moses, Chapter 1 3 And God spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name; for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless? |
RLDS D&C, Section 22 2 And God spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty; and Endless is my name, for I am without beginning of days or end of years. And is not this endless? |
Lorenzo Snow (LDS Apostle) stated a doctrine that God progresses and changes1840 (published in 1901)Lorenzo Snow summarized the doctrine that God progressed from a man to a God in a short couplet | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Deseret Evening News, July 20, 1901, page 22, 6th column middle GRAND DESTINY OF MAN REVEALED Now, I have told you what Father Smith said to me, that I should become as great as I could want to be, even as great as God himself. About two years and a half after, in Nauvoo, I asked Elder Sherwood [to explain a passage of] scripture, and while he was endeavoring to give an explanation the Spirit of God fell upon me to a marked extent, and the Lord revealed to me, just as plainly as the sun at noonday, this principle, which I put in a couplet; "As man now is, God once was:" "As God now is, man may be." That fulfilled Father Smith's declaration. This is also explained at LDS.org: Chapter 5: The Grand Destiny of the Faithful |
|
Joseph Smith Jr. stated that Man, not God, progressesApril 1844 (published August 15, 1844)Joseph Smith Jr. In the April General Conference, he discussed the "first" principle of the nature of God and also how people continually learn throughout life and the life after. This article is cited as one of the basis for the LDS doctrine of progression. Note: Notice that the claim is specifically only for intelligence and understanding that grows both in the natural and spiritual worlds. Joseph Smith made no claims regarding exaltation for anything else. | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
| Same reference (there was one church at this time - the LDS and RLDS had not split in April 1844) |
Times and Seasons, Vol. 5, No. 15, page 613-614, August 15, 1844 First God himself, who sits enthroned in yonder heavens, is a man like unto one of yourselves, that is the great secret. If the vail [veil] was rent to-day, and the great God, who holds this world in its orbit, and upholds all things by his power; if you were to see him to-day, you would see him in all the person, image and very form as a man; for Adam was created in the very fashion and image of God; Adam received instruction, walked, talked and conversed with him, as one man talkes [talks] and communes with another...When you climb a ladder, you must begin at the bottom and go on until you learn the last principle; it will be a great while before you have learned the last. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it is a great thing to learn salvation beyond the grave...Knowledge saves a man, and in the world of spirits a man cannot be exalted but by knowledge; so long as a man will not give heed to the commandments, he must abide without salvation. |
Brigham Young initiated the doctrine of progressionApril 9, 1852President Brigham Young This is the first sermon recorded in the Journal of Discourses | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, Page 50 When our father Adam came into the garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body, and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the Archangel, the Ancient of Days! about whom holy men have written and spoken-He is our Father and our God, and the only God with whom we have to do. |
|
Brigham Young explains the doctrine of progressionAugust 28, 1852President Brigham Young | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 6, page 275, August 28, 1852 After men have got their exaltations and their crowns-have become Gods, even the sons of God-are made Kings of kings and Lords of lords, they have the power then of propagating their species in spirit; and that is the first of their operations with regard to organizing a world. Power is then given to them to organize the elements, and then commence the organization of tabernacles. How can they do it? Have they to go to that earth? Yes, an Adam will have to go there, and he cannot do without Eve; he must have Eve to commence the work of generation, and they will go into the garden, and continue to eat and drink of the fruits of the corporeal world, until this greater matter is diffused sufficiently through their celestial bodies to enable them, according to the established laws, to produce mortal tabernacles for their spiritual children. |
|
Brigham Young contradicts the scriptures regarding progressionAugust 29, 1852President Brigham Young makes a statement inconsistent with Luke 20:36, Neither can they die any more; for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. See also See Isaiah 14:12-14. | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
LDS D&C, Section 132 19 ...and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever. 20 Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them. |
|
LDS Church required missionaries to teach the Adam-God doctrineAugust 26, 1854Minutes of the Special General Council - Elder James A. Little confirms that missionaries were expected to teach Adam-God as doctrine | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Millennial Star, Vol 16. No. 34, August 26, 1854, page 529-530 Elder James A. Little. I believe in the principle of obedience; and if I am told that Adam is our Father and our God, I just believe it. Brethren, I feel well, and have felt well all the time. |
|
Brigham Young (LDS President) states Adam was created on another worldOctober 8, 1854Brigham Young, 24th Semiannual General Conference explains that Adam was created on another world and given Earth to populate = contrary to Genesis | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Doctrine of the Priesthood Vol. 2 No. 2, page 14-16, April 1975 From the October 8, 1854, 24th Semiannual General Conference. Man was not mad[e] the same as you make an adobe to put in a wall. Moses said Adam was made of the dust of the ground, but he did not say of what ground. I say he was not made of the dust of the ground of this Earth, but he was made of the dust of the Earth where he lived, where he honored his calling, believed in his Saviour, or Elder Brother, and by his faithfulness, was redeemed, and got a Glorious Resurrection. Though we have it in history that our father Adam was made of the dust of this earth, and that he knew nothing about his God previous to being made here, yet it is not so; and when we learn the truth we shall see and understand that" Adam was an immortal being when he came to this earth. He had lived on an earth similar to ours. He had received the Priesthood and the Keys thereof, and had been faithful in all things and gained his resurrection and his exaltation and was crowned with glory, immortality and Eternal Lives, and was numbered with the Gods, for such he became through his faithfulness. Adam... helped to make this world, and was the chief manager in that operation. He was the person who brought the animals and the seeds from other planets to this world, and brought a wife with him and stayed here. You may read and believe what you please as to what is found written in the Bible. Adam was made from the dust of an earth, but not from the dust of this earth. He was made as you and I are made, and no person was ever made upon any other principle. Mankind are here because they are the offspring of parents who were first brought here from another planet. |
|
Orson Pratt (LDS Apostle) states the Adam-God doctrine is not from revelationApril 4-5, 1860Orson Pratt disagrees with Brigham Young concerning the Adam-God Theory | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Articles and Essays: The Orson Pratt-Brigham Young Controversies: Conflict Within the Quorums, 1853 to 1868, page 21 Minutes in office of Pres. Young, April 5, 1860, Brigham Young Collection, LDS Archives. Minutes of Meeting at Historian's Office, April 4, 1860 I think the brethren are laboring under a wrong impression, in all my writings on doctrine, I have tried to confine myself within revelation . . . in regard to Adam being our Father and our God, I have not published it, altho I frankly say, I have no confidence in it, altho advanced by bro. Kimball in the stand, and afterwards approved by bro. Brigham ... I have never intended to advance new ideas, but to keep within revelation. |
|
Brigham Young (LDS President) supported the Adam-God doctrine until his deathJune 18, 1873President Brigham Young, up to his last years, re-iterates his Adam-God Theory | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Deseret News, June 18, 1873, page 4, columns 4 and 5 How much unbelief exists in the minds of the latter day saints in regard to one particular doctrine which I revealed to them and which god revealed to me namely that Adam is our father and god - I do not know, I do not inquire, I care nothing about it. Our Father Adam helped to make this earth it was created expressly for him and after it was made he and his companions came here he brought one of his wives with him and she was called eve because she was the first woman upon the earth. Our father Adam is the man who stands at the gate and holds the keys of everlasting life and salvation to all his children who have or who ever will come upon the earth... Do you think that God, who holds the eternities in his hands and can do all things at his pleasure, is not capable of sending forth his own children, and forming this flesh for his own offspring? Where is the mystery in this? We say that Father Adam came here and helped to make the earth. Who is he? He is Michael, a great prince, and it was said to him by Eloheim, "Go ye and make an earth." What is the great mystery about it? He came and formed the earth. |
|
Brigham Young (LDS President) continues to support the Adam-God doctrineOctober 8, 1876Brigham Young addresses multiple doctrines of progression, heavenly parents, spiritual procreation, and ownership of worlds | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 18, page 259, Oct. 8, 1876 Then will they become gods, even the sons of God; then will they become eternal fathers, eternal mothers, eternal sons and eternal daughters; being eternal in their organization, they go from glory to glory, from power to power; they will never cease to increase and to multiply worlds without end. When they receive their crowns, their dominions, they then will be prepared to frame earth's like unto ours and to people them in the same manner as we have been brought forth by our parents, by our Father and God. |
|
Lorenzo Snow (LDS Apostle) supports the Adam-God doctrineJanuary 10th, 1886Apostle Lorenzo Snow | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 26, page 368 As man now is, God once was - even the babe of Bethlehem, advancing to childhood - thence to boyhood, manhood, then to the Godhead. This, then, is the "mark of the prize of man's high calling in Christ Jesus." |
|
RLDS does not accept 'Progression' as a doctrine1943Elbert A. Smith of the Presidency of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Differences that Persist, page 11 "By these things we know that there is a God in Heaven who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God." - Doctrine and Covenants 17:4; Utah Edition 20:17 To the foregoing revelation, through the Prophet Joseph, members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are quite unable to reconcile the Utah Mormon theology: "As man is, God once was." |
|
Joseph F. Fielding (LDS Appostle - later became President) contradicts the scriptures in the Bible regarding man's creation1954Joseph Fielding Smith Jr. Here Joseph Fielding Smith discusses doctrines beyond mere advancement in gaining understanding (become a god - little "g") and discusses doctrine for marriage after death and having children after death through procreation (This denies the meaning of the Hebrew <bara> as used to describe the creation of man in the Bible and substitutes <yalad> - see Heavenly Mother below for the difference between those words) | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.2, p.249, 1954 The Father has promised us that through our faithfulness we shall be blessed with the fulness of his kingdom. In other words we will have the privilege of becoming like him. To become like him we must have all the powers of godhood; thus a man and his wife when glorified will have spirit children who eventually will go on an earth like this one we are on and pass through the same kind of experiences, being subject to mortal conditions, and if faithful, then they also will receive the fulness of exaltation and partake of the same blessings. There is no end to this development; it will go on forever. We will become gods and have jurisdiction over worlds, and these worlds will be peopled by our own offspring. We will have an endless eternity for this. |
|
Hugh B. Brown (LDS Presidency) denies all previous LDS teachings regarding the Adam-God theoryMay 13, 1966Hugh B. Brown denied the Adam-God doctrine and denied the previous teachings in the Journal of Discourses | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Letter from Hugh B. Brown to Mr. Morris L. Reynolds, May 13, 1966 ...The Adam-God doctrine is not the doctrine of the Church, and the reports on that subject as published in the Journal of Discourses are not accurate. The Godhead consists of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. There is no doctrine of the Church requiring the shedding of blood for the salvation where certain sins have been committed. We have been accused of such doctrine, but it is not true...Sincerely your brother, Hugh B. Brown |
|
Spencer W. Kimball (LDS President) calls the Adam-God theory a false doctrineOctober, 1976Spencer W. Kimball, President of the [LDS] Church, denounces the Adam-God theory | |
|---|---|
LDS |
RLDS / Restoration |
|
Our Own Liahona Another matter. We hope that you who teach in the various organizations, whether on the campuses or in our chapels, will always teach the orthodox truth. We warn you against the dissemination of doctrines which are not according to the scriptures and which are alleged to have been taught by some of the General Authorities of past generations. Such, for instance, is the Adam-God theory. We denounce that theory and hope that everyone will be cautioned against this and other kinds of false doctrine. |
|