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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#CC9900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="043005a0dwnjzk.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EDWARD WATSONS WEBWORLD"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B> | </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>EDWARD WATS</B><B>ON'S WEBWORLD</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION"><U><B>SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="1"><U><B>1</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2"><U><B>2</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="3"><U><B>3</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="4"><U><B>4</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="5"><U><B>5</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="6"><U><B>6</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7"><U><B>7</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="8"><U><B>8</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="9"><U><B>9</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="10"><U><B>10</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id73.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="11"><U><B>11</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="12"><U><B>12</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="13"><U><B>13</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="14"><U><B>14</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="15"><U><B>15</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id78.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="16"><U><B>16</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>17</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="18"><U><B>18</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id81.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="APPENDIX"><U><B>APPENDIX</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SECTION 1: CONCLUSION"><U><B>SECTION 1: CONCLUSION</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ABBREVIATIONS"><U><B>ABBREVIATIONS</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>[MORMONISM. The Faith of the Twenty-first Century. Volume 1. Edward K. Watson. (Liahona Publications. Copyright © 1998 Edward K. Watson.) pp. 189-198. MORMONISM: Section 1, Chapter 17. All rights reserved.]</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>CHAPTER 17</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Biblical Passages used Against Mormonism's Concept </B></div> <div> <B>of Heavenly Father </B></div> <bR> <div>      This chapter will focus on the biblical passages the anti-Mormons use against our concept of Heavenly Father that aren't covered by Chapters 5 & 7. It examines the passages used against our belief that other “Gods” exist in other universes and God the Father experienced mortality, just like Jesus did, prior to becoming fully “God” and creating this universe.</div> <div>      Passages within Isa  43-46 are always used against us. It is important to examine the context of the verses they quote that are located in these chapters because such an action will disprove the logic of the anti-Mormons. These chapters have Jehovah (YHWH) ridiculing idolatry and denying the existence of the gods represented by the idols certain Israelites and their neighbors were worshiping (The Trial of the False Gods).</div> <div>      Many scholars consider these chapters to be part of the writings of  Second Isaiah (chapters  40-55) which most say was written during the Babylonian Captivity, with this prophet attempting to counter the cosmogenic claims made for the Babylonian deities.<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >1</FONT></div> <div>      There are three main thoughts that are interwoven throughout the nine chapters of Isa  40-48: </div> <bR> <div> (1) The falsity and uselessness of idols and the gods they represent (Isa  40:18-21;  41:22-24,26,29;  42:8,17;  43:12;  44:9-20;  45:20;  46:1-2,5-7;  48:5).</div> <div> (2) The certainty of the uniqueness of Jehovah, who is the only God (Isa  43:10;  44:6,8;  45:5-7,18,21-22;  46:9).</div> <div> (3) The fact that it was only Jehovah who created the heavens and the earth (Isa  40:12,26,28;  42:5;  44:24;  45:8-12,18;  48:13).</div> <bR> <div>      By arranging these three thoughts and their relationships with each other we find that <I>in every single instance</I> when Jehovah says there aren't any gods beside him, before him or after him, or he doesn't know of any other gods; these denials are always in close proximity with the other two main thoughts of these nine chapters:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT>1) Isa <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>43:10 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:<I> before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.</I></div> <bR> <div>      Isa  43:10 has Jehovah saying there wasn't any God before him; neither shall there be any God after him. The next verse shows it was the pre-mortal Jesus Christ who is speaking (he's the only Savior). Since he received the Father's authority (Ps  45:6-7; Heb  1:8-9), which in turn is shared with the sanctified (Rev  3:21), this means multiple persons or entities exist within this “God”! Unless Isa  43:10's context is acknowledged, the Traditional Christian's “<I>three persons</I> in one God” would contradict Isa  43:10! This proves <B>the contrast was between YHWH and the gods represented by the idols, and not whether other “Gods” rule over other universes outside our own.</B> Verse  12 then has Jehovah mentioning “when there was no strange god among you” which shows the Israelites were believing in “strange gods” which were represented by idols. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT>2) Isa <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>44:6,8 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 <I>beside me [there is] no God</I> ... Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared [it]? ye [are] even my witnesses. <I>Is there a God beside me? yea, [there is] no God; I know not [any].</I></div> <bR> <div>      Isa  44:6-8 has Jehovah (YHWH) saying he was the first and the last and beside him there is no God [<I>Tsur</I>] (“Rock”), which basically means there's no other Rock of salvation (1 Cor  10:4). Verse  eight has him saying he doesn't even know of the existence of other Gods. Immediately after saying these things, <B>Jehovah condemns idolatry and the foolishness of the Israelites in honoring them</B> (vv.  9-20). In v.  24, Jehovah states he made all things, which comprises the heavens and the earth <B>which puts a limitation on his entire denial of other Gods to </B><I><B>within</B></I><B> this universe.</B> </div> <div>      If this passage doesn't exclude the other two persons of the Godhead who have complete unity with him, who have the “God” nature and a singular authority, neither will it exclude “Gods” in <I>other</I> universes who share the same things.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT>3) Isa <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>45:5-7,14,18,21-22<I>  I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else, [there is] no God beside me</I>: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that <I>[there is] none beside me.</I> <I>I [am] the LORD, and [there is] none else</I>. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these [things] ... Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, [saying], Surely God [is] in thee; and<I> [there is] none else, [there is] no God</I> ... For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited:<I> I [am] the LORD; and [there is] none else</I> ... Tell ye, and bring [them] near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? [who] hath told it from that time? [have] not I the LORD? and <I>[there is] no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; [there is] none beside me.</I> Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: <I>for I [am] God, and [there is] none else.</I></div> <bR> <div>      Isa  45:5-7,14,18,21-22 has Jehovah repeating many times that he is the only God and there is none else. In between these statements of denying the existence of other Gods, Jehovah states that <B>he is the creator of heaven and earth</B> (vv.  8-12 and  18), and even <B>has Jehovah condemning idolatry</B> (v.  20), before proceeding to deny the existence of other Gods (vv.  21-22). His focus on this universe and on idols causes his statement to be inapplicable to anything <I>outside</I> this universe. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="BernhardMod BT" > </FONT> 4) Isa <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>46:9 Remember the former things of old: for<I> I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me.</I></div> <bR> <div>      Isa  46:9 has Jehovah saying there aren't any other Gods and none are like him. Immediately prior to him giving this claim, <B>Jehovah condemns idolatry</B> (vv.  1-2, and  5-7) and makes fun of the idols along with those who place their trust in them. Consequently, his denial is in reference to the context of Isa  46:9 which is in regards to idolatry, not to the existence or nonexistence of “Gods” who rule other universes.</div> <bR> <div>      What do all of these things mean? What does the close relationship of these different thoughts signify? </div> <div>      It becomes obvious that Jehovah's denial of the existence of other gods in Isa  43-46 wasn't a blanket statement but was indicative of the understanding of the people who believed in the existence of certain gods such as Astoreth, Ba'al, Baal-berith, Baalzebub, Chemosh, Dagon, Milcom, Moloch, Nisroch, Marduk, Tiamat and the Babylonian deities. Jehovah was denying the existence of the gods represented by the ANE idols. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B> </B><B>Jehovah (YHWH) wasn't talking about the presence or absence of other Gods in </B><I><B>other</B></I><B> universes which wouldn't even make sense since he placed the setting of his denial </B><I><B>in this universe</B></I><B> with his frequent reference to his creating the heavens and the earth.</B></div> <bR> <div>      The contrast is between Jehovah and the false gods represented by the idols. Jehovah moves, speaks, etc., while these idols just sit there, doing nothing.<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >2</FONT></div> <div>      When he said there won't be any Gods before or after him, this can only be understood to have reference to the universe because there weren't any Gods before him because he created this universe; neither shall there be any Gods after him since this is his universe (Ps  145:13; Lam  5:19). There will never be any God who will replace him. This statement is only applicable to this universe. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="BernhardMod BT" >  </FONT>(5) Hos <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>11:9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for <I>I am God, and not man;</I> the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. </div> <bR> <div>   (6) Ps <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>50:21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; <I>thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.</I></div> <bR> <div>   (7) Num <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>23:19 <I>God is not a man</I>, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? of hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?</div> <bR> <div>   (8) 1 Sam <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>15:29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for<I> he [is] not a man</I>, that he should repent.</div> <bR> <div>      These four passages are examined in Chapter 10, which shows none of them are capable of denying God was once a mortal being in an ancestral universe.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>9) Deut<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 4:35,39 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that <I>the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him</I> ...  Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that <I>the LORD he is God</I> in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: <I>there is none else.</I></div> <bR> <div>      The context says “keep the commandments and don't fall into idolatry” (vv.  23-40) which limits these statements as a denial of the validity and existence of the deities represented by the idols. As a result, these passages are unable to deny the existence of “Gods” who rule over <I>other</I> universes.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="BernhardMod BT" > </FONT> 10) Deut<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD your God is one LORD.</div> <bR> <div>      The anti-Mormons accuse us of believing a false concept of the Godhead because we believe there are other entities or persons who rule other universes who share the label of “God” in addition to the three members of the Godhead. The Jews in turn use this passage in arguing with Christians that the Christian Trinity is wrong.<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >3</FONT> Because we view these beings to be completely united in all things and have their unity within a singular authority, all, regardless of the number can be called “God” instead of “Gods.”</div> <div>      This passage doesn't rule out the existence of other deities, it merely claims only one God can be worshiped,<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >4</FONT> or YHWH is the only God for Israel,<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >5</FONT> “[YHWH] is our God, [YHWH] alone.”<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >6</FONT> “If this passage specifically taught monotheism, another Hebrew word could have been used, hence `The Lord our God is the only God.'”<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >7</FONT> “Of course, the idea that [Deut]  6:4 can be interpreted in the sense of theoretical monotheism is out of the question. Deuteronomy does not even consider the existence of other gods until in late strata in the book .”<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >8</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>  If the Shema doesn't conflict with the Traditional Trinity, with its “three persons in one God,” neither would it conflict with the LDS view of “an infinite number of persons in one God.” </B></div> <bR> <div>      The Mormon Godhead is identified by the singular designation, “God” despite being a plurality with ontological separation (see MORMONISM: Section 4 & 5).</div> <div>      A comparison of Deut  6:4 with Gen  11:6's, “And the LORD said, Behold, <I>the people is one ... </I>” reveals the same Hebrew word is translated as “one” in both places. Are our critics saying there was only one person building the Towel of Babel? Definitely not. There were many of them numerically but they were united in <I>one</I> will/effort/purpose. (Also see Gen  34:16,22; Jer  32:39; Ezek  11:19 for more examples of this same Hebrew word being used to mean non-ontological “oneness.”)</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="BernhardMod BT" >  </FONT>11) Deut <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>32:39 See now that <I>I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: </I>I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.</div> <bR> <div>      The gods represented by the idols don't exist (vv. 16-21,36-39) and when the Day of Judgment comes, those who put their trust in them will realize it. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 12) 2 Sam<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 7:22 Wherefore thou art great, <I>O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee,</I> according to all that we have heard with our ears. </div> <bR> <div>      David was praising God and his wisdom and power. He contrasted God with the gods of the other nations such as Egypt (vv.  18-23). Notice the comparison was between YHWH and idolatry, not God and Gods in other universes.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>13) 1 Kng<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 8:60 That all the people of the earth may know that <I>the LORD is God, and that there is none else.</I></div> <bR> <div>      King Solomon's Temple Dedication has him saying Jehovah is God and there is none else. Since Jehovah (YHWH) was the pre-mortal Jesus (see MORMONISM: Section 2), does this mean Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost aren't God? King Solomon was emphasizing Jehovah was the only God and the Israelites shouldn't fall into idolatry (which they were often succumbing to). Notice the context of his statement:</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 1 Kng<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 8:57-61 <I>The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us: That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers. </I>And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, <I>that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times,</I> as the matter shall require:<I> That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else</I>. Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.</div> <bR> <div>      King Solomon basically says: “May Jehovah always be with us and influence our hearts to constantly follow him and keep all of his commandments so that he will perpetually help and support Israel which will cause all the peoples of the earth to realize that Jehovah is the only true God. Wherefore, let us keep God's commandments.”</div> <div>      King Solomon was emphasizing obedience which brings blessings. This will show all men that the only true God is the God of Israel, not the gods (represented by the idols). He wasn't talking about the existence or absence of Gods in other universes.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="BernhardMod BT" > </FONT> 14) 2 Kng <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>19:15,19 And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, <I>thou art the God, even thou alone</I>, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth ...  Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that <I>thou art the LORD God, even thou only.</I></div> <bR> <div>      King Hezekiah was praying to God to deliver his people from the Assyrians and contrasted God with the idols of other nations and he created the heavens and earth (vv.  14-19). </div> <bR> <div>   15) 1 Chr <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>17:20 <I>O LORD, [there is] none like thee, neither [is there any] God beside thee,</I> according to all that we have heard with our ears.</div> <bR> <div>      David was praising God for his many blessings and for choosing him and his descendants to rule Israel (vv.  7-14). Because God chose Israel, he then became their God (v.  22). David said he has never even heard of another God who can make such promises as God made with him. His focus was on the uniqueness of Jehovah. To David, no other known “god” acted and promised like Jehovah! He never even conceptualized the existence of the multiverse, much less deny the existence of “Gods” who ruled over <I>other</I> universes.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT>16) 2 Chr<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 6:14 And said,<I> O LORD God of Israel, [there is] no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth;</I> which keepest covenant, and [shewest] mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts.</div> <bR> <div>      King Solomon wasn't denying the existence of other Gods outside of our universe. His entire scope is limited to our universe “in the heaven, nor in the earth,” and he was focusing on the fact there aren't any gods in heaven or on earth who is like Jehovah <I>who keeps covenants and shows mercy on those who are faithful to him</I>. He is talking about the reliability and mercy of God that no other gods can compare with. If we serve him with all our hearts, he will indubitably bless us. This passage can't refute Mormonism's belief in the existence of beings who rule other universes.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>17) Neh<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 9:6 <I>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</I>, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.</div> <bR> <div>      God made the universe. We agree. This has nothing to do with the presence or absence of other “Gods” in <I>other</I> universes.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>18) Ps <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>86:10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things:<I> thou art God alone.</I></div> <bR> <div>      The Psalmist was begging God for forgiveness and contrasted God with the other gods he knew (vv.  8-10). </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >       </FONT>19) Isa <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>37:16,20 </div> <bR> <div>      Repetition of Hezekiah's prayer in 2 Kng  19:14-19.</div> <bR> <div>   20) Jer <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>10:6-7,10-11 Forasmuch as <I>[there is] none like unto thee, O LORD</I>; thou [art] great, and thy name [is] great in might. Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise [men] of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, <I>[there is] none like unto thee</I>.. .But <I>the LORD [is] the true God</I>, he [is] the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Thus shall ye say unto them, <I>The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, [even] they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.</I></div> <bR> <div>      This passage isn't about the existence or nonexistence of Gods in other universes but is about idolatry. The context (vv. 1-14) has God comparing himself to the idols and the gods they represent. These gods didn't make the heavens and the earth and shall perish. Since the true God, YHWH, created the heavens and the earth, who are these gods who will be destroyed? Naturally, the gods represented by the idols known to the audience of Jeremiah.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 21) Mark <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>12:29-34 And Jesus answered him, <I>The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: </I>And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth:<I> for there is one God; and there is none other but he</I>: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.</div> <bR> <div>      Jesus quoted the Shema (Deut  6:4) and the scribe agreed with him concerning the two greatest commandments. Jesus wasn't talking about ontology (notice he didn't mention his status) but was stating which was the greatest commandment by summarizing the Ten Commandments into their two categories instead of falling into his critic's trap of identifying a particular one. He wasn't denying the existence of other “Gods” in other universes.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="BernhardMod BT" >  </FONT>22) John <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>17:3 And this is life eternal, that <I>they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.</I></div> <bR> <div>      Jesus said Heavenly Father is the only true God. Isn't Jesus “God” as well? Just because the Father is the only true God doesn't mean Jesus isn't God either since there are numerous passages that point to him being God as well (see MORMONISM: Section 2). <B>For Jesus, Heavenly Father is the only true God. For us, Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are the only true God.</B> There is nothing in this passage implying a  Multiverse cosmology or exaltation. Consequently, <I>since this statement of Jesus doesn't exclude him, neither should it exclude others from being “God” or else he isn't “God” as well.</I></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT>23) 1 Cor<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 8:6 <I>But to us there is but one God, the Father</I>, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.</div> <bR> <div>      There is only one God for us, the Father. It is him whom we worship. We pray to him in the name of his only begotten Son. However, Jesus Christ is also God and according to verse five, there are many gods,<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >9</FONT> but it is still the Father who is the object of our adoration.</div> <bR> <div>   24) Eph<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 4:6 <I>One God and Father of all, who is above all</I>, and through all, and in you all.</div> <bR> <div>      For us, there's only one God, Heavenly Father, who is above all other creatures in this universe, with whom Jesus is one and with whom the true Christians are one. The “oneness” is a complete non-ontological unity since humans who are sanctified are included (John  17:20-24). Obviously, this passage is unable to refute Mormonism.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 25) 1 Tim<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 2:5 For <I>there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.</I></div> <bR> <div>      Paul says there's one God and the only mediator between God and men is the man Christ Jesus. Must we isolate 1 Tim  2:5 and reject Jesus and the Holy Ghost as being God despite the numerous passages that show them being God? If not, why automatically reject the possibility in the existence of other entities who equally share being “God” but rule over <I>other</I> universes? </div> <div>      There is only one God, Heavenly Father. But, Jesus and the Holy Ghost have the “God” nature, inherit Heavenly Father's  authority and have   complete unity with him causing them to be referred to as “God”<I> in addition</I> to Heavenly Father.</div> <div>      The Scriptures must always be taken as a whole and apparently contradictory teachings must be examined in comparison to determine the real teaching. <I>If this passage effectively refutes the existence of entities in other universes who are “Gods;” it also effectively refutes the idea that Jesus and the Holy Ghost are God,</I> especially since it <I>explicitly </I>mentions Jesus being a man and has him contrasted with God.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 26) Jas<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 2:19 Thou believest that <I>there is one God</I>; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.</div> <bR> <div>      Just as the case with the other passages, this verse is incapable of disproving Mormonism's belief in the existence of other “Gods” who rule other universes since Jas  2:19 doesn't define what `one God' means. The majority of our critics interpret it to mean there's only one numerical God comprised of three persons in a way no one can explain, whereas other denominations who believe in a unitarian God believe it only refers to Heavenly Father and as a result reject Jesus and the Holy Ghost from being God. When one examines the Bible as a whole, we find a multitude of meanings for both `one' and `God.' We in turn understand this passage to mean there's `one God' having plural  members but have complete unity with one another. This not only encompasses the three members of the Godhead, but also other entities in other universes and the sanctified in this universe.</div> <bR> <div>      What exactly is the difference between having “three self-aware personages in perfect unity and harmony” with having “an infinite number of persons in perfect unity and harmony” aside from the numerical value of the persons? Nothing. <B>Whatever kind of unity the Father, Son and Holy Ghost have, this same unity is extended to all the other beings who rule other universes in the multiverse!</B> Clearly, if these biblical passages don't exclude the other two members of the Godhead from being “God,” neither will they exclude beings who rule other universes.</div> <div>      It's obvious that when one honestly examines the biblical text, one has to admit that not a single passage anywhere can effectively refute Mormonism's belief in the existence of other “Gods” who rule <I>other</I> universes and that our own God, Heavenly Father, was once a mortal entity in an ancestral universe prior to becoming “God” and creating this universe.</div> <bR> <div> <B>[ENDNOTES]:</B></div> <bR> <div> 1.ABD. 1:1165-1166; HG. pp. 60-61.</div> <div> 2.ROT. p. 143.</div> <div> 3.IBC. p. 58.</div> <div> 4.NIB. 1:276.</div> <div> 5.TDOT. 1:196; HG. p. 53; IOT. p. 146; NLBC. p. 76.</div> <div> 6.IBC. p. 58.</div> <div> 7.OTS. p. 181.</div> <div> 8.TDOT. 1:197.</div> <div> 9.EBC. 1 Cor  8:5-6.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mailto:ewatson@shaw.ca" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:ewatson@shaw.ca"><U>e-mail me!</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>