During my 11 years in Mormonism, I saw how Mormons “massage” Bible verses to serve the needs of the LDS church. Years ago, as full-time Mormon missionary, I did the same many times. Among the most egregious are the passages Mormons twist to justify their belief in polytheism.
Mormons Believe in “Plural Gods”
Unlike Jews and Christians, Mormons believe in the existence of many gods. Referring to people allegedly receiving eternal exaltation, Doctrine and Covenants 76:58 claims, “Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God.” Doctrine and Covenants 132:20 contains the false promise that men and women faithful to Mormonism’s temple-marriage vows “shall . . . be gods.”
Joseph Smith and other LDS church presidents have long claimed that the Bible teaches the doctrine of plural gods. They partially base their misconception on the King James Version of Revelation 1:6. It reads that Christ has made believers “kings and priests unto God and his Father” (italics added). Other versions of the Bible render this verse more accurately, however. For example, Revelation 1:6 of the English Standard version reads, “ . . . and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father” (italics added). Unmistakably, the Bible doesn’t verify Mormonism’s doctrine of plural gods.
The Bible Teaches That Only One God Exists
Committing a tragic error, Mormons base their belief in plural gods on misinterpreted Bible verses and on Mormonism’s “latter-day revelation.” Why? Because at least 30 Old and New Testament passages verify the existence of only one God.
For example, in the Old Testament, Moses affirmed, “ . . . the LORD, He is God; there is no other besides Him” (Deuteronomy 4:35). Likewise, 1 Samuel 2:2 verifies that “there is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.” And David was unmovable regarding the doctrine of one God. Addressing the Lord in a psalm, he wrote, “You alone are God” (Psalm 86:10). Through the prophet Isaiah, God asked and answered a monumental question: “Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any” (Isaiah 44:8 ESV, italics added).
The New Testament also affirms there’s only one God throughout all creation. During his earthly ministry, Jesus declared, “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44 ESV, italics added). With equal verve, Paul proclaimed there’s “one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:6). Incontrovertibly, Mormonism’s wayward plural-god doctrine contradicts the Bible.
To obtain a detailed list of Bible references verifying the doctrine of one God, e-mail loren@gco4lds.org.
Doing the Twist
In Joseph Smith’s History of the Church 6:473-479, he claimed Paul taught the concept of plural gods in 1 Corinthians 8:4–6. In those verses, however, Paul affirmed there is only one God. The many gods and lords the apostle mentioned are idols. This is clear from the context of 1 Corinthians 8 and from other verses in the Bible. Smith twisted the scriptures for his own benefit, claiming Paul was a polytheist. See the truth for yourself. The verses read:
“Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that ‘an idol has no real existence,’ and that ‘there is no God but one.’ For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist” (1 Corinthians 8:4–6 ESV).
There Is No Other
Those who worship God in spirit and truth, possessing a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, maintain there is only one God in all existence. Unlike Mormons, who assert God is the only God pertaining to us, Christians have always believed in one God—period.
Jesus referred to the Father as “the only true God” (John 17:3). And if that’s good enough for the Savior, it’s certainly good enough for his followers.
Comments or questions? Write loren@gco4lds.org.
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