Mormonism: Monotheistic or Polytheistic?
Utah Missions Inc.
www.umi.org	Dennis A. Wright

In His high priestly prayer, Jesus said, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent" (John 17:3). Mormons also emphasize the importance of a proper understanding of God.

They emphasize that "central to our faith as Latter-day Saints is a correct understanding of God the Father" (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Doctrines of the Gospel, p. 6). This text is used as the student manual for Religion 231 and 232 taught at Brigham Young University.

However, the LDS Church believes that only they correctly understand God; all other conceptions are invalid. Joseph Smith boasted, "There are but few beings in the world who understand rightly the character of God" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 343). LDS theologian James Talmage claimed that the "sectarian view of the Godhead [contains] …numerous theories and dogmas of men, many of which are utterly incomprehensible in their inconsistency and mysticism" (Articles of Faith, p. 47).

Nevertheless, former Prophet Ezra Taft Benson claimed, "Our doctrine of God is clear" (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 4). But how clear is it? Is Mormonism monotheistic or polytheistic? Mormons claim they believe in the God of the Bible, but what they actually mean is that the Bible teaches the LDS concept of God. John Ankerberg adds, "Because of its alleged apostasy, Christianity lost the true teaching of God, and therefore the historic Christian doctrine of God is not truly biblical" (Behind the Mask of Mormonism, p. 98).

When cornered, Mormons freely concede that their concept of deity is contrary to traditional Christian orthodoxy. William O. Nelson, Director of the Melchizedek Priesthood Department, agrees, "Some who write anti-Mormon pamphlets insist that the Latter-day Saint concept of Deity is contrary to what is recognized as traditional Christian doctrine. In this they are quite correct" (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, Sure Foundation, p. 93).

Joseph Smith taught that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are "three distinct personages and three Gods" (Teachings, p. 370). Bruce McConkie declared,

Three separate personages–Father, Son, and Holy Ghost–comprise the Godhead. As each of these persons is a God, it is evident from this standpoint alone, that a plurality of Gods exists. To us, speaking in the proper finite sense, these three are the only Gods we worship. But in addition there is an infinite number of holy personages, drawn from worlds without number, who have passed on to exaltation and are thus gods (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 576- 577).

Furthermore, he also said, "In the beginning the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods" (Teachings, p. 349). And Orson Pratt declared,

If we should take a million of worlds like this and number their particles, we should find that there are more Gods than there are particles of matter in those worlds (Journal of
Discourses, 2:345).

This is polytheism, pure and simple. Even Mormon scripture teaches the doctrine of a plurality of Gods: "So the Gods went down to organize man in their own image, in the image of the Gods to form they him, male and female to form they them (Pearl of Great Price, Abraham 4:27). [See also Abraham 4 and 5 as well as Doctrine & Covenants 132:37]

Joseph Smith attempted to make the Bible teach polytheism: "Paul says there are Gods many and Lords many; and that makes a plurality of Gods ... Paul had no allusion to the heathen gods in the text" (Teachings, p. 371). One should read I Corinthians 8:4-6 in context. Paul says there are many pagan idols or gods, "but to us there is but one God." Smith did not read the text very carefully–or he changed it! Paul does not teach polytheism!

The Bible clearly denies the existence of more than one true God in the following verses: "Hear, 0 Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord" (Deuteronomy 6:4); "Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me" (Isaiah 43:10); and, "1 am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God" (Is. 44:6).

Unbelievably the Book of Mormon even denies the plurality of Gods in Alma 11:26-31 as does Doctrine & Covenants 20:12, 17,19,28; and Pearl of Great Price in Moses 1:6.

The Christian doctrine of the Trinity may be difficult to comprehend, but the LDS view of God is contradictory, confusing and unbiblical.

Malachi 3:6 says, "For I am the Lord, I change not . . . . " Amazingly the Book of Mormon actually affirms this, "For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity" (Moroni 8:18).

Nevertheless, Mormonism teaches that God is changeable and progressive. Brigham Young declared, "We are not, or may be, as perfect in our sphere as God and Angels are in theirs, but the greatest intelligence in existence can continually ascend to greater heights of perfection" (Journal of Discourses, 1:93). Wilford Woodruff, the fourth Prophet, added, "God himself is increasing and progressing in knowledge, power, and dominion, and will do so, worlds without end" (Ibid., 6:120).

In spite of Mormon claims to the contrary, one must come to the unmistakable conclusion that the LDS Doctrine of God is unorthodox. It is, in fact, polytheistic.

Mormon polytheism encompasses two aspects. First, there is a predominant "local" polytheism as far as the earth is concerned. The earth has three distinct gods who "rule it." Thus, Mormonism's concept of the biblical Trinity is tritheistic, not monotheistic. LDS Apostle Bruce McConkie declares, "There are three Gods–the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost" (Mormon Doctrine, p. 317).

The principal deity is the Father, a physical god named "Elohim," said to be the primary and most "advanced" god. Mormonism teaches, "The Father is the supreme member of the Godhead" (Doctrines of the Gospel, p. 6). The Son is the physical God "Jehovah" of the Old Testament: "Jesus Christ is Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament" (Ibid., p. 9). The Holy Ghost is another former man who has become a god, although unlike the Father and the Son, he does not have a concrete physical body, but is a man with a spiritual body of matter.

These three beings, again, all former men, are the three gods that Mormons are to concern themselves with. Again, because Mormonism claims that extra-solar gods are not the church's particular concern, this belief in tritheism is somehow held to be monotheistic. In any case, Mormons will assure absolutely everyone that they believe in only one true God.

The second aspect of Mormon polytheism is not geocentric, but universal. If there are an infinite number of earths, each with its god or gods, there are also an infinite number of gods, and whether or not Mormons are "concerned" with them they do believe in them, hence the denial of polytheism is once again spurious. Even McConkie declares the following when he refers to the three principal Gods of our earth:

To us, speaking in the proper finite sense, these three are the only Gods we worship. But in addition there is an infinite number of holy personages, drawn from worlds without number, who have passed on to exaltation [Godhood] and are thus gods .... This doctrine of plurality of Gods is so comprehensive and glorious that it reaches out and embraces every exalted personage [God]. Those who attain exaltation are gods (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 576-577).

Brigham Young certainly would agree with McConkie. "How many Gods there are I do not know, but there never was a time when there were not Gods" (Journal of Discourses, 7:333). Joseph Smith claimed that he always taught polytheism, so it is odd to find modem Mormons claiming they are monotheists if indeed they respect Smith as God's true prophet.

To claim that one is a monotheist when it is evident from one's own official doctrines that one is a polytheist is religious deception. When Mormon missionaries look people straight in the eye and confidently claim they are monotheists–and even that they believe in the Holy Trinity–they are equivocating. The truth is they are polytheists who regret the doctrine of the Trinity.

Again, for Mormons to claim to be monotheists solely because one of their gods plays a more prominent role in their affairs than other gods is like a polygamist claiming he is really a monogamist merely because he has a favorite wife. Notice the argument of Mormon theologian Duane S. Crowther:

Thus it becomes obvious that there are now, and will continue to be, many [omnipotent] gods who will rule and reign throughout eternity on an ever increasing number of worlds which they will create. This is not in opposition to the Biblical concept of "one God," for an earth serves as the dwelling place for the children of only one God, and he alone reigns over his children there as Father and God (Life Everlasting, p. 361).

In other words, Mormons are monotheists because they believe in only one god per earth! The fact that there is an endless number of earths each with its own god(s) is somehow irrelevant. Mormons are still not polytheists! (John Ankerberg, Behind the Mask of Mormonism, pp. 102-103).

Who can deny that Mormonism is polytheistic? Only Mormons!

God said, "I am the first, and I am the last, and beside me there is no God … Is there a God beside me? … I know not any" (Isaiah 44:6,8). He further emphasizes, "I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me; … there is none beside me" (Isaiah 45:5,21). From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible teaches there is only one God!