I have yet to find a single verse of biblical scripture, which when properly interpreted in context and within context of LDS theology & soteriology, in any way militates against any LDS doctrine.

In the gospel of John chp 17 vs 3 our Lord makes a most profound statement as he prays to his Heavenly Father “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” All biblical references will be KJV unless otherwise indicated. Sooner or later, if we want eternal life, we need to know & understand the true nature of God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ. It is quite clear from a number of bible verses that will follow that God the Father & his son are two separate beings. The traditional concept of “homoousious” which has its origin at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD as a result of the philosophies of men mingled with scripture. The concept is nowhere to be found in the bible.

At the baptism of our Lord, as recorded in the synoptic Gospels, all 3 members of the Godhead are clearly presented to us as 3 separate beings. Jesus in the river Jordan being baptized by John; the heavens being opened & the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on Jesus and finally God the Father speaking from Heaven giving testimony that this is “my beloved son in whom I am well pleased” Matt 3:16 & 17; Mrk 1:10 & 11; Luke 3:21 & 22.

At the mount of transfiguration we are once again presented to us the Father & Son as two separate beings. Jesus with his 3 disciples on the mount & God the father speaking from heaven; Matt 17:1-9.

After the resurrection he makes the following statement to Mary as recorded in John 20:17 “Touch (or hold) me not; for I am not yet ascended to my father: but go to my brethren, & say unto them, I ascend unto my Father & your father; & to my God & your God.” Since Jesus is going to go & see his Father, logic dictates that he & his Father are 2 separate beings in 2 separate places. Furthermore, he refers to his Father as his God thus placing himself in a roll of being subservient to the Father. In any culture if a being is your God he is greater than you, This of course is consistent with an earlier statement by the savior in John 14:28 “…my Father is greater than I”. See also John 3:16.

The several references to Christ & the Father being one (see John chp 17) must be taken figuratively in the same way that the statement that a man & his wife are one flesh is not intended to be literal. There is no homoousious. Father & Son are not co-equal.

As latter-day-saints we worship one God, even God the eternal Father; we do so in the name of Jesus Christ who is our mediator & our savior, and we worship by the power of the the Holy Spirit.

Pierre P Wolfe (saintpete)