LDS Monotheism: notwithstanding the plurality of gods

By RE CASTEL

The Apostle Paul, as he discusses matters pertaining to the forbidden worship of idols, expounds – "we know ... that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and [to us there is but] one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge..." (1 Corinthians 8: 4-6)

Evidently, the Bible tells us that God the Father is the one God we are expected to worship as our God, notwithstanding the fact that there are other true gods that exist in the infinite totality of the existence. God the Father is the God of this world which He created by the Lord Jesus Christ. We belong to this world which is one of the worlds that belong to the dominion of our God in the infinite heavens. And God our Father is the one God we are expected to worship, notwithstanding the plurality of gods in the infinite heavens.

Evidently, the Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord by whom the Father has created all things in this world, and he is the Savior by whom the Father has saved this world. We are expected to worship our Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

The Bible establishes that "God is God of gods" (Deuteronomy 10: 17; Joshua 22: 22). The Bible also records that there are those of whom God declares "Ye are gods; and all of you are the children of the Most High", although God also tells them "But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes" [Psalms 82: 1, 6-7]. The scriptures are clear regarding the existence of these other gods. But there is no commandment that we should worship these other gods over whom God is God as mentioned in the Bible.

The monotheism of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is plain and simple, and clearly in accord with the doctrine established by the Bible. We worship God the Father as our God and we worship the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior – to us, our God is God the Father and our Lord is the Lord Jesus Christ, although "there are gods many and lords many" in the infinite heavens and in this world called earth.

Compared to the monotheism of the Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, Baptists, Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and of all the other Christian churches or ministries, LDS monotheism is clearly defined. Those other Christian churches and ministries cannot explain their monotheism in the light of the biblically established doctrine that there are many gods.

As for the idols and graven images, the clear commandment is – "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them." (Ex. 20: 3-5)