2. Creation of Spirits – God Created Everything that Exists. Smith Says Otherwise.
“We say that God himself is a self-existent being. Who told you so? It is correct enough; but how did it get into your heads? Who told you that man did not exist in like manner upon the same principles? Man does exist upon the same principles. “THE KING FOLLETT DISCOURSE
“God made a tabernacle and put a spirit into it, and it became a living soul. (Refers to the old Bible.) How does it read in the Hebrew? It does not say in the Hebrew that God created the spirit of man. It says “God made man out of the earth and put into him Adam’s spirit, and so be came a living body.” THE KING FOLLETT DISCOURSE
“But if I am right, I might with boldness proclaim from the house-tops that God never had the power to create the spirit of man at all.” THE KING FOLLETT DISCOURSE
“Intelligence is eternal and exists upon a self-existent principle. It is a spirit from age to age,and there is no creation about it. All the minds and spirits that God ever sent into the world are susceptible of enlargement.” THE KING FOLLETT DISCOURSE
I deeply disagree with these statements and will endeavor to show you that they are unbiblical. The angles and the spirit of men are created by God.
Creation of Man
Gen 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image,after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Gen 2:7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Gen 2:7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
Formed of the dust of the ground
H3335
יצר
yâtsar
yaw-tsar'
probably identical with H3334 (through the squeezing into shape); (compareH3331); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively to determine(that is, form a resolution): - X earthen, fashion, form, frame, make (-r),potter, purpose.
H3335
יצר
yâtsar
yaw-tsar'
probably identical with H3334 (through the squeezing into shape); (compareH3331); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively to determine(that is, form a resolution): - X earthen, fashion, form, frame, make (-r),potter, purpose.
Became
H1961
היה
hâyâh
haw-yaw'
A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass(always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary): - beacon, X altogether,be (-come, accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass),continue, do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-)self, require, X use.
H1961
היה
hâyâh
haw-yaw'
A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass(always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary): - beacon, X altogether,be (-come, accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass),continue, do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-)self, require, X use.
Man was created and formed out of the dust of the ground.This is not simply God forming the body for the preexisting spirit to live in.God is simultaneously creating the body and the spirit as a singular unit.
Zec 12:1 The burden of the Word of Jehovah for Israel, says Jehovah, who stretches forth the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth,and forms the spirit of man within him
Forms: H3335
יצר
yâtsar
yaw-tsar'
probably identical with H3334 (through the squeezing into shape); (compare H3331); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively to determine(that is, form a resolution): - X earthen, fashion, form, frame, make (-r),potter, purpose.
יצר
yâtsar
yaw-tsar'
probably identical with H3334 (through the squeezing into shape); (compare H3331); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively to determine(that is, form a resolution): - X earthen, fashion, form, frame, make (-r),potter, purpose.
As we covered before, God is a God who speaks. He does not simply say or explain something once but repeats it often to ensure that we are not confused. So I will cover a few more times that God repeats this concept.
1Co 15:45 Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
1Co 15:46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man isfrom heaven.
1Co 15:48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and asis the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.
1Co 15:49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall alsobear the image of the man of heaven.
1Co 15:46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man isfrom heaven.
1Co 15:48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and asis the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.
1Co 15:49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall alsobear the image of the man of heaven.
Of: G1537
ἐκ, ἐξ
ek ex
ek, ex
A primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence motion or actionproceeds), from, out (of place, time or cause; literally or figuratively;direct or remote): - after, among, X are, at betwixt (-yond), by (the meansof), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for (-th), from (among, forth, up), +grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, . . . ly,(because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, Xthenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with (-out). Often used incomposition, with the same general import; often of completion.
ἐκ, ἐξ
ek ex
ek, ex
A primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence motion or actionproceeds), from, out (of place, time or cause; literally or figuratively;direct or remote): - after, among, X are, at betwixt (-yond), by (the meansof), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for (-th), from (among, forth, up), +grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, . . . ly,(because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, Xthenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with (-out). Often used incomposition, with the same general import; often of completion.
Adam was a creature brought forth out of the ground. God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and thus formed the spirit and Adam became a Living Creature. Adam was formed and his existence began at that moment and all born of Adam are likewise born or the earth. Those that submit to Christ will in the future be changed to be like Jesus and be of a spirit nature. However, the natural origin of earth and flesh is followed by spirit.This is reversed in the LDS belief.
Angles
This further helps to separate the creation of man and angel. Man is formed by the hands of God. Angels are decreed into existence.This also works to establish the two as separate groups of beings that do not mix or swap categories.
Psa 148:1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens;praise him in the heights!
Psa 148:2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!
Psa 148:3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!
Psa 148:4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
Psa 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created.
Psa 148:6 And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Psa 148:2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!
Psa 148:3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!
Psa 148:4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
Psa 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created.
Psa 148:6 And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
While you may wish to claim that the plural pronoun inverses 5 and 6 refer to the heavens or something else. This is unlikely. The pronoun “them” in verse five is the same group in verse 6 thanks to the conjunction “and”. The same group is both created (H1254) by God’s command and established forever. The group to which “they” refers must be referring to the angles. It can not be solely referring to the heavens because the bible clearly states that they are not established forever and will pass away.
Heb 1:10 And,"You, Lord, have laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the works of Your hands.
Heb 1:11 They shall perish, but You will remain. And they shall all become old as a garment,
Isa 60:19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Isa 60:20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; forthe Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
As we can see, the heavens will pass away, the earth will pass away. The only thing in this passage in psalms that is eternal is the angels.This means that the psalmist is prophetically declaring that God creates and sustains the angles by the power of His word.
Col 1:16 For all things were created in Him, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created through Him and for Him.
Col 1:17 And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.
This passage also states that all things were created by His power. The “things in the heavens” includes angles and the scriptures even explicitly spell it out. The thrones, powers etc refer to angelic beings. We know this from the use of the same sort of language in Daniel and Ephesians 6:12. God created all things, angles and men’s spirits included.
We additionally know from the scriptures that angles and men are two distinct entities. We as humans are saved by the blood of Jesus and are adopted into the family of God and become His children. We are called children of God. Yet:
Heb 1:3 who being the shining splendor of His glory, and the express image of His essence, and upholding all things by the word of His power, through Himself cleansing of our sins, He sat down on the right of the Majesty on high,
Heb 1:4 being made so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Heb 1:5 For to which of the angels did He say at any time, "You are My Son, this day I have begotten You?" And again, "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?"
According to Hebrews, the basic fact of angels never being called sons is used to describe the uniqueness of Jesus. The LDS claims that angels are still spirit children of God before their earthly incarnation and some angles are the spirits of earthly saints serving in heaven. Even so, God has never at any time said He will be a Father to them. If the angles included,at a bare minimum, the first fruits of Christ when He and they rose to heaven,God, speaking though the writer of Hebrews, would not have been able to make this claim. God is a Father to Christians. He has never said that He will be a father to an angel. That implies God implicitly keeps a separation between the entities. They are not the same thing nor do they transition from one to the other.
Neh 9:6 "You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.
God created the heaven of heavens with all their host. God created both the heaven and the host (angels). If that is not enough to establish the fact that God creates at least the angels, here is the account of Satan’s creation.
Eze 28:12 "Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
Eze 28:13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire,emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared.
Eze 28:14 You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.
Eze 28:15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was foundin you.
Eze 28:16 In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Eze 28:17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.
Eze 28:18 By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you.
Eze 28:19 All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever."
Eze 28:13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire,emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared.
Eze 28:14 You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.
Eze 28:15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was foundin you.
Eze 28:16 In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Eze 28:17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.
Eze 28:18 By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you.
Eze 28:19 All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever."
H1254 (בּרא )bârâ': A primitive root; (absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes): - choose, create (creator), cut down, dispatch, do, make (fat).
Mormonism is not simply wrong on one or two points. It seems that all of its secret theology is completely off base and contrary to the bible. While I am glad that the LDS is at least focused on Jesus, this sermon’s teachings continually strike at the power and importance of God and build up the importance of man.
As always I look forward to your response and attempt to correct my confusion, J
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