Of all the Mormon doctrines, I really struggle most with the idea that God and man are in the same physical image. Although it allows me to feel closer to him it limits my concept of the Almighty, plus it forces me to think about if God has all the bodily functions we have (an insane thought). Since he made everything then he would have had to make himself (another insane thought). If he is the same form outside then he would be the same inside, therefore having all the vestigial organs as man, (a really insane thought). I would rather just think that it is impossible to even imagine his nature other than he is love, kindness, compassion, and knows us by name. Will I be limited in my progress in the church if I can never get over the mormon concept of God? I understand you are a med student. You must have come up with a way to deal with this without compromising your intellect and education. I really hope you can help me with this.
John from Denver,
(This question was posted by someone who decided to join the Church, perhaps thanks in part to answers posted on AllAboutMormons.com. Click here to see other questions posted by Mormon converts.)
3 Responses to “Of all the Mormon doctrines, I really struggle most with the…”
Ricardo Duarte
2009-11-01 21:40:44
Hi John. It's very good to hear from you again. I was thrilled to learn that you were recently baptized! Congratulations on this exciting time in your life. Your question is very interesting. Let me break my answer into parts.
Will these doubts about God's physical body keep you from progressing in the church?
By "progressing in the church," I assume you refer to your preparation for Temple worship, like the endowment and sealing ordinances. While the corporeality of God is an important doctrine in the church, it is not one of the central doctrines. None of the temple recommend questions refer to this specific doctrine, for example, so I don't think these kind of doubts would impede your Temple preparation.
Do we need to know everything now?
The truth is all members of the church are developing spiritually. We all have questions that we are currently pondering and praying over. You may be wondering whether or not God has a physical body; another member of your ward may be struggling to better understand tithing or prayer. God doesn't expect us to have a perfect testimony of every aspect of the gospel all at once. The important thing is that we have an open, studious mind so that we're ready to receive God's message when He sends it to us. I encourage you to continue to study this doctrine. The following scriptures, which describe God's physicality, may be helpful: Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 32:30, Exodus 33:11, Exodus 33:21-23, Exodus 24:9-11, Numbers 12:6-8, Deuteronomy 8:3, Deuteronomy 9:10, Psalm 44:3, Acts 7:55-56, and Revelation 22:3-4.
What we know and what we don't know.
Both the Scriptures and modern revelation suggest that God's body is of the same general form as ours. The Scriptures say nothing about God's "bodily functions," nor do they mention His internal organs. :) Really, we know almost nothing about how His body functions internally; perhaps that functioning is beyond our comprehension altogether. The Scriptures do consistently refer to men as being beings of "flesh and blood," while God is said to be a being of "flesh and bone." I have no idea what that phrase, "flesh and bone," really implies, but the fact that there is an apparent difference between "flesh and blood" and "flesh and bone" at the very least suggests to me that God's physiology is entirely different than our own. If you're all powerful, do you really need internal organs keep your body going? Probably not. I just hope God has a digestive system, because I intend to share a bucket of Rocky Road ice cream with Him in the next life, as I don't think that heaven can really exist without Rocky Road. :)
Regardless, these kinds of questions are clearly not important for our salvation. Thankfully, God has provided us with all the information we need to return to live with Him one day, and has spared us many of the unimportant details. Hope this answer helps!
Pamela Dean
2009-11-01 13:05:26
Anyone who knows me knows that I do not accept anything just because someone tells me it is because it is. I spent six years investigating the church before becoming a member. But this is one thing I know. Not just believe, but know. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. I know this from not only the feelings and answers to prayers that I have received, but also because during those six years I read everything I could about that man, both good and evil. I studied it out. I pondered. I prayed. Since I know that Joseph is a prophet, I believe him when he says that he saw the Father and the son and that they restored the true church on the earth through him. I believe that they have bodies, as we are made in their image and we have bodies. When I was a little girl I used to wonder if God had a belly button. But really, it doesn't matter if he does or not. Whether God has a belly button or not is immaterial to the message of the gospel and the plan of salvation. Likewise with bodily functions. There are simply questions that we don't know the answers to and can use our God-given intelligence and education to help us understand the things of the kingdom. Remember - some of our most loved church leaders are world-renowned medical doctors and scientists! You may find this article of interest, particularly section two.
Richard
2009-11-05 20:46:21
Man was formed in the image of God, not the other way around. God is a perfect being and thus has been exalted and perfected beyond anything that we can find in this fallen world.
"For Christ... Being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit" - Peter 3: 1. Jesus and His/our Father are not mortal flesh and blood. They are flesh and spirit. We don't get all the knowledge and light in this life. Only a portion of it, and that only as much as we need in order to "come unto Him" and have faith and patience, then when it's all over we go forward with him gaining the same knowledge and understanding he has.... "That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day."
Will these doubts about God's physical body keep you from progressing in the church?
By "progressing in the church," I assume you refer to your preparation for Temple worship, like the endowment and sealing ordinances. While the corporeality of God is an important doctrine in the church, it is not one of the central doctrines. None of the temple recommend questions refer to this specific doctrine, for example, so I don't think these kind of doubts would impede your Temple preparation.
Do we need to know everything now?
The truth is all members of the church are developing spiritually. We all have questions that we are currently pondering and praying over. You may be wondering whether or not God has a physical body; another member of your ward may be struggling to better understand tithing or prayer. God doesn't expect us to have a perfect testimony of every aspect of the gospel all at once. The important thing is that we have an open, studious mind so that we're ready to receive God's message when He sends it to us. I encourage you to continue to study this doctrine. The following scriptures, which describe God's physicality, may be helpful: Genesis 1:26-27, Genesis 32:30, Exodus 33:11, Exodus 33:21-23, Exodus 24:9-11, Numbers 12:6-8, Deuteronomy 8:3, Deuteronomy 9:10, Psalm 44:3, Acts 7:55-56, and Revelation 22:3-4.
What we know and what we don't know.
Both the Scriptures and modern revelation suggest that God's body is of the same general form as ours. The Scriptures say nothing about God's "bodily functions," nor do they mention His internal organs. :) Really, we know almost nothing about how His body functions internally; perhaps that functioning is beyond our comprehension altogether. The Scriptures do consistently refer to men as being beings of "flesh and blood," while God is said to be a being of "flesh and bone." I have no idea what that phrase, "flesh and bone," really implies, but the fact that there is an apparent difference between "flesh and blood" and "flesh and bone" at the very least suggests to me that God's physiology is entirely different than our own. If you're all powerful, do you really need internal organs keep your body going? Probably not. I just hope God has a digestive system, because I intend to share a bucket of Rocky Road ice cream with Him in the next life, as I don't think that heaven can really exist without Rocky Road. :)
Regardless, these kinds of questions are clearly not important for our salvation. Thankfully, God has provided us with all the information we need to return to live with Him one day, and has spared us many of the unimportant details. Hope this answer helps!
"For Christ... Being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit" - Peter 3: 1. Jesus and His/our Father are not mortal flesh and blood. They are flesh and spirit. We don't get all the knowledge and light in this life. Only a portion of it, and that only as much as we need in order to "come unto Him" and have faith and patience, then when it's all over we go forward with him gaining the same knowledge and understanding he has.... "That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day."