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Question

 

Gramps,

Was the Savior ever called the Father in the scriptures? Thank you for the information.

 

Renee

 

Answer

 

Renee,

I have come up with 3 for you:

Isaiah 9:6 (And 2 Nephi 19:6)

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Ether 3:14

“Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.”

Mosiah 15:2-3

“2 And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son—

 

3 The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son—”

I think it probably wise that I also explain this a bit just to clarify for those who might be visiting and exploring LDS doctrine.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a unique doctrine on the Godhead that differs from mainstream Christianity. It is one of the points often used in the “Are Mormon’s Christian” discussions. We do not accept the traditional trinity doctrine. The First Vision of Joseph Smith revealed to him the truth that God the Father and Jesus Christ were two, separate and distinct individuals. Later revelation clarified that the Holy Ghost is also a separate spirit personage, as we see in D&C 130:22:

“The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.”

So how do we explain Jesus being the Father? In a few ways. First, God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are one in purpose and doctrine. They share power, glory, intent, and will. They are one God in this manner. Second, Jesus is the creator of the heavens and the earth. All therein is His. Third, we become His sons and daughters as we are born again. This is part of symbolism of baptism. We join the family of Christ, being born to Him through the water and the Spirit. In this way, He is our father. We are of His family.

That being said, we can and should have an understanding of the scriptures that refer to the Savior as Father, but in order to maintain clarity, when we speak of The Father we mean Elohim, the Father, as distinguished from Jehovah, the Son.

 

Gramps

 

 

 

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