Being God
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." - Philip 2:5-6
We tend to think that we cannot become gods until sometime long after this life. We have shown that not only have we become gods before this life as spirits, but that we can become gods in this life by being born of the spirit and thus becoming one with God through the spirit, like Adam.
But what does it mean to be a god? What does it look like?
In Exodus we learn that the Lord told Moses to take Aaron and demand of Pharaoh saying, “let my people go.” Pharaoh refused and increased the work load of the Israelite slaves. Moses returns to the Lord who tells him to go back to Pharaoh to deliver the Lord’s message. Moses asks God, “how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?” We read the lords response,
“And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet." - Ex. 7:1
Joseph Smith explained further saying,
“These Scriptures are a mixture of very strange doctrines to the Christian world, who are blindly led by the blind. I will refer to another Scripture. "Now," says God, when He visited Moses in the bush, (Moses was a stammering sort of a boy like me) God said, "Thou shalt be a God unto the children of Israel." God said, "Thou shalt be a God unto Aaron, and he shall be thy spokesman." I believe those Gods that God reveals as Gods to be sons of God, and all can cry, "Abba, Father!" Sons of God who exalt themselves to be Gods, even from before the foundation of the world, and are the only Gods I have a reverence for.” - Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Six 1843-44, p.374
Indeed, Moses was a God to Pharaoh and all of Egypt. He showed this by stretching forth his hand and commanding the elements, beasts and insects as if he were God. When Moses was asked by Pharaoh and the Children of Israel who is the God that sent you, Moses was told to respond to them saying, “I AM”.
This special name has been used to denote the relationship between the Almighty God and those whom He has made gods on earth to do his work. This special name signifies that it is the person speaking that is God acting on behalf of the Almighty God.
Moses was not the only mortal aside from Christ to be declared a god.
Modern revelation tells us that all those who are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise are given all that God has to give and are declared to be gods, even sons of god. In our ignorance, we tend to think that these blessings are not received until sometime after this life, however, the revelation says that these blessings are all received in this life and before the resurrection. You can see this clearly if you note the tense, (past, present future), of each blessing listed. Doing so will reveal that the blessings are received prior to the resurrection and at the moment that a person is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, even if it is during this mortal life.
NOTE: The criteria we must meet for the blessings given in verses 50-54, the blessings given in verse 55-70
“50. And again we bear record—for we saw and heard, and this is the testimony of the gospel of Christ concerning them who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just—
51. They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—
52. That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power;
53. And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.
54. They are they who are the church of the Firstborn.
55. They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—
56. They are they who are priests and kings, (priestesses and queens), who have received of his fulness, and of his glory;
57. And are priests (and priestesses) of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son.
58. Wherefore, as it is written, they ARE gods, even the sons (and Daughters) of God—
59. Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
60. And they shall overcome all things.
61. Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God, who shall subdue all enemies under his feet.
62. These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.
63. These are they whom he shall bring with him, when he shall come in the clouds of heaven to reign on the earth over his people.
64. These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection.
65. These are they who shallcome forth in the resurrection of the just.
66. These are they who are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all.
67. These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn.
68. These are they whose names arewritten in heaven, where God and Christ are the judge of all.
69. These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood.
70. These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.” – D&C 76:50-70
Take especial note that is says, “they ARE gods, even the sons (and Daughters) of God.”
There have been more than a few who have been sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise to their exaltation. They each receive all the blessings of their exaltation that can be received as mortals, just as Jesus did when he received his promise and was sealed up to eternal life thereby becoming a son of God, (see Heb. 5:5-9).
Those who are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise receive “all things” including the rights, powers and priesthoods of god. “Into their hands the Father HAS given ALL things, and ALL things are theirs.” (see D&C 76:55 & 59). This is not a future blessing, but a present blessing.
The common name for the power of God heal by men and women is the sealing power as received by Elijah, Elisha, Nephi (Hel. 10) and others. It is the power to speak as God and be obeyed as God.
Here is an example of this priesthood and power being received by Nephi as documented in the book of Mormon:
“5. And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.
6. Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people.
7. Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people.
8. And thus, if ye shall say unto this temple it shall be rent in twain, it shall be done.
9. And if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou cast down and become smooth, it shall be done.
10. And behold, if ye shall say that God shall smite this people, it shall come to pass. " - Hel. 10:5-10
Just as gods can be spirits, gods can also be mortals. And so, it is for those to whom God reveals,
I AM…