DiscussMormonism.com

This thread is going to get into some of the deep meat of Mormonism, so if you are a Vegan or have some genetic belief deficiency, watch out.

The LDS faith as you know offers an alternative to God as the first cause (or at least there has been past speculation on the matter, so it's the same thing). Instead we have postulated that God and His relatives on the Council are the direct descendants of others who had evolved to a God-like or "Q" status.

Without a first cause, we are left with the quite reasonable explanation outlined in the Encyclopedia Galactica. The beginnings of the first proto-form of life began in a primordial pool of random amino acids, and with entrepreneurial spirit were able to incorporate themselves into a group of proteins. With a sufficient capital investment of solar energy, these proteins were able to replicate themselves into a sustainable entity. The rest is cellular biology and history.

Once the superbeings evolved, they commenced this evolutionary process again and here we are. Like all good meat, this knowledge was refrigerated until we were ready for it in this dispensation, and so it was revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith.

It fits together like hand in glove and sword in flame.

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moksha wrote:
The LDS faith as you know offers an alternative to God as the first cause (or at least there has been past speculation on the matter, so it's the same thing). Instead we have postulated that God and His relatives on the Council are the direct descendants of others who had evolved to a God-like or "Q" status.

Does this speculation involve them as starting out as amino acids?

Without a first cause

unfortunately LDS teachings cannot solve this any better then any other group who have also failed.

Actually, the Mormon view is remarkably consistent and very scientific as well. Life evolves and has ALWAYS evolved. It has always existed and will ALWAYS exist. The Mormon answer is that life existed before the Big Bang and will exist after all the stars in our universe extinguish themselves. It is likely there are many universes and that the Big Bang was merely caused by one of these universes colliding with our universe (M-theory) resulting in the matter/energy distribution we see as a result.

As far as diety is concerned from the Mormon perspective, God the Father arose on an alien planet billions of years ago. It is likely that those that came before him did billions of years before that. It seems to be one eternal cycle and something that does not happen only once on this planet (which is what virtually ALL other religions state). In fact, it is happening on other planets throughout our universe as well.

The one thing I love about Mormonism is the deep doctrine and theories. I am not Mormon anymore but I think Smith was on to something with his revelations. He was certainly a channel for Spirit. I found the best way to understand Smith's teachings is to study magic and alchemy. Magic is simply psychic and spiritual study, the study and practical application of the mystical. As the infinity symbol or ouroboros, it is one eternal round. Creation and destruction are a cycle. Smith described it as a ring (like ouroboros) and described eternity as plural, eternities. Perhaps this could be looked at as universes rather than universe. There are also many dimensions beyond time and space too, or many realms. Heaven and hell are good examples, but there are many "levels" or bardos as the Buddhists say.

I think that entrepreneurial spirit you mentioned that sparked evolution is the spirit of God itself. It is Love, the primal cause and end of existence.

Perhaps another way to understand Smith's mysticism is to realize Moksha yourself. I don't think Smith ever got to Moksha. But who am I to judge?

I love Mormonism's acceptance of aliens, as well as the perspective that they are not aliens at all. All of existence is a family. We are all related.

I think there is a good chance that the church has no idea regarding the development, evolution, and history of gods and their councils. All that exists in the church is speculation based on a few curious remarks from early leaders long since dead. I wouldn't expect anything new coming forth either. We are on a strict diet of milk, and honestly, shriveling up spiritually speaking. Which is a shame, because I think its an interesting topic and one that should be explained and discussed. The what-if's are the only fun, interesting things anymore with respect to the church.

My personal opinion?

First, I think if there is a god, one with a big G, it is like the force in Star Wars - the one true essence and light that exists in all things (The One True God). This is the entity that is out there that is truly beyond our imagination and understanding. Its a part of us, and we are a part of it, but the distance in consciousness is like me trying to communicate with one of the living cells in my hand. I know its there, I can feel it, but I can't directly communicate with it.

All of the other gods out there (little g's), including those in our scriptures, are lesser entities than TOTG. They are learning and progressing just like we are, albeit on different levels and planes.

I think the key part to all this talk about evolution and progression of man and gods is reincarnation or multiple mortal probations. I think we physically and spiritually start small, and then get bigger. For example, I don’t think the innumerable forms of life like bacteria, mosquitos, ants, etc.. stay in those forms forever, but continually advance and move up in complexity and form. Never regressing but ever moving forward, until one day, they are ready for personhood and start a new test. I think the idea that we only get one shot is ultimately detrimental to our spirituality, as it fosters spirituality based on consequence avoidance rather than true change of heart. If we are supposed to be a god someday, how can we possible do that with one minute experience? That would be like having to teach a graduate level accounting course, with your only experience being the fact that you balance your check book once. There and millions of situations I will never have the chance to experience in this one nano-second of eternity. We learn by experience, and I believe that an eternal truth. Accordingly, we return and return, learning new things in new situations and circumstances, and building upon our prior experiences. Sometimes two steps forward, one step back, but all of it is for our good. I think Jesus was the example in that he showed what the end result of a myriad of lifetimes can bring, and how close one can get to those of a higher order by living and learning.

Of course, again, this is just my opinion. I could be wrong. There might be nothing but cold, dark blackness after death. But feel there is something, and this is what I would like to believe and makes the most sense in my mind.