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There is one teaching from Joseph Smith
that many Christians call blasphemy.

It’s the idea that man can become like God.

But before we reject it…
we need to answer one critical question:

What does the Bible actually say about the “mysteries of godliness”?‍

Ch 16a - Exaltation - The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God

Welcome to the Mormon Mann YouTube channel. I am Kendall, the Mormon Mann.

In this playlist, “Joseph Smith and the Bible,” I am challenging over 80 of Joseph Smith’s teachings, and I am doing it using only the Bible.

In this video I will be challenging Joseph Smith’s teachings on Salvation versus Exaltation.

In this Chapter 16 – I am breaking down our Heavenly Father’s plan for us into three different parts:

1. Exaltation – The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God (Ch 16a)

2. Exaltation – Be Ye Therefore Perfect (Ch 16b)

3. Exaltation – Ye Are Gods? (Ch 16c)

In order to facilitate the study of these topics, I will make three different short videos where you will be able to pick and choose which topics that you would like to watch.

Make sure that you press the Subscribe button so that you can follow all of these challenges.

The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God

Our first topic will be The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God. The Lord has held many secrets throughout the Bible, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. He has periodically commented on them.

Deuteronomy 29:29

The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Psalms 25:14

The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. This “showing them (us) his covenant” is one secret that is important! Christ has revealed and re-established His covenant through Joseph Smith.

These passages establish an important principle:
God does reveal His truth—but selectively, and with purpose.

Who Receives These Mysteries?

Jehovah, was very clear about His secrets when He spoke through the prophet Amos.

Amos 3:7

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

In the New Testament, the Lord became very specific about his secrets and the “mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” and who will know them. His apostles Matthew, Mark, and Luke all reported on a special question that the apostles asked Jesus Christ. They asked Christ why He always spoke in parables. Jesus Christ answered them with this response:

Matthew 13:11,12

11. He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Mark 4:11,12

11. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

12. That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Luke 8:10

And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Having these three apostles write about “the mysteries of the kingdom of God” does give a lot of weight to the importance of these mysteries.

The Apostles and the “Mysteries of God”

Paul, in a letter to the Corinthians, also spoke of these mysteries.

Paul referred to themselves, the apostles, as “the stewards of the mysteries of God.”

1 Corinthians 4:1

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Side Note: Let me reveal a little secret to all who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…Our prophet, Dallon H. Oaks and our quorum of the Twelve Apostles are the current “Stewards of the Mysteries of God!” We have access to many of the mysteries of the kingdom of God…and I suspect that we will be given more mysteries in the future.

The “Mystery of Godliness.”

1 Timothy 3:16

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

In this passage Paul writes about how “great is the mystery of godliness.”

Paul then tells about how “God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

Most Christian religions believe that Jesus Christ and His mission is the “great mystery of godliness.”

Question: If the majority of the Christian world already understands Jesus Christ and His mission, then how can that be the “great mystery of godliness?”

A Deeper Mystery

In Paul’s writings to the Colossians, he mentions this mystery again.

Colossians 1:26-28

26. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

28. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Paul mentions here that his work and labour—all he strives for and works mightily for—is that he “may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

The “mystery” here is part of what Paul talked about in 1 Timothy 3:16 when he said “and without controversy great is the mystery of godliness.”

NOTE: The concept that man may become perfect was explained in Chapter 5 and more will be explained on this later in this chapter 16b.

Joseph Smith and “Restored Mysteries”

Following the same pattern as in the Old and New Testaments, the Lord treated Joseph Smith the same way as the prophets and apostles of old. The Lord told Joseph Smith the following:

D&C 6:11,12

11. And if thou wilt inquire, thou shalt know mysteries which are great and marvelous; therefore thou shalt exercise thy gift, that thou mayest find out mysteries, that thou mayest bring many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, convince them of the error of their ways.

12. Make not thy gift known unto any save it be those who are of thy faith. Trifle not with sacred things.

Joseph Smith taught that additional truths—especially regarding exaltation—had been restored.

This leads directly into one of the most controversial teachings in Mormon doctrine:

Exaltation—the idea that man may become like God.

Many traditional Christians reject this teaching as blasphemy, making it a central point of disagreement.

Understanding the Glory of Jesus Christ

Revelations 1:7

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

One of the major Christian complaints about Joseph Smith is his doctrine on exaltation.

Joseph Smith taught that if man can receive all the proper ordinances, overcome the world’s temptations and trials, and endure to the end, man will be exalted with Christ.

This is in a way, a chance for man to become like God the Father and Jesus Christ or become a God.

This teaching, according to the Christians is blasphemy and is one of the main reasons why they believe that we Mormons are a cult.

Now let’s talk about the The Glory of Jesus Christ.

Revelations 2:11

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

In order to understand what Heavenly Father’s promise of “eternal life in His kingdom” actually entails, one must understand what exactly is “the Glory of Jesus Christ.”

From the teachings of John and Paul, we learn that:

1. Jesus Christ was in the beginning with God

2. Jesus Christ was a God

3. Jesus Christ actually made all things to include the heavens and the earth.

John 1:1-3,14

1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2. The same was in the beginning with God.

3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 1:1-3

1. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.

2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

4. Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Colossians 1:16

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in the earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Christ’s Mission and Exaltation

Knowing now that Jesus Christ made all things, we learn in Timothy that Jesus was made flesh.

Once Jesus Christ was born on this earth, he established the gospel of Jesus Christ and taught it to all people within His reach.

After teaching his gospel, he gave his life to atone for our sins. Jesus Christ was then resurrected.

1 Timothy 3:16

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

After successfully completing Christ’s mission here on earth, Jesus was “received up into glory” or “exalted” in the kingdom of God.

This exaltation included sitting on the right of God and receiving power and authority to rule over the earth, angels, and nations.

Colossians 3:1

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Philippians 2:9

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Acts 2:33

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

1 Peter 3:22

Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

Christ As Our Judge

In addition to the power and authority over all the people on the earth, Christ was also given the power to judge all mankind that lived on the earth.

John 5:22

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

It is the central belief of most Christian churches that Jesus Christ was and is “exalted” in the kingdom of God.

Even though there is no dispute about the current position of Jesus Christ, the preceding scriptures were included in this chapter in order to provide a reminder of the magnitude of what Jesus was given by our Father in Heaven.

Jesus Christ is a God.

Why This Matters

It is important to understand that the “inheritance of the kingdom of God” that Jesus Christ received was the result of His fulfilling, in an outstanding manner, His mission here on earth.

But here is the key question:

What does Jesus Christ’s exaltation have to do with us, as children of God?

I will answer this question in the two next chapters

• 16b – Be Ye Therefore Perfect

• 16c – Ye Are Gods.

Conclusion

This concludes Chapter 16a - The Mysteries of Godliness.

If this video helped clarify the importance of these mysteries, be sure to like and subscribe.

We will go next into Chapter 16b and discuss Christ commandment to us to “Be Ye Therefore Perfect.”

You can click on the next chapter button that will appear soon or click on the Play List button to go to this entire Playlist – Joseph Smith and the Bible.

You will see the entire list of topics that I am discussing in this challenge to over 80 of Joseph Smith’s teachings.

I hope to see you in my next video where I will hopefully, help get you on the path to mortal perfection.