Response To Who is God...

The following is a discussion about my beliefs about God...

Son,
You have picked up on one of the beautiful truths of the temple and have misunderstood it to mean something else. 
That's okay, though. I can see where a couple of scriptures, taken out of context, can appear to say what you interpret them to.
With limited resources and your current mind-set, it is totally understandable.
By denying the words of the Lord said in other times and places, looking with our mortal eyes we see through the glass darkly.
It is only with the Spirit that we can see rightly.
Nevertheless, I will attempt to clarify even though my hands are tied behind my back since I cannot use all of Christ's words.

God is my Father and I am His child

(Malachi 2:10) "Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us?"

• "Father" is a word used to describe someone who is a founder or creator. The "Founding Fathers" of our nation for example. Elohim is our "Father" in many ways. The scriptures are deliciously replete with examples of synonyms, types, parables and many layers of meaning. He is the "Father" of our spirits. He is the "Father" of our mortal existence. He is the "Father" of our eternal destiny. All we have, all we are, and all we ever hope to be is because of Him. 
• When His children attempt to strip Him of His Parentage, it does not make it so. Nothing is changed. Truth is truth forever.
• His very nature of nurturing patience, reward and punishment, and perfect love are evidence of that relationship.

(Hebrews 12:19) "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the
Father of spirits, and live?"

• Elohim is specifically called the "Father" of our spirits. TBhe relationship between our earthly fathers being compared directly to Him and our relationship with Him. There is no mistaking it.
• You seem to believe that He is only the Father of "some" spirits. Whose who join the Jesus club. That belief does not match this explicit truth. 

(Matthew 5:48) Jesus said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

• The commandment directly from the Lord to be perfect seems an impossibility. However, the Greek word for perfect is actually whole or complete. We are commanded to DO all that is necessary to reach that perfection that our Father has; to become as He is.
• The Lord Jesus points the way to His Father and our Father as the ultimate "Be-ing;" be-ing finished.
• True, He was speaking to believers. That does not exclude the true nature of our Father being the father of our souls. I see no conflict here.

(Matthew 6:9) Jesus prayed, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."

• Again, although Jesus was speaking to believers, it does not mean His words are only specific to their relationship with their Father, and exclusionary to all non-believers.

(1 Corinthians 8:5-6) "For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."

• Yes, though there are many gods and lords, we are to be concerned only with our Father, who is THE GOD, and also with our one LORD, Jesus Christ, because it is through him all things exist. This scripture could not be more plain.
• This scripture makes no distinction or condition about God being our Father.

John 1:12 But as many as ^areceived him, to them gave he ^bpower to become the ^csons of God, even to them that believe on his ^dname: 13 Which were ^aborn, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

• Through faith in the Lord Jesus, the Christ, becoming a new creature, totally changed and born again, we are given the ability or power to become one with Him. There are several scriptures you no longer accept as the word of God that say essentially the same thing. Yes, adoption is part of it, but not all.
• There is an essential truth taught in the temple sealing ceremony that helps clarify this, but I doubt anything I could say on the subject would be of any import to you, so I will leave it at that.

Rom. 8:14 For as many as are ^aled by the ^bSpirit of God, they are the^csons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of ^abondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of ^badoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth ^awitness with our ^bspirit, that we are the ^cchildren of God:  17 And if children, then heirs; ^aheirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we ^bsuffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

• This is one of my favorite scriptures. It testifies of the love of Father, and the glorious blessings He has in store for us. He will reward those who are let by His Spirit, who recognize His as their Father, who suffer with Christ, carry their cross, follow Him, and are loyal to Him. To these, he will glorify as a "joint-heir with Christ.

Gal. 3:26 For ye are all the ^achildren of God by ^bfaith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been ^abaptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

• This beautiful layer of truth is both symbolic and real. We are bound to our Father through the loving ties born of our faith in His Son, and Christ's perfect love for us. By taking upon us His name, and bearing all that follows that action, we show our loyalty to the Lord and our commitment to our Father. 
• You understand part of the principle of adoption into the house of Israel. This is indeed part of it, but not all. The blessings associated with the covenant between God and Abraham and his seed becomes more real.

Gal. 4: 5 To ^aredeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the ^badoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  7 Wherefore thou art no more a ^aservant, but a ^bson; and if a son, then an ^cheir of God through Christ.

• Indeed, another example of the amazing gifts the Father has in store for us! To be an "heir of God" as His children -- through Christ's Atonement and Resurrection. To share the personal "Abba" cry in our hearts with the King of Kings is truly amazing.

Eph. 1: 4 According as he hath ^achosen us in him ^bbefore the foundation of the world, that we should be ^choly and without blame before him in love: 5 Having ^apredestinated us unto the ^badoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

• This is a great scripture that talks about the pre-existence and choices made before the world was created. It clearly says that we were chosen to be adopted into the family of Christ because He willed it that way. And this, "that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." That is such a powerful testament of the power of Christ to save! His ability to make us holy is incomprehensible to the mortal mind, yet it is true!

1 John 1:12: 1 Behold, what manner of ^alove the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the ^bsons of God: therefore the ^cworld knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the ^asons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall ^bappear, we shall be ^clike him; for we shall ^dsee him as he is.

• This is a very humble expression of the recognition of the magnitude of the gift and love of God. It rightly says that we can be like the Savior.

1 Pet. 2:9 “But ye are a ^achosen generation, a ^broyal ^cpriesthood, an ^dholy^enation, a ^fpeculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of ^gdarkness into his marvellous^hlight: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy”

• Clearly, before we come to Christ, we are not considered His people. This does not mean that we are not spirit brothers and sisters. It means that we are not on His side in the battle against evil; that we are loyal to Him.
• Also, this poetically describes the kingly ministry, sanctified and uncommon; all through the mercy and love of the Lord.
• Nothing here precludes the truth that we are spirit children of an amazingly loving Father who offers every opportunity for His children to become like Him, to be joint-heirs with Christ, to become a holy and royal priesthood. It actually supports these truths.

Lurlynn L. Potter

"Life is lovely when you look at it that way." 

Who is God?

The question is, "Who is God?"


Regardless of what I think or anyone else, God (Elohim) is my Father. He knows me personally. He loves me individually and perfectly.
My personal relationship with Him is through His Son, Jesus the Christ. He also knows me personally, loves me individually and perfectly.
Intellectual study only verifies my personal experiences which I will never deny.

God is my Father and I am His child

(Malachi 2:10) "Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us?"

(Hebrews 12:19) "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"

(Matthew 5:48) Jesus said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

(Matthew 6:9) Jesus prayed, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."

(1 Corinthians 8:5-6) "For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."

(Hebrews 12:9) "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?"

Character and Nature of God

God has a body... therefore, if I am in His image, I value and will take care of my body.

(Genesis 1:26) "God said, let us make man in our own image, after our likeness." Later, (Genesis 5:3) "And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth." This is the verbage used by the same writer to express a similarity between fathers and their sons.

(Genesis 5:1) "God created man, in the likeness of God made he him."

(Genesis 9:6) "In the image of God made he man."

(Acts 7:56) Stephen saw "the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."

(James 3:9) "men, which are made after the similitude of God."

And many others.

God is Omniscient... therefore, I can trust His judgement and His timing.

(Isaiah 66:18, 88) He "knoweth their works and their thoughts... knoweth the secrets of the heart."

(Matthew 10:29) Jesus said, "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of."

(Matthew 10:29) Jesus also said, "sparrows … shall not fall on the ground without your Father."

(Acts 15:18) "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning."

(Acts 17:26) He "hath determined the times before appointed."

God is Omnipotent... therefore, He has power to do anything He desires. He has power to help me become like Him.

(Genesis 17:1) "I am the Almighty God"

(Genesis 18:14) "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

(Jeremiah 51:15) "He hath made the earth by his power."

(Malachi 3:11) "I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes."

(Matthew 19:26) "With God all things are possible."

(Matthew 28:18) The Resurrected Lord states that he now has power given Him directly from the Father. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

(John 1:3) "All things were made by him."

(Romans 4:17) "God, who quickeneth the dead."

(Revelations 4:8) "Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."

(Revelations 19:6) "Lord God omnipotent reigneth."


God is Love... This is His defining characteristic. His love for me is boundless and in my childlikeness, I love Him with all my heart!

(Deuteronomy 5:10) Mercy is a reward of His love. "Shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me."

(Deuteronomy 6:5) We are commanded to feel and act on that feeling. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

(Jeremiah 31:3) "I have loved thee with an everlasting love."

(John 3:16) Father was willing to sacrifice His special Son for the rest of us. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son."

(John 14:21) Father rewards those who love Jesus with his love. "He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father."

(John 14:23) Father rewards obedience with love and His presence. "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

(John 15:9) Jesus loves us the same way the Father does. "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you."

(2 Corinthians 13:11) Father grants us His presencense when we live in peace. "Live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."

(1 John 4:7) Love is something that comes from God. "Let us love one another: for love is of God.


God is Spirit... So am I.

(John 4:24) "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

So am I. I am a spirit being with a mortal body at this time. To say that I am a spiritual being having mortal experiences in no way changes the character of my very being.

Father's body, however, is perfect or complete, glorious, refined, radiant, and eternal.

The early Christians understood this scripture, but it was later used to mean that God is "only" a spirit. That does not change the truth, however.


God is a devouring fire to the wicked, and the fullness of joy for the righteous

(1 Chronacles 16:27) "Glory and honour are in his presence."

(Psalms 16:11) "In thy presence is fulness of joy."

(Psalms 68:2) Disobedient behaviour is punished. "Let the wicked perish at the presence of God."

(Psalms 140:13) God's presence is reward for obedience. "The upright shall dwell in thy presence."

(Matthew 5:8) Jesus said the Father will reward the pure in heart with His presence. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."

(Hebrews 3:11) Wickedness is punished by blessings being withheld. "I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest."

(James 4:8) Father rewards some actions with the blessing of His presence. "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you."

I could go on and on!
God is my Father, I am His child. Imagine that! The Glorious God of all is my Father! That makes me daughter to the King of all Kings. That makes me a royal princess!
He has a personal interest in me and wants the best for me. There are so many scriptures that tell me this, but my testimony of His divine love and individual involvement in the details of my life are personal manifestations. Each sacred communication and expression of love fills my soul beyond the boundaries of my mortal body. Additionally, whenever He asks me to be His instrument, and I do it, He imprints part of Himself on me and I become more like Him. I know what I know about Him through these experiences, enhanced by the holy scriptures.



That's who God is.

His Grace is Sufficient

I have been asked often about my beliefs concerning "Grace" and how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints views the concept. I have always had a difficult time explaining it in a way that satisfied my true feelings about it. Then, I came across a talk given at BYU in 2011 by Brad Wilcox from the Sunday School General Board. A bell went off! He explained it just how I feel. I will use some of his words here when they are more eloquent and precise. I will also quote scriptures and add my own experiences and perception. Hopefully, after reading this, you will gain a better understanding about this topic, my beliefs, and the expressed views of the Lord's Church.

The song, "Amazing Grace" has been one of my favorite all-time songs to sing. It speaks to the feelings of my soul that I have felt while singing in Jerusalem, as well as the quiet moments when I give thanks to my God for miracles in my life and the miracle of forgiveness I have experienced personally.

People have hinted that I belong to a church of works, and that those works make the Atonement impotent. They intimate that somehow my obedience to the Lord's commandments and instruction negates His ability to "save" me completely, or that I somehow believe He cannot do so without my help.

I agree that it is true that some members of the church do not understand this principle very well. There are some who are members of the church for social reasons, or who truly believe, but have not developed the personal relationship with their Savior that He desires. Additionally, the focus is our return to our Heavenly Parents through the Son, Jesus the Christ. This in no way takes away from the amazing grace of the Son.

Brother Wilcox was discussing this concept with a BYU student when he said, “Jesus doesn’t make up the difference. Jesus makes all the difference. Grace is not about filling gaps. It is about filling us.”

I loved that!
Jesus paid the ENTIRE price of our debt! He paid it all! It is finished!
He asks us to show faith in Him, repent, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. Our obedience is not a payment! How could we pay even the smallest part? It is impossible! Only He can do that. Only He was qualified. We are showing appreciation for what Jesus Christ did by using our agency to choose to follow His example and to obey his commandments.

I love the parable of the piano lessons Brother Wilcox used, so I will quote it here:

Christ’s Grace Is Sufficient to Transform Us


Christ’s arrangement with us is similar to a mom providing music lessons for her child. Mom pays the piano teacher. How many know what I am talking about? Because Mom pays the debt in full, she can turn to her child and ask for something. What is it? Practice! Does the child’s practice pay the piano teacher? no.
Does the child’s practice repay Mom for paying the piano teacher? no. Practicing is how the child shows appreciation for Mom’s incredible gift. It is how he takes advantage of the amazing opportunity Mom is giving him to live his life at a higher level. Mom’s joy is found not in getting repaid but in seeing her gift used—seeing her child improve. And so she continues to call for practice, practice, practice.

If the child sees Mom’s requirement of practice as being too overbearing (“Gosh, mom, why do I need to practice? none of the other kids have to practice! I’m just going to be a professional baseball player anyway!”), perhaps it is because he doesn’t yet see with mom’s eyes. He doesn’t see how much better his life could be if he would choose to live on a higher plane.

In the same way, because Jesus has paid justice, He can now turn to us and say, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19), “Keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If we see his requirements as being way too much to ask (“Gosh! none of the other Christians have to pay tithing! none of the other Christians have to go on missions, serve in callings, and do temple work!”), maybe it is because we do not yet see through Christ’s eyes. We have not yet comprehended what He is trying to make of us.
---
President Kimball explained that "the repenting sinner must suffer for his sins, but this suffering has a different purpose than punishment or payment. Its purpose is change.”

We are not "earning" heaven, we are "learning" heaven. We are practicing for it, we are trying to internalize the characteristics of a changed soul and implementing that change in the way we live our lives.

Brother Wilcox makes this point: "When people ask if I have been saved by grace, my answer is, 'Yes. Absolutely, totally, completely, thankfully—yes!' Then I ask them a question that perhaps they have not fully considered: 'Have you been changed by grace?'”

Christ's suffering gift is not just a huge favor, it is an investment! He expects us to be changed souls, reborn to become new creatures through His grace and through the price He paid. Otherwise it was all for naught! Now, that would be ungrateful!

He asks certain things of us. By our obedience with exactness and honor, we can actually pierce the veil and draw upon the powers of heaven in ways we never thought possible. Through our undeviating course, the Lord is invited to place His hand on our shoulder and whisper amazing truths to us, and bestow blessings upon us and our children forever. If we are not changed, we will not feel comfortable in His presence. It would be hell, not heaven!

Everyone on this planet chose to go along with the Father's plan; we wanted Jesus to be the Christ. Some faught for that plan valiantly. Today, our agency is still intact, and some choose the Lord's plan, while others do not. I will not tell Jesus that He can no longer speak through prophets, as He always has done. I will not tell the Lord what is allowed and what is not! I will not presume to tie His hands, those hands......

Brother Wilcox continued, "When we understand grace, we understand that God is long-suffering, that change is a process, and that repentance is a pattern in our lives. When we understand grace, we understand that the blessings of Christ’s Atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9)."

I testify with all my heart that "Christ is not waiting at the finish line once we have done “all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23), He is with us every step of the way!"

So grace is not a booster engine that kicks in once our fuel supply is exhausted.
Rather, it is our constant energy source.

It is not the light at the end of the tunnel but the light that moves us through the tunnel.

Grace is not achieved somewhere down the road. It is received right here and right now.

It is not a finishing touch; it is the Finisher’s touch (see Hebrews 12:2).

In the LDS Hymn, “Come, Come, Ye Saints,” the phrase reads, "Grace shall be as your day”—what an interesting phrase. We have all sung it hundreds of times, but have we stopped to consider what it means? “Grace shall be as your day”: grace shall be like a day. As dark as night may become, we can always count on the sun coming up. As dark as our trials, sins, and mistakes may appear, we can always have confidence in the grace of Jesus Christ. Do we earn a sunrise? No. Do we have to be worthy of a chance to begin again? No. We just have to accept these blessings and take advantage of them. As sure as each brand-new day, grace—the enabling power of Jesus Christ—is constant.
  Conclusion

The grace of Christ is sufficient—sufficient to cover our debt, sufficient to transform us, and sufficient to help us as long as that transformation process takes. The Book of Mormon teaches us to rely solely on “the merits, and mercy, and grace of the holy messiah” (2 Nephi 2:8). as we do, we do not discover—as some Christians believe—that Christ requires nothing of us. Rather, we discover the reason He requires so much and the strength to do all he asks (see Philippians 4:13). Grace is not the absence of God’s high expectations. Grace is the presence of God’s power (see Luke 1:37).