FAIR Topical Guide

Guide Home > Doctrinal Issues > Afterlife > Deification

Additional Topics

The following are additional topic areas related to Deification. If there is a bracket number after the topic, that number indicates how many actual articles there are related to that subject. If the link for the topic is not live, it simply means the topic is a 'planned area' for future growth.

FAIR Resources

These links are either to Web pages hosted on the FAIR Website, or to FAIR Papers. FAIR Papers are short articles about specific topics or questions, written by members of FAIR. These articles can be downloaded and read in PDF format and are intended to be distributed by e-mail or print for the general use of our patrons. (To read FAIR Papers you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader. It can be downloaded free from the Adobe Web site.) Click on a title below to visit a FAIR Web page or to read the latest version of a FAIR Paper.

"Downplaying the King Follett discourse," FAIR Wiki (City Unknown: FAIR) This FAIR Wiki article addresses the anti-LDS accusation that in an effort to appear more "mainline" Christian, the Church is downplaying the importance of some doctrines taught late in Joseph Smith's lifetime. Prominent among these is the doctrine of human deification.

"Letter from a Youth Pastor: Four LDS Responses to Frequently Asked Questions," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, February 2004) The FAIR Website frequently draws people seeking answers to specific questions. See how four FAIR volunteers responded to a query from a Presbyterian youth director.

Roger Cook, "Christ, the Firstfuits of Theosis," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, 2002 FAIR Conference) In his 2002 FAIR Conference presentation, Roger Cook looks at the LDS view of theosis in light of ancient Jewish and Christian views.

Roger D. Cook, "Joshua the High Priest and the Council of the Gods in the Book of Zechariah: A Post-exilic Jew in King Yahweh's Court," (1999 FAIR Conference presentation.) This paper takes a look at the ancient belief in a council of gods.

Michael W. Fordham, "Do We Have the Potential to Become Like God?," (City Unknown: FAIR, 2005) Michael Fordham identifies Biblical evidence that supports the LDS view of deification.

Michael W. Fordham, "Do We Have the Potential to Become Like God?," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, 2005) Michael Fordham tackles the often-criticized LDS belief in deification and demonstrates that the belief can be supported from the Bible.

Benjamin McGuire, "Reconsidering Psalms 82:6: Judges or Gods? A Proposal," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR, January 2003) An answer to Bill McKeever's criticism of LDS interpretations of Psalms 82:6 and John 10. An examination of the concept of whether the psalmist and Jesus Himself believed men can become gods.

D. Charles Pyle, ""I Have Said, 'Ye Are Gods'": Concepts Conductive to the Early Christian Doctrine of Deifciation in Patristic Literature and the Underlying Strata of the Greek New Testament Text," (1999 FAIR Conference presentation.) A look at early the early Christian belief than the righeous could become gods.

Encyclopedia of Mormonism

The resources listed below are articles available in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism. These links are to information not located on the FAIR Web site.

Lisa Ramsey Adams, "Eternal Progression," Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow (New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1992), 465-466

K. Codell Carter, "Godhood," Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow (New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1992), 553-555

Keith E. Norman, "Deification, Early Christian," Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow (New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1992), 369-370

Ensign Articles

These articles cited below provide information on the topic of this page. The Ensign is one of the official publications of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When you click on one of the article links below, you are whisked to the article found in the archives of the Church's Web site.

R. Val Johnson, "The Purpose of Life," Ensign, April 1993, 22. For those who struggle through life without knowing why they live, where they are going--and how to reach their highest potential--the restored gospel provides some answers.

Gerald N. Lund, "Is President Lorenzo Snow's oft-repeated statement 'As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be' accepted as official doctrine by the Church?," Ensign, February 1982.

Other Resources

The resources listed below are related items available on the Web that should be of interest. These links are to information not located on the FAIR Web site.

Stephen R. Gibson, "Can Men Become As God?," One-Minute Answers to Anti-Mormon Questions (Bountiful, Utah: Horizon Publishers) Why do Latter-day Saints perpetuate the same lie that the devil told Adam and Eve, that "ye shall be as gods"?

Michael T. Griffith, "Godhood: Man's Divine Potential," One Lord, One Faith (Bountiful, Utah: Horizon Publishers, 1996)

Dr. Richard Hopkins, "The Relationship Between God and Man," Ed., Kevin Graham How are we chidren of God and how might we inherit what the Father has?

Jeff Lindsay, "Do Latter-day Saints Belong to a Cult?," LDS FAQ This article explores a number of reasons people have claimed the LDS are a cult. It looks at the belief in the Trinity, prophets, polygamy, new scriptures and diefication among other things.

Jeff Lindsay, "Questions about Relationships (Between Man, Christ, God, and so forth)," LDS FAQ Are God and Christ the same? Can humans become gods? Was Satan a brother to Christ? Do Mormons worship Adam?

Jeff Lindsay, "Questions about Salvation and Exaltation What Do "Mormons" Really Believe? ," LDS FAQ What happens to non-LDS people on the day of judgment? Do we need to obey Christ and keep His commandments to be saved? What about the thief on the cross? Do we believe in a physical resurrection?

Daniel C. Peterson, ""Ye Are Gods": Psalm 82 and John 10 as Witnesses to the Divine Nature of Humankind," The Disciple as a Scholar (City Unknown: FARMS), 471-594 Dr. Daniel Peterson shows how the LDS belief in a divine council is as home in the Bible.

W. John Walsh, Robert L. Millett and Stephen E. Robinson; Biblical Support for Deification. A compilation of short articles demonstrating that the Bible teaches deification.

W. John Walsh, Do Husbands Resurrect Their Wives?.

W. John Walsh, Do Only Mormons Go To Heaven?.

W. John Walsh, Is There Eternal Marriage?. Matthew 22:30 implies that there will be no marriage in Heaven. How is this verse reconciled with LDS beliefs?

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