LDS against St John’s Gospel, not the Nicene Creed

The invisibility of the Father, the Inseparability of the persons, the doctrine of energies (glory), in short, Orthodox Trinitarianism, are taught in John chapter 1.

The Father is never seen (v18). The Son dwells in the bosom of the Father (v18). Although the Son is called God, ‘God’ generally refers to the Father (v18). Although it can also pick out the Son’s divine nature (v1). The Son is of the same Divine Nature as the Father (v1):

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him]. – [Jhn 1:1, 18 KJV]

The Son is the ‘only begotten’ of the Father (v14). The Son’s glory is what makes us able to become Sons of God (v12-14):

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 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. – [Jhn 1:12-14 KJV]

I recognize that one can twist these verses into conformity with LDS theology with some success due to the problem of underdetermination of data. However, a serious look at this chapter with an honest heart favors the Orthodox view. Joseph felt the need to ‘translate’ this chapter precisely for this reason (see JST John 1). This is just the start, though; many of the things highlighted here typify the NT and the way the Father, Son, and Spirit are spoken of.

Leave a comment