Callister tad 2012-08-14 (1)

Brigham Young University 2012–2013

Speeches
Our Identity and Our Destiny
TAD R. CALLISTER

14 August 2012

speeches.byu.edu • 801-422-2299

Our Identity and Our Destiny

TAD R. CALLISTER

I n keeping with the theme of this week,
I would like to discuss with you a vision of
who we are and what we may become. At a
become an architect? A painting a painter? Or
an invention an inventor? If not, then those
who believe we are creations of God, rather
recent training session for General Authorities, than His spirit offspring, reach the inevitable
the question was asked: “How can we help conclusion that we do not have the capacity to
those struggling with pornography?” become like our creator, God. In essence, their
Elder Russell M. Nelson stood and replied, doctrine of identity has defined and dictated a
“Teach them their identity and their purpose.” diminished destiny.
That answer resonated with me, not only as On the other hand, as members of The
a response to that specific question but as an Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
appropriate response to most of the challenges we believe that we are the spirit offspring of
we face in life. And so today I speak of the true God with inherited spiritual traits that give us
nature of our identity and a correct vision of the divine potential to become like our parent,
our divine destiny. God the Father. As to this identity, President
First, our identity. There is a sentiment Packer has written:
among many in the world that we are the spirit
creations of God, just as a building is the cre- You are a child of God. He is the father of your
ation of its architect or a painting the creation spirit. Spiritually you are of noble birth, the off-
of its painter or an invention the creation of spring of the King of Heaven. Fix that truth in your
its inventor. The scriptures teach, however, a mind and hold to it. However many generations in
much different doctrine. They teach that we your mortal ancestry, no matter what race or people
are more than creations of God; they teach that you represent, the pedigree of your spirit can be
we are the literal spirit offspring or children written on a single line. You are a child of God!2
of God our Father.1 What difference does this
doctrinal distinction make? The difference Tad R. Callister was a member of the Presidency of
is monumental in its consequence because the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
our identity determines in large measure our day Saints when this devotional address was deliv-
destiny. For example, can a mere creation ever ered on 14 August 2012 during Campus Education
become like its creator? Can a building ever Week.

1
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2 Brigham Young University 2012–2013 Speeches

It is this doctrine of identity that defines our emphasis added). How could that be? God then
potential destiny of godhood. If one does not tells us why this new destiny was possible—
correctly understand his divine identity, then because men now “know good and evil.” Being
he will never correctly understand his divine immersed in a world of good and evil, having
destiny. They are, in truth, inseparable partners. the capacity to choose, and being able to draw
What, then, has God revealed to us about upon the powers of the Atonement resulted in
our destiny? He has spoken clearly and fre- man having unlimited opportunities to pro
quently and forthrightly on this subject from gress toward his destiny of godhood.
the very beginning. When Adam and Eve were We learn a great doctrinal truth in these
in the Garden of Eden, they lived in a state of series of events surrounding the Garden of
innocence—meaning they only had a limited Eden: unfallen man would have remained in
knowledge of good and evil. Lehi described a state of innocence—safe, but restricted in
their condition as follows: “Wherefore they his progress. On the other hand, fallen man
would have remained in a state of innocence, ventured into a heightened arena of risk, but,
having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing blessed with the Atonement of Jesus Christ, he
no good, for they knew no sin” (2 Nephi 2:23). gained access to unlimited possibilities and
Suppose for a moment my wife and I invited powers and potential. Speaking of the effect
one of you good Saints from California to drive of the Atonement on fallen man, C. S. Lewis
to our home in Utah. Further suppose I asked remarked:
you to drive in neutral.
You might smile and respond, “That’s not For God is not merely mending, not simply restor-
possible.” ing a status quo. Redeemed humanity is to
What if I further replied, “Just push the be something more glorious than unfallen
accelerator all the way to the floor—you know, humanity would have been, more glorious than
as they say, ‘Push the pedal to the metal.’” any unfallen race now is. . . . And this super-
You might respond, “That would make no added glory will, with true vicariousness, exalt all
difference. I cannot reach your destination creatures.3
until I put my car in gear.”
So it was with Adam and Eve. They were Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, God
in a state of spiritual neutral and could not can exalt all His children—meaning empower
progress toward their divine destiny until they them to become like Him.
were cast out of the garden and thus put in But one might ask, “Why does God want us
spiritual gear. to become like Him?” In order to answer that
When Adam and Eve were cast out of the question, one must first understand why man
Garden of Eden, they traded their innocence, exists. Lehi gave the short and simple answer:
meaning a lack of knowledge of good and “Men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi
evil, for the prospect of perfection—that was 2:25). President David O. McKay confirmed
the deal. Innocence and perfection are not that fundamental doctrinal truth: “Happiness
the same. An infant may be innocent but is the purpose and design of existence.”4 If I
certainly not perfect in the sense that he or were to ask you who is the happiest being in all
she has acquired all the attributes of godli- the universe—the one with the most joy—you
ness. Once Adam and Eve were cast from the would no doubt respond, “God.” Accordingly,
garden, we read in the book of Genesis that God wants us to become perfect like Him so we
God Himself said, “Behold, the man is become as can experience His quality of joy and thus best
one of us [meaning like the gods]” (Genesis 3:22; fulfill the measure of our existence. That is why

Tad R. Callister 3

His plan for us is sometimes called “the plan of It was in the Sermon on the Mount when
happiness” (see Alma 42:8, 16). the Savior declared, “Be ye therefore perfect,
even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”
Our Quest for Godhood (Matthew 5:48; emphasis added).6 Was the
In spite of God’s altruistic aims on our Savior inviting men to be perfect as compared
behalf, perhaps no doctrine, no teaching, no to other men—other mortals—or as compared
philosophy has stirred such controversy as to God Himself? This command was consis-
has this: that man may become a god. It is tent with the Savior’s high priestly prayer.
espoused by some as blasphemous, by others Speaking of the believers, He petitioned the
as absurd. Such a concept, they challenge, low- Father:
ers God to the status of man and thus deprives
God of both His dignity and divinity. Others That they may be one, even as we are one:
claim this teaching to be devoid of scriptural I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made
support. It is but a fantasy, they say, of a young, perfect in one. [John 17:22–23]
uneducated schoolboy, Joseph Smith. Certainly
no God-fearing, right-thinking, Bible-oriented In accord with that request for perfection, Paul
person would subscribe to such a philosophy taught that a critical purpose of the Church
as this.5 While some of these advocates are was “for the perfecting of the saints . . . till
hardened critics, others are honest and bright we all come . . . unto a perfect man, unto the
men who simply disagree with us on this doc- measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”
trine. So wherein lies the truth? Hopefully the (Ephesians 4:12–13; emphasis added). Note
following will invite the Holy Ghost to whis- the measuring rod: not man, not some form
per the quiet but certain truth to all those who of mini-Christ or quasi-God, but rather that
honestly seek it. we should become “a perfect man, [and then
For our search of truth, we will turn to five he gives us the standard we should strive for]
witnesses—first and foremost to the testimony unto the measure of the stature of the fulness
of the scriptures; second, to the witness of the of Christ.” Does that sound relative to you?
early Christian writers; third, to the wisdom The critic is momentarily quiet. Sheepishly
of those poets and authors who drink from the he responds, “Certainly those scriptures must
divine well; fourth, to the power of logic; and mean something else.”
fifth, to the voice of history. The scriptures supporting this doctrine,
however, continue to roll forth with repeated
Scriptures and powerful testimony. At one point the
First, the scriptures. Did not an angel appear Savior was about to be stoned by the Jews for
unto Abraham and extend to him this heav- blasphemy. He reminded them of His good
enly mandate: “Walk before me, and be thou works and then asked, “For which of those
perfect” (Genesis 17:1)? works do ye stone me?”
“That is true,” interjects the critic. “Perfect They replied that they were not stoning
as compared to other men, other mortals— him for good works “but for blasphemy; and
certainly not perfect as compared to God. The because that thou, being a man, makest thyself
word was used in its relative, not absolute God.”
sense.” To this He readily acknowledged that He
“Is that so?” comes the reply. “Let us then was and declared that they should be likewise:
pursue the use of the word perfect as used by “Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are
the Savior Himself.” gods?” (John 10:32–34; emphasis added). In


other words, He said not only am I a god, but to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am”
all of you are potential gods. He was referring (3 Nephi 27:27; see also 1 John 3:2). And it
to His own Old Testament declaration, with is exactly what the Savior promised in this
which the Jews should have been familiar: dispensation for all faithful Saints: “Then shall
“Ye are gods; and all of you are children of they be gods, because they have all power, and
the most High” (Psalm 82:6). The Savior was the angels are subject unto them” (DC 132:20;
merely reaffirming a basic gospel teaching that see also verse 19; see also DC 76:58–60).
all men are children of God, and thus all might The critic, still shaking his head, responds,
become like Him. “But such a concept lowers God to the status of
Paul understood this principle, for, when man and thus robs Him of His divinity.”
speaking to the men of Athens, he said: “Or, to the contrary,” comes the reply, “does
“Certain also of your own poets have said, For it elevate man in his divine-like potential?”
we are also his offspring” (Acts 17:28). Paul Paul well knew this argument of the critic
knew the consequences of being the offspring and silenced it once and for all ages ago.
of God, for, while speaking to the Romans, he Speaking to the Saints of Philippi, he said:
declared:
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, Jesus:
that we are the children of God: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and robbery to be equal with God. [Philippians
joint-heirs with Christ. [Romans 8:16–17; 2:5–6; emphasis added]
emphasis added; see also 1 Corinthians 3:21–23
and Revelation 21:7] The Savior knew that for Him to be a god
and for us to be thus minded would not rob
Not subordinate heirs, not junior, not contin- God of His divinity. That makes good sense.
gent, but joint, equal heirs with Christ Himself, After all, who is greater: that being who limits
to share in all that He shall share. After all, is or that being who enhances man’s eternal
not that the same promise made by the Lord progress?
to the Apostle John? “To him that overcometh One might ask, Who can give greater honor
will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even and glory to God—a creature of lower or more
as I also overcame, and am set down with my exalted status? Can an animal offer the same
Father in his throne” (Revelation 3:21). honor or worship with the same passion and
Is it any wonder that Paul should write intensity as a human? Can a mere mortal
to the Saints of Philippi, “I press toward the express the empyreal feelings or exercise the
mark for the prize of the high calling of God spiritual fervency of a potential god? One’s
in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Paul, who capacity to honor and worship is magnified
understood so very well our destiny, was striv- with one’s intellectual, emotional, cultural, and
ing for the reward of godhood. Peter, who also spiritual enlightenment. Accordingly, the more
understood this doctrine, pled with the Saints we become like God, the greater our ability to
that they might become “partakers of the pay Him homage. In that process of lifting men
divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4), meaning recipients heavenward, God simultaneously multiplies
of godhood. That is exactly what Jesus ordered His own honor and glory and thus is glorified
when speaking to the Book of Mormon Saints: more, not less.
“Therefore, what manner of men ought ye Brigham Young addressed this issue:

Tad R. Callister 5

[Man’s godhood] will not detract anything Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 160–200), a
from the glory and might of our heavenly Father, contemporary of Irenaeus, spoke of the reward
for he will still remain our Father, and we shall still of godhood that followed long preparation:
be subject to him, and as we progress, in glory and “Being destined to sit on thrones with the
power it the more enhances the glory and power of other gods that have been first put in their
our heavenly Father.7 places by the Saviour.”12 This same Clement of
Alexandria then added this unequivocal state-
That is the irony of the critic’s argument— ment about the man who lives a righteous life:
godhood for man does not diminish God’s “Knowing God, he will be made like God. . . .
status; to the contrary, it elevates it by produc- And that man becomes God, since God so wills.”13
ing more intelligent, more passionate, more Hippolytus (A.D. 170–236), bridging the
spiritual Saints who have enlarged capacities second and third centuries, spoke of the
to understand, honor, and worship Him. unlimited potential of faithful Saints in this
The Savior’s soul-stirring and thought- life: “And thou shalt be a companion of the
provoking injunction to “be ye therefore Deity, and a co-heir with Christ. . . . For thou
perfect” was more than the sounding of brass hast become God: . . . thou hast been deified, and
or tinkling of cymbals (see 1 Corinthians 13:1). begotten unto immortality.”14
It was a divine-like invitation to rise up to our Cyprian (A.D. 200–258), a well-known
full potential and become like God our Father. Christian leader of the third century, reaf-
C. S. Lewis, as a rampant advocate of this firmed that men can become like Christ: “What
simple but glorious truth, wrote: Christ is, we Christians shall be, if we imitate
Christ.”15
The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic Origen (A.D. 185–255), also of the third
gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He century, wrote: “The true God [referring to the
is going to make us into creatures that can obey Father], then, is ‘The God,’ and those who are
that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were formed after Him are gods, images, as it were,
“gods” and He is going to make good His words. . . . of Him the prototype.”16
The process will be long and in parts very ainful;
p And in the fourth century St. Athanasius
but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He of Alexandria (A.D. 295–373) explained that
meant what He said.8 “[God] was made flesh in order that we might
be enabled to be made gods.”17
Could it be any clearer? For several centuries this doctrinal truth
survived, but eventually the Apostasy took
Early Christian Writers its toll, and this doctrine in its purity and
Second, early Christian writers likewise expansiveness was lost. The doctrine of man’s
wrote of our divine destiny.9 As early as the potential for godhood as taught by the Prophet
second century, Irenaeus (A.D. 115–202) noted: Joseph Smith was not his invention—not
“We have not been made gods from the begin- his creation, not conjured up by some fertile
ning, but at first merely men, then at length mind. It was simply and solely a restoration
gods.”10 On another occasion Irenaeus clari- of a lorious truth that had been taught in the
g
fied that exalted man would not be relegated scriptures and by many early Christian writers
to some type of glorified angel but literally of the primitive Church.
become a god: “Passing beyond the angels,
and be made after the image and likeness of
God.”11


Poets and Authors This insightful poet saw the seeds and germ of
The third witness—inspired poets and godhood in every man.
authors. We may look to the wisdom of
selected poets and authors who are men of Logic
integrity and spiritual insight. It was C. S. The fourth witness is the power of logic. Do
Lewis who again and again reaffirmed this not the laws of science teach us that like begets
divine proposition: like, each after its kind? Science has taught us
that a complex genetic code transferred from
It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible parent to child is responsible for the child
gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest attaining the physical attributes of his parents.
and most uninteresting person you talk to may one If this be so, is it illogical to assume that spirit
day be a creature which . . . you would be strongly offspring receive a spiritual code giving to
tempted to worship. . . . There are no ordinary them the divine characteristics and potential
people.18 of their parent—God—thus making them gods
in embryo? No, it is but a fulfillment of the
How right he was. There are no ordinary law that like begets like. This is the same truth
people, only potential gods and goddesses in taught by the prophet Lorenzo Snow:
our midst.
It was Victor Hugo, that masterful author, We were born in the image of God our Father; He
who said, “The thirst for the infinite proves begat us like unto Himself. There is the nature of
infinity.”19 What a powerful and sublime Deity in the composition of our spiritual orga-
thought. Perhaps the thirst for godhood like- nization. In our spiritual birth, our Father trans-
wise proves godhood. Would the God you and mitted to us the capabilities, powers and faculties
I know plant the vision and desire for godhood which He possessed, as much so as the child on its
within a man’s soul and then frustrate him in mother’s bosom possesses, although in an undevel-
his ability to attain it? Shakespeare had a flash oped state, the faculties, powers and susceptibilities
of this insight, for, when speaking through the of its parent.22
lips of Hamlet, he said:
President Boyd K. Packer told of coming
What a piece of work is a man! How noble in home one day and helping his children gather
reason! how infinite in faculty! in form, in moving, new chicks in the barn. As his little four-year-
how express and admirable! in action how like an old daughter held a baby chick in her hands, he
angel! in apprehension how like a god!20 said something like, “Won’t that be a beautiful
dog when it grows up?”
Robert Browning’s vision that so often His daughter looked at him in surprise.
pierced the mortal veil did so once again in And then he said something like, “Or
these lines from his poem Rabbi Ben Ezra: p
erhaps it will be a cat or even a cow.”
His little daughter wrinkled her nose, as if
Life’s struggle having so far reached its term. to say, “Daddy, don’t you know anything? It
Thence shall I pass, approved will grow up exactly like its parents.”
A man, for aye removed Then he observed how this little four-year-
From the developed brute—a god, though in the old girl knew, almost instinctively, that the
germ.21 chick would grow up to follow the pattern of
its parentage.23

Tad R. Callister 7

The Gospel of Philip, an apocryphal book, If within the short space of mortal life there are men
makes this simple statement of logic: “A horse who rise up out of infancy and become masters of
sires a horse, a man begets man, a god brings the elements of fire and water and earth and air, so
forth a god.”24 The difference between man that they well-nigh rule them as Gods, what may it
and God is significant—but it is one of degree, not be possible for them to do in a few hundreds or
not kind. It is the difference between an acorn thousands of millions of years?26
and an oak tree, a rosebud and a rose, a son
and a father. In truth, every man is a potential A glimpse beyond the veil tells us that the
god in embryo, in fulfillment of that eternal records of history do not end at death but con-
law that like begets like. tinue to mark man’s unlimited achievements.
Victor Hugo, with an almost spiritual X-ray,
Voice of History saw the possibilities after death:
Fifth, and finally, the voice of history will
likewise verify this truth. I recall the story of The nearer I approach the end, the plainer I hear
the large milk truck that drove past the pas- around me the immortal symphonies of the worlds
ture of cows. Written on the side of the vehicle which invite me. . . . For half a century I have been
in large letters were the words “Homogenized, writing my thoughts in prose and verse; history.
Pasteurized, Vitamins A and D Added.” . . . I have tried all. But I feel I have not said a
One cow looked at the sign, turned to the thousandth part of what is in me. When I go down
other, and said, “Makes you feel kind of inad- to the grave, I can say, like so many others, “I have
equate, doesn’t it?” finished my day’s work,” but I can not say, “I have
I admit that is how I feel when I look at the finished my life.” My day’s work will begin again
distance between God and me, but I take com- the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley; it is
fort when I contemplate what is accomplished a thoroughfare. . . . My work is only beginning.27
in the short space of a mortal life. I paraphrase
these thoughts of B. H. Roberts: From the Perfection is a quest on both sides of the veil.
cradle have risen orators, generals, artists, and The scriptures remind us, “Wherefore, con-
workers to perform the wonders of our age. tinue in patience until ye are perfected” (DC
From a helpless babe may arise a Demosthenes 67:13).
or Lincoln to direct the destinies of nations.
From such a babe may come a Michelangelo to The Divine Possibility Becomes a Divine
fill the world with beauty. From such a begin- Reality
ning may come a Mozart, a Beethoven to call The scriptures, early Christian writers,
from silence the powers and serenity of music. poetry, logic, and history testify not only of the
From such a helpless babe may arise a Joseph divine possibility but of the divine reality that
Smith to give light in a world of darkness.25 man may become as God. The Doctrine and
Contemplate for a moment what can be Covenants refers to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
accomplished in the short space of a mortal declaring, “And because they did none other
life. Suppose now that you were to remove things than that which they were commanded,
from man the barriers of death and grant him they have entered into their exaltation, . . . and
immortality and God for his guide. What sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are
l
imits would you then want to ascribe to his gods” (DC 132:37). For these men the divine
mental, moral, or spiritual achievements? possibility became the divine reality. This does
Perhaps B. H. Roberts expressed it best when not mean they became gods who replaced our
he said: Father in Heaven but rather exalted men who


have enlarged capabilities to honor and glorify Third, the priesthood. This ordinance transfers
Him. Our Father in Heaven will forever stand to a mere mortal the power to act for God on
supreme as our God, whom we will love and earth as though He Himself were present. In
revere and worship, worlds without end. essence, it is a spiritual power of attorney to
But how is it possible that you and I, with all be God’s agent and to invoke His power, thus
our faults and weaknesses and shortcomings, helping us learn how to exercise divine powers
could ever become a god? Fortunately, a lov- in righteousness.
ing Heavenly Father has given us resources to Fourth, the endowment. This ordinance is
lift us above our mortal restraints and propel a gift of knowledge from God as to how we
us to divine heights. I mention but two such might become more like Him, accompanied
resources, both made possible because of the by covenants to inspire us in that endeavor.
Atonement of Jesus Christ, whose crowning There is an old saying, “Knowledge is power.”
aim is to assist us in our pursuit of godhood— Accordingly, the righteous use of this knowl-
so that we might be “at one”—not only with edge received in the endowment ordinance
Him but also “at one” like Him. First, I men- results in more godly power in our own lives.
tion the saving ordinances of the kingdom. That is why the Doctrine and Covenants says,
Joseph Smith received a revelation that “I design to endow those whom I have chosen
explained the relationship between ordinances with power from on high” (DC 95:8).
and godhood: Fifth, the sealing ordinances. Death, with all its
mighty power, cannot destroy those relation-
Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of ships sealed in a temple—which relationships
godliness is manifest. can now continue beyond the grave and allow
And without the ordinances thereof, and the us, like God, to have eternal increase.
authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is
not manifest unto men in the flesh. [DC 84:20–21] The saving ordinances are much more than
a checklist of actions we must satisfy to gain
In other words, participation in the saving entrance to the celestial kingdom—they are the
ordinances unlocks and unleashes certain keys that open the doors to heavenly powers
powers of godliness in our lives that are not that can lift us above our mortal limitations.
available in any other way. These powers The second resource to assist us in our
help refine us and perfect us. The five saving pursuit of godhood is the gifts of the Spirit.
ordinances and the corresponding powers of What are the gifts of the Spirit? We know them
godliness are as follows: as love, patience, knowledge, testimony, and so
on.28 In essence, each gift of the Spirit repre-
First, baptism by immersion (and the corol- sents an attribute of godliness. Accordingly,
lary ordinance of the sacrament). Because of the each time we acquire a gift of the Spirit, we
Atonement of Jesus Christ, this ordinance acquire a potential attribute of godliness. In
cleanses us from our sins and helps make us this regard Orson Pratt taught:
holy, thus aligning our life more closely with
the Savior’s. One object [of the Church] is declared to be “For
Second, the gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift the perfecting of the Saints.” . . . The . . . plan
helps us know “the will of the Lord [and] the . . . for the accomplishment of this great object,
mind of the Lord” (DC 68:4) and thus makes is through the medium of the spiritual gifts.
possible our acquisition of a more godlike When the supernatural gifts of the Spirit
mind. cease, the Saints cease to be perfected, therefore

Tad R. Callister 9

they can have no hopes of obtaining a perfect invited and promised, “Ask, and it shall be
s
alvation. . . . given you” (Matthew 7:7).
. . . In every nation and age, where believers Why is it so critical to have a correct vision
exist, there the gifts must exist to perfect them.29 of this divine destiny of godliness of which
the scriptures and other witnesses so clearly
No wonder the Lord commands us to “covet testify? Because with increased vision comes
earnestly the best gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31); increased motivation. Elder Bruce R. McConkie
“seek ye earnestly the best gifts” (DC 46:8); wrote, “No doctrine is more basic, no doctrine
and to “lay hold upon every good gift” embraces a greater incentive to personal righ-
(Moroni 10:30). teousness . . . as does the wondrous concept
President George Q. Cannon spoke of that man can be as his Maker.”31 And why not
man’s shortcomings and the divine solution. possible? Do not all Christian churches advo-
Recognizing the link between spiritual gifts cate Christlike behavior? Is that not what the
and godhood, he fervently pleaded with the Sermon on the Mount is all about? If it is blas-
Saints to overcome each manifested weakness phemous to think we can become as God, then
through the acquisition of a countermanding at what point is it not blasphemous to become
gift of strength known as the gift of the Spirit. like God—90 percent, 50 percent, 1 percent? Is
He spoke as follows: it more Christian to seek partial godhood than
total godhood? Are we invited to walk the
If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to path of godhood—to “be ye therefore perfect,
pray for the gift that will make us perfect. . . . even as your Father which is in heaven is per-
No man ought to say, “Oh, I cannot help this; it is fect”—with no possibility of ever reaching the
my nature.” He is not justified in it, for the reason destination?
that God has promised to give strength to correct As we better understand our potential
these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate destiny, our level of self-worth and confidence
them. . . . He wants His Saints to be perfected in and motivation is greatly heightened. Youth
the truth. For this purpose He gives these gifts, and will understand that it is shortsighted at best to
bestows them upon those who seek after them, in take easy classes and easy teachers rather than
order that they may be a perfect people upon the face ones that will stretch them toward godhood.
of the earth, notwithstanding their many weak- They will catch the vision that it is godhood,
nesses, because God has promised to give the gifts not grades, for which they are striving.
that are necessary for their perfection.30 And what of our more elderly members?
They will understand there is no such thing
What was the Lord’s response to Solomon’s as a retirement farm, no day when the work
prayerful request for the gift of an understand- is done. Like Victor Hugo, they know their
ing heart? The scriptures record, “The speech work has only begun. There are yet thou-
pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this sands of books to read and write, paintings
thing,” and then the Lord noted, “Behold, I to enjoy, music to score, and service to render.
have done according to thy words: lo, I have They understand the Lord’s revelation to the
given thee a wise and an understanding heart” Prophet Joseph: “Whatever principle of intel-
(1 Kings 3:10, 12). ligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise
When was the last time we prayed for a with us in the resurrection” (DC 130:18).
gift of the Spirit that would lift us above our What about those of us who feel weak-
mortal weakness and further our pursuit of nesses in our life? We can take renewed hope
godhood? Again and again the Lord has both in the words of the Lord to Moroni: “For if they


humble themselves before me, and have faith And so it is with God, our Father.
in me, then will I make weak things become I testify there are no ordinary people, no
strong unto them” (Ether 12:27). ciphers, no zeros—only potential gods and
And what about those who believe they goddesses in our midst. While many witnesses
have sinned beyond Christ’s redeeming testify of this truth, the most powerful of all
grace? They can take comfort in His promise: are the quiet whisperings of the Spirit that
“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be confirm both to my mind and to my heart the
as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). Or perhaps grandeur and truth of this glorious doctrine.
there are some who believe their lives are As Jacob so taught, “The Spirit speaketh the
shattered beyond repair. Can they not have truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of
renewed hope in these words of the Savior: things as they really are, and of things as they
“[I will] give unto them beauty for ashes” really will be” (Jacob 4:13).
(Isaiah 61:3)? There is no problem, no obstacle I pray we will recognize our true identity
to our divine destiny, for which the Savior’s as literal sons and daughters of God and grasp
Atonement does not have a remedy of supe- a vision of our divine destiny as it really may
rior healing and lifting power. That is why be. I pray we will be grateful to a loving Father
Mormon said, “Ye shall have hope through the and Son who made it so. In the name of Jesus
atonement of Christ” (Moroni 7:41). Christ, amen.
How could we not have increased faith
in God and in ourselves if we knew He had Notes
planted within our souls the seeds of godhood 1. See Acts 17:28–29; Romans 8:16–17; and
and endowed us with access to the powers of Hebrews 12:9.
the Atonement? “Godhood?” If not, the critic 2. Boyd K. Packer, “To Young Women and
must answer, “Why not?” Men,” Ensign, May 1989, 54.
Perhaps we could suggest three answers for 3. C. S. Lewis, “The Grand Miracle,”
the critic’s consideration: Maybe man cannot Miracles: A Preliminary Study (New York:
become like God because God does not have Macmillan, 1978), 122–23; emphasis added.
the power to create a divine-like offspring. It is 4. David O. McKay, Pathways to Happiness
beyond his present level of comprehension and (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1957), xi.
intelligence. 5. While I was serving as a mission presi-
“Blasphemous,” responds the critic. “He has dent, we discussed at a zone conference man’s
all knowledge and all power.” potential for godhood. In so doing we referred
Perhaps then He has created a lesser off- to an oft-cited scripture of the critics, Isaiah
spring because He does not love us. 43:10, which states, “Before me there was no
“Ridiculous, absurd,” is his reply. “For God God formed, neither shall there be after me.”
so loved the world, that he gave his only begot- Therefore the critics conclude that if there is
ten Son” (John 3:16). no God before or after the Father, then man
Well, perhaps God has not planted within certainly could not become a god.
us the divine spark because He wants to retain As fate would have it, several days there-
godhood for Himself; He is threatened by our after one of our younger missionaries was
progress. He can only retain His superiority by knocking on a door. A distinguished man
asserting man’s inferiority. invited him in. The missionaries soon learned
“No, no,” laments the critic. “Have you ever he was a theological professor at a local univer-
known a loving, kindly father who didn’t want sity. The man was polite but stated adamantly
his children to become all that he is and more?” that Mormon doctrine was incorrect because


it taught that a man might become a god, Version and the New International Version of
and, after all, the Bible teaches there is no god the Bible translate the word telios as “perfect.”
before or after the Father. 7. JD 10:5.
This fine young missionary was not taken 8. C. S. Lewis, “Counting the Cost,” Mere
back one bit. He simply replied, “Sir, do you Christianity (New York: Macmillan, 1960),
know where that scripture is found?” 174–75.
The man hesitated, “I can’t recall exactly, but 9. Some might contend that some references
it is in the Bible.” by early Christian writers to man’s potential
The young missionary replied, “It is in for godhood were simply alternative phrases
Isaiah 43:10, but it is also found in Isaiah 44, 45, for man’s immortality, and in some cases
and 46.” He further asked, “Do you recall the this interpretation may be correct, but there
context in which it was given?” are certainly multiple references by the early
The professor could not remember. Christian writers to also evidence that these
“Then,” said the young missionary, “let me references to godhood were qualitative, not
help you. God was reprimanding the Israelites just quantitative, statements.
because they were worshipping graven images 10. Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses (Irenaeus
and statues made with man’s hands. On Against Heresies), book 4, chapter 38, in The
repeated occasions the Lord declared in these Apostolic Fathers, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, vol. 1 of
chapters that none of these images or statues, Ante-Nicene Fathers: The Writings of the Fathers
whether formed in the past or in the future, Down to A.D. 325, ed. Alexander Roberts and
would ever be a god.” In essence this young James Donaldson (Peabody, Massachusetts:
missionary explained that these verses had Hendrickson Publishers, 1994), 522.
everything to do with the incapacity of graven 11. Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses (Irenaeus
images to become gods and absolutely noth- Against Heresies), book 5, chapter 36, in vol. 1,
ing to do with man’s capacity to become a god. The Apostolic Fathers, 567.
He invited the professor to learn more about 12. Clement of Alexandria, Stromata
the truth concerning man’s potential, but the (Miscellanies), book 7, chapter 10, in Fathers of
invitation was declined. the Second Century: Hermas, Tatian, Athenagoras,
6. The word perfect as used in this scripture Theophilus, and Clement of Alexandria (Entire),
comes from the Greek word telios. Some have vol. 2 of Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander
suggested this might be translated as “fin- Roberts and James Donaldson (Peabody,
ished” or “completed,” resulting in a connota- Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994),
tion other than moral perfection—perhaps 539.
meaning a complete or mature Saint. While 13. Clement of Alexandria, Paedagogus (The
this might be one interpretation, the scrip- Instructor), book 3, chapter 1, in vol. 2, Fathers
ture does not preclude a reference to moral of the Second Century, 271; emphasis added.
perfection. In fact, when read in context, this 14. Hippolytus, Philosophumena (The
passage seems to require moral perfection. It Refutation of All Heresies), book 10, chapter
specifically delineates the type of complete- 30, in Fathers of the Third Century: Hippolytus,
ness or perfection to which it is referring Cyprian, Caius, Novatian, Appendix, vol. 5 of
when it makes the comparison “even as your Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and
Father which is in heaven is perfect” (emphasis James Donaldson (Peabody, Massachusetts:
added). God is not perfect like a mature Saint Hendrickson Publishers, 1994), 153; emphasis
or in a relative sense. He is absolutely perfect. added.
It is of interest to note that both the King James


15. Cyprian, “On the Vanity of Idols,” The you are children of the Most High’” (Martin
Treatises of Cyprian, 6:15, in vol. 5, Fathers of the Luther, as quoted in Linman, “Martin Luther,”
Third Century, 469. 198).
16. Origen, Commentary on John, 2:2, in The 18. C. S. Lewis, “Love Thy Neighbor,” The
Gospel of Peter, the Diatessaron of Tatian, vol. 9 of Joyful Christian (New York: Touchstone, 1996),
Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. Alexander Roberts and 197.
James Donaldson (Peabody, Massachusetts: 19. As related by Arsène Houssaye, “Victor
Hendrickson Publishers, 1994), 323. Hugo on Immortality,” in Samuel Gordon
17. See Athanasius, Orationes Contra Arianus Lathrop, ed., Fifty Years and Beyond; or, Gathered
(Four Discourses Against the Arians), 1.39, Gems for the Aged (Chicago; New York: Fleming
3.34, in St. Athanasius: Select Works and Letters, H. Revell, 1881), 325; quoted by Hugh B. Brown
vol. 4 of A Select Library of Nicene and Post- in CR, April 1967, 50.
Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church: Second 20. Shakespeare, Hamlet, act 2, scene 2, lines
Series, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace 323–27.
(Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1978–79), 21. Robert Browning, Rabbi Ben Ezra (1864),
329, 413; see also Athanasius, De Incarnatione stanza 13; in The Individual and Human Values,
Verbi Dei (On the Incarnation), 54.3, in St. vol. 1 of Out of the Best Books: An Anthology of
Athanasius, 65. No doubt Athanasius gained Literature, ed. Bruce B. Clark and Robert K.
this insight from Irenaeus, who earlier had Thomas (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1964),
said: “If the Word has been made man, it is so 463.
that men may be made gods” (The Westminster 22. Lorenzo Snow, in Eliza R. Snow,
Dictionary of Christian Theology, ed. Alan Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow:
Richardson and John S. Bowden [Philadelphia: One of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of
Westminster Press, 1983], s.v. “deification,” Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City:
147; see Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses [Irenaeus Deseret News, 1884), 335; emphasis added.
Against Heresies], book 5, preface, in vol. 1, 23. See Boyd K. Packer, Let Not Your Heart Be
The Apostolic Fathers, 526). Troubled (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1991), 289.
Martin Luther taught this same truth in his 24. “The Gospel of Philip (II, 3),” in The Nag
Christmas sermon of 1514: “Just as the word Hammadi Library: In English, trans. members
of God became flesh, so it is certainly also of the Coptic Gnostic Library Project of the
necessary that the flesh may become word. Institute for Antiquity and Christianity (New
In other words: God becomes man so that York: Harper and Row, 1977), 145.
man may become God. . . . He takes what is 25. See B. H. Roberts, The Mormon Doctrine
ours to himself in order to impart what is his of Deity (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1903),
to us” (quoted in Jonathan Linman, “Martin 33–34.
Luther: ‘Little Christs for the World’; Faith and 26. Roberts, The Mormon Doctrine of Deity, 35.
Sacraments as Means to Theosis,” in Partakers of 27. Houssaye, “Victor Hugo on Immortality,”
the Divine Nature: The History and Development Fifty Years, 324–25; quoted in Sterling W. Sill,
of Deification in the Christian Traditions, ed. Thy Kingdom Come (Salt Lake City: Deseret
Michael J. Christensen and Jeffery A. Wittung Book, 1975), 222–23.
[Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 28. See 1 Corinthians 12 and 13; Galatians
2007], 191). Luther further taught: “Aye, 5:22–23; DC 46; Moroni 10.
through faith we become gods and partak- 29. Orson Pratt, chapter 4 of “Kingdom
ers of the divine nature and name, as Psalm of God,” Orson Pratt’s Works (Salt Lake City:
82:6 says: ‘I have said, Ye are gods; and all of Deseret News Press, 1945), 97; emphasis added.


30. George Q. Cannon, “Discourse by 31. Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah:
President George Q. Cannon,” Millennial Star The First Coming of Christ (Salt Lake City:
56, no. 17 (23 April 1894): 260–61; empha- Deseret Book, 1978), 133.
sis added; quoted in Marvin J. Ashton, The
Measure of Our Hearts (Salt Lake City: Deseret
Book, 1991), 24–25.

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