Question: I read recently in Newsweek magazine that Mormons believe that God was once a man. In Psalm 90:2 the bible states clearly that "from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." In Isaiah 43:10-11 the Bible states clearly "that yea may know and believe me, and understand that I am he:before me there was no God formed , neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord: and beside me there is no savior." Scripture and scripture can be sighted throughout the old and new testament stating that no gods share be formed before and after him. How do the Mormons explain these contrasting views?
Response: A close reading of Psalms 90:2 reveals that it refers to this earth and its creation and refers to the everlastingness of God relative to us and the creation of the earth and all things that are upon it. If we read that scripture it its full context starting with verse one and reading through verse four, we see that God's time is totally different than our time, and God our Heavenly Father is the only God with which we have dealings with. That is, it was He who created our spirits in the beginning of our spiritual existence. It was He who prepared this earth for us to live on and prepared the plan of salvation which allows us a way to return to Him at the end of our lives. He will always be our God.
In man's reckoning of time, He has always been our God. Isaiah 43 restates this truth. We serve and worship only him. We never worshiped anyone before Him and we will not worship anyone else hereafter. He is our everlasting and eternal loving Father.
Matthew 5:48 says, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father, which is in Heaven in perfect." Today none of us is perfect. I can't imagine any of us will reach that state of perfection before we leave this earth, but through the eternities as we are continually mentored at His feet, we will come to know what He knows. As an example and similar to the relationship I have with my earthly father, I had the potential to be like him, or in other words, a father like he is. No matter what my personal progression may be on this earth, George Osmond will always remain my father.
This kind of eternal progression is fascinating and will come to those who live righteous Christ-centered God-like lives. I hope that this is helpful to you.
