Question: I'm trying to understand something. The Book of Mormon states that God is not an exalted man (Alma 18:28), yet Doctrine and Covanants states that God is an exalted man (130:22). The Bible states that God is not an exalted man (Jn. 4:24 & Num. 23:19). All these books contrast. Why do several of the inspired books contrast with themselves? Which am I to believe? Shouldn't a religion's inspired books all agree? I'm really confused. Can you help explain this to me?
Response: The scripture you refer to in Alma 18:28 is an account of a missionary named Ammon who uses the term "Great Spirit" because that was the words used and understood by King Lamoni in defining God. Ammon goes on to teach the King the true gospel of Christ and a true understanding of God.
I am not sure where the term "exalted man" comes from because the scripture D & C 130:22, states "The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also;" which I believe. The scriptures teach that Jesus was resurrected and "Who being the brightness of his [the Father's] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" (Hebrews 1:3) What about Genesis 1:26 which reads, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Numbers 23:19 states "God is not a man, that he should lie;" and I believe that is a fair and consistent statement about our Divine Father in Heaven and his Son, Jesus Christ. John 4:24 is confusing as it relates to other scriptures, and I agree with you that all inspired writings should be consistent. This passage is one example of why "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly;" (8th Articles of Faith) The prophet of the restoration, Joseph Smith, set about to revise the Bible before he was martyred and John 4:24 was revised. The King James version tates, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24) The Joseph Smith revised version with the preceding verse reads, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. For unto such has God promised his Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24) This last, which I believe is an inspired revision, makes more sense and also is more consistent with other scriptures. Of course, to believe this, one must accept the idea that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet and that is a question in and of itself and requiring ones own personal study and inspiration to believe.
Hope this helps. Thanks again for writing.
