Reason 2 of 10
There is one God, not many
The Doctrine and Covenants promises the exalted that they shall be gods, and the Book of Abraham speaks of the Gods organizing the earth. Through Isaiah, God says he knows of no other god, before him or after him.
What Latter-day Saints are taught
Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants promises that those who keep the new and everlasting covenant will be gods. The Church manual Gospel Principles lists becoming gods among the blessings of the exalted. The Book of Abraham describes the Gods organizing the heavens and the earth.
They will become gods (see D&C 132:20–23).
The Church's own words Gospel Principles, chapter 47, "Exaltation" · source
20Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.
Doctrine and Covenants 132:20 · read it at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
1And then the Lord said: Let us go down. And they went down at the beginning, and they, that is the Gods, organized and formed the heavens and the earth.
Abraham 4:1 · read it at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
What God says through Isaiah
Isaiah answers this directly and more than once. No god was formed before the LORD, none will be formed after him, and he knows of no other. Paul repeats the confession of Israel: there is one God.
10“You are my witnesses,” says Yahweh, “With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no God formed, neither will there be after me.
Isaiah 43:10 (WEB) · context
6This is what Yahweh, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies, says: “I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.
Isaiah 44:6 (WEB) · context
8Don’t fear, neither be afraid. Haven’t I declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don’t know any other Rock.”
Isaiah 44:8 (WEB) · context
5I am Yahweh, and there is no one else. Besides me, there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not known me,
Isaiah 45:5 (WEB) · context
4Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one.
Deuteronomy 6:4 (WEB) · context
4Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5For though there are things that are called “gods”, whether in the heavens or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we live through him.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6 (WEB) · context
The Book of Mormon agrees with Isaiah
Remarkably, the Book of Mormon itself teaches one God. When Zeezrom asks Amulek whether there is more than one God, the answer is no. Nephi ends his teaching on the doctrine of Christ by speaking of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost as one God. The later teaching of many gods moved away from the Bible and from the church's own first book.
28Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? 29And he answered, No.
Alma 11:28-29 · read it at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
21And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.
2 Nephi 31:21 · read it at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
What Latter-day Saints answer
Latter-day Saints often cite Psalm 82:6 and John 10:34, where people are called gods.
6I said, “You are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High.
Psalms 82:6 (WEB) · context
34Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken), 36do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
John 10:34-36 (WEB) · context
Why that answer falls short
Psalm 82 is addressed to unjust judges, and the next verse says they will die like men. Jesus quotes it to show that if Scripture could call mere human judges gods, he could hardly be blaspheming when he, the one the Father sanctified and sent, calls himself God's Son. It is a rebuke, not a promise of godhood.
Sources
- Doctrine and Covenants 132:20; Abraham 4:1; Alma 11:28-29; 2 Nephi 31:21 (churchofjesuschrist.org).
- Gospel Principles (2011), chapter 47.