Summary: Theology With Blake Ostler Blake has authored a number of papers and articles and currently has completed two volumes of his multi-volume set, Exploring Mormon Thought. Joseph Smith's basic teaching that Mormons are open to receiving all truth; that Mormonism is progressive, looking for development of its beliefs in a variety of ways including thought, pondering and continued revelation, opens the path for the consideration of various aspects and angles beyond the parameters of basic Mormon doctrine. Joseph Smith opposed the idea of a creed because it sets up stakes beyond which a person is not to think. Instead he encouraged LDS to seek deeper and deeper into the mysteries of Godliness. We discussed our differences in our interpretations of Joseph Smith's views as found in D&C 121:28-32 and two discourses: 7 April 1844 and 16 June 1844. Blake concludes that Joseph Smith believed that there is one Eternal God of all other gods. I conclude that, by 1844, Joseph Smith believed that there is an infinite patriarchy of Gods - that there is no God who does not have a Father and God. Topics Raised by Callers and Email Is not the Articles of Faith a creed, if not why? What is the status of progressive Mormonism and Mormon neo-orthodoxy? What about W.W. Phelps hymn "If you could hie to Kolob"? What is a creed? By Joseph Smith's declaration that Jesus followed in the footsteps of his Father, does he mean that the Father was the Savior of the world upon which he went through mortality? Blake is trying to harmonize JS's Nauvoo teachings on plurality of gods with his 1835 Book of Abraham council of gods. According to JS's logic if there was a first God, there would have to be a last. What about the Adam God doctrine of Brigham Young? God does not have a navel. The Adam God theory is basic gospel truth and those who reject it will be damned. Does God the Father have a Father? Who was God the Father's Father when he went through mortality? Allegation that Joseph Smith believed the Adam God theory. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 26 August 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
