Last Sunday I went with my family to an exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum called “Illuminating the Word.” It was very, very interesting. This project was a re-creation of the St John’s Bible as it would have originally been created with colligraphers. In addition, there were artists who depicted their feelings from the Bible in paintings and writings on the pages next to the colligraphy as well. I was very impressed and inspired as to how many people the Bible has touched and continues to touch and how the Lord has preserved His word through the Bible.
The translation the artists chose was the New Revised Standard Version because it most accurately alligns with the King James Version but is written in modern-day language. I thought it was very interesting how the artist who wrote Genisis chapter 2 decided to include on the side an excerpt from 2 Corinthians 3:18 as written in the NRSV version. It reads as follows:
…and all of us with unveiled faces seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another…
Now, for those of you who have been through the temple, this will be very interesting. First, I found it interesting she decided to insert this verse in the Adam and Eve story and secondly the verses themselves reflected the temple ceremony and purpose as well.
Most LDS people use the King James Version of the Bible, so I decided to take a look and see what the KJV said in this verse. It reads as follows:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
If you’re feeling really ambitious, I also found a site that has about 10 other translations of this particular verse here.
Personally, I like the NRSV version best because it has such clear imagery and accurately describes one of the main purposes for me in attending the temple.
What are your thoughts?
Grace for Grace 
10 comments
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September 15, 2008 at 4:22 am
Eric Zacharias
Well, you are right about this: there is no denying what Paul is saying here:
It is God who transforms us and who brings us “from glory to glory.”
In the Mormon’s eyes, that means Temple participation.
In the context of Paul’s letter, however, the transformation that God performs is entirely found in the person of Jesus Christ. Notice that Paul is talking about two ways in which God has chosen to reveal himself: Law and Gospel.
First, he reveals himself as the God who demands perfection. He IS loving and kind, but cannot overlook the fact that he is holy. Moses comes down from the mountain with the commandments of God. His face radiating from being in the presence of the Almighty. People are afraid–as rightly they should be about being in the presence of God–so much so that Moses covers his face with a veil. Cleverly, Paul mentions that the Jews still have a veil over their face. They only see their lives in light of God’s demands, not in light of his mercy.
Mercy is another name for the Gospel. Just as Moses came to receive the Law and revealed God’s glory, so the very Son of God is the very image of God. God shows his mercy to all people by delivering his Son to be our Savior. That is why Paul says that to gaze on that is beholding the very glory of God. Moses’ face only soaked up the radiance of God. The face of Jesus, the very Son of God, is the exact representation of God: if you see Jesus, you have seen everything God wants you to know about himself: his mercy and grace, yes; as well as the one who will bring justice. He brings righteousness to all who believe. Looking to Jesus, we have the forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life.
We go from “glory to glory” not by “degrees” (as inserted by the NRSV) , but by the transformation that only God can make. That transformation is made immediately and is effected only by the Holy Spirit and comes only in connection with Jesus Christ himself. It is not in any temple ceremony, of course, for that would only be a throw-back to the very pagan secret temple rites that St. Paul was speaking against. All our salvation comes in the very open declaration of Christ’s church, that our sins are washed away by the atoning blood of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, forever and ever. Amen!
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September 15, 2008 at 4:57 am
ama49
#1 Eric,
I appreciate your comments from your perspective. I can also see how you may think that the temple ceremony is like the pagan ceremonies, especially if you are not familiar with them.
When I have a bit more time I’ll comment more about temple ceremonies and how they are sacred for LDS.
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September 17, 2008 at 4:44 am
Mormon Heretic
This just brings to mind the scripture in Alma, “Have you seen his image in your countenance?”
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November 1, 2008 at 5:34 am
jackg
I wonder why no one has commented on this thread. I just want to commend Eric for his presentation of God’s word with regard to temple rituals.
Also, ama49, what if one was familiar with the Mormon temple rituals and still believed them to be pagan in nature? I’m just wondering what you would say to such a person. Also, I don’t quite understand what it is you’re emphasizing. Are you emphasizing transformation for the purpose of becoming gods?
It seems, ama, that when you say, “Personally, I like the NRSV version best because it has such clear imagery and accurately describes one of the main purposes for me in attending the temple” that you are under the impression that actually attending the temple plays a role of transforming one into the image of God. If that is so, that is saying that the work of transformation, which is the work of the Holy Spirit, cannot be fully completed unless one attends the Mormon temple. Is that what you’re implying?
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November 1, 2008 at 9:06 pm
ama49
#4 Jack,
Thanks for stopping by and for your comments.
Your first question about if the temple is pagan. My first question back to you would be what exactly is your definition for the word “pagan?” Once I knew this, then I could more accurately address this.
Next, your question about transforming to become a god. Personally, I feel that I will never be on the same plain as God our Father is. I do not believe that I will be god in the same sense that He is. However, I feel that we as humans are creatures of habit and the more we do things that invite the Lord’s Spirit into our lives, the closer we come to being like god.
I do not believe that one has to attend the temple in order to receive the Holy Spirit in complete fulness, but I believe it surely helps.
We are creatures of habit and the more we read daily in scripture, pray, serve, attend church, and attend the temple, the more abundantly we’re blessed with the Holy Spirit. I know this. I’ve seen it in my life and in others.
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November 6, 2008 at 2:48 am
jack
ama,
Thanks for your responses. I’m using “pagan” in the context of false worship and false idols. Hope this helps.
Your second response sounds like Christian sanctification. Your use of the term “God-like” as opposed to becoming “a god” interests me. I wonder if this is how the Church is teaching the concept of eternal progression, which I always believed (since I am a former Mormon) was becoming more than God-like but an actual god who will create worlds, etc.
You said: “I do not believe that one has to attend the temple in order to receive the Holy Spirit in complete fulness, but I believe it surely helps.”
I can buy this explanation but, again, I wonder if this is the Church’s true stance on this issue. My doubts about your position lining up with the Church’s position are generated by the fact that the temple is where you learn the handshakes, etc. to get past the veil and into the celestial kingdom, which is where one becomes a god and creates worlds, etc. Has this teaching changed?
I believe in practicing the Spiritual Disciplines as you describe as a means to help us stay focused on our relationship with Jesus Christ, so I see that we are in agreement with this.
I’m curious as to how old you are. The reason I ask is because your views match my son’s, who is a 22-yr-old RM, and I wonder if there is a new movement in the Church so that it is more complementary with mainstream Christianity. Everything you are saying sounds different from the LDS doctrine I knew, and does seem to contradict official Church doctrine. I am almost tempted to ask if you are really a Mormon. 🙂
Looking forward to your response.
Grace and Peace!
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November 6, 2008 at 3:04 am
ama49
Hi Jack,
I appreciate and respect you for sharing your beliefs with me. I’m 32. My mother is a former-Mormon just as you are and I’m sure your son and I can relate.
There is no doubt that some of my beliefs have been influenced by my mother’s. She is a Christian and is a very good example to me.
As I’ve pondered the temple and read about the history of the temple and the purpose behind it, I feel much more at ease with the handshakes, etc. that you talk about. I can understand how it could disturb you because it did me for many years. I had to decide to go to the temple with an open mind, rather than a skeptical attitude and when I did this, I started to understand and feel the spirit there in great abundance.
Regarding becoming gods, maybe I’m not in line with mainstream Mormonism, but I personally do not see how we can become god in a sense that god is…especially since He is the supreme creator and we worship Him. sometimes I wonder if that is why they took the “Lectures on Faith” out of LDS cannon and also they don’t consider the “King Follet” discourse to be scripture. This is where Joseph Smith says that God was once a man.
That being said, maybe I’m not really a Mormon. Maybe I’m a born-again Mormon because I believe in temples, the Book of Mormon and the prophets, but I also have some Christian beliefs in there too!
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November 6, 2008 at 7:08 pm
jack
ama,
Thanks for you candid response. I think it’s wonderful that you can see the difference between God and man. I’m all for Christian perfection and being obedient in response to God’s grace in our lives, and I think you lean that way in your thinking. I believe in being holy as God is holy, but that the work of becoming holy is God’s work through the Holy Spirit; it’s not anything I can achieve on my own through any acts of obedience. This is not to say that human effort is not involved; it’s just that we need to keep human effort in its proper perspective. Peter speaks well to this in 1 Peter.
Thanks for sharing your beliefs. It’ll be interesting to see how your theology shapes up and what kinds of decisions you may have to face because of it. Give my blessings to your mother. Just as you and my son can probably relate, so can she and I.
Grace and Peace!
Jack
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November 7, 2008 at 7:00 am
ama49
#8 Jack,
Thanks for stopping by and also for sharing your scripture references. I agree with your comments on growing and that it does take effort on our part, but we are not the ones that perfect ourselves…God is and makes up the difference through the atonement. I’ll have to look at 1 peter.
God’s blessings to you as well. Feel free to stop by anytime.
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November 8, 2008 at 4:47 am
jackg
ama49,
Real quick, I want to discuss what you said: “God is and makes up the difference through the atonement.”
It’s the making up the difference part of your statement that, for me, alludes to BOM concept of grace “after all we can do.” I struggle with seeing God’s grace as an appendage to our works. The atonement does it all for us, I believe, not just make up the difference of some disparity. Just some thoughts…
Grace and Peace!
Jack
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