do mormons believe in aliens?
That no doubt seems like a very odd question. And yes, I have a very odd mind.
But.. I will, in this post, explain why it isn’t such an odd question, not really.
Here’s a Mormon saying:
As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.
Here is some information about that quote, which I found on the website, “Mormonism Research Ministry.” (I also found this info on several other websites.. google the phrase I put in italics and check for yourself).
“Although it is not found in any of Mormonism’s Standard Works, an expression that precisely defines the LDS teaching that men can become Gods was coined by fifth LDS President Lorenzo Snow. In June of 1840, Snow declared, “ As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become..” Besides correctly illustrating the Latter-day Saint teaching that God was once a mere mortal man, this couplet also declares that man has the potential to become God. According to LDS theology, eternal life is synonymous with exaltation and godhood. In the words of LDS Apostle Bruce McConkie, “Thus those who gain eternal life receive exaltation. . . They are gods.” (Mormon Doctrine, pg. 237).”
And here are some interesting words from the founder of the Mormon faith, Joseph Smith:
“We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see. These are incomprehensible ideas to some, but they are simple. It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God, and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did, and I will show it from the Bible” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp.345-346.”
Mormons teach that men (and only men) who are Mormons in good standing, and die that way, become gods of their own planets. Mormons believe that who they call “God,” or “Heavenly Father,” was once a man.
The Mormon God, who, I am assuming, Mormons teach made the earth, must have been a man… somewhere else. He must have been a faithful Mormon man.. on another planet. As you just read, Joseph Smith claimed, “God the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth..”
All the faithful Mormon men alive right now are someday going to die. According to Mormon teaching, each of those men, should they remain faithful until death, will become a gods of their own planets, and populate it with beings.
Many faithful Mormon men have died since the faith was created. I’m guessing Mormons believe those men have become gods of their own planets. So..
Mormons must therefore believe in life on other planets.
So..
Yes.
Mormons believe in aliens.
🙂
Wandering Spirit 
You might want to get better sources. This is discussed in some depth on the church website LDS.org.
Here are a few errors in your information.
“Latter-day Saint teaching that God was once a mere mortal man”
God was never a mere mortal, anymore than Christ was. Most people will tell you that we don’t understand this in full, but I do believe that Joseph Smith taught that God was the savior of His generation, just as Jesus is the savior of ours. He was not a mere mortal, but a perfect being.
“this couplet also declares that man has the potential to become God.”
This is also wrong. It declares our potential to become like God, not to somehow take His place. We can become gods, in that we will have the same kind of life that our Father now has. He will always be our Father and thus will always be our God.
“Mormons teach that men (and only men) who are Mormons in good standing, and die that way, become gods of their own planets.”
Anyone who tries to pass this off as actual doctrine is either very ignorant or is flat out lying. Men and Women become gods together, and only through the marriage covenant can this be done. We are promised that we will be gods and goddesses if we are faithful, to reign together as husband and wife under our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
However, your main point is very accurate. Not only do we believe that we can have spirit children that will one day populate planets, we also believe that right now our Heavenly Father has many worlds that He has placed his children on, and so there are many worlds on which aliens do exist. (Moses 1: 35)
Better sources? I quoted Lorenzo Snow and Joesph Smith.. didn’t those men say those things? Were those quotes not accurate?
LDS doctrine can be confusing because some things are changed as time passes. Pretty normal for any religion really. For example, the Catholic Church isn’t exactly the same as it was 500 years ago.
But.. if Snow and Smith did say what I quoted, then it seems to me, at some point in time, it was taught that God was a mortal man. I’ll check out the official LDS website you mentioned.
You claim that “this couplet also declares that man has the potential to become God” is wrong, but then say men and women will become gods and goddesses. Regarding the statement in quotes..I don’t know if the person who wrote that statement meant that any Mormon would replace God. And I was not suggesting that. I was saying Mormons are taught that they will become gods of their own planets, which you agree with.
Women become goddesses? Are they equal to men once they become goddesses? In Mormon churches, women are not equal to men. Men have more authority in their homes and in their churches than women do. Only men get the priesthood. Only men can be bishops. I have been told this by a Mormon friend who has been involved in the LDS church for over 50 years. I seriously doubt that man is ignorant. Other Mormons I’ve met recently have told me about the status of women and men. They say the same thing.
I’m glad my main point is accurate. I think Mormonism is a really interesting faith. Lots of good parts to it. I won’t become a Mormon.. I lean more towards Taoism, paganism and shamanism. But, I do like to study various faiths, and yeah.. Mormonism is fun to look into. I like the idea of going out and populating other planets.
Thanks for your comment.
Well, I never said that all your sources were bad. I will also say that I think I was a little confused and thought that most of what you said came the Mormonism Research Ministry. As such, I would not have considered the quotes from Lorenzo Snow or Joseph Smith as your sources, because you would be using them only because they were quoted by a different source. Sorry for that.
“it was taught that God was a mortal man.”
It was and is still taught that God was once mortal. My issue was not with this, but with the use of the term mere to describe him. Jesus was also mortal, but he was not a mere mortal; He was the only begotten of the Father in the flesh, meaning that Heavenly Father is quite literally the father of Christ’s physical body. As such Christ was mortal, but also divine; a demigod in the truest sense. Because of this he was able to live a perfect life and perform a perfect atonement. As Christ has only done what His Father has done before Him than we can conclude that God was also a demigod in mortality, lived a perfect life and performed a perfect atone. Were they mortal? Yes. But they were no mere mortals. This is a distinction that many fail to understand.
“In Mormon churches, women are not equal to men.”
Yes they are, and I don’t care who says otherwise. Equal and the same are not synonyms. Women and men are different, and God has called them to fill different roles in life. But they are equal; husband and wife are to be equal partners in the family, and any man that thinks otherwise needs to repent. I understand the perceptions that many people have, but I also know many women in the church, and the large majority would tell you that men and women are equal.
Wow, the theology is complicatedt! Christ and his father as demigods.. What about Mormon men in good standing alive right now? Demigods in the flesh? They get their own planets too, right? What about Joseph Smith.. demigod? Something between a demigod and most people?
“Heavenly Father is quite literally the father of Christ’s physical body.” I’ve been told Mormons believe God literally had sex with Mary to create Jesus. Going by your statement I’ve just quoted, I’m guessing what I was told is correct.
Is Mary the Heavenly Father’s goddess wife? Or, did Heavenly Father already have a goddess wife to make spirit babies with?
Seems Mary couldn’t be the Heavenly Father’s goddess wife to make spirit babies with, because Mary was a created human, and there had been millions of created humans living on earth before she was born.
Was there a first cause? In other words.. Was there a first man who became God, and if so, who made that first man?
Men and women.. I don’t see how they could be considered equal if men hold the power in the Mormon church. Same goes for Catholics, for that matter. Men hold the power in the Catholic church.
Catholics likely also say that men and women are equal, but clearly, when it comes to wielding power, men and women, whether it be in the Catholic or Mormon church (or most Protestant churches) are not equal. I think for men and women to be truly equal in any church, they’d have to share power equally.
“What about Mormon men in good standing alive right now? Demigods in the flesh? They get their own planets too, right? What about Joseph Smith.. demigod? Something between a demigod and most people?”
No. Jesus was unique among those who lived on this Earth, just as our Father was unique among those who lived on that Earth. The term demigod refers to a mortal man who had one immortal parent. Only Jesus can claim this among all those who lived on this earth. the prophets and other faithful men can claim to be men of great faith, and thus have the power of God conferred upon them. Jesus, being in the unique position that he was, did not have the power conferred on him, but simply had the power by his nature.
“Is Mary the Heavenly Father’s goddess wife? Or, did Heavenly Father already have a goddess wife to make spirit babies with?”
Speaking of Mary and her relationship with God I will say no more. The nature of that relationship has never been fully revealed and so anything I say would be speculation and not established doctrine. Logically there was a physical relationship, as such would be required to produce offspring, but this is inferred not directly stated.
“Was there a first cause?”
No.
“I don’t see how they could be considered equal if men hold the power in the Mormon church.”
This is a matter of perception, and depends greatly on what you consider to be power in the church, as well as the source of that power.
It could be said that the muscles have more power in the body as they are the organs by which all movement is possible; yet they only get their power if stimulated by the brain, which can only work when provided oxygen from the lungs, as delivered by the blood, both of which are operated through muscles. Of course, without the nutrients from the digestive track the muscles become to weak to act on any impulse the brain may send. It all works together in perfect harmony, with each part doing what it was made to do, and no one part being greater than any other.
The church is the same way. The men appear to have the power, but that is only because their power is the power that is visible to the world, while the power held by the rest is not. They fill a vital role. Women also fill a vital role, one that has just as much power and is just as important as that of the men; but it is different and not as visible, and thus many people do not perceive it as being equal.
Sorry I have not replied sooner. I still have some questions, but even after you’d answer those, I think I’d still have more questions. That’s the sort of mind I have. So, I’ll just say thanks very much for your comments (and I’m being serious, not sarcastic). I am grateful you took the time to write what you did. I now know a lot more about what Mormons believe, and that is good.
It was my pleasure. I might drop by again on another blog.
OBSERVATIONS
“AS MAN IS GOD ONCE WAS. AS GOD IS MAN MAY BECOME”
. John 5:18-19,36
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because
he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God
was his Father, making himself equal with God.
. John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among
us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
. Luke 2:52
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour
with God and man.
. Hebrews 5:8
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the
things which he suffered;
AS MAN IS GOD(CHRIST) ONCE WAS
***********
. Ephesians 3:15
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
. Romans 8
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that
we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and
joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with
him, that we may be also glorified together.
. 1 John 3:2
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet
appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall
appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him
as he is.
. Matthew 5:48
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect.
AS GOD(CHRIST) IS MAN MAY BECOME
*********
AS MAN IS GOD(CHRIST) ONCE WAS. AS GOD(CHRIST) IS MAN
MAY BECOME
. John 5:19-20
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily,
I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself,
but what he seeth the Father do: for what things
soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Interesting use of scripture.
First, something important to point out:
Christians (Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox Christians – Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, etc.) all believe in the Holy Trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
They believe that God the Son was always a part of God. They believe God the Son became man in the form of Jesus Christ.
Mormons do not believe in the Holy Trinity. They believe that man can become a god, but not that God became man.
Because Mormons, unlike Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox Christians, do not believe in the Holy Trinity, I do not consider Mormons to be Christians. Mormons believe in a very different God, and a very different Jesus. Christians do not believe as Mormons do.
Here is a series of verses you used, from the beginning of the Gospel of John:
” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among
us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Christians interpret this to mean just what I wrote above.. That the Word was God the Son, sometimes referred to as the pre-incarnate Christ. This Word, in verse 14 was made flesh. God the Son becoming Jesus Christ, here on Earth.
Christians believe that Christ was both fully man and fully God at the same time. They do not believe he became God.
The beginning of the Gospel of John disproves your point.
—
However..
Some of your other scripture quotations are interesting. It can be easy to interpret these scriptures about being joint heirs with Christ, being glorified as he is, etc. as meaning Jesus was not God in the beginning. Yes.. I understand your point.
When I used to spend a lot of time reading the Bible, I was often confused by what I read. This is because it often seems that when Christ is speaking, he is not claiming to be God, but instead calls himself “son of God” and very often “son of man.”
Sometimes, in scripture, it seems that Christ is not God, and sometimes, it seems like he is. For example, John 10:30: Christ says “I and the Father are One.”
—
Fact is, the various books that the early church eventually complied and called the Bible were written over the course of at least a thousand years, by many many different authors, for different readers.
The entire Bible (containing both Old and New Testament) was not put together until several centuries after the death of Christ.
The bible is full of contradictions, and it is no wonder there are so many different interpretations of what is written in the Bible. And so many different Christian and non-Christian groups, all claiming they teach the truth about Christ, and no one else does.
It is not surprising that Joseph Smith felt very troubled about which form of Christianity to be a part of.
—
Am I a Christian? No. I was, for over 20 years. But it has been almost 20 years since I stopped practicing Christianity or believing in any of this stuff.
I do not believe in any Mormon teachings either.
—
Some of the scriptures you have cited have not helped you make your case, but some have.
That’s fine with me, considering I, and most secular historians believe very little about the man Jesus, and do not believe in the biblical accounts of Christ, however they are or may be interpreted.
Most historians claim there is very little we know about the historical Jesus. Most agree that he actually existed, was a wandering preacher, and was likely crucified, but that’s it.
No virgin birth, no God taking on the form of Christ, no Christ becoming God, no Christ saying he’s God or the son of God or whatever.
—
In conclusion, if you are happy being Mormon, or Christian, or practitioner of any other religion, great.
But I don’t believe in any of this stuff.
—
Thanks for a thought-provoking comment though.