From: slhw4@cc.usu.edu (Jason Hunsaker)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: LDS: Jehivah & Elohim
Date: 19 Aug 92 04:59:02 MDT
Organization: Utah State University

In article <1992Aug18.162609.28266@newsgate.sps.mot.com>, 
ACUS10@WACCVM.SPS.MOT.COM (Mark Fuller) writes:
[...]
>     So, here we have the idea of Jehovah 1) being the spirit child of
> the "Eternal Elohim," and 2) Jehovah having an origin in time.  Obviously,
> then, prior to the birth of Jehovah, Elohim would not ever be identified
> as "Jehovah," would he?  

Maybe, maybe not.  God is known by many names and titles.

[...]
>     Finally, in the LDS doctrine of the creation, Jehovah is instructed
> by Elohim to "organize" the earth, which Jehovah does in company with
> Michael the Archangel.  Obviously, this is the Father speaking to the
> Son --  Elohim, one God, speaking to Jehovah, another, and lesser
> (temporally speaking) God.  

Lesser in what way?

True, passages referring to "the most high God" (ie, Gen. 14;19)
are generally taken by the LDS as referring to Elohim.

But then again, in LDS teaching, Jehovah is equal (in power,
might, dominion, etc) with Elohim.  
(See John 5:18;  Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:2.)

[...]
>     Two distinct persons, Jehovah the Christ, the Son of the Eternal
> Father.  No mixture of the "names" here at all, is there?  And
> McConkie asserts that we have "inspired utterances" to indicate to us
> who Jehovah is.  And what was it he says on page 122?  "The whole Old
> Testament is most explicit that the Deity in whose name the ancient
> prophets spoke was Jehovah, NOT ELOHIM" (emph. mine).

As a Mormon, my concept of Elohim and Jehovah is that Jehovah
does Elohim's will (Christ does his Father's will) but in
carrying it out, he does so as if it is his own will.

(Bruce R. McConkie's opinions are not necessarily my own,
regardless of his position in my church.)

Compare "Ye have heard it said..."
  (Matt. 5:21,27,31,33,38,43.)
with "But *I* say unto you ..." (emphasis mine)
  (Matt. 5:22,26,28,,32,34,39,44.)

Notice that the person that "came down from heaven, not to do
[his] own will, but the will of" his father (John 6:38) says,
"*I* say unto you..." not "My *Father* saith unto you..."

What is the difference with the Father telling Christ to do something,
and Christ saying, "*I* say unto you..." and Elohim telling Jehovah
to do something and Jehovah saying "Thus saith Jehovah..." ?

Christ constantly says, "*I* say unto you..." instead of saying
"Thus saith my Father, ..."

If Christ does this, it is not so odd that that we don't find a
passage in the OT like: "And Jehovah spake unto <insert OT
prophet here> saying, Thus saith Elohim, ..."

This seems to me to me to be a simple enough demonstration of
the relationship between Christ (Jehovah) and the Father (Elohim).

In LDS scripture, nomenclature applied to God can
reference Jehovah or Elohim depending upon the context.

For example, "the Eternal Father" and "Father" are usually
references to Elohim.  But these terms can also be applied to
the Son in different contexts.  (See Isaiah 9:6; Mosiah 15:3; 
Helaman 14:12; Ether 4:7.)

(My opinions are my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of
other Mormons.)

--
Jason Hunsaker  -|-  Logan, Utah  -|-  Internet: slhw4@cc.usu.edu