God
What does the Bible teach about God?
The Bible teaches there is only one God — not just of this earth, but anywhere — yet he reveals himself as three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Christian church uses “triune” (three in one) to describe this mystery.
I and the Father are one.
John 10:30
Furthermore, God is not merely different in degree from us. He is in a class all his own, entirely different in his very essence. God’s power is unlimited; he is beyond human understanding. He created the universe from nothing and is present everywhere. Moreover, God is unchanging, without beginning or end. There was never a time he did not exist as God.
Stop talking past each other. Gain a better understanding of the words that are unique to Mormonism and the differences of shared terms between Mormonism and Christianity.
What does Mormonism teach about God?
There is only one God of this world in Mormonism, but there are countless other gods of different worlds or universes. Mormons often refer to the God of this world as Heavenly Father but believe Jesus and the Holy Ghost are also gods. Mormons believe three separate gods make up one godhead. They are united in purpose but not in personage.
Mormonism teaches that Heavenly Father was once a man elevated to godhood and that his human characteristics limit God’s power. In other words, he’s not omnipresent, and he did not create the universe from nothing.
Additionally, Mormonism teaches that humans, by adhering faithfully to the Mormon plan of salvation, can become not just like God but exalted as gods themselves.
Why would I want to live with someone who is always sizing up my worth? It's too much pressure!
Stephanie
The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.
Doctrine and Covenants 130:22
Why this Matters
If God was formerly a man and humans are gods in embryo, with divine destiny, enormous theological problems arise. This teaching makes man the center of everything rather than God. Man is elevated, and God is diminished.
There is and only ever will be one God, and anyone who seeks to become a god is not following a plan given by God but one deceptively designed by Satan to lead astray. LDS doctrine's ultimate goal or destination, “exaltation,” leads one straight off the path of eternal life to eternal damnation in hell.
At first glance, all of God’s incredible divine attributes might be disconcerting. However, God being so much higher than humans ultimately brings comfort when we understand that God loves the world and sent his son to live, die, and rise to save sinful mortals.
Scripture References
Deuteronomy 6:4
Matthew 28:19
Isaiah 45:22
John 4:24
Psalm 90:2
Jeremiah 23:24
Genesis 17:1
Psalm 139:1-4
Isaiah 55:9
Summary
Christianity
There is one, all-powerful, triune God who created the universe from nothing.
Mormonism
God was once a man who worked his way to godhood. Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are three separate gods who make up one godhead.