MormonGenesis

THE SCRIPTURES:

Mormon canon has four standard works of scripture: The KJV Holy Bible (annotated
and corrected by the Joseph Smith Translation or JST), the Book of Mormon, the
Doctrine & Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. The latter three works are seen
as a restoration of the fullness of the gospel. The 8th and 9th Articles of Faith, part of
the Pearl of Great Price, outline the basic need for these inspired, additional scriptures:

_____8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated
____ correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

_____9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we
____ believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the
____ Kingdom of God.

Mormon doctrine holds that the Bible has been corrupted from its pure origins and
many 'plain and precious' tenets of the gospel have been lost (see 1 Ne. 13).
Correcting this are the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and the Pearl of
Great Price. All are seen as modern-day revelations, restorations of the fullness of the
gospel, and the pure truth given by God himself to prophets in these latter-days.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

The standard works of the LDS church present three distinct and often contradictory
accounts of the First Creation, as well as various scriptural verses that create the basis
for a fourth account presented in the sacred Endowment ordinance. The four together
are the accounts of Genesis, Moses, Abraham, and the Creation Drama.

With the accounts presented in the three works of scripture seen as divinely inspired,
and the account of Genesis given in the Bible seen as corrupt, there should be no
difference between the inspired three. Also, references to the creation in other inspired
Mormon scripture should not conflict with the three inspired accounts, and yet they
often do. This calls into question the ultimate legitimacy of inspired Mormon scripture.

A NOTE ON THE CREATION DRAMA:

The story of Genesis is given as part of the sacred Endowment ordinance in Mormon
temples throughout the world. The ceremony itself is seen as the pinnacle of spiritual
insight in a Mormon's life and essential for eternal salvation. It is seen as a sacred gift of
knowledge directly from God, uncorrupted and pure in its account. However, the
Endowment continues revision. Although the context of the Creation Drama doesn't
change, the wording has been condensed and altered. This poses a problem for its
legitimacy in that the Endowment ordinance was supposedly a restored version of the
one conducted in Solomon's temple, instituted by Joseph Smith to turn back the
corruption and revision that had ravaged Christianity over the centuries. The two most
current versions are placed side by side to show that today's ceremony is not without
corruption itself.

Mormon theology holds that the godhead is made of three distinct beings and not a
trinity. Yet among the four accounts and other supplementary scriptures, credit for the
creation is given to God alone, Christ alone, Christ as God, God and Christ, and in
one account to Christ (as Jehovah) and Adam (as Michael) acting on the behalf of
God (as Elohim).

____Which account is correct? Is any correct?

Presented here is a verse by verse comparison between them. Hopefully, this site will
give the reader a better understanding of what molds contemporary Mormon views on
creation, the problematic nature of those views, and the plurality of Gods.

NAVIGATION...

Verses marked with gray are those which are out of order relative to the other verses
in the same book but have been placed into corresponding context with the other
accounts for easier comparison. Verses marked in black are in the correct order and
context.

Comments marked with red are my opinions and interpretations of the verse.

The site usually looks strange in Firefox, so I'd recommend using Internet Explorer.

updated 12-29-2005