12.15.08
The Comfort of Cannot’s
Summary: There are things God cannot do, but this in no way limits HIM from being all powerful. He cannot lie. He cannot be cruel, immature, or mean. Furthermore, he does not simply choose to not do these things. He is incapable of doing them, and this a great comfort. God’s perfect nature allows us to trust him without reservation and have faith in him.
My dad and I had a discussion about the nature of God in which we disagreed fairly respectfully. I think it is an important point - to know God is Eternal Life - and having a false view of the nature and character of God sets us up for multiple foibles. The issue at hand is this - Is God capable of doing wrong? Not that he would, but is he ABLE to do something ungodly? As Alma points out, if he did something bad he would cease to be God.
My dad argues that attempting to limit the power of God - or more properly, define him as less - is a sure path to heresy. He vigorously pointed out that God has all power; if he couldn’t do something, if he didn’t have agency, then he wouldn’t be all powerful. Accordingly, God continually chooses to do right but has the option of doing wrong. Besides, isn’t it moot? The result is the same, God continues to be God and love us.
MMMmmmm…. no. There is a big difference that will be clear later on.
I argue that just because God cannot do something doesn’t mean he is all powerful. He still has all the power that exists in the universe. The power to create/declare law, to live forever, to move mountains, etc. In the collection of all of these powers, however, there is no power that exists that allows the owner to do the impossible. That which is impossible is impossible. God cannot lie. He cannot stop loving his children. He cannot cease to be God. He is perfect. Everything God does, by definition, is godly and right. What he does defines godliness. He isn’t God because he does a bunch of godly things.
In this stage of his life he is God because he is perfect, he has all power. Light proceeds from him and fills the immensity of space, giving law and life to everything. God is infallible. Furthermore, a God who perpetually walks on a razors edge - one small misstep and he’d crumble and cease to be - doesn’t inspire faith.
BUT … Here’s the deal - it doesn’t matter what either of us think - the scriptures say - pretty decisively - that there are things God cannot do. It’s not that God simply chooses to not do them, he is simply INCAPABLE of doing them. It is impossible for HIM.
Although there are some strange ways to interpret scripture, there are several scriptures that are almost unmistakable.
Behold, I, the Lord, have brought you together that the promise might be fulfilled, that the faithful among you should be preserved and rejoice together in the land of Missouri. I, the Lord, promise the faithful and cannot lie.
That’s the Lord, talking about himself, saying clearly that he CANNOT lie.
And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.
The brother of Jared, stating the CANNOT version and not the WILL not.
And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood. Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.
Christ speaking of the Father and the oath and covenant of the priesthood. In the chapter it mentions that we, as men, can break this covenant but God cannot. It reminds me of D&C 82:10 - “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say…”.
Therefore ought ye not to tremble? For salvation cometh to none such; for the Lord hath redeemed none such; yea, neither can the Lord redeem such; for he cannot deny himself; for he cannot deny justice when it has its claim.
Abinadi, describing those that know the commandments and refuse to obey them - viz. do not repent and use the atonement of Christ - states that the Lord doesn’t save them, not because he chooses to or doesn’t want to, but more specifically he cannot. Alma 11:37 says a similar thing (In fact, the argument between Zeezrom and Amulek is similar to the one my father and I had). Ditto for Moroni 10:26.
If you’d like to see more scriptures, you could just go to:
TOPICAL GUIDE
God, Perfection of
http://scriptures.lds.org/tg/g/75
The net result of this was that I went home and searched the scriptures and found out some comforting things. I also learned some new things about the light of Christ, Eternal Life, your calling and election being made sure, falling from grace, and the God being the author of law. I also learned that I was being petty, wanting to be right so badly. My brother also pointed out that it looked like I was seeking approval and acceptance from my father - it wasn’t just a doctrinal discussion, but the same struggle I’ve had all my life with my dad. I really should get over it. Secretly on the inside, I know my dad loves me and is proud of me despite his constant efforts to thwart me from teaching him something.
On the advice of my brother and my friend John, I have decided to let it go … and not try to correct my father. It won’t help to email him my thoughts and a laundry list of scriptures that directly support the doctrine of God’s perfection. I’m reminded of a story from the book Joseph’s Smiths Teachings, p 157:
<!– @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –>
I will endeavor to instruct you in relation to the meaning of the beasts and figures spoken of. I should not have called up the subject had it not been for this circumstance: Elder Pelatiah Brown, one of the wisest old heads we have among us, and whom I now see before me, has been preaching concerning the beast which was full of eyes before and behind; and for this he was hauled up for trial before the High council.
I did not like the old man being called up for erring in doctrine. It looks too much like the Methodist, and not like the Latter-day Saints. Methodists have creeds which a man must believe or be asked out of their church. I want the liberty of thinking and believing as I please. It feels so good not to be trammelled. It does not prove that a man is not a good man because he errs in doctrine.