Be Ye Perfect: Did Jesus Teach that Men Could Become Gods?

Latter-day Saints believe that we are to “be perfect” as our “Father in Heaven is perfect.” Now, while both Mormons and Christians agree that Jesus commanded “be ye perfect” in Matthew 5, we disagree about what EXACTLY Jesus was meaning.

Many members of the LDS Church teach that to “be perfect” is to be just like God—even with respect to our nature. Christians believe that there only ever HAS been and ever WILL be One Creator God who is uncreated and unchanging. In contrast, Mormons believe in exaltation—a process in which men can themselves becomes gods.

Because we are commanded to be PERFECT, many argue that Jesus is referencing exaltation in this text, and that perfection is indeed possible for mankind. In this video, Luke Wayne explains how Christian interpret this text, and WHY we’re so confidence that Jesus wasn’t speaking about the LDS doctrine of exaltation. Upon closer examination, the LDS interpretation of this passage in Matthew 5 simply isn’t tenable, and when you take into consideration the parallel text in Luke, Jesus’ meaning becomes quite clear.

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)