The Misplaced Goal of Mormonism

Why does heaven appeal to you? If you ask 100 Latter-day Saints what they think about heaven, a large majority would likely mention something about their families being there. The idea of Heaven is wondrously captivating, for so many, because their loved ones will be there.

Jeffery Holland once said “I wouldn’t know how to speak of heaven, without my wife or my children. It would not be heaven for me,” and this sentiment is shared by many Latter-day Saints.

But this is a shockingly misplaced view at best….and at worst is outright idolatry.

In this video, I’m going to explain why this common LDS view of eternity is so misplaced, and betrays an unbiblical view of heaven…and of God Himself.

Whom have I in Heaven but You?

First, consider the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 73 when he wrote

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.” (Psalm 73:25).

What a contrast! Holland says that he can’t speak of heaven without his wife and children, but the Psalms say the EXACT opposite—heaven is heavenly because it’s where God is..

For the Biblical authors, the presence of God is enough. Look at what David wrote in Psalm 27:

“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4).

The beauty of the Lord—His very presence—draws David to seek Him. Now, many people believe Christians to be crazy for wanting to worship God forever…some even wonder, “is floating on a cloud singing praise songs forever really that appealing? It sounds boring to me…”

But this betrays an incredibly small view of God. If Heavenly Father really does exist as a glorified man who progressed to his current state—then there’s nothing categorically distinct about His existence; he’s simply more developed and more wise than we are, like a PhD Grad compared to a toddler.

But the Bible teaches something very different. God is the self-existent, immaterial, and unchangeable source of all things. His very being defines what beauty and goodness are.

The idea of ‘goodness’ does not exist apart from God; rather, The words ‘goodness’ and ‘beauty’ are simply ways of describing God’s very nature!

Other things are called ‘good’ or ‘beautiful’ only because they dimly reflect their Maker. Thus, our limited, earthly experience of these things is only a tiny glimpse of what being in God’s presence in heaven will be like. James 1 says,

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).

All the good that we have comes because GOD gives expressions of His nature. When we behold the beauty of a mountain, what we’re seeing is God’s attributes on display in creation. Now, imagine seeing the PUREST FORM of that beauty….for all eternity! That would certainly NOT be boring.

In heaven, God’s people will behold His infinite goodness and beauty, and will therefore experience an unending flow of everything good and enjoyable.

And because God is infinite, experiencing the goodness of His presence will never become dry, old, or unappealing.

So when Mormons say that their families are what make heaven desirable—they fail to see the greatness of God!

Their god is too small to satisfy them for eternity….but the God of Creation is the source of all good, and His people will enjoy that goodness for all time.

And that is why the Bible says, “Whom have I in heaven but you?”