Can humans become gods (Mormonism)?

One of the most controversial teachings within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormonism) is the doctrine that faithful human beings can become gods. This teaching is based on the belief in eternal progression and the idea that just as God was once a man, humans too can evolve into godhood. This doctrine, however, is not found in the Bible. Instead, it stands in stark contrast to biblical theology, which teaches that God is eternally unique, uncreated, and far above His creation. This article will provide a comprehensive biblical examination of why the idea that man can become a god is false, unbiblical, and dangerous.

Understanding the Mormon Doctrine of Exaltation

The LDS doctrine of exaltation teaches that God the Father was once a mortal man who progressed to godhood, and that men today can do the same. According to Mormonism, exalted individuals will inherit their own worlds, have spirit children, and reign as gods alongside their spouses. This belief is encapsulated in the statement made by LDS President Lorenzo Snow: “As man now is, God once was; as God now is, man may be.”

This doctrine is rooted in extra-biblical writings and teachings of LDS prophets and is not supported by the canonical Scriptures of the Bible. While Latter-day Saints view the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price as additional scripture, the biblical record alone must be the final authority in matters of doctrine and salvation (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NKJV).

God Is Unique and Incomparable

The Bible is clear that God is wholly distinct from His creation. He is not a man, nor was He ever a man. In fact, God explicitly states that He is incomparable and that no other god exists alongside Him.

Isaiah 43:10 (NKJV) says:
“You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me.”

This passage directly refutes the Mormon idea that other gods existed before or will exist after God. God’s eternal nature is unshared. Isaiah 44:6 adds:
“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God.’”

In addition, Hosea 11:9 declares:
“For I am God, and not man, the Holy One in your midst; and I will not come with terror.”

If God were once a man, this verse would not be accurate. God is not a man nor ever was one. His being is eternal and unchanging (Malachi 3:6). Any suggestion that He progressed from a mortal state into godhood is in direct contradiction to the consistent testimony of Scripture.

The Nature of Man

The Bible teaches that man is a created being, formed from the dust of the earth. While humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27), this does not mean that humans are divine or have the potential to become gods.

Genesis 2:7 (NKJV) says:
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

This verse underscores the humble origin of man. Man is dependent on God for life, breath, and purpose. The image of God in man refers to the capacity for moral reasoning, relationships, creativity, and dominion over the earth-not the possession of divine nature or destiny to become deity.

Psalm 8:4-5 (NKJV) also places man in a created order that is below God:
“What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.”

Though humanity has dignity and honor, this does not imply divinity or potential for godhood. Man remains a finite and dependent creature.

Jesus’ Teachings on Divinity

Jesus Christ never taught that humans could become gods. He consistently upheld the supremacy of the Father and called His followers to humility and service rather than exaltation to godhood.

In John 17:3, Jesus defines eternal life as knowing God, not becoming Him:
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Moreover, in Matthew 23:12, Jesus taught:
“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The path of the believer is one of humility and submission to God’s authority-not an ambition to ascend to divinity.

Misunderstood Verses Used by Mormons

Some who support the idea of man becoming god point to certain passages that they believe support their view. However, a careful examination shows these passages do not teach human divinity.

Psalm 82:6 – “You are gods”

Psalm 82:6 (NKJV) says:
“I said, ‘You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High.’”

Jesus references this passage in John 10:34, but neither He nor the Psalmist is teaching that humans are divine in nature. The context shows that the “gods” in question are human judges-those given authority to rule. God calls them “gods” sarcastically or metaphorically because they wield judicial power, but the next verse rebukes them:

Psalm 82:7 (NKJV):
“But you shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.”

The point is that although these judges held positions of authority, they were still mortal. The term “gods” is used as a figure of speech and not to imply deity.

2 Peter 1:4 – “Partakers of the divine nature”

2 Peter 1:4 (NKJV) says:
“…by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature…”

This verse is often misunderstood. It does not say that believers become gods but that they participate in God’s holiness and moral character. Being a “partaker of the divine nature” refers to the transformation of the believer’s heart and conduct, not becoming deity in essence. We become like Christ in character but not in nature.

The Danger of the Desire to Become God

The desire to become a god is not new. It is the very lie that Satan used to deceive Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 3:5 (NKJV):
“For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Satan’s lie appealed to pride and ambition. The same desire to be like God in essence, not just in character, is what led to Lucifer’s fall:

Isaiah 14:13-14 (NKJV):
“For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God… I will be like the Most High.’”

The spirit of self-exaltation is the very spirit of the devil. It is not the spirit of Christ. A doctrine that teaches man can become God echoes this ancient rebellion.

The Bible Teaches Worship, Not Self-Deification

Nowhere in Scripture are believers encouraged to pursue godhood. Instead, they are called to worship the one true God and to live in obedience to Him. Worship is the recognition of God’s unique status and our dependency on Him.

Revelation 4:11 (NKJV):
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

Rather than aspiring to God’s throne, we are called to glorify Him, serve Him, and live in communion with Him forever. Heaven will not be a place where every individual becomes a deity, but where every redeemed soul worships the only true God.

The True Promise to Believers: Glorification, Not Deification

The Bible promises that believers will be glorified-not deified. Romans 8:30 (NKJV) says:
“Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

Glorification means receiving perfect bodies at the second coming of Christ, not sharing in God’s eternal nature or omnipotence. We will be raised in immortal, incorruptible bodies (1 Corinthians 15:53), but we will still be creatures worshiping the Creator.

Conclusion

The idea that humans can become gods is not supported by the Bible. It is an extra-biblical teaching that arises from human pride and a misunderstanding of Scripture. God is eternally unique, and there is none like Him. He is not a former man who became God, and human beings will never become gods. Instead, the Bible teaches that believers will be glorified, and live forever in the presence of the one true God, worshiping Him in humility and joy.

The Mormon doctrine of exaltation leads people away from biblical truth and into a dangerous realm of self-exaltation. Christians must remain anchored in the Word of God and reject teachings that distort God’s nature and man’s place before Him. As believers, our highest hope is not to become gods, but to know and worship the God who made us and redeemed us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 45:5 (NKJV) summarizes the truth: “I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me.”