An excellent summary of our official beliefs, in addition to the scriptures I’ve already quoted, is found in Jesus Christ–Study Resources, which includes a document “The Living Christ” signed by all 12 apostles in January 2000.
Many of your questions delve into a variety of doctrines separate from whether or not we believe in Jesus Christ or are “Christians.” I’ve never asserted that all of my beliefs align with yours or with other Christian denominations–if they did, I would join your church, and there be no need for mine–or for any of the protestant denominations.
I could list a variety of doctrines that I, and many other Christian denominations, disagree with Catholics on, such as transubstantiation–that the bread and wine of the sacrament literally becomes the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ inside our bodies, or that all infants (or anyone for that matter) will automatically go to hell unless baptized first, or that baptism by sprinkling a few drops of water is acceptable, when the scriptures are clear that Jesus went down into the Jordan river to be baptized.
Or, I could talk about the issue that the name of your church doesn’t include the words “Jesus” or “Christ”, and you claim to be “apostolic,” yet have no apostles–one of the core elements of Jesus’ original church. We could go on and on with our differences.
However, I don’t feel those areas in which I disagree with you make you therefore not a “Christian.”
You say you believe in Jesus Christ and therefore you call yourself a “Christian”. I believe you. I’m just asking for the same courtesy from you.
I believe the Bible is the Word of God and rely heavily on its’ description of Jesus Christ, God the Father, and the Holy Ghost. The Book of Mormon reinforces and underscores those beliefs, as I’ve already shown.
Having said that, here are some answers to your questions:
Q–”- do you believe that God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are the first beings to have existed? Do you believe that in *any* context, from *any* point of view, this God was preceded by something else? Or was He the “unmoved mover”, per Aristotle.”
A– “In the beginning was the Word. . . ” I believe that, and it’s the official doctrine of our Church. See God the Father for a detail of our beliefs on this. Also see next question.
Q– “- do you believe that God the Father always was, and has never undergone any kind of change? Do you believe God was once like man, and then ascended?”
A– Probably not relevant to whether or not we believe in Jesus Christ. SeeGodhead for our beliefs. Among others, relevant Book of Mormon scriptures include Mormon 9:9 “For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?” 1 Nephi 10:18 “For he is the asame yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.”
Joseph Smith did give a sermon one time that suggested God had a history of being a man, but I haven’t heard this taught much in my lifetime. It’s definitely not a central part of our current teachings, and is not relevant to our current interactions with God.
However, the concept does make sense, though, from my reading of the Bible. Jesus, who was God and the Creator, became a Man, and then rose the third day, to become a resurrected God. Then, Jesus said he only did what he had seen the father do, so it seems logical His Father could have done the same thing at one point in the eternities previous to anything relevant to our earth-life.
Q– do you believe there are any other persons within the Godhead other than the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?
A– No. See Godhead
Q— Do you believe that in the process of the incarnation, Christ became fully man? If so, do you believe in the hypostatic union?
A– Yes. I’ve already answered this above with Book of Mormon verses. See againMosiah 3 3 Nephi 11:14 , which I’ve already quoted. In the Book of Mormon, Nephi calls this The Condescension of God There are numerous other affirmations of this in Jesus Christ-study resources
Q— do you believe in Hell? And by Hell, I mean Hell as Christians understand it, not “outer darkness”. Is Hell eternal? Is there any way of getting out of Hell?
A This is not relevant to whether or not we’re Christian. I believe Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament about this, which are reinforced by the Book of Mormon. See this link for more: Hell
Q–do you believe that there is one heaven, or are there multiple heavens for different classifications of believers?
A–Again, not relevant to whether or not we believe in Christ. However, one interesting scripture along these lines is John 14:12 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” Could those mansions be of different sizes and shape, depending on the righteousness of the believers? See also Heaven and Kingdoms of Glory
Q- do you believe that good Mormons can become gods themselves?
A–Again, not relevant to whether or not we believe in Jesus Christ or are “Christians”. Still, here are some Bible verses that guide my beliefs: Romans 8:17“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. ” Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” <A href=""http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/ps/82.6?lang=eng#5" Psalms 82:6 “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” .
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