ANSWERS: 3
  • Tritheistic and henotheistic are subcategories of polytheistic. Officially, the Church doesn't say! The Church just declares itself to be Christian and leaves it at that. The Church officially declares God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost to be distinct personages. That removes Mormonism from strict monotheism. However, the Father is the only God we worship. Official Church doctrine teaches that Exaltation is available to all who attain the Celestial Kingdom. That rules out tritheism. However, the Father is our only God. We only worship one God (the Father), so we don't fit into most people's definition of polytheism. Henotheism is probably the best classification. We believe multiple gods exist, but only worship one God.
  • Officially: The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1.We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. . Make of it what you will, label it if you want to. The Church itself does not. But note that only one of the 3 is called God in that statement.
  • As several people have stated, the Church itself doesn’t take any position on this. As you and I discussed elsewhere, I’d say “none of the above,” and here’s why: • Tritheism indicates a belief that there are exactly three gods in all of existence. That’s not necessarily accurate, since we don’t know (nor care) how many there are. • Monotheism indicates a belief that there is exactly one god in all of existence. That’s certainly not accurate, as we know that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are all “gods” (whatever, exactly, that means). • Polytheism indicates a belief that there are an unspecified number of gods in existence, with the implication that many (if not all) are worthy of our adoration. While the first part is obviously accurate, the latter implication is obviously not. • Henotheism indicates a belief that there are an unspecified number of gods in existence, but only one of them is worthy of our adoration. While that much is accurate, henotheism also indicates that *which* one god is worthy of our adoration varies from person to person and/or from situation to situation. Again, the first part rings true, but the second is *definitely* not among our beliefs. As I said elsewhere, the only term that I feel accurately describes the position of the Church of Jesus Christ is “monolatrism”: • Monolatrism indicates a belief that there are an unspecified number of gods in existence—which unspecified number could theoretically be one, but certainly not zero. Like henotheism, monolatrism indicates that regardless of the exact number, only one of them is worthy of our adoration. However, monolatrism differs from henotheism in that the identity of the “one” is set in stone and does not vary based on situation nor individual needs/desires. In short, that’s what we believe: “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God…” (1 Corinthians 8:5-6). I know some others interpret that passage differently, but it’s still an accurate summary of our belief. As always, HTH! :-)

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