In the 12/16/07 issue of the New York Times, Mike Huckabee attacked Mitt Romney's Mormonism saying Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are brothers. According to the official website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (a.k.a. the Mormons):
"1. In the premortal life we were spirit children and lived with our heavenly parents ...
2. Jesus was the firstborn spirit child of Heavenly Father and is the older brother of our spirits ...
3. Lucifer, who became Satan, was also a spirit child of the Heavenly Father ..."
(source: www.lds.org)
There's also this, from the June 1986 edition of Ensign, an official magazine of the Mormon faith:
"Both the scriptures and the prophets affirm that Jesus Christ and Lucifer are indeed offspring of our Heavenly Father and, therefore, spirit brothers ... But as the Firstborn of the Father, Jesus was Lucifer's older brother...
"That brothers would make dramatically different choices is not unusual. It has happened time and again, as the scriptures attest: Cain chose to serve Satan; Abel chose to serve God. Esau 'despised his birthright'; Jacob wanted to honor it. Joseph's brothers sought to kill him; he sought to preserve them."
In other words, Jesus chose to be the good son, Lucifer chose to be the rebel.
When it is pointed out that the Bible teaches no such thing, Mormons often respond that their position is misunderstood. They say most Christians believe angels are the children of God, and Satan is a fallen angel so their views are not really different.
So...angels are the children of God, Satan is a fallen angel, all Mormons are children of God, therefore Satan is the brother of all Mormons. Putting it that way, I am convinced!!
Seriously, the obfuscation involves the definition of "children." Re my previous blog ( New Campaign Debate: Romney/Mormons Say God Is The Father Of All; Scripture Says No) Scripture defines the children of God as the elect, those who are saved through Christ. That obviously can't include Satan. Here's a verse that differentiates among the angels, I Timothy 5:21:
"I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality."
Hebrews chapter 4, in speaking of Christ, specifically says He was/is NOT an angel: "For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"? But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire." But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." And: "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail." But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?"
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