In this blog series I'm going to cover two main theories that I believe best explains the LDS Godhead as found in the LDS Scriptures and the 1840s sermons of Joseph Smith and the LDS prophets and apostles in the 1800s.
As I see it there are basically four Godhead theories, or theologies, that best explain all the data from the early Mormon Scriptures and Sermons. I will briefly list them below and then discuss them.
1. James Talmage's Godhead Theory
2. Blake Ostler's Godhead Theory
3. The Pratt-Hyde Godhead Theory
4. My Twin-Genome Theory
Note that all these theories except James Talmage's Godhead theory (which is the currect official doctrine of the LDS Church), are presented as entertainment and explorative theology and do not represent the official doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Talmage Theory as LDS Orthodoxy
The traditional LDS Godhead theology is basically based on the theory formulated by James Talmage in his books which have basically become official LDS Church doctrine: as specifically found in his books Jesus the Christ, The Articles of Faith and Talmage's 1916 Exposition on the Father and Son.
Blake Oster's Theory
A non-traditional yet respected Godhead theory in the Mormon thought world, is the one presented by LDS scholar and philosopher Blake Ostler, called Monarchical Theism. The popular podcast A Thoughtful Faith (with host Jacob Hansen), has recently discussed Ostler's theory and presented it as a viable option to the "regressive Gods" theory. Ostler basically posits that, first: Jehovah is God the Father and second, this God the Father over this earth only had a mortal father and not a supernatural Father, i.e. there was no God above God the Father.
I think Ostler's Theory is a reasonable alternative to the Talmage Theory.
The third alternative Godhead theology is what I have termed the Pratt-Hyde Godhead Theory. This Theory deserves its own blog posts which can be found in the table of contents of this blog series.
The fourth alternative Godhead theology is my own explorative position, or a speculative alternative theory, which I call the Twin-Genome Theory for short. Return to the table of contents to begin learning more about this theory.
