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| From State Hwy. 128 near the Colorado River - Utah |
From Yahweh to Adonai
In Mormon theology, Elohim is God the Father, Yahweh or Jehovah is The Son. This differs from the etymology of faith gleaned from the archeological and written record.
The word “Elohim” occurs more than 2500 times in the Hebrew Bible but it means something quite different than God the Father’s actual name... it’s used as a common noun. Uniquely, it is both singular and plural even though it carries the plural suffix “im.” Yahweh is frequently referred to as the Elohim of Israel or God of Israel. In the same token, Exodus 12:12 speaks of the Elohim of Egypt or Gods of Egypt. In 1 Samuel 28:13, the witch of Endor tells Saul she sees elohim or spirits coming up out of the Earth. It is only after the Babylonian conquest that Yahweh is replaced with Elohim as God’s referred to name. There also was a shift in the sanctity of the name. It was increasingly regarded as too sacred to be uttered and Adonai, “My Lord”, came into ritual use. Today, haShem or “The Name” is used in conversation. They all refer to the same diety, God.
I know biblical literalists will insist our monotheistic worship of God has its roots with the first man, Adam, and was codified under Moses. Actually, like most belief systems, it was an answer to a socio-economical problem and evolved over time.
Yahweh worship stems from the pre-Israelite peoples all across the Levant and was shared by many cultures. In fact, ancient Judaism was polytheistic with a pantheon of various local gods borrowing heavily from West Semite, Phoenician, and Canaanite traditions. Given the worship of Asherah as consort to Yahweh right up to the destruction of the temple by Babylonian forces, monotheism didn’t become prevalent among the Jews until the 6th century BCE.
Now, you’re probably thinking, “this doesn’t sound anything like what I read in the Old Testament.” Well, you’d be right. It isn’t... for good reason.
We might want to think of tradition as something immoveable and constant. It’s not. It can change... and change quickly. Within a few short generations, the Jews went from a polytheistic society dominated by the worship of Yahweh to the monotheistic one centered on Elohim... purging “foreign influences” along the way through clever retelling of the familiar stories reflecting a newer evolved spirituality. Anthropologists believe this took place as Jews sought a common identity more distinct from their neighbors and captors.
Now, it wasn’t just the name or number of gods that changed. Depending on the particular period in Jewish history, God has taken on strikingly different characteristics. He has been portrayed as violent, bloodthirsty, and vengeful to loving, nurturing, and forgiving.... the creator of life, the harbinger of death... patient, impulsive... and everything in between. There are interesting geo-political correlations where shifts in regional power or prosperity influenced this evolving spiritual heritage of billions.
We can follow the evolution of our faith clear back into pre-history. Something never spawns from nothing... even where God is concerned. Faith and belief have always been a reaction to something. It is the answer to a question and answers change to meet the questions. Religion evolves much like life. It has always been this way and continues on even today.
In the early days of the Mormon faith, gifts of the spirit were common place during Sunday meetings. From speaking in tongues, seeing ministering spirits, to the working of miracles; it was once said these things defined the true church of God... these days, God is a little less Las Vegas. Now, I think the most exciting thing to happen during Sacrament Meeting might be someone bursting into tears. The days of revival, so common on the frontier in those early years, are gone. We tend to want something a bit more dignified and solemn. This modern view is also reflected in our perception of God. From destroyer of nations to quiet patriarch... God, it seems, is what we choose him to be.
