# The planet Kolob **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 20, 2001, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975 "2001-05-20T05:29:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Compound\_1080](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@Compound\_1080](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Compound_1080)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/1 "2001-05-20T05:29:02Z")
I read that the Mormon church teaches God lives on a star near the planet Kalob, Jesus and Satan are brothers, and that male devotees of the religion will become gods with their own planets to rule. My first reactions was that this sounded like fantastic anti-Mormon propaganda, and I should just get a copy of the Book of Mormon and check it out for myself. Then I thought about getting woken up at 8:00 am on a Saturday by Mormons all too eager to explain it to me and decided to pass. Is there any truth to this stuff? If so where do I sign up? ```auto Work sucks, it's like you have to kill yourself just to survive. ``` ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/2 "2001-05-20T06:33:56Z")
You can find answers to many questions about Mormonism at the [All About Mormons](http://www.mormons.org) web page. It’s not officially associated with the LDS (Latter-day Saints) hierarchy, but doesn’t appear to be run by excommunicated heretics from the Mother Church or anything like that (and certainly not by Mormon-hating Fundamentalist Protestants). > [@](#): > > I read that the Mormon church teaches God lives on a star near the planet Kalob… Essentially, yes. See the article [Kolob](http://www.mormons.org/basic/gospel/creation/kolob.htm) on the aforementioned website. > [@](#): > > …Jesus and Satan are brothers… Not really, no. See [Is Satan the Brother of Jesus?](http://www.mormons.org/response/qa/brother_satan.htm) Remember that even mainstream Christians have traditionally believed that Satan was once an archangel. > [@](#): > > …and that male devotees of the religion will become gods with their own planets to rule… At least partly true. Mormons believe that the faithful may attain [Godhood](http://www.mormons.org/basic/godhead/Godhood_EOM.htm), or the state of “having all divine attributes and doing as God does and being as God is”. (This doesn’t _appear_ to be confined to males only.) They also believe in the plurality of [Worlds](http://www.mormons.org/basic/gospel/creation/Worlds_EOM.htm). I’m not sure if “godhood” actually includes getting to lord it over the inhabitants of some less advanced planet or not. (Even if so, it would seem from what I’m reading that it could be only as the Big Guy’s local representative; sort of a Grand Moff kind of thing.) You’re welcome to rummage around on the All About Mormons site and try to clarify that one for yourself. (“Build a man a fire, and he’ll be warm for an hour; set a man on fire and he’ll be warm for the rest of his life.”) > [@](#): > > If so where do I sign up? Be advised that the rules about [sex](http://www.mormons.org/daily/sexuality/sexmarriage.htm) can be a bit off-putting. On the one hand, you get to attain god-like powers, and _maybe_ even become a local godling of some other planet somewhere; on the other hand, [passionate kissing before marriage is a no-no](http://www.mormons.org/daily/dating/kissing.htm), and there’s precious little hanky-panky even after marriage. There’s always a catch to these things. ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/3 "2001-05-20T07:43:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MEBuckner \* > > Mormons believe that the faithful may attain [Godhood](http://www.mormons.org/basic/godhead/Godhood_EOM.htm), or the state of “having all divine attributes and doing as God does and being as God is”. (This doesn’t _appear_ to be confined to males only.) This not confined to males, but to married couples. According to Church teachings, only a husband and wife _together_ can attain this state. With respect to Kolob, this isn’t found in _The Book of Mormon_ itself but in another book of scripture called _The Pearl of Great Price_. The importance of the existence of Kolob is not explained. It seems to be referred to almost in passing while explaining another point about one thing being closer to God than another. The entire passage is difficult to understand. As is typical in these cases, most Latter-day Saints believe that if it’s really important more information will be given in God’s due time. But it sounds, depending on your frame of mind, either a) impressive (“I know where God lives!”) or b) silly (“Kolob?”), so it gets more attention than it probably really deserves. It’s not an important point of doctrine. ---
**Author:** ![Compound\_1080](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@Compound\_1080](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Compound_1080)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/4 "2001-05-20T07:46:50Z")
Is it just me or does the site seem to “Clintonize” all the questions? I poked around for a little bit, and it seems the questions and answers were set up so as not to lie, but to not be very straightforward either. Maybe its just me, but it seems like they were spinning us a a bit. Never-the-less, it IS an informative site. Thanx ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/5 "2001-05-20T09:45:22Z")
Perhaps our friends in the U.K. can enlighten us. What, my friends, is “Kolob” spelled backwards? Or maybe I’m just being a moron. I, moron… Hmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/6 "2001-05-20T10:51:43Z")
I don’t know much about Mormons, but the planet would have to be spelt ‘Skcollob’ before I would read anything into it. Just look at the ‘Bible Code’ - vague coincidences don’t count. I’m sure writers have used Erehwon before. (Yes, Sofa King, I know you’re joking 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/7 "2001-05-20T21:23:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Compound 1080 \* > **I read that the Mormon church teaches God lives on a star near the planet Kalob, Jesus and Satan are brothers, and that male devotees of the religion will become gods with their own planets to rule.** L. Ron Hubbard was born one hundred years too late. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gwar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@gwar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwar)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2001, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/8 "2001-05-20T21:56:10Z")
I am Mormon, and was even a missionary (although we never knocked on doors before 9:30 AM). A lot about the religion is taken completely out of context by certain individuals in efforts to seemingly make the religion look bizarre to the casual onlooker (and occasional ignoramus). Upon more careful analysis, however, you will find that the religion is, at the very least, an embodiment that promotes good health, positive family values, decent moral character, and a strong belief in Jesus Christ. To me, however, it is the vehicle that has helped me lift myself out of the gutter, improve my life, and draw closer to God. I will always be grateful for my association with the church. The aforementioned website isn’t bad, if you want to learn more. However, the church’s official website is [lds.org](http://lds.org). If you want to learn for yourself, just call the 1-800 number when you see it on one of the church’s commercials on TV. They can send you a free video or a Book of Mormon through the mail. Honestly, you have nothing to lose. ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/9 "2001-05-21T02:47:17Z")
Another Mormon checking in here… It’s not quite “getting to lord it over the inhabitants of some less advanced planet.” The idea is that those who attain the highest level of exaltation and become like God will have the opportunity to create spirit children (just like we are God’s spirit children) and create worlds for them to live on to have their mortal experience and hopefully attain the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/10 "2001-05-21T03:52:18Z")
Well, understand that “getting to lord it over the inhabitants of some less advanced planet” is just my smartass heathen way of saying “have the opportunity to create spirit children (just like we are God’s spirit children) and create worlds for them to live on to have their mortal experience and hopefully attain the same thing.” So, yet another of the OP’s questions can be answered “yes”. ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/11 "2001-05-21T03:55:36Z")
I really like certain aspects of the Mormon faith, but there’s so much stuff in it that totally destroys it for me - the obviously made-up accounts of Jesus in the Americas, the fake ‘hieroglyphics’, etc. Compared to the Book of Mormon, The Bible is a painstakingly accurate historic account. ---
**Author:** ![MrDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/22d042/32.png) [@MrDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDeath)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/12 "2001-05-21T05:37:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MEBuckner \* > **Well, understand that “getting to lord it over the inhabitants of some less advanced planet” is just my smartass heathen way of saying "have the opportunity to create spirit children (just like we are God’s spirit children) and create worlds for them to live on to have their mortal experience and hopefully attain the same thing."** No offense meant to anyone, but: **The Sims!** Sorry, couldn’t resist. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![DarkPrince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@DarkPrince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkPrince)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/13 "2001-05-21T06:14:30Z")
Lol, MrDeath 😃 This is a tiny bit off subject, but…Anyone ever notice Mormon girls are really hot? A couple of my friends and I were discussing this phenomenon. Kinda strange… ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/14 "2001-05-21T07:54:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DarkPrince \* > \*\*Lol, MrDeath 😃 > > This is a tiny bit off subject, but…Anyone ever notice Mormon girls are really hot? A couple of my friends and I were discussing this phenomenon. Kinda strange… \*\* Those earnest, young, clean-cut Mormon male missionaries, too! Something about a freshly clean-shaven guy with parted hair and a dark tie…rrrowr! I know I’ve entertained fantasies of inviting them in to talk about things **quite** profane… jayjay ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/15 "2001-05-21T17:37:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MrDeath \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by MEBuckner \* > > **Well, understand that “getting to lord it over the inhabitants of some less advanced planet” is just my smartass heathen way of saying "have the opportunity to create spirit children (just like we are God’s spirit children) and create worlds for them to live on to have their mortal experience and hopefully attain the same thing."** > > No offense meant to anyone, but: > > **The Sims!** > > Sorry, couldn’t resist. > > [/hijack] \*\* I once heard Tracy Hickman say, “When we get to heaven and take World Building 101, those of us who’ve played role playing games will get to audit the class.” ---
**Author:** ![Threadkiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@Threadkiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threadkiller)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2001, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/16 "2001-05-21T19:29:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DarkPrince \* > > This is a tiny bit off subject, but…Anyone ever notice Mormon girls are really hot? A couple of my friends and I were discussing this phenomenon. Kinda strange… From Mark Twain’s [Roughing It](http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/roughingit/rihp.html): > [@](#): > > I had the will to do it [speak out on polygamy]. With the gushing self-sufficiency of youth I was feverish to plunge in headlong and achieve a great reform here – until I saw the Mormon women. Then I was touched. My heart was wiser than my head. It warmed toward these poor, ungainly and pathetically “homely” creatures, and as I turned to hide the generous moisture in my eyes, I said, "No – the man that marries one of them has done an act of Christian charity which entitles him to the kindly applause of mankind… _Roughing It_ has a few chapters on the early Salt Lake Mormons which should **not** be taken as terrifically accurate. Twain has a tendency to, shall we say, humorize things. BTW Polygamy was outlawed in the LDS faith some time ago. [Recent news](http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010521/ts/crime_polygamy_dc_11.html) has brought the whole thing into the spotlight again. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2001, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/17 "2001-05-22T01:13:47Z")
Did the Mormon church “really” outlaw polygamy, or is it just church policy to mollify the “gentiles”- wink, wink, nudge, nudge? If the elders are really serious about excommunicating people who practice polygamy, then is there an organized splinter group that claims that they are the “true” Latter Day Saints and still sanctions polygamy? ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2001, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/18 "2001-05-22T04:37:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lumpy \* > \*\*Did the Mormon church “really” outlaw polygamy, or is it just church policy to mollify the “gentiles”- wink, wink, nudge, nudge? > > If the elders are really serious about excommunicating people who practice polygamy, then is there an organized splinter group that claims that they are the “true” Latter Day Saints and still sanctions polygamy? > \*\* Yes, this is undoubtedly a whole 'nother thread and I’m sure it’s been discussed before but the answer is an unqualified yes. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the official name of the Mormon Church) has officially outlawed polygamy unequivocally. Anyone who wants to get excommunicated from the church can do so quite readily by practicing or even advocating polygamy. That said, there are a number of small polygamist groups who claim that they are the true Mormon Church and that those who deny the practice of polygamy are apostates. If you ask these groups whether they are true Mormons they will answer yes. ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2001, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/19 "2001-05-22T04:44:37Z")
Oh, I almost forgot. With regard to the OP, i.e. Kolob – I’ve had a look at some reference materials and one author made the point that the chapter in _The Pearl of Great Price_ that talks about Kolob (and other stars) also includes a discussion about Christ and others of God’s children. The author points out that the discussions are parallel – given two stars, one will be closer to God’s residence than another until you get to Kolob, which is the closest of all. This is intended to illustrate that given any two of God’s children, one will be more like God than another until you get to Christ, who is the most God-like of all. So information about Kolob is more of an object lesson than an astronomy lesson. For those interested, the chapter in question is Abraham 3. ---
**Author:** ![Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df788c/32.png) [@Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ben)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2001, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975/20 "2001-05-22T06:04:42Z")
If I might ask for some clarification: when you and your wife get to rule your own planet, do the inhabitants of that planet worship you? Do you devise a moral code for the people of that planet, or do you just pass on the standard moral code of Mormonism? If the latter, then where did the moral code of Mormonism come from? -Ben [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-planet-kolob/65975.md?page=2)