Irenaeus on Theosis

I attended prayer meeting in the evening circle. President Young asked Elder Orson Pratt what he thought of his preaching that intelligent beings would continue to learn to all eternity. O. Pratt said that he believed the Gods had a knowledge at the present time of every thing that ever did exist to the endless ages of all eternity. He believed it as much as any truth that he had ever learned in or out of this church.

Yea, I say, the Word of God became a man so that you might learn from a man how to become a god.

If anyone swear by Tash and keep their oath for the oath’s sake, it is by me that they have truly sworn, though they know it not, and it is I who reward them. And if anyone do a cruelty in my name, then, though they say the name Aslan, it is Tash whom they serve and by Tash their deed is accepted.

Our Lord Jesus Christ . . . became what we are, so that He might bring us to be even what He Himself is.

[T]he Word became flesh and the Son of God became the Son of Man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God.

Do we cast blame on him [God] because we were not made gods from the beginning, but were at first created merely as men, and then later as gods? Although God has adopted this course out of his pure benevolence, that no one may charge him with discrimination or stinginess, he declares, “I have said, ye are gods; and all of you are sons of the Most High.” . . .

If the Word became a man, it was so men may become gods.